We're back at it with the Master and His Emissary Chapter 10, and we've brought a special guest to throw water on our enthusiasm! Nik has some choice words to say about McGilchrist's analysis of the Enlightenment (and everything else), Brevin is ready to go to war with birds, and Stephen takes the controversial position of disliking group projects. Have a listen!

307 The Problem with..."McGilchrist, RPG Novels, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 13" ft. Nik

While this podcast is supposed to be about the industrial revolution's creation of a dystopian hellscape, the Master and His Emissary sort of breezes by the topic, and the boys do too. Instead they talk about who to vote for in 2020, how many whole fried chickens one can stuff into a Bloody Mary, and even a mask/vaccine politics. Have a listen!

308 The Problem with “Romanticism, Blood Marys, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 14"

It's the homestretch as the Master and His Emissary stares at modernism and postmodernism. There's plenty more about why modern art is bad--what's not to like!? Also, Brevin brings an article about kickstarter board game bloat, Sam laments self-inviting relatives, and Stephen goes on an expectative-laced rant against innocent car enthusiasts. Have a listen!

309 The Problem with... "Modernism, Bad Neighbors, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 15"

The rest of the superlatives that went unasked.

Star Wars Superlatives: the Complete Saga (Bonus Clip)

Friedrich Nietzsche stars in the classic Christmas story of "It's a Wonderful Life" and discovers the world without his contribution to philosophy would be a very different place.

Our thanks to the anonymous (sorry) Facebook poster whose comment inspired (and wrote half of) this audio drama.

319 It’s a Wonderful Nietzsche - The Problem with Reading Christmas Special

We continue the journey through "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self" by Carl Trueman in this penultimate episode covering chapters 8 and 9 documenting the twin triumphs of the erotic and the therapeutic. But also, Paganism! Have a listen...

415 The Problem with... "Paganism, Playboy, and the Modern Self, Part 6"

The day has finally come to give DFW the treatment he deserves, and Stephen couldn’t be happier. We’ve brought on Liv as backup to explore the heavily foot- and endnoted fiction and non-fiction projects of David Foster Wallace. We discuss the importance of paying attention, the danger of entertainment, the struggle to escape postmodern cynicism, if the only way out is through, and finally what metamodernism may have to offer. Have a listen!
 
Articles:
-“This is Water” by David Foster Wallace (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCbGM4mqEVw)
-“A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again” by David Foster Wallace
-“The View from Mrs. Thompson's” by David Foster Wallace
-“ An Interview With David Foster Wallace” by Larry McCaffery
-“Philosophizing With Lightning?: a Review Of 'Metamodernism: The Future Of Theory'” by By Peter Fousek (https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/philosophizing-with-lightning-a-review-of-metamodernism-the-future-of-theory?)

417 The Problem with…“David Foster Wallace” ft. Liv

In which we begin our next book journey and introduce "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by the philosopher/sociologist/theologian Jacques Ellul. There's numerous reasons to read this book: the year, our technological stage, our memetic ecology. But also, it sounds fun. Pick up a copy and read along with us!

(Free online text: theanarchistlibrary.org/library/jacques-ellul-propaganda)

421 The Problem with... "Propaganda by Jacques Ellul"

We finally reach the fifth and final chapter of Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Socio-Political Effects. In a world where ideology itself is subject to propagandistic forces, do ideas like democracy and freedom mean anything? Can religion use propagandistic techniques and escape unscathed? The answers will depress you! Have a listen!

427 The Problem with..."Democracy, Televised Mass, and Propaganda, Part 6"

In which we begin our new book: "Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed" by James C. Scott. High Modernism, maps, peasant anthropology, utopian schemes, evil architects...this book has it all, and we're excited for the journey. 

502 The Problem with..."Seeing Like a State"

German Scientific Forestry goes horribly wrong! Cadastral mapping allow for state exploitation of otherwise illegible localities! Appearance of order does not imply efficiency! Also, Sam breaks his toe, Brevin enjoys Shamrock Shakes, and Stephen is an Engineer™.

503 The Problem with…“Forstwissenschaftlers and Seeing Like a State, Part 1”

Is your Last Name a government conspiracy? Is 2xPi overrated? Is illegibility of local conditions and terrain a protection against state control? The answer to all these questions is “Yes.”

504 The Problem with…"Tau, France, and Seeing Like a State, Part 2”

The hands of High Modernism have left their mark on world, nowhere more dramatically than on the form of the City. Le Corbusier, architect and supervillain, contends with Jane Jacobs, New York Lover and sidewalk-er. How many cubic meters of air does a person needs? How much empty pavement can put down? Is 18 lanes enough for the main street? All these questions and more, answered. Also, everyone is ill, or soon to be. 

505 The Problem with..."Architectural Despots, Jane Jacobs, and Seeing Like a State, Part 3"

We turn to Mother Russia, the Revolution, and a certain Mr. Lenin for another view into High Modernism. Weightlifting Socialists, vanguards, and alternative Marxisms are all on the table.  Separately, Stephen is a Doctor, ideas are special things, and we play out the episode with a special song. Have a listen! 

506 The Problem with..."Lenin, R&D, and Seeing Like a State, Part 4"

Dr. Mike joins the podcast to teach Metaphysics 101 and put Dr. Stephen in his place. We discuss the inescapability of metaphysics, the ontological argument (for perfect unicorns), and more. Plus, a game to decide the ultimate meta-metaphysician, and Mike hates basketball. Have a listen!

507 The Problem with..."Metaphysics" ft. Dr. Mike

Back in the day, all the cool kids were collectivizing farms, by force if necessary (it generally was). Did you know they were all High Modernists? James Scott tells the stories of Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Russia and their violent agricultural revolutions. The unfortunate meeting of capitalist and communist minds, united in the confidence of technocratic solutions, had immense the human cost, but led, inevitably, to legibility, and the reinforcement of the centralized state's position. Also, Spinal Tap for Sam, Stephen is mad about Grok, and Brevin's phone is going to explode. Have a listen!

508 The Problem with..."Communes, Spinal Tap, and Seeing Like a State, Part 5"

Polycropping, practical knowledge, and National Park Shenanigans; Have a listen!

509 The Problem with..."Polycropping, Death Cab, and Seeing Like a State, Part 6"

We conclude our journey through the eyes of state. Sam prepares for a harrowing experience, Stephen breaks his back (again) and Brevin welcomes Fall with the traditional liturgy. Have a listen!

510 The Problem with..."Seeing Like a Citizen, and Seeing Like a State, Part 7"

Our next book is “Personal Knowledge” by Michael Polanyi. Polymath, chemist, philosophy of science and politics, Polanyi has the ambitious goal to rescue knowledge itself from the subjective/objective gulf. We’re going to have tacit knowledge, violins, the speed of light, and much, much more. Join us for this adventure! 

511 The Problem with..."Personal Knowledge, Part 1"

two lay catholics and an orthodox-adjacent nerd are unlikely roommates in a dystopian future where humans only exist as soundwaves. enjoy their attempts to discuss academic philosophy/words at all.

101 The Problem with..."Pilot Episodes and After Virtue, Part 1"

Thomas is away, but we welcome Sam to discuss our picks of the week. As it turns out, a recent book has finally killed God, now that religion is dead we've all joined cults, the Right and Left have their drugs of choice, and Christmas should be abolished. Have a listen. 

Articles: 
~nytimes.com/2012/03/25/books/review/a-universe-from-nothing-by-lawrence-m-krauss.html
~nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/andrew-sullivan-americas-new-religions.html
~chronicle.com/article/Dear-Humanities-Profs-We-Are/243100/

Music: Ratata by Jeremiah Dangers

103 The Problem with..."Cults and Christmas" ft. Sam (Special Episode)

Stephen uncovers and narrates Nixon's secret prepared speech, to be read in the case of Apollo 11 having a wacko in the machine. 

Source: lifestyle.clickhole.com/this-speech-was-written-for-president-nixon-to-deliver-1825121627

Nixon, upon the exploding of Apollo 11 (Bonus)

The gang is back and better than ever with Season 2! After Season 1's long journey through MacIntyre's After Virtue we have arrived to the ethical wasteland he described. But while we're here, we may as well read some articles. This episode we ponder why Joshua Harris and the Christian Purity Movement collapsed, why God isn't actually Zeus, and how Communists find love. Please enjoy!

Articles:
~nationalreview.com/…/whither-evangelical-purit…/
~firstthings.com/artic…/…/06/god-gods-and-fairies
~nymag.com/…/2…/03/socialism-and-young-socialists.html

201 The Problem with..."Purity Culture and Zeus"

Season 2 only gets better and Stephen is back at it again with what may be a record number of David Foster Wallace references. Meanwhile, Sam and Brevin are devastated that Kirsten Gillibrand has dropped out of the presidential race and ruined their chance for free bourbon. In other news, the Constitution should be abolished, James Mattis is our new patron saint, and bitter fights abound in the theology-politics-o-sphere. Have a listen!

