The Spinoza Triad: Philosophy in our World

In this episode of the Spinoza Triad John Gibbs, Dan Rowland and Dr Richard Miller discuss the concept of freedom and how it might be enhanced of diminished by digital technology and social media. With reference to Thomas Hobbs, Rousseau, Marshall McLuhan and Zizek the discussion considers the meaning of freedom today.

If you wish to suggest ideas for future podcasts, submit a recorded comment or be a guest on future episodes please use the links below. You can follow us on Facebook and on the Spinoza website. 

https://sites.google.com/view/wwwphilosophytodaynet/home

https://www.facebook.com/groups/333603241740844/

[email protected]

https://www.speakpipe.com/SpinozaFeedback

In this episode of the Spinoza Triad Dr Richard Miller, Dan Rowlands and John Gibbs consider the ideas of Edward Said and how these might be applied to the Olympics in their modern form. While acknowledging our admiration for the extraordinary achievements fort the athletes we took a critical view and tried to understand this vast global event form the point of view of post colonialism. Our discussion includes Foucault, Zizek and Lacan as well as the brilliant insight that is Edward Said's Orientalism. Leave recorded comments or emails with suggestions for future discussions. 

https://anchor.fm/john-gibbs1/message

https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/239466/1/cy3omfkxvcc55f32

In this episode of the Spinoza Triad, Dr Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs discuss Hegel’s theory of history, the end of history and the rise of China. Does China represent an alternative to western liberalism or a dead end? Will the progress of human history end and will it end well or badly? These are some of the questions discussed.

[email protected]

https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/239466/1/cy3omfkxvcc55f32

In this episode the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs, Dr Richard Miller and Dan Rowlands, discuss how the internet and social media may have contributed to the philosophical debates surrounding authenticity. In Hamlet, Polonius advises Laertes 'to thine own self be true'. It its possible to be true to yourself and true to others on social media. Do we have a 'true self'?

Leave voice messages:

https://anchor.fm/john-gibbs1/message

Email: [email protected]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1sGrA7XTU

https://www.facebook.com/groups/333603241740844/

In this episode we set ourselves the task of trying to use the ethics of Aristotle, the Epicureans, Stoics and Cynics to understand how to live the good and virtuous life in a consumer society. The following conversation was  the unscripted result. If you wish to leave a voice message, comment, question, correction or contribution we would be delighted to respond or include in future episodes. Follow the link to  Anchor or alternatively send an email with  written comments.  

 https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/239466/1/cy3omfkxvcc55f32

anchor.fm/john-gibbs1/message

[email protected]

In the third episode of the Spinoza Triad John Gibbs, Richard Miller and Dan Rowland consider the film V for Vendetta. V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian political action film  based on the 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. The film is set in an alternative future where a  neo-fascist totalitarian regime has subjugated the United Kingdom. It centres on V (portrayed by Hugo Weaving), a masked freedom fighter who attempts to ignite a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts, and Evey Hammond (portrayed by Natalie Portman) a young woman caught up in V's mission. 

Taking the film as a starting point we discuss, the morality of violence, the Frankfurt School, Kant's Categorical Imperative, Zizek's critique of the left as well as Jungian and Lacanian cultural analysis. 

https://anchor.fm/john-gibbs1/message

https://sites.google.com/site/thepoliticsteacherorg/home

email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs, Richard Miller and Dan Rowland consider conspiracy theories using the ideas of Carl Jung. In an age of unparalleled levels of education why do so many people believe theories which are so obviously absurd? Is it possible the concepts of the collective unconscious, cultural symbolism and architypes developed by analytical psychologist Carl Jung might provide some explanation.  In this episode we explore how architypes of the hero, the trickster and the shadow might be relevant to a world of fake news, internet echo chambers and Donald Trump- which may every bit as dark, mysterious and frightening as the medieval landscapes of myth and daemons. 

https://anchor.fm/john-gibbs1/message

[email protected]

In this episode of the Spinoza Triad  Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs consider Michel Foucault's concepts of power and discourse and wonder if they help to understand the Pandemic. Richard Miller supplies the steel guitar.

“The first task of the doctor is ... political: the struggle against disease must begin with a war against bad government." Man will be totally and definitively cured only if he is first liberated...”