Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)

By Robert Harrison

Society & Culture Philosophy

What's Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) about?

The narcotic of intelligent conversation

4.5

204204 ratings

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Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) episodes:

04.18.2024
The Spirit of Rivers
A meandering monologue on rivers with our host, Professor Robert Harrison. Songs in this episode: “Getting Ready” by Frans Bak, and “You Better Move On” by Arthur Alexander.
03.28.2024
Crime in America with Scott Thomas Anderson
A conversation about crime in America with Scott Thomas Anderson, author of “Shadow People,” journalist for Sacramento News & Review, and producer of the podcasts “Drinkers with Writing Problems” and “Trace of the Devastation.” Songs in this episode: “Helen” by...
02.15.2024
Mindfulness in a Distracted World with Nate Klemp
A conversation with Nate Klemp, a philosopher, writer, and founding partner at Mindfulness Magazine, on practicing mindfulness in our fast-paced, technology-dependent world. He is also co-author of the New York Times bestseller “Start Here.” Songs in this episode: “Nausicaa” by...
02.01.2024
The Artificiality of Natural Intelligence with David Bates
In this philosophy-heavy episode, Professor Robert Harrison and David Bates, Professor of Rhetoric at UC Berkeley, discuss the “unnatural” origins of human technology and the difficulty of drawing sharp distinctions between artificial and natural intelligence. Songs in this episode: “Bourée”...
01.18.2024
Dante’s Characters: Part Four, Brunetto Latini
A monologue on Dante’s unflattering (and unjustified) portrait of his teacher, Brunetto Latini. This episode wraps up the first season of Robert Harrison’s series on “Dante’s Characters.” Songs in this episode: “La nuit du rat” by La Féline and “Preludio”...
01.04.2024
Dante’s Characters: Part Three, Guido da Montefeltro
A monologue on Guido da Montefeltro, a false counselor whose speech foreshadows literary modernism’s stream of consciousness. Songs in this episode: “Present Tense” by Radiohead and “Prufrock Blues” by Robert Harrison and Anne-Sophie Bine.
12.20.2023
Dante’s Characters: Part Two, Ulysses
A monologue on Dante’s Ulysses, the Homeric hero who, in Dante’s retelling, foregoes his return to Ithaca and opts instead to venture into the unknown and unpeopled world, at his own peril. Songs in this episode: “Winter Mind” by Robert...
12.14.2023
Dante’s Characters: Part One, Francesca da Rimini
A monologue on Dante’s famous love heroine, Francesca da Rimini. This episode is part one of a new mini-series on “Dante’s Characters,” set to air over the coming weeks, in which Professor Robert Harrison discusses some of the most fascinating...
12.08.2023
Garry Nolan on UFOs
A conversation with Garry Nolan, who is the Rachford and Carlota Harris Professor of Immunology in the Department of Pathology at Stanford. He has authored numerous medical research papers, has founded biotechnology companies, two of which are on the NASDAQ, and...
10.19.2023
Women and Madness
A conversation with Maria Massucco, who earned her PhD in Italian at Stanford in 2023. Her dissertation is titled “Woundedness and Reintegration: The Phenomenology and Transmission of Women’s Trauma in Modern and Contemporary Italy.” Songs in this episode: “Helen” by...
10.12.2023
Vico and Joyce
A conversation with Corey Dansereau, a PhD Candidate in Modern Thought and Literature at Stanford, about the impact of Giambattista Vico on James Joyce’s writing. Songs in this episode: “Echo” by Glass Wave, and “I Might Be Wrong” by Radiohead.
09.14.2023
Robert Harrison on Giambattista Vico
A monologue in which our host, Professor Robert Harrison, discusses the originality and continued relevance of Giambattista Vico’s New Science (1748). Songs in this episode: “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors, “Nausicaa” by Glass Wave, and “Cycle of Eternity”...
08.31.2023
On Gardenism with William Rosenzweig
A conversation with gardener, social entrepreneur, and venture investor William Rosenzweig about the ethics of care in the private and public spheres. Songs in this episode: “Bourée” by Jethro Tull and “A Lotus On Irish Streams” by Mahavishnu Orchestra.
08.24.2023
Lydia Maria Child: A Radical American
A conversation with philosopher and professor Lydia Moland about the life and thought of Lydia Maria Child, one of the best known American writers and abolitionists of the 19th century. Songs in this episode: “Bourée” by Jethro Tull and “Trampled...
08.04.2023
On World, Love, and Gloom: An Open Conversation with Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht
A conversation with Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, Albert Guérard Professor of Literature (Emeritus) at Stanford University. He is a recurring guest on Entitled Opinions, and he is back to discuss amor mundi, our collective future, and the role of love in...
07.28.2023
Amor Mundi: Robert Harrison on World Love
A monologue in which our host, Professor Robert Harrison, reflects on different kinds of human love, and above all, love of the world.
04.12.2023
Humanities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Ana Ilievska
Ana is a Mellon Fellow at the Stanford Humanities Center and a Lecturer of French and Italian at Stanford. Her teaching and research focus on the relationship between literature, the industrial revolution, and technology from a Southern perspective.
03.20.2023
The Enlightenment - A conversation with Pierre Saint-Amand
May 22, 2007--A conversation with Brown University Professor Pierre Saint-Amand on the dark side of the French Enlightenment.
03.20.2023
Hannah Arendt pt. 2 - A conversation with Karen Feldman