Articles:
~firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/08/a-sloppy-attack-on-national-conservatism  
~theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/who-constitution/596341/
~wsj.com/articles/jim-mattis-duty-democracy-and-the-threat-of-tribalism-11566984601

202 The Problem with..."Ex Post Facto Trumpian Hand Waves"

Stephen and Brevin return after a much-too-long hiatus to bring you tales of apocalypse, hell (but I repeat myself), and the memetic structures that underpin grumpy cat. 

Articles: 
~firstthings.com/article/2019/10/harrowing-hart-on-hell 
 ~thephilosophersmeme.com/2019/04/05/the-memetic-bottleneck/ 

Music:
Ratata by Jeremiah Dangers

203 The Problem with..."Hell and Memes"

The boys tackle The Master and His Emissary chapter 3 in this lengthy episode, solving the problems of music, language, and thought itself in a tidy hour and ten. They also find another angle to hate upon abstract art, avoid politics, rip on PG movies, approve censorship, and dunk on street preachers. Finally, they agree that the good life is porch-sittin' with beer. Have a listen!

216 The Problem with… “PG Movies, Musilanguage, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 4"

Stephen and Brevin finish off Ch.5 of the Master and His Emissary as we enter the home stretch of part one! Also in this podcast—corporations want to make religion because they are evil incarnate, Stephen has a fun encounter with soulless bureaucracy at Michigan’s version of the DMV, and our society is decadent AF. Have a listen!

220 The Problem with..."Corporate Sacraments, Decadence, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 7"

Stephen and Brevin finish up Part 1 of the Master and His Emissary to great fanfare. Also--White House tree planting traditions are opaque, Blade Runner 2049 has surprisingly good bioethics, and cookies are mmm.

221 The Problem with…“Replicants, Hemisphere Asymmetries, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 8”

The boys gather once more before the new year to retrospect over the first half of The Master and His Emissary. Joining them is the lord sponsor of the reading series and M+E evangelist Zach, who brings spicy takes, a dramatic voice, and archaic video game references. After that, the pod shifts into words about screens and seeing, cold soup and brunch, and the first of men. Also, four (4) rants from Stephen, Brevin, Zach and a secret guest to close out the season. Have a listen!

222 The Problem with... "Metroid Prime, Cold Soup, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 9" ft. Zach

We’re on to part two of the Master and His Emissary with Chapter 7! The boys tighten up their summarizing skills (hopefully) and talk through cultural memes and left-hemisphere feedback loops. Also, imitation is good for the soul, boots will save our civilization, and a look into the inner priesthood of right-wing ideology today. Finally, listen to Stephen hating on the news and tune in next week to see if his rant backfires!

302 The Problem with… “Cultural Genes, Hating Everyone, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 10"

The fellas tackle another full chapter of the Master and His Emissary, grapple with our helplessness in the face of our idiot ruling class, and invent Gerbil Theory (NSA grant pending). Also, Sam stages a coup against Stephen, Brevin reads a poem, and Christianity may have killed the Roman Empire. Have a listen!

303 The Problem with... "Whining, Chest Theory, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 11"

It is time to fix the Renaissance and the Reformation, and the boys manage to do so in just under an hour. Brevin tries to convince everyone the Martin Luther was the biggest mistake in history, spies don’t care about you, and Covid is changing how we do friendships. Also, Stephen hates physicists approximating equations badly, Sam welcomed the Superbowl’s uncontroversial commercials, and Brevin proposes a tea farm. Have a listen!

304 The Problem with… “The Tea Farm, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 12”

A book appreciation club hosted by one catholic, one anglican, and one orthodox nerd. We talk about book chapters, special topics, and what we're drinking. 

Currently: 
-James Scott's Seeing Like a State (502-present)

Previously:
-Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (421-427, 429)
-Carl Trueman's Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (407-410, 412-413, 415-416)
-Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death (402 and 405)
-Richard Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences (314-318) 
-Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary (213-310)
-Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue (101-114,116-119)

You can find this podcast on most podcast applications, Itunes, Spotify, and Soundcloud.

The Problem with Reading

Popular tracks