Ep. 376: Plato's "Laws" (Part One)

Ep. 376: Plato's "Laws" (Part One)

Author: Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey September 22, 2025 Duration: 47:45

On this later dialogue presenting Plato's ideas about the character of laws in a just state. They should all be aimed at making people virtuous, and so should include education to this end. Each law should be equipped with a prelude presenting a rational argument for why people should obey it.

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What if philosophy wasn't an intimidating subject reserved for academics, but a lively, accessible, and sometimes messy conversation among friends? That's the space occupied by The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast. Hosted by Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, and Dylan Casey-a group who once pursued philosophy professionally before taking a different path-this podcast approaches big ideas with a rare blend of genuine curiosity and informal camaraderie. Their discussions are grounded in actual philosophical texts, which they break down in each episode, but you absolutely don't need a degree or even prior reading to jump in. The charm lies in hearing their real-time reactions, debates, and occasional tangents as they wrestle with concepts that shape our society and culture. Listening feels like pulling up a chair at a pub with remarkably well-read friends who are just as likely to crack a joke as they are to land a profound insight. This isn't a lecture; it's an invitation to a collective, partially examined life, where the journey through a thinker's argument is often more revealing than any polished conclusion. You'll find yourself thinking along with them, questioning your own assumptions, and discovering how centuries-old ideas pulse through our modern dilemmas. Tune in for a uniquely human and engaging take on the discipline that asks the biggest questions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 782

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
Podcast Episodes
PREMIUM-Episode 16: Danto on Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:35
Discussing three essays by Arthur Danto from The Philosophical Disenfranchisement of Art (1986): the title essay, "The Appreciation and Interpretation of Works of Art," and "The End of Art."
Episode 15: Hegel on History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Discussing G.W.F Hegel's Introduction to the Philosophy of History (1837). Get this and every episode ad-free by becoming a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Episode 14: Machiavelli on Politics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Discussing Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince (1532) and Ch. 1-20 of The Discourse on the First Ten Books of Titus Livy. Get this and every episode ad-free by becoming a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Episode 12: Chuang Tzu's Taoism: What Is Wisdom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:18
On the Chuang Tzu, Chapters 2, 3, 6, 18, and 19. With guest Erik Douglas. Get this and every episode ad-free by becoming a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Episode 11: Nietzsche's Immoralism: What Is Ethics, Anyway? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:41
Discussing The Genealogy of Morals (mostly the first two essays) and Beyond Good and Evil Ch. 1 (The Prejudices of Philosophers), 5 (Natural History of Morals), and 9 (What is Noble?). Get this and every episode ad-free…