Deviate

Notes on the philosophy (and deeper meaning) of travel, with Emily Thomas


Listen Later

“Asking questions about travel, and exploring ways philosophy has changed travel, can help us think more deeply about our journeys.” – Emily Thomas

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Emily discuss the relationship between philosophy and travel (2:00); speculative fiction as a form of travel writing, and the relationship between feminism and travel (13:30); maps as a way of representing the world, and the aesthetic significance of mountains (24:00); beauty versus the sublime, and American naturalism and literature (32:00); and “cabin porn” and doom travel (40:00).

Emily Thomas (@emilytwrites) is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Durham University. She completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge, and has published extensively on the philosophy of space and time. She is  the author of The Meaning of Travel. For more about Emily, check out https://emilythomaswrites.co.uk.

Notable Links:

  • Age of Discovery (period of European exploration)
  • Francis Bacon (philosopher)
  • Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe (book)
  • The Blazing World, by Margaret Cavendish (book)
  • Mary Kingsley (explorer)
  • Isabella Bird (explorer/writer)
  • Mary Wollstonecraft (philosopher/writer)
  • Egeria (pilgrim)
  • Utopia, by Thomas More (book)
  • Henry David Thoreau (philosopher/naturalist)
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson (philosopher/essayist)
  • Climate change (large-scale shift in global weather)
  • Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer (book)
  • René Descartes (philosopher)
  • The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

    Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    DeviateBy Rolf Potts

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    161 ratings


    More shows like Deviate

    View all
    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,767 Listeners

    Zero To Travel Podcast by Jason Moore

    Zero To Travel Podcast

    829 Listeners

    Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

    Good Life Project

    3,326 Listeners

    Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

    Making Sense with Sam Harris

    26,365 Listeners

    The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance by Dave Asprey

    The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance

    7,235 Listeners

    Ram Dass Here And Now by Ram Dass / Love Serve Remember

    Ram Dass Here And Now

    2,604 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,156 Listeners

    The Science of Happiness by PRX and Greater Good Science Center

    The Science of Happiness

    1,903 Listeners

    The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

    The Peter Attia Drive

    9,083 Listeners

    The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

    The Daily Stoic

    4,912 Listeners

    Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

    Deep Questions with Cal Newport

    1,314 Listeners

    Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

    Huberman Lab

    29,196 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,056 Listeners

    All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life by Chris Hutchins

    All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

    1,613 Listeners

    Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin by Rick Rubin

    Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

    1,066 Listeners