Recent Episodes

Emma Goldman

July 5, 2026

Activist and anarchist philosopher Emma Goldman fought for human liberation in every realm of life. While she opposed the women’s suffrage movement, she was a staunch advocate for women’s rights. So why did she think the right to vote was so unimportant? What did she…

Margaret Cavendish

November 16, 2025

Margaret Cavendish was a writer of poetry, philosophy, polemics, histories, plays, and utopian fiction. She…

Portrait of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, with her book, "The Description of a New World.

Impossible Worlds

November 2, 2025

Philosophers often speculate about possible worlds: ways that things could be. Some of them also…

Penrose stairs impossible world lithograph; surreal architecture with figures.

Mary Astell

October 26, 2025

Mary Astell (1666–1731) was an English philosopher and writer who advocated for equal rights for…

Portrait of Mary Astell, a 17th-century English writer and feminist philosopher.

In Awe of Wonder

October 19, 2025

Descartes said that the purpose of wonderment is “to enable us to learn and retain…

Silhouetted person gazing at a stunning night sky filled with stars and the Milky Way. Awe-inspiring wonder.

Elisabeth of Bohemia

October 5, 2025

Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia is best known for her correspondence with René Descartes. In her letters,…

Portrait of Elisabeth of Bohemia, a princess known for her philosophical correspondence with René Descartes.

Hildegard von Bingen

September 14, 2025

Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th century mystic, polymath, and composer whose work spanned visionary…

Medieval illustration of Hildegard von Bingen writing.

Hypatia of Alexandria

August 17, 2025

Hypatia of Alexandria, late antiquity public figure and scholar, made significant contributions to mathematics, philosophy,…

Portrait of Hypatia of Alexandria, a prominent philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician.

The Value of Music

August 10, 2025

From classical concerts to commercial jingles, music fills our lives every day. But philosophers disagree…

Person relaxing with feet up, listening to a vintage boombox.

Weird Wants

July 27, 2025

Philosophers from Aquinas to Anscombe have claimed that wanting something means seeing the good in…

Close-up of a young man's intense gaze, reflecting a strange desire.

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