Today we continue developing our understanding of the ideas that have led to what Mark Fisher calls Capitalist Realism. We talk about tolerant relativism, postmodern artwork, the slow cancellation of the future, Hauntology and Acid Communism. Hope you enjoy it! :)
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Jun 16
Dialectics of Nature: Engels on Dialectical Materialism as a Worldview
In this episode, Alyson and Breht explore Friedrich Engels’ Dialectics of Nature, a bold and underappreciated attempt to apply dialectical materialism to the natural sciences. Often dismissed or misunderstood, this unfinished work offers a sweeping view of reality - from physics ... Show More
2h 35m
May 1
[BEST OF] Estranged Labor: Karl Marx on Alienation
ORIGINALLY RELEASED Apr 4, 2020 In this solo episode, Breht breaks down Karl Marx’s powerful concept of alienation from his Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. He walks listeners through the four types of alienation Marx identified—alienation from the product, the labor ... Show More
22m 13s
Apr 29
Auto-Exploitation, Positive Violence, and the Palliative Society: A Modern Philosopher’s Ideas for Making Sense of the Present Age
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-provokin ... Show More
58m 6s
Mar 2025
Pure Excess: Capitalism, Commodity Fetishism, and the Promise of More
Todd McGowan joins the show once again, this time to discuss his newest book "Pure Excess: Capitalism and the Commodity". Together, he and Breht discuss commodity fetishism, the tensions between Marxism and psychoanalysis, what a critique of the subjective aspects of capitalism o ... Show More
1h 28m
Jun 2024
KARL POPPER - Le paradoxe de la tolérance
Dans nos sociétés démocratiques, la tolérance est un principe fondamental, qui peut se définir ainsi : l'acceptation de la différence. Mais le philosophe Karl Popper remarque qu'il y a une catégorie d'individus qui met à mal ce principe de tolérance, à savoir les intolérants. Car ... Show More
45m 41s
Feb 2025
Ep. 361: Marx on Machines (Part Two)
On "Fragment on Machines" (1858). Shouldn't automating work free workers? Not according to Marx, until capitalism is overthrown. Until then, automation actually just makes labor conditions worse and certainly doesn't give people more free time, since the capitalist keeps all the ... Show More
56m 46s
Apr 11
[BEST OF] Ghosts in the Machines: Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, & Capitalism
ORIGINALLY RELEASED Apr 10, 2024 In this episode, Alyson and Breht wrestle with the possible rise of artificial general intelligence and its implications. Together they discuss the Silicon Valley Techno-Cult and their dark religious search for immortality, their hubristic attempt ... Show More
1h 57m