logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2025
21m 44s

HoP 473 As Rational As You: Elisabeth of...

PETER ADAMSON
About this episode
A royal scholar and philosopher sets aside the tribulations of her family to debate Descartes over the relation between mind and body and the nature of happiness. 
Up next
Jul 12
HoP 497 Pure and Simple: Quietism
The “Quietists” Jeanne Guyon and François Fénelon argue that self-love can be overcome by cultivating a “pure love” for God. Their reward: to be accused of heresy. 
19m 10s
Jun 28
HoP 496 He Unwilling, She Unwilling: Jean Racine
How the “neo-classical” tragedies of Racine explore the battle between passion and reason. 
16m 51s
Jun 14
HoP 495 Comedy of Errors: Molière
Molière’s famous comedies scandalize Paris and dramatize themes from French moralism, especially the danger of hypocrisy. 
18m 3s
Recommended Episodes
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
Dec 2012
Episode 6: The Body Temple
Lisa J. reads and discusses yoga philosophy from Cathryn Michon's The 8 Human Talents. 
8m 48s
Nov 2011
#57 - Would The World Be Better Off Without Religion?
A rabbi, a descendant of Charles Darwin, a philosopher and a scholar face off over religion in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
52m 30s
Dec 2019
Ep. 231: Descartes's "Discourse" on Wisdom and Certainty (Part One)
<p>On René Descartes's <em>Discourse on Method</em> (1637), an overview of his work that distills his method, outlines his famous <em>Meditations</em>, presents a provisional (Stoic) ethics, and considers whether he wants to be a public intellectual. This is all meant as a prefac ... Show More
39m 55s
Jun 2025
The Perfect Happy Family
Through the dual lens of a devoted sister and parent, Julie explores the emotional terrain of family illness and secrecy, puzzling over how she can care for others without losing herself entirely.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
50m 2s
Dec 2023
Loving and Leaving
The Buddhist and Astrologer discuss events in their lives that have questioned what the point of life is about. They go over theories of emotional development and talk about the blossoming potential relationships have with self reflection. Sotce goes over her bad days and Sarah t ... Show More
36m 55s
Jan 2002
Happiness
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss whether 'happiness' means living a life of pleasure, or of virtue. It is an old question, and the Roman poet Horace attempted to answer it when he wrote; 'Not the owner of many possessions will you be right to call happy: he more rightly deserves t ... Show More
28m 4s
Oct 2024
99 | What is Dialectics? Part VI: From Explanation to Emancipation: Roy Bhaskar’s Critical Realism
<p>In this episode, we discuss the philosopher of science Roy Bhaskar and his essays in <em>Reclaiming Reality</em>. We discuss whether it is possible for the human sciences to overcome the fact/value distinction, what role knowledge has in self-emancipation, and what to do about ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2024
questions for royalty
(Video podcast available on Spotify & YouTube) This week on Pretty Lonesome, Madeline talks about the joys of spoiling her family, perfume discoveries, what she would ask the royals, birth control, and her plan for the end of the world. Follow and connect with all things @PrettyL ... Show More
41m 39s
May 2019
Dr. Shefali Tsabary: The Awakened Life
In a live appearance at UCLA’s Royce Hall, clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Shefali Tsabary teaches us how to let go of traditional ways of thinking in order to become the essence of who we truly are. She explains how our essenti ... Show More
27m 29s