In this episode of Good Is In The Details, hosts Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo are joined by philosopher and author Bill Tomlinson to explore the foundations of critical thinking and the practice of philosophy. Drawing from his book Dialogues with Artificial Intelligence: On the Tools of Philosophy, the conversation offers an accessible introduction to how philosophers think — and how anyone can develop clearer, more rigorous reasoning.

What is philosophy, and how do philosophers approach complex questions? What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning? How do definitions, distinctions, and paradoxes shape philosophical thinking? This episode addresses these commonly asked questions while guiding listeners through the essential tools used in philosophical inquiry.

The discussion also explores a timely question: Can artificial intelligence support critical thinking rather than replace it? Tomlinson explains how students, educators, and curious learners can engage with AI as a tool for reflection, questioning, and deeper reasoning — without surrendering the work of thinking itself.

Listeners will explore:

• what philosophy is and how philosophical thinking works

• the foundations of critical thinking and clear reasoning

• inductive vs. deductive reasoning explained

• what a paradox is and why paradoxes matter in philosophy

• how making distinctions improves understanding and argument

• how educators and students can use AI to strengthen, not replace, thinking

Blending philosophy, education, and accessible explanation, this episode offers a clear introduction to philosophical inquiry while inviting listeners to think more carefully about how they reason, question, and understand the world.

Get your copy of Bill's book: Dialogues with Artificial Intelligence: On The Tools of Philosophy

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In this special mini-episode of Good Is In The Details, hosts Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo step away from their usual expert interview format to pause and reflect on the current cultural and political climate and the emotional weight many of us are carrying right now.

Rather than taking a political position, this conversation acknowledges something more fundamental: the news, public discourse, and lived reality are affecting all of us, including those of us who spend our time thinking, teaching, and talking about ideas. With particular attention to what's unfolding in Minnesota and ongoing conversations around ICE, Gwendolyn and Rudy share a candid, intentionally unpolished dialogue about how they themselves are processing what they're seeing and hearing.

The focus of this episode is critical thinking as a lived practice. Together, the hosts explore:

• how observation and context shape understanding

• why considering multiple causal factors matters

• how bias — conscious and unconscious — influences interpretation

• and what it means to think carefully in emotionally charged moments

This episode offers listeners concrete tools for engaging the news thoughtfully and for navigating difficult conversations with others — not by retreating from complexity, but by slowing down and paying closer attention to how meaning is constructed.

Good Is In The Details is dedicated to helping us learn what we didn't know we didn't know. This conversation is an invitation to think together — honestly, imperfectly, and with care — when clarity feels hardest to come by.

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On this anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Good Is In The Details revisits one of history's most consequential moments in engineering, ethics, and public trust. On January 28, 1986, the Challenger broke apart just 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members and shocking the world.

In this encore episode, Gwendolyn Dolske, Rudy Salo, and Engineering Professor Phil Rosenkrantz explore what really happened behind the scenes, the technical causes of the catastrophic O-ring failure, and the deeply human decisions that led NASA and its contractor to proceed with launch despite known risks.

We dive into engineering ethics and professional responsibility, discussing how engineers' concerns were raised and then overruled, and what that teaches us about risk, organizational pressure, and moral reasoning in high-stakes contexts.

Whether you're interested in spaceflight history, engineering ethics case studies, or the broader public philosophy of how societies make and justify risky decisions, this episode offers a thoughtful, philosophically framed examination of one of the most studied disasters in aerospace history.

🎧 Listen as we unpack the technical details, ethical dilemmas, and lessons for leaders, engineers, and citizens alike.

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What did the Aztecs believe about ethics, virtue, and the good life? How does Aztec philosophy compare to Aristotle's ethics? And what can Aztec moral thought teach us about community, responsibility, and flourishing today?

In this episode of Good Is In The Details, we explore the philosophy and ethics of the Aztecs with philosophy professor Sebastian Purcell, author of The Wisdom of the Aztecs and The Outward Path. Together, we examine how Aztec moral philosophy challenges modern assumptions about individualism, happiness, and success.

Rather than grounding ethics in individual achievement or rational perfection, Aztec philosophy emphasizes balance, struggle, and communal responsibility. Purcell explains how Aztec thinkers understood human life as inherently fragile and why moral excellence was cultivated through shared practices, rituals, and social roles.

We place Aztec ethics in dialogue with Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, contrasting Aristotle's focus on individual virtue and rational activity with the Aztec view that flourishing emerges from belonging, contribution, and endurance within a community.

Listeners will learn:

What is Aztec philosophy and how did the Aztecs understand ethics?

How does Aztec ethics differ from Greek philosophy and Aristotle?

What does Aztec moral thought say about happiness, struggle, and meaning?

How can Aztec ethical ideas be practiced in everyday life today?

This conversation offers concrete examples of how Aztec ethics can inform modern life, especially in times of uncertainty, by shifting our focus from individual success to mutual support, resilience, and shared responsibility.

If you're searching for Aztec philosophy explained, ethics in Aztec culture, or comparative philosophy between Aristotle and Indigenous traditions, this episode offers a thoughtful, accessible introduction grounded in scholarship and lived application.

