Other Life

I'm joined by Nina Power and DC Miller to discuss Plato's Republic. Topics include physical training and physical pleasure, philosophy under political repression, the training of philosophy, wealth, social class, and the role of irony in philosophy.

Starting with the opening scene of The Republic, we explore how philosophy operates under political pressure and the relationship between justice, truth, and madness. We discuss the role of wealth in philosophical pursuit, Christianity's synthesis of Greek philosophical ideas, and whether philosophy should be universally accessible or the province of a select few.

03:02 Plato’s Republic and Justice 
07:09 Should Philosophy Be Popular? 
14:35 Wealth 
34:29 Thinking 
35:17 Christianity and Free Speech 
36:43 Beauty 
38:11 Philosophy and Social Class 
43:26 Madness and Philosophy 
53:28 The Role of Physical Training in Philosophy 
59:51 Irony

I explore Nietzsche's critique of Christianity in The Genealogy of Morals, and specifically how it stands against what we find in the New Testament, especially the Gospel of John. Nietzsche’s understanding of Christian belief as naive and slavish is inconsistent with the sophisticated epistemology presented by John. I discuss the pursuit of truth, the function of miracles, and the essence of sin according to John. Christ seems to be advocating for the pursuit of truth, not some kind of naive, blind faith. Nietzsche’s accusations against Christianity just don't hold up, and probably reflect his own personal struggles with resentment.

Other Life
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• (00:00) - Nietzsche vs. John

For references, see Nietzsche on the Pride of the Philosopher in Contrast to the Slave

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A personal reflection and update on my 5-year journey to design a new kind of scholarly life for the internet era. In a previous podcast, I shared how the Other Life company hit some hard times. Here I explain what I learned from that, and how I've turned it around. I share some meditations on the pursuit of weird goals, finding one's own path, and some new things I've come to learn about entrepreneurship. The ultimate meaning and purpose of the "other life" concept has really come home to me in the past few months.

Other Life

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• (00:00) - A Late Night Message

On muddling through, faith, and the absurdity of pursuing a singular creative vision on the open market...

A story about the past few months of Other Life (and the next few).

✦ If you’re in the Los Angeles area, come to our meetup tomorrow Friday Dec. 1 at 3pm in Santa Monica. RSVP here.

Other Life

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I'm joined by author William Egginton to discuss his new book The Rigor of Angels. We talk Borges, Kant, and Heisenberg—and the big idea(s) they had in common. We discuss the antimonies of knowledge and the possibility that art is their solution. We discuss Coltrane, intelligence, creativity, biography, academia, and specialization vs. generalism. At the end, we discuss writing and publishing, the changing landscape of the book publishing industry, and how to think about writing for different audiences.

Chapters:
(0:00:00) - The Rigor of Angels
(0:10:43) - The Antinomies of Knowledge
(0:19:55) - Impact of Great Art and Thinkers
(0:23:41) - Curiosity and Conviviality
(0:30:31) - Creativity and Intelligence
(0:43:28) - The Future of Writing and Publishing
(0:49:27) - Academic vs. Popular Writing

William Egginton:
✦ Buy the Rigor of Angels: https://amzn.to/3Rj3fDV
✦ William on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WilliamEgginton

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We dissect the complex life of Ezra Pound, one of the most interesting and controversial poetic geniuses of the 20th century. You'll gain insight into: Why Pound was so influential, his extraordinary talent-spotting skills, and his knack for turning vibrant social scenes into artistic movements. However, be prepared for a rollercoaster ride, as we also delve into the darker sides of Pound's life, including his descent into Fascism and anti-semitism. I believe the story is a cautionary tale about resentment, the modern passion par excellence, and a dangerous trap for people who rebel against institutions.

This podcast will help you understand Pound's poetic and cultural innovations, including Imagism and Vorticism, and how his strong opinions and unique perspective propelled him, despite his controversial and often off-putting personality. We'll recount his turbulent career during WWI and WWII, his friendship with W.B. Yeats, the launch of Blast Magazine, and much more.

This podcast is based on a close reading of Ezra Pound: The Solitary Volcano (1987) by John Tytell.

