Philosophy After Hours

In this episode we discuss the social function of prestige. We esteem highly the one who comes from an elite school, gets published by an illustrious press, or has their art on exhibition at MoMA. But is our economy of prestige pernicious? Main episode begins at 17:06.

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Text: Slavoj Žižek and Boris Gunjević, God in Pain: Inversions of Apocalypse (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2012), 156-158.

In this episode we discuss the New Age theory/identity of 'Starseeds:' a spiritually advanced soul born on Earth to shepherd humans to a higher state of consciousness. But does this theory inadvertently suggest a broadly misanthropic worldview? Hear what we think!

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.

Text: B.C. Franklin, "The Tulsa Race Riot and Three of Its Victims," pg. 8-10.

In this episode we discuss the eulogies "Rest in Peace" and "Rest in Power". What do they each signify about the legacy of the dead? Is one preferable to the other? Does peace point to a more utopian vision, beyond the instrumentality of power and enduring struggle? Main episode begins at 27:35

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.

Text: Wikipedia entry on "Ghost"

In this episode we sit down with our good friend, and Arendt scholar, Dave to discuss Arendt's philosophy around the phenomenon of civil disobedience. How does her conception of civil disobedience differ from Thoreau? Were the events of Jan. 6 a manifestation of civil disobedience? Main episode begins at 31:56.

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.

Check out Dave's new book on Arendt: "Public Space and Political Experience: An Arendtian Interpretation." https://bit.ly/2RkwI3S

Use Promo Code "LEX30AUTH21" for 30% off!

Text: Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1992), 44.

In this 5th Shooting the Shit episode, we celebrate our 50th episode, discuss the importance of tears, talk about leaving grad school, muse on the (in)significance of money, and reflect on God. Main episode begins at 23:27.

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.

Text: Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 99-100.

In this episode our buddy Phil joins us to talk about Aristotle's philosophy of friendship. Are there different kinds of friends? Should some friendships be prioritized over others? Do true friendships promote virtue? Main ep. begins at 29:38.

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.

Text: Idris Robinson, "How It Might Should Be Done" (https://libcom.org/library/how-it-might-should-be-done-idris-robinson)

In this episode we discuss the economic activism of 'ethical consumption.' Can conscious consumers effectively vote with their dollar? Does buying ethically-sourced goods meaningfully curb the injustices and inhumane practices of a global capitalist system? Our short answer: no. Main episode begins at 19:40.

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for the rest of this episode and bonus content.

Text: Virginia Woolf, suicide note.

In this episode we discuss the ideal of dependency and the way a better understanding of ourselves as mutually reliant upon one another (as opposed to "independent") might create a more desirable formation of social life. Main episode begins at 21:17.

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Text: Aaron's writings.

In this episode we discuss the notion of toxic positivity, manifesting through such statements as: "everything happens for a reason," "somebody always has it worse, "good vibes only," etc. Is this obsessively positive perspective predicated on a false understanding of the self? Is it willfully neglectful of social conditions? Does it obstruct communal orientation and identification? Main episode begins at 18:13.

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for bonus content.

Text: Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich (New York, NY: Penguin Classics, 1960), 157

In this episode we discuss the obscenity of personal branding as an essential form of social relating today. How does the embrace of self-commodification and the influence of capitalist competition in all contexts of life make so many human beings readily disposable? Main ep. begins at 13:11.

If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for bonus content.

Text: Bell Hooks, All About Love: New Visions (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2001), 13-14.