Learn more about Professor Purcell: https://sebastianpurcell.com

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Who was Socrates, and why does he still matter today? In this short episode of Good Is In The Details, Gwendolyn explore Socrates' understanding of wisdom and virtue through Plato's Apology, and why philosophy sees critical thinking as a path toward the good life.

Gwendolyn gives an accessible introduction of what critical thinking is, why it matters beyond the classroom, and how we've practiced public philosophy throughout 2025 with our guests.

This episode is perfect for listeners searching for philosophy podcasts, educational podcasts, public philosophy, or a deeper understanding of how learning to think well can shape a meaningful life.

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Gwendolyn and Rudy welcome founder/president of Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, Dr. Dermell Brunson. In this episode we focus on the importance of the arts in education, how it contributes to creative skills, connection with community, and self-esteem. Dr. Brunson debunks the myth that the arts are tangential to a good education. Quite the opposite! Students learn the value of discipline through the process of artistic expression and this paves the way for improved mental health and career opportunities.

We address several common questions like:

How does arts education benefit children?

Is arts education linked to academic success?

What skills do students learn from arts?

How do the arts support social and emotional learning?

Learn more about Dermell's work: https://www.ltyc.net/our-history

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Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo welcome Psychology Professor Dr. Bruno De Oliveira to unpack the real problems with the modern self-help industry. Why does self-help culture thrive despite offering oversimplified advice? How does it ignore the structural forces that shape mental distress? And what does evidence-based psychology actually say about wellbeing?

We discuss the rise of pseudo-psychology, the limits of mindset-based advice, and how institutional practices, social inequality, and lived experiences contribute to mental distress. A thoughtful conversation for listeners interested in critical psychology, philosophy, ethics, and the science behind wellbeing.

Drawing from critical community psychology, critical realism, and interdisciplinary research, Dr. De Oliveira explores how institutional practices, social inequality, and lived experiences, especially among those facing homelessness or welfare systems, challenge the myth that personal mindset alone determines success.

We examine: limits of positive thinking, pseudo-psychology in the self-help space, the wellness industry vs. scientific psychology, how social economics shape mental distress, and why individualistic advice often fails marginalized communities.

Learn more about Dr. Bruno: https://www.chi.ac.uk/people/dr-bruno-de-oliveira/

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In this solo episode of Good Is In The Details, Gwendolyn Dolske, PhD explores the lives, ideas, and philosophical impact of four remarkable twentieth-century thinkers: Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, and Mary Midgley. Drawing inspiration from Benjamin J.B. Lipscomb's The Women Are Up To Something, the episode examines how these philosophers reshaped modern moral philosophy and offered a powerful alternative to earlier approaches to ethics.

Who were these four women philosophers, and why are they so influential in the history of philosophy? How did they challenge dominant ethical theories of their time? What is virtue ethics, and how does it differ from rule-based morality? Through biography, history, and philosophical reflection, this episode answers these commonly asked questions while revealing how Murdoch, Anscombe, Foot, and Midgley transformed the way we think about ethics, moral responsibility, character, and human life.

Listeners will explore:

• the philosophical relationship between Murdoch, Anscombe, Foot, and Midgley

• how twentieth-century moral philosophy shifted away from strict rule-based ethics

• what virtue ethics is and why it remains influential today

• how biography and historical context shaped their philosophical ideas

• why these women were pivotal figures in a traditionally male-dominated field

Blending history, philosophy, and accessible explanation, this episode makes complex ethical ideas understandable and meaningful for students, educators, and curious listeners alike. Whether you are new to philosophy or deeply interested in ethics, this discussion offers insight into how moral thinking evolved — and why these thinkers continue to matter today.

Learn more about Professor Libscomb's work: https://www.houghton.edu/staff-members/benjamin-lipscomb/

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Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo talk with Professor Neil McArthur (University of Manitoba) about his work on the ethics of sexbots.

Are sexbots the future of human connection or a threat to it? Explore the fascinating intersection of ethics, technology, and intimacy. Together, they unpack cultural anxieties, philosophical implications, and the surprising ways AI companions might actually be good for society.

From the film Ex Machina to real-world robotics, this conversation examines what it means to be human when machines start to mimic love, emotion, and desire. Whether you're curious about AI ethics, the philosophy of technology, or how innovation challenges our moral compass, this episode invites you to think deeper.

What you'll learn: Why fears around sexbots may be misplaced, how technology redefines intimacy and autonomy, and what philosophy teaches us about love, consent, and machine ethics.

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Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo invite Physicist Samir Varma (The Science of Free Will) to discuss how AI reveals our understanding of the classical philosophical debate: Free Will vs Determinism. What are the possibilities with AI and how can it be useful without disrupting our humanity? Are we purely material beings interacting with an "alien" intelligence? If all of our actions and thoughts are caused does that necessarily mean we are not free? Critical Thinking + Practical Philosophy + Science.

Get Samir's book: The Science of Free Will.

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Pod music by Rich Balling.