Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

28/01/2024

The latest article on PQED - Philosophical Questions Everyday, the Why? Radio blog

How a debate about Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro revealed the shallowness of what race means.

22/10/2023

We've received nothing but praise for our philosophical discussion about the war between Israel and Palestine. Tired of the yelling? Listen and share.

While the war between Israel and Palestine rages, the war of words becomes increasingly toxic. Is there another way to look at this conflict? Is it possible to be sympathetic to both sides? How does the media trap us into thinking in black and white terms? In this episode Jack and Ashley take a deep...

17/10/2023

The latest episode of our sister show Philosophical Currents is now online. A timely and important conversation.

While the war between Israel and Palestine rages, the war of words becomes increasingly toxic. Is there another way to look at this conflict? Is it possible to be sympathetic to both sides? How does the media trap us into thinking in black and white terms? In this episode Jack and Ashley take a deep...

10/09/2023

The latest episode of Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life is now online. And it's a fun one! Have a listen and share with your friends.

For over 30 years the columnist and podcaster Dan Savage, has been giving frank and explicit s*x advice to people who send in questions. Is there a philosophy behind his counsel? On this episode, philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein interviews Dan about polyamory, kink, fluid s*xuality, and they even....

24/04/2023

A new post from our blog PQED - Philosophical Questions Everyday

Last week, a student asked me “what the hell is wrong with the North Dakota legislature?” The answer isn’t what you think.

02/04/2023

Have you heard Philosophical Currents, Why?'s sister show, also with host Jack Russell Weinstein. It's also a podcast and on Prairie Public? Listen to our latest episode, "What is woke?" for free.

The word “woke” is being used as a weapon,. What does it mean, and is it good or bad? Join philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein and journalist Ashley Thornberg for the latest episode of their monthly peek into how philosophers think about current events.

12/03/2023

It's here! A very special episode of Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life: Four students, in their own words! Have a listen and you too will want to study philosophy.

What’s it like studying philosophy in a culture obsessed with job readiness? Are professors' expectations difficult to meet? How much of what you learn feels intimate? In this very special episode of Why? Radio, host Jack Russell Weinstein interviews four of his current students to learn what stud...

18/07/2022

A new post from PQED - Philosophical Questions Everyday

Who will save our children when thoughts and prayers do nothing?

11/07/2022

African has always been regarded two-dimensionally by Europe and the U.S. It’s been called "the dark continent" and described as primitive, consisting only of small villages without technology. It's people are said to be unable to care from themselves, portrayed only as the recipients of charity. It's countries are always called "developing." It’s time to get past all of this. On this episode of Why? we explore Africa’s philosophy of liberation and ask whether there is a pan-African perspective. We move past the geography lessons and try to figure out how Africa and Africans can create their own unique identities while, at the same time, resisting the legacy of colonialism....

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2022/07/11/what-does-it-mean-to-be-african-with-guest-firoze-manji/

Philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein interviews Firoze Manji about African identity, the history of the continent, and the impact of colonialism. They discuss what it means to reinvent humanity and the ways in which misrepresentation has profoundly affected the African People. Why? Philosophical Discu...

13/06/2022

ORIGINALLY RECORDED: June 3, 2022ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: June 12, 2022 To listen to the podcast via iTunes, click here. Community colleges don’t seem to get the respect they deserve. They’re perceived as second-rate institutions or places for people who need extra help. Is this true? Is this fair? Are they fundamentally different than four-year colleges and universities? Can we judge them the same way or are they incomparable? ...

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2022/06/12/what-are-community-colleges-for-with-guest-brian-huschle/

Community colleges don’t seem to get the respect they deserve. They’re perceived as second-rate institutions or places for people who need extra help. Is this true? Is this fair? Join philosophers Jack Russell Weinstein and Brian Huschle as they discuss the important role two-year schools play i...

08/05/2022

When people talk about Hinduism, they usually do so in very spiritual and vague language. They mention meditation and enlightenment, oneness and karma. But what does these mean and what’s it like to see the world through a Hindu lens? In this episode, philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein interviews Swami Sarvapriyananda. Together they make the religion and its ideas accessible, interesting, and relevant to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs....

