In this episode, I had the honor and the privilege to interview Dr. Rebekah Spera and Dr. David Peña-Guzmán, regarding their book: Professional Philosophy & Its Myths. Excellent book! I recommend you buy it and read it, and I recommend you ask your local library to purchase a copy also. As I say in the Introduction, these philosophers were willing to go into deep water with me, and they unflinchingly discussed timely, sensitive and very important topics with me. I thank them again! Questions and comments are welcome.

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Link to Purchase Their Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Philosophy-Myths-Rebekah-Spera/dp/1666939714

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Philosophy People Links:

Dr. Spera:

https://philpapers.org/s/Rebekah%20Spera

Dr. Pena-Guzman:

https://philpapers.org/s/David%20M.%20Pe%C3%B1a-Guzm%C3%A1n

Dr. Scalambrino:

https://philpapers.org/s/Frank%20Scalambrino

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The Philosophemes Podcast. Deep roots. Dangerous ideas. The Canon, remixed.

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction and Shared Diagnosis

20:18 Authentic Philosophical Identity or Performance: Myths and the Theater of Institutional Indoctrination

1:13:24 The Unionized Adjunct as Breaker of the White Myth

1:33:49 Merit, Minimum Standards, and the Contradictions of Gatekeeping

2:38:03 Philosophy as Vocation vs. Careerism: Who Gets to Be Called a “Philosopher”?

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If you'd like to read Schopenhauer's thoughts on this topic, as exemplified by his quote:

~Schopenhauer, “On Philosophy at the Universities,” §31.

Here is a link to my commentary and translation of Schopenhauer's essay:

https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-at-Universities-Arthur-Schopenhauer/dp/1947674846

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🔗 Questions & Comments Are Welcome:

🧭 https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

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.

🔗 Links & Support:

📚 Amazon Author Page

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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☠️ The Existentialism Book

http://shepherd.com/book/what-is-existentialism-vol-i

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☕ Coffee? Cheers! (Ko-fi)

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

.

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#AcademicLabor, #AdjunctLife, #HigherEdCrisis, #TenureTrack, #PhilosophyAsVocation, #EducationMatters, #AuthenticPhilosophy, #Merit, #GatekeepingInAcademia, #AcademicElitism, #AcademicTheater, #InstitutionalMyths, #EducationReform

.

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Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2025, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

.

The content presented by The Philosophemes Podcast and The Philosophemes Channel is for educational and editorial purposes only. It should not be considered medical or legal advice. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker(s) and do not reflect any affiliated organization, association, or group.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the True Crime & Philosophy series of The Philosophemes Podcast, we examine the tragic case of Courtney Clenney through the lens of Aristotle’s virtue ethics.

What does it mean to have a tyrannical soul? And how might ancient philosophy help us understand the development of character in the context of modern violence?

Courtney “Tailor” Clenney, an Instagram and OnlyFans model with over two million followers, has been charged with second-degree murder for stabbing her boyfriend, Christian “Toby” Obumseli, to death in their luxury apartment in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood on April 3, 2022.

Clenney claims she acted in self-defense during yet another intense argument in what she describes as a “violent and toxic” relationship.

While avoiding any claims of guilt or innocence, this episode considers the moral and psychological dimensions of Clenney’s behavior—both alleged and documented.

Drawing on Aristotle’s account of virtue, vice, and character formation, we explore how a soul can become disordered, and what that means for ethical responsibility.

We also reflect on Clenney’s publicly reported diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder,

considering how impulsivity and emotional volatility complicate questions of agency and moral evaluation.

This is not just a story about crime—it’s a study of character.

And, it’s a glimpse into the dangerous ideas brought into focus by forensic philosophy.

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The Philosophemes Podcast. Deep roots. Dangerous ideas. The Canon, remixed.

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🔗 Questions & Comments Are

Welcome:

🧭 https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

.

🔗 Links & Support:

📚 Amazon Author Page

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

.

☠️ The Existentialism Book

http://shepherd.com/book/what-is-existentialism-vol-i

.

🎶 Epidemic Sound Referral

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

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☕ Coffee?

Cheers! (Ko-fi)

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

.

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🔗 References:

🎙️Rotten Mango Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/256-a-famous-onlyfans-model-who-became-a-killer/id1517954480?i=1000611185302

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📺 WTVJ, Miami, NBC:

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/courtney-clenney-police-bodycam-footage-boyfriends-stabbing/3273733/

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🎬 TUBI Documentary:

https://tubitv.com/movies/100019274/viewer-discretion-advised-the-story-of-onlyfans-and-courtney-clenney

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#CourtneyClenney #ChristianObumseli #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeAndPhilosophy #Philosophemes #ForensicPhilosophy #VirtueEthics #Existentialism #PhilosophyPodcast #DangerousIdeas #EthicalQuestions #Aristotle #FrankScalambrino #TrueCrimeCommunity #psychology

.

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Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2025, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

.

The content presented by The Philosophemes Podcast and The Philosophemes Channel

is for educational and editorial purposes only. It should not be considered medical or legal advice. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker(s) and do not reflect any affiliated organization, association, or group.

All referenced materials and clips are used under fair use for commentary, criticism, and

educational analysis. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F. Supp. 3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017) and Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty under the law.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a recording of my invited paper presentation to the Ecstatic Naturalism Circle. Thinking in terms of "The Humanism Spectrum" makes discussing the relationship between humans and technology lucid, consistent, and coherent. The logic of The Humanism Spectrum makes it very easy to understand and think about concepts like "Post-Humanism" and the relation between human and artificial intelligence.

