logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
1h 13m

The Beautiful Soul

Why Theory
About this episode

Ryan and Todd explore Hegel’s concept of the beautiful soul as he lays it out in the Phenomenology of Spirit. They discuss the contemporary political situation in terms of this figure and theorize about its predominance in today’s landscape. The beautiful soul also becomes a way of thinking through the difference between Kant and Hegel or between morality and politics.

Up next
Jul 6
Theorizing the World Cup
On this episode, Ryan & Todd theorize the World Cup as a public event that enables the non-expert to see complex theoretical notions, such as Alain Badiou's conceptualization of the event and Jean-Paul Sartre's idea of self-transcendence. The episode also discusses how the World ... Show More
1h 27m
Jun 21
What Is Literature? (Literature and Existentialism)
On this episode, Ryan and Todd complete their Sartre inflected trifecta of episodes by engaging his 1947 essay series What Is Literature? The hosts begin by talking about how much Sartre's method has meant to them respectively before moving on to engage the text's most famous cla ... Show More
1h 20m
Jun 7
Michael Clayton
On this episode, Ryan and Todd cover writer-director Tony Gilroy's 2007 political thriller masterpiece, Michael Clayton. The hosts weave in Sartre's notion of committing oneself to a project from the previous episode and work through the narrative and formal elements that make Mi ... Show More
1h 14m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2016
Ep. 102 - Soul Complex
On this episode of Here and Now, Ram Dass has a Sunday hangout session with Raghu Markus. The two chat about the concept of the 'soul-complex', how Ram Dass manages his suffering, as well as duality and devotion. Ram Dass and Raghu discuss the 'soul-complex' and the transition pr ... Show More
51m 22s
Jun 2002
The Soul
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Soul. In his poem ‘Sailing to Byzantium’ WB Yeats wrote:An aged man is but a paltry thing, A tattered coat upon a stick, unlessSoul clap its hands and sing, and louder singFor every tatter in its mortal dress. For Plato it was the immortal seat ... Show More
28m 13s
Aug 2023
The Soul & Self (Ruh & Nafs)
Delve into the depths of spirituality as we unravel the nature of the Soul (Ruh) and the complexities of the Self (Nafs). Discover the interplay between these two essential elements and gain insights into their roles in shaping our beliefs, actions, and inner journey. Join us for ... Show More
1h 5m
Oct 2025
Gentle Hope
<p>In this episode, we talk about the importance of being present and open to the little moments of beauty, ever-present around us.</p> 
11m 19s
Jul 2023
Ep. 321: August Schlegel on Beauty (Part One)
Covering the elder Schlegel  brother's Theory of Art (ca. 1800). How does our experience of Beauty relate to the infinite? Schlegel provides a Romantic response to Kant on knowing the divine, inner essences of things through art, how genius works, and the relationship between art ... Show More
46m 12s
May 2020
Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and James Hillman in search of The Wild Soul
In search of the soul, and a new way of thinking about our environment. 
54m 7s
Mar 2022
Philosophers in love
Philosophy can sometimes be an exercise in abstract, "pure" reason, unsullied by the demands of the body or the contingencies of history. But this week we're placing history and corporeality front and centre, with a look at the intimate lives of four eminent philosophers, and ask ... Show More
28m 27s