logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
14m 52s

Does life have meaning? PART 3: Nolen Ge...

Iai
About this episode

PART 3 of Does life have meaning Series: How do we find meaning (and happiness) in the contemporary age?

Nihilism, the abandonment of all fundamental beliefs, may appear a hopeless outlook. Yet perhaps it also has potential. Join philosopher Nolen Gertz as he explores the history of nihilism to give us a complex image of it as something we can learn to live with in our technological age.  

Nolen Gertz is Associate Professor of Applied Philosophy at the University of Twente, the Coordinator of the Human Condition Research Line of ESDIT, and a Senior Researcher of the 4TU.Centre for Ethics and Technology. His research focuses primarily on the intersection of political philosophy, existential phenomenology, and philosophy of technology. 

Our London festival is coming up on 21-22 September at Hampstead Heath! Make sure to book your tickets while they are available here: https://howthelightgetsin.org/.

There are thousands of more big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/.

You can find everything we referenced here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Nov 12
Mazes of the mind: The philosophy of neuroscience | Iain McGilchrist, Colin Blakemore, Bryan Appleyard
Over the past decades, neuroscience has blossomed, positioning itself as a kind of master discipline over everything else. For who understands the brain surely understands all of human activity and creation? Or not?Neuroscience's reach has extended past its scientific remit and i ... Show More
47m 58s
Nov 6
In search of nothing | David Deutsch, Amanda Gefter, Lee Smolin
What is nothing? Can it be defined, either philosophically or scientifically? Or will the exploration of nothing bring, ultimately, to nothing?The philosophical exploration of nothingness is an ancient one, from the mysterious number zero through theological understandings of the ... Show More
1 h
Oct 31
Halloween SPECIAL | The philosophy of the apocalypse
Why are we fascinated by apocalyptic stories?Join the team at the IAI for a reading of four Halloween-themed articles, written by historian and philosopher Natalie Lawrence, professor of political philosophy Matthew Festenstein, and professor of comparative literature Florian Mus ... Show More
44m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Auto-Exploitation, Positive Violence, and the Palliative Society: A Modern Philosopher’s Ideas for Making Sense of the Present Age
<p>Feelings of burnout and boredom have become prevalent in modern life. To understand the roots of and solutions to these issues, we can turn to both ancient philosophers and contemporary thinkers. Among the latter is Korean-German philosopher Byung-Chul Han, whose thought-provo ... Show More
58m 6s
Mar 2024
Understanding Purpose And Meaning Through Stoic Philosophy
In this enlightening episode of "Practical Stoicism," I delve into the profound realization that the search for purpose and meaning in life becomes increasingly urgent as we age. I explore the journey from the invincibility felt in youth to the mature quest for fulfillment, highl ... Show More
23m 33s
Jul 2025
#974 - Joe Folley - Existential Philosophy, Nietzsche, Suffering & Self-Awareness
Joe Folley is a philosopher, writer, and host of the Unsolicited Advice YouTube channel. Philosophy has a way of finding us in one form or another, sometimes in a book, sometimes in a moment of crisis. Thinkers like Nietzsche and Camus have helped shape how we see life, death, an ... Show More
1h 25m
Jan 2022
Episode 103, 'Nudges' with Thomas Schramme (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion)
<p class=""><strong>Introduction</strong></p> <p class="">Given the choice, who wouldn't increase the balance in their bank account, switch into a fit and healthy body, find themselves in a meaningful career, and cultivate happiness and love in their relationships? These are pref ... Show More
48m 11s
Oct 5
#124 Sisyphus 55 - So You're Having an Existential Crisis
Ben Thomas is @Sisyphus55, a YouTuber creating videos about philosophy, existentialism, nihilism, absurdism, and meaning. His new book, So You're Having an Existential Crisis: a Roadmap for Lost Souls, is available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic ... Show More
1h 31m
Aug 22
Most Replayed Moment: Alain de Botton - Individualism Is Making Us Miserable!
Alain de Botton is a philosopher, author, and the founder of The School of Life. He is known for his insights into the intersection of philosophy, love, and the modern world, often exploring how societal structures impact mental well-being. In today’s Moments episode, Alain explo ... Show More
19m 13s
Jan 2022
Episode 103, 'Nudges' with Thomas Schramme (Part I - Public Health)
<p class=""><strong>Introduction</strong></p> <p class="">Given the choice, who wouldn't increase the balance in their bank account, switch into a fit and healthy body, find themselves in a meaningful career, and cultivate happiness and love in their relationships? These are pref ... Show More
44m 32s
Oct 23
Phi Curious [with Massimo Pigliucci]
In this episode I sit down with philosopher and author Massimo Pigliucci to talk about his book Beyond Stoicism—and why, in his view, no single philosophy can capture everything it means to live well. We dive into the limits of ancient Stoicism, what modern life can borrow from o ... Show More
59m 10s
Sep 16
#121 John Cottingham - The Father of Modern Philosophy: René Descartes
John Cottingham (born 1943) is an English philosopher. The focus of his research has been early-modern philosophy (especially Descartes), the philosophy of religion and moral philosophy. He is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading, Professorial Research ... Show More
1h 40m
Feb 2025
Philosophy Series: Stoicism for Revolutionaries
<p>Breht listens to, reflects on, and critically engages with a public lecture by the late philosopher Michael Sugrue titled <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auuk1y4DRgk&ab_channel=MichaelSugrue"> Marcus Aurelius' Meditations: The Stoic Ideal</a>. He discusses the philos ... Show More
2h 2m