Chapters

(0:00:00) - Intro
(0:04:04) - Summary of Lessons From Ezra Pound's Life
(0:17:22) - Dense Networks and Creative Success
(0:26:26) - Imagism and Vorticism
(0:37:05) - Wyndham Lewis and Blast Magazine
(0:42:41) - A Restless and Controversial Personality
(0:53:07) - Taste, Talent-Spotting, and Pound's Extreme Generosity
(1:04:52) - Downward Spiral
(1:18:29) - Ezra Pound's Reflections Late in Life
(1:22:07) - Final Lessons

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• (00:00) - Overview

A deep dive into the life of William S. Burroughs based on a close reading of Ted Morgan's 1988 biography, Literary Outlaw: The Life and Times of William S. Burroughs. Burroughs is one of the most independent creative spirits of the 20th century. My goal is to understand how he did it; how he remained so free but was also so influential and successful.

I discuss his transformation from a heroin addict living off his parents' allowance to an internationally acclaimed writer, who was inducted into the Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 1983. Hear about his unique brand of conservative anarchism, his significant influence on the counterculture of the '60s and '70s, his parenting, and the social-psychological correlates of his creative freedom.

Burroughs was a blend of the Yankee inventor and the fire-and-brimstone Methodist preacher. We explore his grandfather's invention of the arithmometer and his uncle Ivy Lee's career as a public relations expert. These stories shed light on the roots of Burroughs' radical literary career, which combined a penchant for invention with a desire to go his own way and attack the respectable order of things.

I also discuss Burroughs' late entry into writing and his experiences as a heroin user and a criminal, which taught him a lot about how the world works. I explore his failed attempt to build a commercial farm, his theory of 'factualism', which anticipates Nick Land and Deleuze, and much more.

What did you think of this format, dedicated to a close reading of a great writer's biography? I'd love to hear from you.

Chapters

• 00:00 William S Burroughs' Unconventional Life
• 06:30 Burroughs' Complex Heritage
• 16:55 Burroughs' Late Blooming
• 30:40 The Critical Importance of Small Private Friend Groups
• 43:49 Lessons From Burroughs' Life
• 50:25 What Wild Looks Like: An Anecdote
• 59:08 Did Burroughs Murder his Wife?
• 07:35 The Controversial Success of Burroughs' Novels
• 15:27 More Lessons From the Life of Burroughs

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• (00:00) - - William S Burroughs' Unconventional Life

We discuss the life and times of John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969), the influential author behind the classic novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. We're joined by independent writer Dan Baltic, who teaches us some of the lessons he has learned from Toole's life and career.

Dive into the captivating world of A Confederacy of Dunces, as we discuss the book's main character, Ignatius J Riley; learn how Toole's persistence (or lack thereof) serves as a cautionary tale for contemporary independent writers; as well as the parallels between Toole's struggles and Dan's rise as an independent author on the internet. Dan shares his experience building an audience on Twitter, publishing his first novel, and the lessons he's learned himself.

We try to unlock the strategies and goals of dissident writers, and how independent authors like Dan are able to make a living and continue producing great art. We'll discuss the pros and cons of traditional publishing deals, vs. the world of independent publishing.

Chapters:
(0:03:46) - Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces"
(0:15:45) - John Kennedy Tool's Life and Work
(0:29:40) - Persistence and Patience for Writers
(0:33:21) - Navigating the Confusion of Independent Publishing
(0:43:02) - Building a Twitter Audience for Success
(0:48:34) - Unlocking Twitter for Independent Writers
(1:02:17) - Success for Independent Writers
(1:13:09) - Lessons for Starting a Project

Dan Baltic:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/baltic_dan
NUTCRANKR - https://terrorhousepress.com/product/nutcrankr/

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Can artificial intelligence ever truly replace the human mind? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the delicate balance between embracing AI's power for mechanical tasks, such as summarizing and translating, while preserving the uniquely human elements that make great works truly great.

Join us as we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, breaking down categorical humanism and unreconstructed Faustianism, two alternative viewpoints on the topic. We discuss why neither position is fully consistent or defensible, and the importance of understanding the different aspects of human cognition in order to determine which elements can be outsourced to machines and which must remain uniquely human. Don't miss this fascinating conversation about where we draw the line between human intelligence and machine intelligence.

Chapters:

(00:00:22) - Two Futures for AI
(00:05:11) - What Should Writers Outsource To AI?

Other Life
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