Recent Episodes

The 2026 Dionysus Awards

July 26, 2026

Now that the dust has settled from the Oscars, it’s time to think about what movies of the past year challenged our assumptions and made us think about things in new ways. Josh and guest co-host Jorah Danenberg present our annual Dionysus Awards for the…

The Self

February 24, 2013

What is a self? Merely a human being? Or perhaps a soul? Hume claimed he…

Older man in a shirt and tie speaks into a microphone during a radio broadcast.

Is It All Relative?

February 3, 2013

We’ve all heard a disenchanted teenager claim that everything is relative and that there is…

Eyeglasses reflecting contrasting landscapes: a barren tree and a lush tree, illustrating moral relativism.

John Locke

January 27, 2013

Thomas Jefferson identified John Locke as one of “the three greatest men that have ever…

Portrait of John Locke with the Declaration of Independence and US flag

Philosophy for Children

December 23, 2012

Because of their innocent approach to things, do children make good philosophers?  Or do they…

Thoughtful child pondering "I think therefore I'm five," illustrating philosophy for children.

Disagreement

November 11, 2012

Sometimes people who seem to be your epistemic peers – that is, people as experienced,…

Two men, one giving a thumbs-up, the other a thumbs-down, showing disagreement.

Procrastination

October 7, 2012

Everyone procrastinates – academics are especially prone to it.  But why do we procrastinate?  Is…

Fortune cookie reading: "Stop procrastinating - starting tomorrow.

The Power of Thought

September 23, 2012

Human thought is an amazing thing. It has given us not only science, literature, and…

Brain scan showing colorful activity, illustrating the power of thought.

Loyalty

September 9, 2012

Loyalty is usually reckoned to be an important virtue; even loyalty to lost causes is…

Diverse hands clasped together, symbolizing unity and loyalty.

Self-Deception

August 5, 2012

Self-deception sounds like a contradiction: intentionally convincing yourself of something you know to be untrue. …

Three wise monkeys: one covering its eyes, one its ears, and one its mouth. Self-deception concept.

Humanism

July 29, 2012

Humanism as a movement arose with the Renaissance.  It took powerful expression with the Enlightenment,…

The Creation of Adam detail: God and Adam's hands reaching toward each other, a depiction of humanism.

Now Offering Institutional Subscriptions to the Philosophy Talk Archive!

Subscribe to Philosophy Talk

As a member, you’ll gain access to hundreds of engaging episodes, exclusive content, and the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community of curious minds.
Headphones