
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
How did the Aztecs understand life, morality, and human purpose? What can Aztec philosophy teach us about living well?
Sebastian Purcell guides us through Aztec thought, beginning with a thought experiment from Homer’s Odyssey and moving into the core ideas of Aztec wisdom.
Along the way, he contrasts Aztec ethics with Western traditions and applies them to modern debates on morality, from sex and meat consumption to life’s ultimate purpose. The conversation also takes on difficult topics like human sacrifice and sexual norms, showing how Aztec thought continues to challenge and enrich philosophy today.
Chapters:
[00:32] Odysseus and the Genie: A Thought Experiment
[04:40] The Concept of Rootedness
[08:17] Aztec Obligations and the Good Life
[19:12] Shared Agency and Virtue
[27:51] The Challenge of Community Bubbles
[28:58] Aztec Views on Community and Travel
[32:44] Human Sacrifice: Myth or Reality?
[48:51] Aztec Moral Framework and Applied Ethics
[53:03] Sexual Ethics in Aztec Society
[57:06] Conclusion and Final Thoughts
4.3
4646 ratings
How did the Aztecs understand life, morality, and human purpose? What can Aztec philosophy teach us about living well?
Sebastian Purcell guides us through Aztec thought, beginning with a thought experiment from Homer’s Odyssey and moving into the core ideas of Aztec wisdom.
Along the way, he contrasts Aztec ethics with Western traditions and applies them to modern debates on morality, from sex and meat consumption to life’s ultimate purpose. The conversation also takes on difficult topics like human sacrifice and sexual norms, showing how Aztec thought continues to challenge and enrich philosophy today.
Chapters:
[00:32] Odysseus and the Genie: A Thought Experiment
[04:40] The Concept of Rootedness
[08:17] Aztec Obligations and the Good Life
[19:12] Shared Agency and Virtue
[27:51] The Challenge of Community Bubbles
[28:58] Aztec Views on Community and Travel
[32:44] Human Sacrifice: Myth or Reality?
[48:51] Aztec Moral Framework and Applied Ethics
[53:03] Sexual Ethics in Aztec Society
[57:06] Conclusion and Final Thoughts
790 Listeners
2,105 Listeners
2,668 Listeners
865 Listeners
26,376 Listeners
1,600 Listeners
589 Listeners
1,542 Listeners
304 Listeners
251 Listeners
907 Listeners
4,155 Listeners
132 Listeners
816 Listeners
258 Listeners