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

Byung-Chul Han and Plato on the POWER of BEAUTY! 16.04.2025 11:20

Modern beauty has become tepid and smooth. It lacks the depth and friction and power of genuine beauty! Or so say Han and Plato! ... 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/

Foucault and Kierkegaard - Where the heck has YOUTHFUL REBELLION gone? 10.04.2025 19:22

When I was growing up teenage rebellion seemed to be everywhere! Where is it now? At the heart of this decline: social media and technology! ... 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/

Socrates - Power and Stupidity: A Destructive Combination! 06.04.2025 13:50

Socrates argues that ignorance is the worst of all evils! Especially in the service of power! Ring any bells today? ... 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/

Simone De Beauvoir and Hannah Arendt - A Happiness of ENGAGEMENT! 06.04.2025 13:15

De Beauvoir and Arendt both argue against passive forms of happiness! 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/

Pascal and Kierkegaard on the SUPERFICIAL LIFE - Owning up to one's SELF! 02.04.2025 14:42

One could argue that we live more superficially than ever before. Pascal and Kierkegaard are particularly relevant here! ... 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 Plato wrote dialogues - Let's bring back the power of real conversation! 30.03.2025 13:35

Plato chose not to write essays. He wrote dialogues instead. Why? And how is this relevant for us today? 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/

The Myth of Icarus and Daedalus - Melting the wings of our children! 25.03.2025 19:26

I think this ancient myth is more relevant today than ever before! 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/

Nietzsche - DECADENT Culture! 20.03.2025 12:23

According to Nietzsche, cultures can be healthy or decadent. How do we see the culture today? ... 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/

Erich Fromm - Submission to Authoritarianism! 15.03.2025 19:20

The psychologist Erich Fromm argues that we tend to willingly submit to authoritarianism! Relevant today? ... 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/

Carl Jung - UFOs and their PSYCHIC SIGNIFICANCE! 09.03.2025 13:32

Carl Jung believed that UFOs have their basis in a vital psychic need! 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/

Camus's The Rebel - Helping us to find MEASURE in a time of EXTREMES! 04.03.2025 14:47

What Camus has to say in The Rebel is very relevant to our current trend towards absolutist and binary thinking! ... 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 Cult of Personality and CEO worship! 26.02.2025 15:08

Scary times... 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/

Kierkegaard - We've forgotten how to exist! Passion in the age of apathy! 20.02.2025 13:09

Kierkegaard spends a lot of time talking about the connection between existence and passion! We'd do well to listen to him!

Dostoevsky - Kiss the earth! Why the soil matters! 14.02.2025 15:09

The archetype of the earth is crucial for understanding Dostoevsky's view! Find out more!

Byung-Chul Han and Aristotle - Why real friends shouldn't be afraid of conflict! 07.02.2025 15:12

As friends we gratify and pamper too much, or so these philosophers say! Find out more!

The Beat Writers - If it ain't got that swing, it don't mean a thing! 03.02.2025 20:52

The Beats were a group of poets and writers who emerged after WWII. What was their philosophy all about? 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/

What time is it? - Chronos vs. Kairos! 03.02.2025 14:29

The Ancient Greeks had two words for time - chronos and kairos. What is this distinction and how might it be important for us today? ... 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 the death of Socrates matters! 17.01.2025 21:49

Apart from the death of Jesus, no death has been discussed more than that of Socrates. And for very good reasons! ... 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/

Selflessness as the antidote to death! 09.01.2025 15:36

How do we take the sting off of death? How about a little less ego, a little more selflessness! ... 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/

Kant's "What is Enlightenment?" - Emancipate your thinking! 03.01.2025 13:13

Dare to know and think! This was Kant's calling in his famous 1784 essay "What is Enlightenment?" ... 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 Delphic Injunction - KNOW THYSELF! 28.12.2024 16:34

The words “know thyself” were carved into stone at the entrance to the revered temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece. What does it mean? Well, the Greek playwright Sophocles and the philosopher Socrates interpret it in their own way! ... 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...

Bertrand Russell - Why I am not a Christian 20.12.2024 22:27

In 1927 the philosopher Bertrand Russell gave a lecture called Why I am not a Christian... 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/

Dostoevsky and Heidegger - How to escape the algorithm! 12.12.2024 17:39

Both Dostoevsky and Heidegger, in their own way, look for ways to salvage some deeper meaning and experience in the midst of our increasingly technological and rational-scientific world! ... 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/

Cormac McCarthy's The Road - Each the other's world entire! 06.12.2024 33:48

One of the most emotionally powerful novels ever written! A father and son try to make their way across a post-apocalyptic America trying to get to a better place... 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 and Gabriel Marcel on Hope! 26.11.2024 18:15

Is there anything more important than hope, especially today? These two profound philosophers have lots to say about this!