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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Aug 13
Episode #234 ... The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Kundera
Today we try to produce a philosophical guide for the book The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. We talk about Parmenides, Nietzsche's eternal recurrence, kitsch as something more than just an aesthetic category, existential codes and his animal test of morality. Ho ... Show More
34m 3s
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 2025
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
Aug 8
Philosophy Series: Hegel, Marx, & Modern Life (Part 1)
Breht listens to, comments on, and expounds upon a public lecture by the late professor of philosophy Rick Roderick from 1989 on Hegel, Marx, and modern American capitalism. Along the way he explicates the Hegelian notion of Freedom, Right and Left Hegelianism, the End of History ... Show More
1h 15m
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
Nov 2023
John Gray on Pessimism, Liberalism, and Theism
John Gray is a philosopher and writer renowned for his critical examination of liberalism, atheism, and the human condition. His unique perspective is shaped over a decades-long career, during which he has authored influential books on topics ranging from political theory to what ... Show More
1h 1m