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2022/05/08/how-to-think-like-a-hindu-with-guest-swami-sarvapriyananda/

When people talk about Hinduism, they usually do so in very spiritual and vague language. They mention meditation and enlightenment, oneness and karma. But what does these mean and what’s it like to see the world through a Hindu lens? In this episode, philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein interviews ...

10/04/2022

On this month’s episode we do something different: Jack Russell Weinstein does an “Ask Me Anything”! Why? Radio solicited questions from listeners, students, internet followers, and even the Prairie Public staff to explore philosophy on their terms. From contemporary politics to questions about religion, hot dogs, and even Star Wars, no question is off the table. What results is a funny, quirky, surprising, and challenging series of seemingly-random questions that illustrate the philosophical method, and the pleasure of exploring the philosophy of our day-to-day lives....

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2022/04/10/ask-me-anything-with-co-hosts-jack-russell-weinstein-and-ashley-thornberg/

A philosophical Ask-Me-Anything from Jack Russell Weinstein and Why? Radio. From contemporary politics to questions about religion, hot dogs, and even Star Wars, no question is off the table. What results is a funny, quirky, surprising, and challenging series of seemingly-random questions that illus...

03/04/2022

Jack Russell Weinstein Is about to give a rather unstructured 25 minutes talk at the Unitairan-Universalist Church in Fargo called

"You keep using that word, Capitalism. I don't think it means what you think it means."

It starts a little after 11 (central; fifteen minutes from now), if you want to watch the livestream. There will be some worship and announcements first

https://www.facebook.com/FMUU1892

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead: Regular Sunday Services are held at 11 a.m.

31/03/2022

I bet you've asked yourself, what does Jack Russell Weinstein, host of Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life have to say about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars? Well, now you can find out.

In this month’s Philosophical Currents, Jack Russell Weinstein puts a philosopher’s spin on “the slap” from the recent Oscars.

16/03/2022

The newest episode of Why? Radio is now online.

"What is a Model Minority?"

Host Jack Russell Weinstein interviews Emily Lee.

**Click on the link in our bio to listen**

📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻

16/03/2022

The Latest Episode of Why? Radio is now online! It's a great, accessible, and timely discussion about something that doesn't get much attention: "positive" stereotypes. Jack Russell Weinstein hosts Emily Lee.

Jack Russell Weinstein talks with philosopher Emily Lee about the way positive stereotypes about Asian Americans are destructive.

15/03/2022

. American politics tells us that being a member of an ethnic minority means being poor, marginalized, and less successful than those in the majority, except for one caveat. Model-minority members are ultra-successful, role models for others, and most of the time, Asian-American. Their members are presumed to have mastered the skills to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Is all of this accurate? Is being held out as special really a compliment? Or, does treating success as a foregone conclusion only punish individual and make their failure seem even worse?...

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2022/03/15/what-is-a-model-minority-with-guest-emily-s-lee/

07/02/2022

Our host uncovers a brilliant quote from Arthur Miller, author of "The Crucible." It's worth thinking about...

18/01/2022

Have a listen to "Reflections on Martin Luther King Day, 2022" from Philosophical Currents. We think you'll enjoy it!

Follow the link in our bio!

📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻

13/12/2021

The first amendment guarantees that one religion is not privileged over another, so why does it feel like personal beliefs dominate the public sphere? Private conviction is supposed to guide our moral lives, so why is the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v. Wade? On this episode of Why? Radio we ask about these issues and more. We explore the nature and limits of the US constitution and examine the democratic justification for toleration. Ultimately, we come face to face with one of the great questions of the moment: is the first amendment obsolete?...

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2021/12/12/on-the-separation-of-church-and-state-with-guest-andrew-seidel/

What is the argument for the separation of church and state? Is this just a constitutional claim or is it a moral question, too? Join philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein and his guest Andrew Seidel as they discuss abortion, freedom of worship, and what it means for citizens to be free from religion.

06/12/2021

A philosophical look at , and so-called offensive comedy from Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life's host Jack Russell Weinstein

“Comedy in Pursuit of Social Justice: Dave Chappelle and Cancel Culture” Philosophical Currents (episode 8) with Jack Russell Weinstein and Ashley Thornberg Originally…

11/10/2021

Get excited! It's a new episode!

Join philosophers Jack Russell Weinstein and Sarah LaChance Adams as they discuss a new philosophy of s*x for a new age. With mainstream acknowledgment of po*******hy, marginalized s*xual identities and orientations, and newfound openness to kinky play, it’s time to take another look at what s*x m...

11/10/2021

ORIGINALLY RECORDED: OCTOBER 4, 2021ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: OCTOBER 11, 2021 To listen to the podcast via iTunes, click here.For a transcript of this episode, click here. Discussing s*x can be quite difficult, even embarrassing, but philosophers have been doing it for thousands of years. We love questioning how culture and biology combine to establish what’s normal, and examining the various justifications for transgression....

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/?p=74099

15/09/2021

2020 – 2021
https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2021/09/13/2020-2021/

2020 – 2021 Share this:FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestRedditTumblrLinkedInWhatsAppPocketSkypeTelegramPrintLike this:Like Loading... Related

15/09/2021

ORIGINALLY RECORDED: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 To listen to the podcast via iTunes, click here.For a transcript of this episode, click here. We rely on computers for everything from games, to avoiding traffic, to curing disease. This is sped up by machine-learning. the process by which computers adjust their programming without human input. But providing conclusions isn’t the same as explaining them, and offering answers isn't a substitute for teaching....

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2021/09/15/what-is-machine-learning-and-why-is-it-important-to-philosophy-with-guest-emily-sullivan/

Join host Jack Russell Weinstein as he interviews fellow philosopher Emily Sullivan about machine learning, and how getting “answers” from computers is not the same as understanding them. This discussion explores the basics of machine learning, as well as its epistemological and political ramifi...

11/08/2021

ORIGINALLY RECORDED: JULY 27, 2021ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: AUGUST 8, 2021 To listen to the podcast via iTunes, click here. Elvis Costello famously asked, “what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?” It’s a really good question. The idea of peace is all-too-frequently dismissed as superficial and utopian. It’s perceived as a hippie pipe-dream and a waste of resources. Most schools never teach peace as it's own subject and it's very difficult to get politicians to take the idea seriously....

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2021/08/11/the-argument-for-peace-and-non-violence-with-guest-kathy-kelly/

On this episode of the public radio show Why?, philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein interviews peace-activist Kathy Kelly about her life's work, and the meaning and nature of peace.

12/07/2021

ORIGINALLY RECORDED: JULY 7, 2021ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: JULY 11, 2021 To listen to the podcast via iTunes, click here. We are living in a time of conspiracy theories that fuel a divisive and increasingly violent politics, even when they’re obviously untrue. They are spouted by our representatives; they’re believed by our neighbors. How do conspiracy theories ensnare people so effectively and why are believers so reluctant to change their minds?...

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2021/07/12/why-do-conspiracy-theories-work-with-guest-quassim-cassam/

Why do people believe conspiracy theories and what can we do to challenge their beliefs? Join host Jack Russell Weinstein and his guest Quassim Cassam as they take a philosophical look at the psychological and political dimensions behind these theories and their proponents.

14/06/2021

ORIGINALLY RECORDED: JUNE 10, 2021ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: JUNE 13, 2021 To listen to the podcast via iTunes, click here. We are not living in a calm time. Coronavirus, police violence and protest, and climate change: it all seems as if it’s coming from different directions, but is it? Might there be a common thread that unifies all of our current crises and is there a way of understanding them that helps us change things for the better?...

https://philosophyinpubliclife.org/2021/06/13/the-politics-of-crisis-how-police-reform-covid-19-and-climate-change-are-all-related-with-guest-olufemi-o-taiwo/

Coronavirus, police violence and protest, and climate change all seems to be coming coming from different directions, but are they? In this episode, host Jack Russell Weinstein interviews Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò about the material conditions that cause the crises that lead to injustice and exploitatio...

27/05/2021

As the Covid-19 pandemic starts to ebb, the debate over vaccination rages on. Is it rational to resist being vaccinated? Is there reason to doubt the science? In…

15/05/2021

A very old, but still sadly relevant blog post.

Israel and Gaza are at war; there really is no other word for it. And as the fighting escalates, so does the propaganda. The fact of the matter is though, that no matter how much blame the media ge…