Bad Philosophy

Have you ever been sitting in a horror movie and right after that moment when the bad guy leaps out and you spring about four inches off your seat, turned to yourself and gone “Why did I do that? I know this isn’t real.” If so, then you’ve most definitely experienced the Paradox of Fiction. The Texas Tech Philosophy Department‘s own visiting professor Dr. Darren Hick recently joined us on BF to discuss this crazy conundrum in the world of aesthetics. The indomitable Kevin Saunders also dropped by to pitch in his two cents on the subject. So please, suspend your disbelief, go irrational, and remember that Batman is most certainly not Clark Kent as you enjoy this episode of BF…

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors” by Moxy Fruvous

It’s easy to take our perceptions for granted. Colors, shapes, smells, and so forth are for the most part universal. But some people have this kickass condition called synesthesia, where their wires get crossed and their perceptions get… interesting. BF was privileged to get a man who sees letters and numbers as colors on the show, Shawn Brackett. Never one to miss out on a good freak show, Damn Good Philosopher of Religion Dr. Mark Webb also decided drop by, with Numero Uno Fanboy Jed Cummins and the Uke-tastic Kevin Saunders. Best f***ing believe, it was the trippiest BF ever. Take a look…

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Roy G. Biv” by They Might Be Giants

Can you believe it? Fifty episodes! FIVE OH! Well… that is if you sorta count Episode Zero, don’t count the Lost Episode, count Episode 21b as Episode 21, count Episode 42b as Episode 42, count Episodes 46 and 49 even though they’re video only and… aw, screw it, just humor us, okay?

So in homage to our very first gathering, Kevin, Jed, Bryan, David, Matt, Michael Atellano, and I all gathered at the Freebird’s in Lubbock where it all started over a year ago and recorded the downright s***tiest episode since that fateful day (audio-wise, at least). Plenty of B, sprinkled with a little F, all wrapped up in a FAILtilla – just like you like it. Have a listen (and please, for the love of God, buy something from us). We love you!!!

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Title of the Song” by Da Vinci’s Notebook

We hear a lot of talk these days about “Integrity,” and how it’s all good to have and such. But what does it even mean to have integrity? In this episode BF took a trip to Curzertown (the realm of Texas Tech philosophy professor Dr. Howard Curzer) to find out the answer. Ad-hoc philosopher Michael Hayslip also joined us for another appearance, and sadly we did without the presence of the good Kevin Saunders. Somehow we survived though, and came up with quite the F-isode in the process. Check it out!

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “A Talk With George” by Jonathan Coulton

Input, Achiever, Restorative, Deliberative… to many these are but a few odd-sounding words, but to those of us here at BF they are the vocabulary of success and self-knowledge itself. They are Strengths, as defined by the Gallup Organization’s StrengthsFinder assessment. This past weekend Jay Killough of Texas Tech University Career Services joined us to discuss the assessment, its philosophy of success, and his own WOO-nature. Kevin Saunders and Jed Cummins also came along for the ride, with Bryan Mitchell providing camera support. We had a grand old time. Enjoy!

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Handlebars” by Flobots

Stop me if you’ve heard this one… a pianist, a mathematician, and a crab walk into a bar. No wait… I forget how the rest goes. Anyway, this week Julie Meadows, now back from the future, joined me alongside sneezing philosopher Michael Hayslip and spaghetti extraordinaire Kevin Saunders to talk about some music. I think it’s safe to call this one a solid F-isode, people. So grab yourself a bowl of Raisin Brahms, hang onto your mobius strip, and enjoy this aurally stimulating installment of BF…

(No embedded video, but you can check out the archived clips here)

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Hurt” by Johnny Cash

Beer. That oh-so-ubiquitous alcoholic beverage. It has been the bane and boon of many a man’s life over the centuries, and now it has finally arrived (officially) here at Bad Philosophy. Local Texas Tech physics student Catherine Chesnutt kindly hosted the show in her back yard shack, where Eric Beutlich, Josh Clemmons, Kevin Saunders and I came together in splendid inebriation to talk causation, epistemology, and much more over some delicious Planters Peanuts. So grab a cold one, settle in, and enjoy some authentic beer philosophy…

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Galaxy Song” by Monty Python

It should be no surprise to you that we here are, for the most part, poor college students doing this for a hobby. Nevertheless, in this exciting world of new media opportunities and inexplicable successes, we cannot help but hold a glimmer of hope for a future in which we roll around in big piles money for BF-ing all day long. This week Kevin, Jed, and I discuss merchandise, cultural shifts, and the future of the show. Got an idea that we didn’t cover? Leave us a comment! We promise we’ll listen.

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Money Song” by Monty Python

Imagine yourself in a movie theater. It is the only place you’ve ever known. The smell of popcorn, the sticky floors, and of course the endless projected movies on the screen are your reality. What would you believe about “the real world” if this was all you knew? Would you even believe there was one if someone told you?

Plato asked questions like this over 2000 years ago in his infamous “Allegory of the Cave” from The Republic. On this historic episode, Kevin Saunders and I read and discuss the dialogue itself… in character (yes, we are that awesome). You can read along with us if you’d like (trust us, the wording can get pretty thick).

On a side note, we’re also ONE YEAR OLD as of a few days ago! Please wish us a happy birthday if you’d like, and then go listen to Episode Zero while shedding a nostalgic tear.

Stickam version below of course:

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “Bruce’s Philosophers’ Song” by Monty Python

Eastern thought has been a curiosity for Western culture ever since Marco Polo made his epic journey to Asia in the 1200s. The legacy of this curiosity lives on, and so Bad Philosophy has decided to undertake the momentous task of reconciling Eastern and Western philosophy in a single episode (because we’re just awesome like that). Joining me for his first episode ever is mechanical engineering graduate student Sean Mullen, alongside an uncharacteristically in-person Kevin Saunders. NUF (Numero Uno Fanboy) Jed Cummins worked the camera (sort of) and despite many technical difficulties we actually managed some good conversation. So grab a fortune cookie, sit down on your tatami, and have a listen…

You can also watch the live *UNCENSORED* Stickam recording below.

This week’s post-show song pimpage: “I Like Chinese” by Monty Python