In this brief series, I want to pause to reflect on some of the meanings accessible to us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a risky business, of course. It is easy to say too much too soon, and yet it seems a risk worth taking if some sense can be made of this time of crisis and catastrophe. This reflection, as usual, is informed by the great Judeo-Christian tradition and its rich storehouse of stories and symbols.

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Support this podcast: patreon.com/unorthodoxy

In this episode, we'll briefly explore what makes an artwork bad. As you’ll discover, it turns out that figuring out what makes an artwork bad can lead us to a surprising understanding of what makes a number of other non-artwork-type things bad, including ideologies and sermons.

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Imagine you’re reading an article online, and you notice a picture at the bottom of the screen, with a headline below it that reads: “This guy went to hug an elephant. What happens next will blow your mind.” You want to know what happens next, so you click on the link. But why? What made you want to click on that image with that headline rather than on the one that read: “Man washes dishes and discovers that soap helps.” Turns out, there are many things that are true but not so very interesting, and there are many things that are interesting even if they are not necessarily true. Is it possible for truth itself to be interesting? What could this all mean?

We're revisiting an ancient but vital skill: how to ask good questions.

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What makes something interesting? Intended more as a provocation than as a robust argument, in this episode, I briefly explore the relationship between the interesting and the true. The subject of the interesting is bound to come up again in the near future, so consider this a short and possibly inadequate introduction.

Twitter: @duncanreyburn

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What is the meaning of (the fact that people share) funny animal videos on the internet? In this brief episode, we explore this question with reference to the idea of analogy and with a small dose of Aristotle's perspective on the human soul thrown in for good measure.

Twitter: @duncanreyburn

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A recording of a talk given in 2018: A playful exploration of the question 'Why' and some of its metaphysical and existential implications. Just for the sheer (onto)logical joy of it, a philosophical proof of God's existence is also part of the mix.

Twitter: @duncanreyburn

Here is a brief and imperfect archeology of the present.

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Twitter: @duncanreyburn