Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

The Wisdom Of

Society EN ↓ 384 episodes

In this podcast we explore great works of philosophy and literature and art, and try to pull out of them what’s most interesting and inspiring! Whether they come from the works of Plato, or Dostoevsky or Picasso, here we explore ideas that move mountains and rock the soul! So, come join us, won’t you? Come worship at the alter of ideas, and come celebrate the dancing of thought. Welcome to the Wisdom Of!

Author

Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

Episodes

Carl Jung, Heidegger, and the California Gold Rush! 16.07.2025 13:40

The value of gold used to be largely symbolic. The Gold Rush marks a complete philosophical turning point when it comes to the perceived value of gold! And I think Jung and Heidegger would agree! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Why Star Trek is better! 11.07.2025 12:00

Star Wars and Star Trek: Which of these is more philosophically interesting? And which of these two universes would you want to live in? I got my answer! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Byung-Chul Han - Why so many of us feel so empty today! 07.07.2025 11:16

Han thinks there's a deep existential hollowness lurking beneath the shiny veneer and the noise of modern life. He attributes this to many things about our contemporary society.... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

ASMR - A sensory rebellion against our disembodied age! 04.07.2025 11:50

Is ASMR just some superficial Youtube phenomenon? Or is there something important and deep behind its popularity? Find out more! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Susan Wolf and Dostoevsky - The Problem with being a Moral Saint! 01.07.2025 14:42

On the surface, being a moral saint sounds like a great thing. But, not so fast! The contemporary philosopher Susan Wolf doesn't think so. And both Dostoevsky and Camus have their own concerns about thinking of yourself as morally pure! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology...

Wisdom as Content, Grifters, and why Socrates wouldn’t have used Patreon! 24.06.2025 10:43

In our attention-economy wisdom has now become content - ready-made for monetization! Socrates warned against this trend long ago! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

The Cynics - Ya gotta be TOUGH to be happy! 21.06.2025 13:26

These ancient philosophers argued that physical toughness was a discipline essential to happiness. Relevant for us today? I think so! If interested, check out my new book series! The second book is available now! www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/

Learning to Love: Nietzsche, Beauty and the Beast, and Don Quixote! 17.06.2025 12:12

Nietzsche tells us that one must LEARN to love. That might sound a bit odd to us. What does he mean and why is it important? Find out more! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Astrology - The Zodiac delusion! 12.06.2025 14:44

Does astrology make any sense? And if not, why do we still believe in it? ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Jesus and Rousseau on Hypocrisy (or Wolves in Virtue's clothing!) 09.06.2025 14:56

What's wrong with hypocrisy? Well, Jesus and Jean-Jacques Rousseau agree on at least one thing that's wrong with it! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Will Durant - The top ten greatest thinkers of all time! 03.06.2025 21:07

The distinguished historian Will Durant published a book where he ranked the greatest thinkers ever! See who made the list! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Henri Bergson - Overcoming the tyranny of mechanical time! 31.05.2025 17:18

The French philosopher Bergson criticized the scientific notion of time, instead turning to what he called lived time. Find out more! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Greek tragedy, Pollution and AI! + announcement! 26.05.2025 14:48

Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

If I could time travel....Cafe, Paris, 1940's! 21.05.2025 17:29

If I could time travel anywhere, I’d skip the big battles and royal balls. Drop me in a smoky café in 1940s Paris—existentialism, espresso, and all! If you're not convinced, take a listen! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Kafka's A Hunger Artist - The Death of Uncompromising Art! 16.05.2025 14:56

What would Kafka think about our attention economy today? And what about the state of our art? .... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night - Don't surrender the flame! 16.05.2025 15:55

How should we meet death? With rage! Or so says the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas! And he's not the only one! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Naomi Klein - The Apocalypse, Mars, and the Bunker Nation! 10.05.2025 16:59

Naomi Klein, the Canadian author and social activist, argues for what she sees as the apocalyptic mindset of the far Right. Along with Klein, I offer up a few of my own concerns! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Why We Can't Avoid Making JUDGMENTS—And Why That's a Great Thing! 09.05.2025 14:14

So as we all know, there’s the popular or cliched idea that we should be “nonjudgmental”. But by and large, I don’t think that’s right! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Adorno on Animals - "The degradation of a creature to the status of a mere thing" 07.05.2025 15:15

The philosopher Theodor Adorno lays a powerful groundwork for thinking ethically about animals! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Humour as Social Critique - Let's keep LAUGHING at POWER! 05.05.2025 15:48

Humour can have real revolutionary force! Ask the philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin. Let's keep laughing at the powerful. It will work! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Heidegger - The death of the LOVE LETTER in the time of the digital message! 30.04.2025 14:08

The love letter has become an extinct species! This is a symptom of a much larger problem - at least according to Heidegger! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Miles Davis - Why LESS IS MORE! 30.04.2025 14:21

In our world of more and faster and louder, we might do well to remember that less is often more! Just ask Miles! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Tolstoy vs. Dostoevsky - Some major DIFFERENCES! 30.04.2025 17:51

These giants of literature, they're often viewed as similar from afar. But they're not. Especially when it comes to how they see the human soul and the road to salvation! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

Buddhism and NON-ATTACHMENT - Some Objections! 20.04.2025 16:20

Is human well-being and flourishing really all about detachment? I would argue, no! ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/

What does it mean to be a GOOD FATHER? 16.04.2025 14:15

Inspired by Gabriel Marcel and Martin Buber, I argue that being a good father requires the invisible labor of presence.... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Human https://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/