Recent Episodes

Liberty and Justice for Who?

October 11, 2026

Many democracies are founded on the ideals of 18th- and 19th-Century British Liberalism: the idea that human beings deserve the right to self-government because we are born free, equal, and capable of rationality. Yet Liberalism was used to justify colonialism, which deprived people around the…

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.

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.

The 2025 Dionysus Awards

July 20, 2025

What movies of the past year challenged your assumptions and made you think about things…

Collage of 2025 film posters for Dionysus Awards consideration.

Making a Better World

July 6, 2025

Some philosophers think that morality boils down to one idea: we should make the world…

Green heart-shaped world map: Build a Better World

Private Lives

June 29, 2025

Cultural attitudes towards privacy seem to be in conflict. On the one hand, we are…

Red door with "PRIVATE" sign and weathered mailbox

Mexican Philosophy

June 22, 2025

From early feminist Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz to existentialist Emilio Uranga, from Indigenous…

Colorful papel picado banners strung between buildings in Mexico.

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