logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
1h 2m

Taking Nietzsche seriously

Vox
About this episode
Sean Illing talks with political science professor Matt McManus about the political thought of Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th-century German philosopher with a complicated legacy, despite his crossover into popular culture. They discuss how Nietzsche's work has been interpreted — and misinterpreted — since his death in 1900, how his radical political views em ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Do we really need to work so hard?
Americans have absorbed the Protestant work ethic: the idea that our value as human beings – and our eventual salvation – is determined by how hard we work. Political philosopher Elizabeth Anderson explains how this evolved, why it pervades everything, and why it’s no longer serv ... Show More
41m 50s
May 29
The post-sex generation
Sean talks with writer Christine Emba about the strange and increasingly anti-social world young people are inheriting online. They discuss the rise of “looksmaxxing,” the manosphere, Gen Z’s retreat from dating and sex, and how the internet has transformed what might have been n ... Show More
48m 3s
May 25
Talk to strangers
Sean talks with University of Chicago psychologist Nicholas Epley about the strange gap between our need to be social and how social we choose to be. They explore why we underestimate how good conversations will feel, why awkwardness looms so large in our minds, and how small act ... Show More
53m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Philosophy Series: Nietzsche and the Death of God
<p>Breht listens to, reflects on, and critically engages with a public lecture by the late philosopher <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smq5uRhM_IA">Michael Sugrue entitled "Nietzsche and the Death of God"</a>. He discusses the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, the poli ... Show More
2h 32m
May 2025
Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap | Babette Babich
<p><strong>Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap with Babette Babich</strong></p><p>Babette Babich discusses Nietzsche, the importance of tragedy, and the danger of technology interfering with our judgement. Babette Babich is a world renowned Professor of Philo ... Show More
24m 19s
Sep 2020
Uses of Nietzsche in Political Philosophy and Deleuze's Recasting of the Concept of Ressentiment
<p>Deleuze&apos;s Nietzsche &amp; Philosophy is an exciting and controversial interpretation of Nietzsche which stands at the forefront of 20th Century Nietzsche scholarship.  In this episode, we visit the text and the concept of ressentiment and the theory of forces, both of whi ... Show More
51m 40s
Oct 2024
Episode #213 ... Deleuze Interprets Nietzsche (Difference, Joy, Affirmation)
Today we talk about Deleuze's interpretation of Nietzsche's work. We talk about difference taken to radical new levels. The image of thought from the history of philosophy. Nietzsche framed as the enemy to the dialectic. Active vs Reactive forces. Deleuze's thoughts on art as a v ... Show More
37m 3s
Jan 2025
Untimely Reflections #32: Dr. Gregory Sadler - On Stoicism & Philosophy as a Guide to Life
<p>Very pleased to finally be joined by Gregory Sadler on the podcast! Greg is one of the more popular teachers of philosophy in the modern age, and given his recent courses on Stoicism, we decided to make that the focus. I hope you all enjoy our conversation: about philosophy as ... Show More
1h 34m
May 2025
Close Readings: Nietzsche's 'Schopenhauer as Educator'
In this extended extract from their series 'Conversations in Philosophy', part of the LRB's Close Readings podcast, Jonathan Rée and James Wood look at one of Friedrich Nietzsche's early essays, 'Schopenhauer as Educator'. For Nietzsche, Schopenhauer’s genius lay not in his ideas ... Show More
32m 14s
Oct 2021
Hegel: The Case For Contradiction with Todd McGowan
<p>In this episode, Craig, Will, Matt, and Adam are joined by University of Vermont Professor Todd McGowan to discuss Hegel&apos;s concept of contradiction as he lays it out in his book, Emancipation After Hegel: Achieving a Contradictory Revolution. Throughout the latter part of ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2021
18: Arthur Schopenhauer, part I: Will & Representation
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) is known today as the ultimate pessimist among philosophers. Among Nietzsche's influences, perhaps none can be said to be more significant than Schopenhauer. Given that Nietzsche promoted a life philosophy that was ultimately "yes-saying" and full ... Show More
1h 39m
Jan 2025
Ancient solutions for modern problems | Stoicism Series PART 2 | Massimo Pigliucci
<p><strong>How to be a Stoic</strong></p><p>What can Zeno of Citium teach you about going to the movie theatre?</p><p>Join philosopher and author Massimo Pigliucci for part two of a series on the ancient practice of Stoicism, exploring and analysing ideas from Seneca, Marcus Aure ... Show More
20m 44s
Jan 2025
Ancient solutions for modern problems | Stoicism Series PART 1 | Massimo Pigliucci
<p><strong>How to be a Stoic</strong></p><p>What can Marcus Aurelius teach you about the iPhone?</p><p>Join philosopher and author Massimo Pigliucci for part one of a series on the ancient practice of Stoicism, exploring and analysing ideas from Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus ... Show More
19m 10s