The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan CaseyThe Partially Examined Life is a podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode, we pick a short text and chat about it with some balance between insight and flippancy. You don't have to know any philosophy, or even to have read the text we're talking about to (mostly) follow and (hopefully) enjoy the discussion. For link... more
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 902 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PhilosophySociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Continuing on Raphaël Millière and Cameron Buckner's "A Philosophical Introduction to Language Models, Part I: Continuity With Classic Debates."
We go through the various arguably important features for intelligence, including particular ways of le... more
On "An Argument for the Identity Theory" (1966), which unlike U.T. Place who merely argued that minds could be brains, argues that minds must be brains, in all possible worlds.
The argument appears functionalist: mental states are defined by their ... more
Dan played bass for and co-fronted NYC band Hypnolovewheel, with six releases 1987-1993. Since 1994, he has fronted Hoboken's The Special Pillow, with nine releases to date.
We discuss "Fond and Foggy" from The Special Pillow Meets the Space Monste... more
On Raphaël Millière and Cameron Buckner's "A Philosophical Introduction to Language Models, Part I: Continuity With Classic Debates" (2023).
Is the Large Language Model type of architecture currently in use by AIs a legitimate basis for intelligenc... more
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Reviews
- Waste of time
Tried listening to the episode on Wittgenstein; sound quality was awful, and it opens with dopey American guys talking nonsense over the top of each other. I realised there was nothing to be learned here.
Apple Podcasts1FT1/(
Australia3 months ago - Fun and accessible
I couldn’t afford to even pretend I was going to do philosophy for a living, but I can listen to this podcast while I labor under capitalism. I think it’s a good level, and pleasantly challenging to the layperson (me!)
Apple Podcasts5LostListens
United States4 months ago - just tired.
been listening to this podcast since really early on and the quality if discussion has risen and fallen, but i’m just tired of the need on wes’s part to inject his little hatred of trans people in every chance he gets. its annoying and really pathetic at a point. it’s old and tired now, get over it and talk about hegel.
Apple Podcasts1A is not AUnited States7 months ago - Smart people discussing big ideas - love it!
This is my favorite podcast of all time. I always learn something from PEL. All of the participants are excellent and super knowledgeable, and Mark especially has a great entertaining personality. Love PEL - thank you all!
Apple Podcasts5girltalk77United States8 months ago - Simplistic
Although they try and make a good show of it these guys are outside of the mainstream of philosophy and have not the time to actually go deep into the texts they approach.
Apple Podcasts1RenormalizerUnited States9 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #27 | United States/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #25 |  United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #28 |  Canada/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #30 | Australia/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #37 |  Germany/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #41 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A philosophy-focused discussion show that regularly revisits canonical texts and themes, mixing rigorous analysis with accessible, often humorous banter. Episodes span ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and the history of ideas, frequently featuring multiple hosts and occasional guests who bring diverse perspectives from academia, media, and the arts. Noteworthy traits include a lively debate style, accessibility for newcomers, and a willingness to entertain wide-ranging interpretations of complex texts. This podcast is likely to appeal to curious listeners who enjoy long-form conversation, dialectical exploration, and playful mock-ery alongside serious critique.
A standout aspect is the rotating panel format and the way discussio... more
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1. Philosophize This!
2. Philosophy For Our Times
3. Philosophy Bites
4. The Nietzsche Podcast
5. History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
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this podcast launched 17 years ago and published 902 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on this podcast?
Recent guests on this podcast include:
1. Dan Cuddy
2. Anthony LeBlanc
3. Bruce Cockburn
4. Jenny Hansen
5. Martha Nussbaum
6. Joan Wasser
7. David Epstein
8. Jacqui Hunt
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