What should philosophy do? Despite record numbers of practitioners, today the discipline is in crisis, awash in abstraction and increasingly isolated—even within the academy.

But there’s a way out, argues veteran philosopher Philip Kitcher. It starts with attending to the ordinary concerns of human life, then illuminating them with clear, rigorous thought. 

On this episode, Kitcher speaks with Commonweal features editor Alex Stern about Kitcher’s most recent book, What’s the Use of Philosophy? 

Plus, in anticipation of Commonweal’s centennial in 2024, we’re featuring a special segment by contributor Kate Lucky on author Marilynne Robinson’s understanding of “true community.”

For further reading: 

At first glance, John West’s Lessons and Carols: A Meditation on Recovery is an unconventional memoir about addiction and the healing power of community. 

But it also addresses the challenges of belief today, when almost everything—the nation, religious institutions, the environment—appears on the verge of collapse.

On this episode, West speaks with associate editor Griffin Oleynick about the paradoxes of autobiographical narrative, grief and loss, and the power of art. 

For further reading:

Is single-payer health care really feasible in America? For one Texas physician, the answer is an unqualified ‘yes.’

On this episode, Commonweal associate editor Regina Munch speaks with Ricardo Nuila, an internist at Houston’s Ben Taub hospital and author of the new book The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine. 

Then, as Commonweal approaches its centennial in 2024, we’re featuring brief reflections on writers we’ve published since our founding. Here, associate editor Griffin Oleynick reflects on the spiritual writing of the late John Garvey.

For further reading: 

Would the world actually be better without us? For most of human history, the question was inconceivable. 

But now, anxious over climate change and elated at technological breakthroughs, a growing chorus of thinkers is heralding the end of humanity’s reign on Earth. 

On this episode, poet and critic Adam Kirsch, author of The Revolt Against Humanity: Imagining a Future Without Us, analyzes these ideas with Commonweal senior editor Matthew Boudway. 

For further reading: 

As National Poetry Month draws to a close, Commonweal’s Claudia Avila Cosnahan is joined by poet, scholar, and professor Joshua Bennett to talk about his new book, Spoken Word: A Cultural History.

A prominent slam champion himself, Bennett explains how spoken word poetry has shaped his life and how the art form contributes to the ongoing work of community-building and liberation. 

And be sure to stick around for a short conversation with Mollie Wilson O’Reilly about the life of Claire Huchet Bishop (1898–1993), a writer, librarian, and opponent of anti-semitism who also served for many years as the children’s books editor at Commonweal. 

For further reading: 

In honor of Earth Week, we’re releasing a special bonus episode featuring our friend Dorothy Fortenberry in conversation with Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi. 

Fortenberry, who has written and commented widely on climate change, is also the co-writer and executive producer of Extrapolations, a new show on Apple TV+ that imagines what life on Earth might look like in the near future. 

Instead of giving in to climate “doomerism,” Fortenberry argues that there are indeed reasons to be hopeful about addressing the environmental crisis—if we could only summon the political will to do it. 

For further reading: 

The billionaire founders of Big Tech firms are constantly touting “revolutionary” new products like cryptocurrency, AI, and the metaverse. They claim these exist “for the good of humanity,” but we should be extremely wary of their altruistic professions.

On this episode, Commonweal features editor Alexander Stern speaks with media critic Douglas Rushkoff, author of more than twenty books. His most recent is Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires.

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Peter Thiel want one thing, according to Rushkoff: profit, which comes at the expense of our psychological attention, physical well-being, and social cohesion. Only by understanding their misanthropic mindset can we begin imagining alternatives and fighting back. 

For further reading: 

In addition to being an accomplished writer, frequent Commonweal contributor Clifford Thompson is also a self-taught painter.

On this episode, Thompson speaks with associate editor Griffin Oleynick about his first solo gallery show in New York City. 

Using Thompson’s art as a jumping-off point, they touch on a range of topics, including music, film, race, and the madness of American politics. 

Then, in a special segment, Kaya Oakes speaks briefly with special projects editor Miles Doyle about Doris Grumbach’s memorable portrait of Dorothy Day.  

For further reading:

In communities across the United States, the effects of climate change are already displacing tens of thousands of Americans from their homes. How should the federal government respond? What are the responsibilities of homeowners and insurers?

These questions lie at the heart of The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration, a new book by Jake Bittle, a reporter and staff writer at Grist. 

On this episode, Bittle joins Commonweal managing editor Isa Simon for a wide-ranging discussion about how sea-level rise, extreme heat, and water scarcity are reshaping American society. 

For further reading: 

Los Angeles Times columnist and podcast host Gustavo Arellano is well known for his acerbic sense of humor and his commitment to holding powerful figures to account. 

On this episode, Arellano joins Commonweal Director of Mission & Partnerships Claudia Avila Cosnahan for a wide-ranging conversation on his prolific career in journalism.

They touch on a number of Southern California topics, including food, faith, and film, as well as local politics, history, and culture.

For further reading: