Episodes

  • Between the Beasts and The Gods
    Jun 6 2026

    Exploring the metaphysics of ethics, karma, and the nature of good and evil through a deep philosophical conversation. The discussion covers concepts like quantum potential, moral responsibility, and the evolution of consciousness

    .00:00Exploring Ethics and Karma

    01:46The Grounding Problem of Ethics

    05:31The Nature of Goodness and Consequences

    12:56The Complexity of Human Behavior

    19:30Understanding the Good and Its Evolution

    30:11The Platonic Distinction of the Good

    32:18The Nature of Human Relationships

    34:02Moral Relativism and Virtue

    35:42Universal Standards of Good

    37:42Ethics and Personal Responsibility

    39:27The Dilemma of Ethical Intuition

    42:01Consequentialism vs. Ethical Intuition

    45:36The Structure of Care in Ethics

    48:30Caring and Longevity

    50:46The Nature of Creation and Love

    53:33Compassion as a Path to Happiness

    54:47The Ideal State of Morality

    58:12Empathy, Mercy, and Identity

    Resources

    The Quest for Certainty by John Dewey

    William James, The Principles of Psychology

    Heidegger's philosophy on Being and Time

    MacGilchrist's work on hemispheric asymmetry

    Confucius and the concept of the superior man

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • One Elephant Theory and The Conscious Middle
    May 30 2026

    Is consciousness limited to the "Zone of Middle Dimensions"? or are we limited by our personal viewpoint? Can we escape to higher consciousness? a look at various answers from different times and traditions...

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Thinking about The Odyssey
    May 23 2026

    Wherein The Fools discuss the current and persistent kerfluffle surrounding the soon to be released production of Homer's Odyssey, from an hermeneutical viewpoint, with the predictable Fool's "few stones left unturned" treatment.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Erez Levin: Taboos and Hacking The Body Politic
    May 16 2026

    Erez Levin: Taboos and Hacking The Body Politic 95, wherein The Fools welcome guest, Erez Levin, an advertising technologist who's trying to engineer big pro-social norm shifting changes in that industry. He's an outspoken critic of his former employer, Google. He's now focused on restoring societies big social taboos against overt hatred. He writes on this topic on his substack, Holding The Line.

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    2 hrs and 25 mins
  • Speaking the Tao with Dr. David Marshall 94
    May 10 2026

    Join the Fools as they explore the depths of the Tao Te Ching with Dr. David Marshall, a China scholar and expert in world religions. We discuss translation challenges, the metaphysical nature of the Tao, and its relevance to modern life and spirituality.

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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • Mental Health, Materialism and Tripping Balls
    May 2 2026

    In this episode The Fools explore the complex relationship between psychedelics, traditional knowledge, and modern science. It emphasizes the importance of humility, tradition, and responsible use in integrating psychedelics into mainstream medicine and society.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Slicing Up The Pepperoni Of Time
    Apr 25 2026

    Slicing Up The Pepperoni of Time 92, in which the Fools explore time, how humans relate to it and some of the famous debates about its nature, like that between Albert Einstein and Henri Bergson in the early 20th century. They explore its connection to questions around identity, being and the purpose of life, and some useful takeaways.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Pornographic Playing Cards, Philosophy and Nietzsche 91
    Apr 18 2026

    In this discussion The Fools Explore the metaphor of explicit playing cards to understand philosophy, self-identity, and the process of individuation. A deep dive into Nietzsche, Heidegger, and the stages of personal development through metaphorical imagery. And an explanation of the Fools and Sages as a philosophical project...

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    59 mins