May 15, 2007--A continuation of the conversation with Professor Karen Feldman of Berkeley on the philosophy of Hannah Arendt.
03.20.2023
Hannah Arendt pt. 1 - A conversation with Karen Feldman
May 15, 2007--A conversation with Professor Karen Feldman of Berkeley on the philosophy of Hannah Arendt.
03.20.2023
Tom Thomson in Purgatory - A conversation with Troy Jollimore
May 8, 2007--A conversation with Poet and Professor of Philosophy Troy Jollimore on his award winning book of poetry. Tom Thomson in Purgatory won the 2007 Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry.
03.20.2023
Ancient Athenian Democracy - A conversation with Josiah Ober
May 1, 2007--A conversation with Stanford Professor Josiah Ober about democracy in ancient Athens.
03.20.2023
Higher Education - A conversation with John Hennessy
April 24, 2007--A conversation with Stanford President John Hennessy about the vocation of higher education, the role of the Humanities at Stanford, and the general mission of Stanford University.
03.20.2023
Dante Pt. 3 - A Conversation with Rachel Jacoff
April 17, 2007
03.20.2023
Dante Pt. 2 - A Conversation with Rachel Jacoff
April 17, 2007
03.20.2023
Dante Pt. 1 - A Conversation with Rachel Jacoff
April 10, 2007
03.20.2023
The Earthly Paradise - An Epilogue
June 20, 2006
03.20.2023
Concluding Opinions
June 13, 2006. Listen to Robert Harrison conclude Entitled Opinions' first year on the radio with a few reflections on birds.
03.20.2023
Henry James - A conversation with Colm Toibin
June 06, 2006. Listen to Irish novelist Colm Toibin speak about Henry James, the main character of his acclaimed novel, The Master.
03.20.2023
American Corporations - A conversation with Drew Gibson
May 30, 2006. Listen to Silicon Valley businessman Drew Gibson speak about the state of American corporations and the philosophy that governs them.
03.20.2023
The Virgin Mary - A conversation with Bissera Pentcheva
May 23, 2006. Listen to Stanford Art History Professor Bissera Pentcheva speak about the figure of the Virgin Mary in the early eastern and western churches.
03.20.2023
Cancer - Part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Michael Hendrickson
May 16, 2006. Listen to Stanford Medical School Professor and Doctor Michael Hendrickson speak about Cancer as a disorder of life.
03.20.2023
Life - Part 1 of a conversation with Dr. Michael Hendrickson
May 16, 2006. Listen to Stanford Medical School Professor and Doctor Michael Hendrickson address the question "What is Life?".
03.20.2023
The Avantgarde - A conversation with Marjorie Perloff
May 9, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Emerita Marjorie Perloff speak about the European Avantgarde.
03.20.2023
The US Constitution - A conversation with Kathleen Sullivan
May 2, 2006. Listen to Stanford Law Professor Kathleen Sullivan speak about the founding scriptures of the United States of America.
03.20.2023
Anti-Americanism - A conversation with Russell Berman
April 25, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Russell Berman speak about the historical and cultural causes of anti-Americanism.
03.20.2023
The Resurrection pt 2 - A conversation with Tom Sheehan
April 18, 2006. Part 2 of a conversation with Tom Sheehan on the Christ's resurrection.
03.20.2023
The Resurrection pt 1 - A conversation with Tom Sheehan
April 18, 2006. Part 1 of a conversation with Tom Sheehan on the Christ's resurrection.
03.20.2023
Americans in Paris - A conversation with Cécile Alduy
April 11, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Cécile Alduy speak about the long tradition of American writers in Paris, from Gertrude Stein to the beats.
03.20.2023
The History of the Book - A conversation with Seth Lerer
April 4, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Seth Lerer speak about the history and culture of the book.
03.20.2023
Love Poetry - A conversation with Lisa Dornell
March 14, 2006. Listen to KZSU DJ Lisa Dornell (aka "Decca") and Robert Harrison speak about and read love poetry from across the centuries.
03.20.2023
1910 - A conversation with Thomas Harrison
March 07, 2006. Listen to Professor Thomas Harrison of UCLA speak about the culture of expressionism in pre-WWI Europe.
03.20.2023
American Cemeteries - A conversation with Marilyn Yalom
February 28, 2006. Listen to Stanford Senior Scholar Marilyn Yalom speak about the cemeteries of America, including the cemeteries of New Orleans and what happened to them in the wake of Katrina,.
03.20.2023
The Fate of the Earth - A conversation with Paul Ehrlich
February 21, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Paul Ehrlich speak about evolution, ecology, population, and consumption. How humans have changed the face of the Earth.
03.20.2023
Isaac Babel - A conversation with Gregory Freidin
February 14, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Gregory Freidin speak about Isaac Babel and the fate of literature in the Soviet Union.
03.20.2023
The Man Without Qualities - A conversation with Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht
February 07, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht speak about the literary and philosophical aspects of Robert Musil's novel "The Man Without Qualities"
03.20.2023
The Historical Jesus - A conversation with Thomas Sheehan
January 31, 2006. Listen to Stanford Professor Thomas Sheehan speak about the historicity of Jesus. Who was he? What do we really know?
03.20.2023
Henry David Thoreau - A conversation with Kathryn Todd
January 24, 2006. Listen to Stanford graduate student and KZSU Program Director speak about Henry David Thoreau.
03.20.2023
Cosmology - A conversation with Andrei Linde
January 17, 2006. Listen to Cosmologist Andrei Linde speak about the theory of the inflationary universe.
03.20.2023
Shirley Hazzard - A conversation
January 10, 2006. Listen to Novelist Shirley Hazzard speak about her life and works.

