Philosophy After Hours

In this episode we discuss the social function of prestige. We esteem highly the one who comes from an elite school, gets published by an illustrious press, or has their art on exhibition at MoMA. But is our economy of prestige pernicious? Main episode begins at 17:06. If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for more content. Text: Slavoj Žižek and Boris Gunjević...

In this episode we discuss the New Age theory/identity of 'Starseeds:' a spiritually advanced soul born on Earth to shepherd humans to a higher state of consciousness. But does this theory inadvertently suggest a broadly misanthropic worldview? Hear what we think! If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.  Text: B.C....

In this episode we discuss the eulogies "Rest in Peace" and "Rest in Power". What do they each signify about the legacy of the dead? Is one preferable to the other? Does peace point to a more utopian vision, beyond the instrumentality of power and enduring struggle? Main episode begins at 27:35 If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode...

In this episode we sit down with our good friend, and Arendt scholar, Dave to discuss Arendt's philosophy around the phenomenon of civil disobedience. How does her conception of civil disobedience differ from Thoreau? Were the events of Jan. 6 a manifestation of civil disobedience? Main episode begins at 31:56. If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest...

In this 5th Shooting the Shit episode, we celebrate our 50th episode, discuss the importance of tears, talk about leaving grad school, muse on the (in)significance of money, and reflect on God. Main episode begins at 23:27.  If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content. Text: Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake (Boston: Houghton...

In this episode our buddy Phil joins us to talk about Aristotle's philosophy of friendship. Are there different kinds of friends? Should some friendships be prioritized over others? Do true friendships promote virtue? Main ep. begins at 29:38. If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content. Text: Idris Robinson, "How It Mig...

In this episode we discuss the economic activism of 'ethical consumption.' Can conscious consumers effectively vote with their dollar? Does buying ethically-sourced goods meaningfully curb the injustices and inhumane practices of a global capitalist system? Our short answer: no. Main episode begins at 19:40.  If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest o...

In this episode we discuss the ideal of dependency and the way a better understanding of ourselves as mutually reliant upon one another (as opposed to "independent") might create a more desirable formation of social life. Main episode begins at 21:17. If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for bonus content. Text: Aaron's writings.

In this episode we discuss the notion of toxic positivity, manifesting through such statements as: "everything happens for a reason," "somebody always has it worse, "good vibes only," etc. Is this obsessively positive perspective predicated on a false understanding of the self? Is it willfully neglectful of social conditions? Does it obstruct communal orientation and identification? Main episode b...

In this episode we discuss the obscenity of personal branding as an essential form of social relating today. How does the embrace of self-commodification and the influence of capitalist competition in all contexts of life make so many human beings readily disposable? Main ep. begins at 13:11. If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for bonus content. Text: Bell H...

In this episode we begin with a short summary of the case of Pervis Payne, a man who has been on death row for 30 years, and transition into a discussion of capital punishment. Is the death penalty defensible? Is this form of retributive 'justice' a practice of equality, or mere revenge? Should the State ever have the ability to sentence a person to  life in prison? Main episode begins at 13:04. I...

In this episode we discuss some comedians' responses to "cancel culture." Does comedic speech have a special ability to soften hostilities around controversial topics? Is it sufficient to say "it's just a joke" in response to critique? Main episode begins at 17:19. Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for access to the full episode and further bonus content. Text: Emmanuel Levinas, Of G...

In this episode we discuss animism as a strategic form of divinity by which we could develop a renewed sense of care and reverence for the environment. But is 'divinity' still valued? Do we simply need to displace the anthropocentric in order to develop an ecocentric worldview, or is something else required? Hear what we think! Main episode begins at 18:14. If you want to contact us, hit us up at...

In this episode we discuss the role of violence in the struggle against capitalism. What constitutes a violent action? What form(s) of violence would productively incapacitate capitalism's own exercises of violence? Main episode beings at 11:27.  If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. Also, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo. Text: C.P. Cavafy, "The City,"...

In the fourth installment of "shooting the shit," we are tipsy in celebration of Aaron's prospectus. We are feeling quite good here, and get quite loose in a sauntering discussion of Klimt, the achievement of 'benchmarks,' and the Absolute's relationship to theory and experience. Hear what we think. Main episode begins at 11:54. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. A...

In this episode we discuss the concept of anonymity in the wake of increased police drone surveillance. What value does anonymity possess, and do we have a right over the manner in which we are identified? Has the rise of social media jeopardized our ability to remain anonymous? Hear what we think. Main episode begins at 13:08.  If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. A...

In this episode we discuss finitude. We routinely conceive of our existence as finite or limited in relation to what we can know or accomplish in the world. Often, the response to this finitude is frustration or embarrassment, leading us to embrace some notion of the infinite to redeem or sure-up our limitations. But do we need to make this move? Can we embrace finitude in a way that doesn't subor...

In this episode we discuss the concept of home, home-ness, and home-building. What are the qualities of the places we call home, and what is its signification? Is it necessarily singular? And how might covid have transformed our relation to home through a severance with the public? Hear what we think.  Main episode discussion begins at 16:13. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[a...

In this episode we engage in a wandering discussion about death. What does it mean to die? Is it important for us to face up to our own deaths? Is that even possible or desirable? Does the thought of death (la mort) - especially the death of the Other - better attune us to the importance of love (l'amour)? Hear what we think. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. Also...

In this episode we discuss the ideology of the "true gift"--an act of selfless giving. Does this ideology operate in our cultural consciousness? Is it possible? Desirable? Does the selfless gift jeopardize the very subjectivity of the interpersonal relationship it emerges from? Hear what we think.  If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. Text: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Rev...

In this episode we discuss marginalia. How does marginalia open onto a community of interpreters? Who has the authority to speak in the margins? Anyone? Or only those with the proper "credentials" to interpret? What pleasures are afforded in finding marginalia in used books? When (if ever) is marginalia defacement? Hear what we think. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail....

In this episode we were  supposed to discuss "fitness," but things got a little off-track. We had more pressing things on our mind this evening, it seems. Listen to our meandering discussion as we explore Sophocles' Antigone , a critique of liberal capitalism, frustrations with Obama, and celebrate an anniversary. Hear what we think. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.c...

In this episode we discuss the concept of health and its relation to the idea of the Good. Has health become synonymous with the Good? If so, does that overly constrain our conceptions of the good life to what the medical community (as experts on health) recommends? Does this have any undesirable consequences? Hear what we think. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com....

In this episode we discuss the phenomenon of "reaction videos". What is the psychology behind their immense popularity? Are they a modern form of the 'laugh track'? Are they a unique response to 21st century isolation and alienation? Hear what we think.  If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. Also, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo . Text: "Daydream delus...

Here we are again to shoot the shit. In this episode we discuss our fear of advertising the podcast on social media, and the likely narcissism that goes along with that; we grumble about the recent U.S. elections; finally, we end with a sober reflection on our deadened spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear what we think. If you want to contact us, hit us up at therilkeanzoo[at]gmail.com. Also...