In this final episode of Season Nine we discuss sentience, technology, and environmental ethics. We also put enough food for thought on the table to stave off the singularity for at least an additional three weeks. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.comElectro Zombies...

In this episode we tackle that most famous of all philosophical questions: What is the meaning of life? Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Sense of Loss https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we discuss some of the fun metaphysical topics that arise from the Addams Family offshoot, Wednesday. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Gothic Horror https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we discuss some of the fun metaphysical and ethical topics that arise in superhero stories. We may also fight a little crime, save the planet, and keep our (personal) identities hidden from an unsuspecting public. "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Relaxing Ambient Scene...

In this episode we discuss ethical and aesthetic topics related to the ways in which True Crime programming presents stories about serial killers. "Attack of the Mole Men" and “Exhilarate” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com In Pursuit https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we host a round table discussion with Patrick Anderson, Gwen Grewal, George Dunn, Timothy Kwiatek, Tiffany Montoya, Bailie Peterson, Jesse Prinz, and Marty Sulek as they discuss their chapters in Richard’s latest book, Punk Rock and Philosophy. Richard’s co-editor, Josh Heter, joins us as co-host for this episode. "Attack of the Mole Men" and “Exhilarate” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0...

In this episode we take a look at the clever temporal happenings in the Netflix series Russian Doll. "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Sabre Dance https://www.purple-planet.com

In this first episode of season 9 we take a look at the variety of philosophical themes in Marvel’s Moon Knight, get people caught up on what we've been viewing since our last episode, and enjoy some funky music. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Funk City https://www.purple-planet.com

In this final episode of season 8 we take a philosophical look at immortality as it appears in pop culture. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Infinite Ocean https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode, we take a philosophical look at holiday movies. It’s that wonderful time of year when we celebrate all the good things in life by imagining how great things would be if magic were real, we could have everything we wanted, and if woodland creatures could talk. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz...

In this episode, we take a philosophical look at the whole true crime phenomenon (podcasts, radio programs, television shows, etc.). Time permitting, we might even investigate a few philosophical crimes, such as the Kripke/ Marcus affair, Wittgenstein’s poker, that time my friend from grad school told a bunch of people that a famous philosopher plagiarized his work, the hit job Bertrand Russell did on all of philosophy in his A History of Western Philosophy, that sham of a trial involving...

In our annual Halloween episode (sometimes there are more than one!) we talk about a staple of the modern horror genre: the evil things one does following one around forever. On the face of it this seems like a good thing (although perhaps not so much for the one being followed). Upon closer inspection, it’s not so clear. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0...

In this episode we discuss a variety of philosophical topics related to the Netflix series Squid Game. Along the way we complain about rich people and offer some interesting rankings and comparisons. "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Cat and Mouse https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we mourn the passing of comedian Norm MacDonald as we discuss the philosophy of comedy. Plato and Camus walk into a bar... Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Plucky Comedy https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we discuss philosophical issues at the intersection of personal identity and death. As Billy Joel is want to say “Don’t go changing.”The papers we allude to in the episode can be found in Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying edited by Michael Cholbi and Travis Timmerman. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat...

In this first episode of Season 8 we take a look at some of the more noteworthy philosophical themes found in a couple of recent television limited series: The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers. This episode promises to be so intense that you will need two spa days and an afternoon on a yacht to recover. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0...

In this episode we do a season wrap-up where we reflect on the past year’s events and look at some philosophical models of what the future might look like. We are also coming “live” from the 2021 meeting of the Popular Culture Association (this is the fourth installment of a multi-episode series). We talk to David LoConto about some of his favorite points of intersection between philosophy and pop culture. We discuss (among other things) the latest installment in the Star Trek...

In this episode we are coming “live” from the 2021 meeting of the Popular Culture Association (this is the third installment of a multi-episode series). We talk to a couple of prominent scholars, Gwendolyn Dolske and Randy Jensen, about some of their favorite points of intersection between philosophy and pop culture. We discuss (among other things) social media, the good life, and living in a virtual world. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod...

In this episode we are coming “live” from the 2021 meeting of the Popular Culture Association (this is the second installment of a multi-episode series). We talk to a couple of prominent scholars, Jason Murphy and Siobhain Lash, about some of their favorite points of intersection between philosophy and pop culture. We discuss (among other things) the Queen’s Gambit and the Nightmare Before Christmas. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod...

In this episode we are coming “live” from the 2021 meeting of the Popular Culture Association (this is the first installment of a multi-episode series). We talk to a couple of prominent scholars, Ed Cameron and Jennifer McMahon, about some of their favorite points of intersection between philosophy and pop culture. We discuss (among other things) the films of Harmony Korine, Sartre’s No Exit, Camus’s The Plague, and the online game Among Us. Just doing our part to keep things light and...

In this episode we talk about David Hume’s thoughts on miracles and beliefs as they apply to that ugliest of pop culture phenomenon: the conspiracy theory. Along the way we visit a couple of underground pizza parlors, talk with some lizard people, and dare Bill Gates to just try tracking our whereabouts. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0...

In this episode we talk about challenges to living an authentic life in light of some recent trends on social media. We address the timeless question: can someone truly be in bad faith if they are like really photogenic? Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Up Your Street...

In this (our 50th!) episode we talk about cancel culture as a pop culture phenomenon. We look a bit at the history of cancel culture and discuss the ethics of it. In the end we unwisely refrain from canceling ourselves. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com Slow Dissolve...

In this episode we talk about the myriad of philosophical issues raised in the MCU limited television series WandaVision. Along the way we discuss a number of really fun topics such as regret, life’s really devastating choices, death, existential dread, and the ship of Theseus. Music in this episode: "Attack of the Mole Men" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Fat Cartoon Jazz...