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Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

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The Existentialism Book:

http://shepherd.com/book/what-is-existentialism-vol-i

.

Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

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#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #PostHumanism, #psychology, #AI, #ecstaticnaturalism, #Humanism, #Heidegger, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2025, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we discuss the philosophy involved in the True Crime case of Luigi Mangione and United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. A number of the documentaries regarding this

case raise interesting philosophical questions without engaging in a philosophical discussion of the questions. 20/20 and TMZ, for example, ask questions regarding justice, violence, and social sentiment regarding corporations without attempting to provide a coherent philosophical account of the Mangione case. In this episode, we examine the Mangione case through arguably the most famous philosophical account of natural justice, put forth by Thomas Hobbes in his work Leviathan. Hobbes’ discussion of natural justice shines an interesting and provocative light on the case of Luigi Mangione.

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Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

.

Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

.

Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

.

#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #truecrime, #psychology, #homicide, #LuigiMangione, #MangioneCase, #Hobbes, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2025, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank you for a great Season 1! Here's to an even better Season 2!

.

Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

.

Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

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Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

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Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

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#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #truecrime, #psychology, #homicide, #historyofpsychology, #Plato, #Heidegger, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2025, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is part 2 of 2, which concludes my discussion with the computational theorist Dr. Jason M. Pittman regarding Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Hermeneutics, Artificial Life, & Simulation Theory. Dr. Pittman and I wrote a book together titled: Artifacts of the Simulation: A Reference Book for Simulation Theory. Link to the book is here: https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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The YouTube video that accompanies this podcast may be accessed here:

https://youtu.be/6vg47lZF-v8

.

Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

The Existentialism Book:

http://shepherd.com/book/what-is-existentialism-vol-i

.

Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

.

Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

.

Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

.

#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #Mandelaeffect, #simulation, #posthumanism, #transhumanism, #philosophyoftechnology, #AI, #philosophypodcast

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This is final episode of Season 1 for the Philosophemes Podcast. Thank you for a wonderful first season! Looking forward to an excellent Season 2 with you!

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2024, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we have the honor and the pleasure of speaking with the computational theorist Dr. Jason M. Pittman. We had a lot of fun talking about AI and Simulation Theory. Dr. Pittman and I wrote a book together titled: Artifacts of the Simulation: A Reference Book for Simulation Theory. Link to the book below.

The YouTube video that accompanies this podcast may be accessed here:

https://youtu.be/jxgCHbRge7o

.

Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

.

Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

.

Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

.

Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

.

#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #Mandelaeffect, #simulation, #posthumanism, #transhumanism, #philosophyoftechnology, #AI, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2024, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we discuss Jean Baudrillard’s philosophical conception of “Symbolic Ex-termination.” There is a YouTube video with slides that accompanies this podcast, it can be accessed here:

https://youtu.be/PNRSVmWIDXk

This episode is the culmination of a series of episodes beginning in late 2023 and appearing throughout 2024 regarding Post-Modernism and Post-Humanism.

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Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

.

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

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Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

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Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

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#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #Baudrillard, #psychology, #posthumanism, #transhumanism, #Postmodernism, #nihilism, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2024, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we discuss the philosophy involved in the True Crime trial known as "The Cult Baby Murder Trial." The trial recently aired on CourtTV, which is where the name of the trial comes from [Link here:https://bit.ly/4fYZXPs]. Specifically, our philosophical analysis centers on the question of Chloe's Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) defense and her Google searches prior to the event, namely: Is it okay to kill, if the world is fake?

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Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

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Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

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Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

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Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

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#philosophy, #existentialism, #FrankScalambrino, #truecrime, #psychology, #homicide, #borderlinepersonality, #CultBabyMurderTrial, #ChloeDriver, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2024, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

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In this episode we discuss the relation between Nihilism and Absurdism. It's not surprising that Absurdism is so popular in Postmodernity. However, I haven't found anyone on the information superhighway - including Wikipedia - who has correctly characterized Absurdism yet. By the end of this episode we'll see that Absurdism is performative. That is to say, Absurdism is performative Nihilism.

Nihilism believes it gets reality right. Absurdism believes there is no such thing as "getting reality right." Performative Absurdism doesn't relate to reality with a meaning-making that seeks to be reality-based.

In this episode, some topics addressed are: Sisyphus, Capitalism & Schizophrenia, Humanism, Trans-Humanism, and Post-Humanism, Solipsism, the Liar Paradox, Postmodernity, Nihilism, and Absurdism.

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Please post your questions or comments on The Philosophemes YouTube Channel.

Accessible through this Linktree link:

https://linktr.ee/philosophemes

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Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4cM6nzf

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Epidemic Sound Referral Link:

https://share.epidemicsound.com/ann4jg

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Waves Referral Link:

https://www.waves.com/r/1268613

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Coffee? Cheers!

https://ko-fi.com/philosophemes

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#postmodernism, #transhumanism, #FrankScalambrino, #absurdism, #nihilism, #posthumanism, #thejoker, #sisyphus, #schizophrenia, #philosophypodcast

.

Some links may be “affiliate links,” which means I may I receive a small commission from your purchase through these links. This helps to support the channel. Thank you.

Editorial, educational, and fair use of images.

© 2024, Frank Scalambrino, Ph.D.

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/the-philosophemes-podcast

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