I Learned Nothing

Pat was feeling agitated so Ben initiates him into the unflappable school of Stoicism. In Part 2 of our Second Greek Triple Stack, Ben & Pat explore the life & thought of founder Zeno of Citium, who emphasized the use of Reason to live according to Nature, mastery of the Passions to achieve happiness, and generally how to be less of a pussy. They also discuss Stoicism's popularity with the Romans, especially as adopted by philosopher/Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Pat was feeling cynical so Ben schools him in the Ancient Greek philosophy of Cynicism, pioneered by uncompromising sage/public masturbator Diogenes of Sinope. Pat & Ben recount Diogenes' crazy antics to illustrate the principles & values that underpin the Cynical ethos: an austere lifestyle, speaking truth to power, and a wholesale rejection of conventional morality (hence the public masturbating).

Pat was feeling revolutionary so Ben explains to him the philosophy of Cornel West, former Princeton professor and Ben's close, personal friend. Close enough to call him "Brother." Pat & Ben explore Brother West's ideas on socialism, neo-pragmatism, and the historicity of democracy. Most importantly, Pat learns how to turn philosophy into action through PRAXIS: Practicing Radical Astronauts Xenophobes Is Stupid.

Pat was feeling schizophrenic so Ben brings in an expert to set him straight: our 4th guest Carina Magyar! Carina and Ben help Pat navigate the thorniest of philosophical issues: What is the Self? Which part of the Self corresponds to which member of the WuTang Clan? Did Michael Jordan kill his dad? What would you do if an exact copy of you threw a concert on Mars? Find out on the latest installment of I Learned Nothing!

Pat was feeling Caledonian so Ben introduces him to the groundbreaking philosophy of Scottish genius David Hume. Ben guides Pat through the misty moors of our mind, explaining how Hume, the Groundskeeper Willy of Philosophy, tackled the issues of causation, logical induction, and the ‘is/ought’ distinction in morality. How can we predict anything based on what we've seen before? What makes murder wrong? Get learnt ya daft fookin wankers!

Pat was feeling haunted by the ghosts of our past so Ben introduces him to The Archetypes and Carl Jung's theory of the Collective Unconscious. Deep within our psyche lives a retinue of ancient comic book characters -- the Hero, the Trickster, the Shadow, Santos the Grill Cook -- who provide the basis of our myths and have influenced our species' behavior for eons. Let's get to know them. Also, Pat learns that the continents don't just float on top of the ocean, which...Jesus, Pat, c'mon.

Pat was feeling unenlightened so Ben blesses Pat with the story of The Enlightenment. Back in the 1700's, a bunch of French perverts got together and decided enough was enough. Church and State should be kept separate. The King is a douche bag. We should only use reason to decide how to live. Also, apparently Jean-Jacques Rousseau became King Pop Daddy of the Enlightenment after a tortured childhood full of spanking and sex with older broads. Noice!

Pat was feeling trapped so Ben teaches him about Vedanta, one of the six classical schools of Hindu philosophy. After an in depth tour of The Hindu Cinematic Universe, Ben explains the central concepts of samsara, moksha, karma, atman and Brahma. In other words, how do we escape the prison of endless birth, death & rebirth so we can finally reunite our souls with the Ultimate Reality? Ben & Pat also revisit their Catholic upbringing and confirm that Stan Lee sucks and should just die already. Namaste!

Pat was feeling spiteful so he made Ben explain the philosophy of problematic genius/unapologetic Nazi Martin Heidegger. Through his teeth, Ben tells Pat about Heidegger's earth-shattering insights on Being, his cowardly involvement with the Nazi party, and the unique experience of human beings as the only form of Being conscious of itself and its own inevitable death. The Wisdom Boys also discuss the artistic work of evil men and Pat reveals that his father is a retired judge who murdered dogs. This ep is packed with flavor, you guys.

Pat was feeling blasphemous so Ben reveals to him the secret teachings of The New Atheists. Also known as "The Four Horsemen" by every freshman in your dorm who considered himself a genius, this quartet of smug pricks includes rival podcaster Sam Harris, deceased British drunk Christopher Hitchens, zoologist and memelord Richard Dawkins, and actual philosopher Daniel Dennett. Like the old atheists, they deny the existence of God and the immortality of the soul. However, these nerds think religion is actively harmful and must be stopped. Is Pat up to the challenge?