Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part Two)

Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part Two)

Author: Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey October 13, 2025 Duration: 45:46

Continuing on "Directions for Decomposition" from A Short History of Decay (1949). What is it that humans are inevitably trying to avoid that seems so bad to us? It's our existential separation from others, our essential, incommunicable solitude. Plus, ennui, sloth, and being a "traitor to existence."

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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]

Duration: 1:52:37
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]

Duration: 1:33:27
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…