Reading Philosophy

Introduction to Descartes' view on the real distinction between mind and body, and his answer to the Interaction Problem.

If mind and body are two distinct substances, with fundamentally different properties, how can they interact?

How can my will move my arm? How can an injury cause me pain?

You can join live sessions of these readings on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

Overview of Descartes' conception of Mind, proofs of God and the epistemological foundations of his project.

How can we got from knowing we exist to knowing anything else? The Maker's Mark and the Causal Adequacy Principle.

How does the existence of God help is with knowledge?

How can we avoid making mistakes?

You can join live sessions of these readings on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

Overview of Descartes' project and method, as well as his views on mind.

What is Descartes' overarching goal? The tree diagram.

How does he propose to get there? The Cogito as foundation.

What does Descartes think he is?

You can join live sessions of these readings on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

René Descartes - Episode 1

Overview of Descartes' life, works and his criticism of scholasticism.

Why is it bad to get up before 10 am?

And why does it matter if stones can think?

You can join live sessions of these readings on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

What Does It All Mean? - Episode 10

Do our lives have meaning? If so, what is it? And where does it come from? If not, is that a problem?

From Thomas Nagel's great introduction to philosophy that requires no prior knowledge, with commentary.

The ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠full text is available online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can join future sessions live on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

What Does It All Mean? - Episode 9

What is death and how should we think about death? Is it good, bad, or neutral? Does it depend on what happens afterwards, or on our current situation? Should we be scared?

From Thomas Nagel's great introduction to philosophy that requires no prior knowledge, with commentary.

The ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠full text is available online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can join future sessions live on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

What Does It All Mean? - Episode 8

What is justice? How does it relate to inequality? What kind of inequality is bad? And, what, if anything, should we do about it?

From Thomas Nagel's great introduction to philosophy that requires no prior knowledge, with commentary.

The ⁠⁠⁠⁠full text is available online⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can join future sessions live on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

What Does It All Mean? - Episode 7

What does it mean to say that some action is wrong or right? Who gets to decide what is right or wrong?

Or morals universal and/or objective? If so, why? If not, why not?

From Thomas Nagel's great introduction to philosophy that requires no prior knowledge, with commentary.

The ⁠⁠⁠full text is available online⁠⁠⁠.

You can join future live sessions on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

What Does It All Mean? - Episode 6

What is Free Will, and do we have it? And what are the consequences if we have it or not?

From Thomas Nagel's great introduction to philosophy that requires no prior knowledge, with commentary.

The ⁠⁠full text is available online⁠⁠.

You can join future live sessions on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy

What Does It All Mean? - Episode 5

How can words, phrases or sentences mean something? Where do sounds or scribbles get their meaning from?

From Thomas Nagel's great introduction to philosophy that requires no prior knowledge, with commentary.

The ⁠⁠full text is available online⁠⁠.

You can join future live sessions on Discord: https://discord.gg/philosophy