What's Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) episodes:

The Spirit of Rivers

Crime in America with Scott Thomas Anderson

Mindfulness in a Distracted World with Nate Klemp

The Artificiality of Natural Intelligence with David Bates

Dante’s Characters: Part Four, Brunetto Latini

Dante’s Characters: Part Three, Guido da Montefeltro

Dante’s Characters: Part Two, Ulysses

Dante’s Characters: Part One, Francesca da Rimini

Garry Nolan on UFOs

Women and Madness

Vico and Joyce

Robert Harrison on Giambattista Vico

On Gardenism with William Rosenzweig

Lydia Maria Child: A Radical American

On World, Love, and Gloom: An Open Conversation with Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht

Amor Mundi: Robert Harrison on World Love

Humanities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Ana Ilievska

The Enlightenment - A conversation with Pierre Saint-Amand

Hannah Arendt pt. 2 - A conversation with Karen Feldman

Hannah Arendt pt. 1 - A conversation with Karen Feldman

Tom Thomson in Purgatory - A conversation with Troy Jollimore

Ancient Athenian Democracy - A conversation with Josiah Ober

Higher Education - A conversation with John Hennessy

Dante Pt. 3 - A Conversation with Rachel Jacoff

Dante Pt. 2 - A Conversation with Rachel Jacoff

Dante Pt. 1 - A Conversation with Rachel Jacoff

The Earthly Paradise - An Epilogue

Concluding Opinions

Henry James - A conversation with Colm Toibin

American Corporations - A conversation with Drew Gibson

The Virgin Mary - A conversation with Bissera Pentcheva

Cancer - Part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Michael Hendrickson

Life - Part 1 of a conversation with Dr. Michael Hendrickson

The Avantgarde - A conversation with Marjorie Perloff

The US Constitution - A conversation with Kathleen Sullivan

Anti-Americanism - A conversation with Russell Berman

The Resurrection pt 2 - A conversation with Tom Sheehan

The Resurrection pt 1 - A conversation with Tom Sheehan

Americans in Paris - A conversation with Cécile Alduy

The History of the Book - A conversation with Seth Lerer

Love Poetry - A conversation with Lisa Dornell

1910 - A conversation with Thomas Harrison

American Cemeteries - A conversation with Marilyn Yalom

The Fate of the Earth - A conversation with Paul Ehrlich

Isaac Babel - A conversation with Gregory Freidin

The Man Without Qualities - A conversation with Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht

The Historical Jesus - A conversation with Thomas Sheehan

Henry David Thoreau - A conversation with Kathryn Todd

Cosmology - A conversation with Andrei Linde

Shirley Hazzard - A conversation