Joel and Travis are back! Whether this is good news or bad, they nevertheless have begun a series on Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morality--a troubling and fascinating work. In this episode, Travis gives an overview of the Preface of the book, which explains what Nietzsche is doing in the book and why. Joel then tosses Travis some questions about Nietzsche and the Preface. Was Nietzsche simply a hater of ethics? Wasn't he a Nazi? Did he have any friends? Was he a misogynist? These questions are answered at least partly, as they begin the journey into a strong critique of Christian morality, and attempt to show what even Christians can learn from this fascinating philosopher.

Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality Preface

There's good and bad and then there's good and evil--or so Nietzsche says. One is strong, the other weak; one is active, the other passive; one is noble, and the other slavish; one is of Rome, and the other conquered and destroyed Rome. What in the world is Nietzsche talking about? Where does Christianity fit in here? Are good and evil bad? Or good and bad evil? Travis gives a summary of the first essay of Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morality, and then Joel and Travis discuss it.

Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality I

Joel and Travis talk the second essay of Nietzsche's "Genealogy of Morality." What does Nietzsche think guilt/bad conscience is? What about punishment, justice, and mercy? You might not be surprised that Nietzsche does not think our most prized moral affections are particularly...well, moral. Maybe they are just the ways the weak attempt to exert power, in that same love of power that they complain about in others? And maybe Christianity is particularly adept at wielding these elements of weakness? Sound terrible? Perhaps, but come listen and see if Nietzsche might have a point...at least a point about you.

Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality II

Joel and Travis discuss the third and final essay of Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morality. What does it mean that we would rather will nothing than not will at all and that wisdom loves tough guys? How does a degenerating life protect itself from death, and what does this all have to do with morality? Well, listen and find out. You might also hear some stuff that sounds eerily familiar.

Part of the Tactical Faith Podcast Network

Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality III

Joel and Travis talk a bit of an overview of Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morality, with a little bit of Joel hinting that Travis doesn't care about people, and Travis hinting that we are perhaps all sociopaths. At least if the materialist evolutionists are right about us, and Nietzsche is right about materialistic evolution. That's a lot of "ifs", but you can't spell Friedrich Nietzsche without "ifs".

Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality: Reflection, part 1

In this final episode, Travis tries to offer some thoughts on how Christians should respond to Nietzsche. He's kind of mean to everyone--the Church, Nietzsche, contemporary culture, and maybe even to you. He focuses primarily on how we deal with our desires, the nature of power, and questions of identity, trying to cram about 5 hours worth of summary material into around 40 minutes. So, good luck.

Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality Final Reflection

Wandering Toward Wisdom is back and beginning a series on Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, led by Joel, though Travis will ask some questions and make silly comments throughout. We have all been waiting breathlessly for someone to talk about a book that is drier than its pretentious name, but Joel promises that it has a really good and important point. That is, if he can ever really say what it is. In this episode, Joel starts by telling us about Wittgenstein's interesting and strange life, and how he became perhaps the most important philosopher of the 20th century.

Wittgenstein TLP Intro

Joel and Travis talk Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, a book that, if you were to read it, would add the "cus" to your "philosophi". But you need not worry, Joel and Travis have your back. They start digging into the book in this episode, working through some of the difficult stuff, while helping you keep an eye on what Wittgenstein is aiming toward--something brilliant, rich, and important.

Wittgenstein Tractatus Props 1 and 2

Joel and Travis talk Wittgenstein's Tractatus, propositions 3 and 4. Joel says stuff about what can be said and what can only be shown, how this relates to not saying what cannot be said, and says showing a sad shed should sell said shed's shady sheerness . Well, he doesn't talk about that last bit, but he does try to explain Wittgenstein's thoughts on stuff like the say-show distinction, and related matters, which is almost as interesting as silly tongue twisters.

Wittgenstein Tractatus Propositions 3 and 4

Joel and Travis discuss propositions 5 and some of 6 from Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, a book perhaps most famous for no one in their right mind (outside of professional philosophy) reading it. Nevertheless, it has had tremendous, if confused, influence on philosophy and may be the most important book written last century.

Wittgenstein Tractatus 5 and 6

Joel and Travis discuss whether God is a toaster, the metaphysical value of pizza, and why it seems so hard to get anywhere in debates about opposing worldviews (like in apologetics). And all this with just some of Proposition 6 of Wittgenstein's Tractatus. This is the penultimate podcast in this series on the Tractatus.

Wittgenstein Tractatus Proposition 6 (continued)

Joel and Travis finish Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus in this episode. Why do smart people, like babies, stare at the finger rather than where it is pointing? And what does this have to do with talk of God and debating empirical data? Also, when should we be silent? All that is answered...sort of...in this podcast.

Wittgenstein Tractatus Propositions 6 and 7

Can you teach someone to love God or their neighbor? Joel and Travis discuss Plato's Meno, and the problem of teaching virtue, with some reflections on how this relates to evangelism and discipleship.

Episode 1 Meno and Teaching Virtue

The first of two podcasts that serve as a companion to the blog entries on the moral argument for God's existence. See the first of the blogs here: https://www.tacticalfaith.com/moral-arguments-i-the-euthyphro-dilemma/  What is Plato telling us in his Euthyphro? What is the original Euthyphro Dilemma, and how is it used today? The contemporary form of the Dilemma asks whether something is good because God commands it, or whether God commands it because it is good. Both horns of the Dilemma produce difficulties. What can we learn from the Dilemma? Is there a good response?

Euthyphro Dilemma 1

The second of two podcasts dealing with the Euthyphro Dilemma and how it relates to the Christian view of God. We talk about power, love, the nature of being, and how the unique view of God within Christianity presents a solution to the Dilemma that was perhaps hinted at by Plato in the dialogue. We also say a few things about how this view of God and morality should affect us.

Euthyphro Dilemma 2

Joel and Travis discuss Descartes and his famous pursuit of certainty. Should we follow Descartes in his doubtful quest? Are there other epistemological values besides certainty that should play a role in our thinking? What do we do with faith? Listen as we work a little closer to our goal of seeing how reason, value, and faith all work together.

Descartes

Joel and Travis discussion W.V.O. Quine's "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" - a rather substantive critique of logical positivism. What is logical positivism and how is it still affecting the way we think about knowledge now? Are all bachelors really unmarried males? And what does that have to do with my faith? Come wonder with us.

Quine

The first of two podcasts on Thomas Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." In this podcast, we introduce the main ideas of the book: What does Kuhn say about the cause and manner of scientific paradigm shifts? What is the relationship between facts, the paradigms that organize those facts, and the values that we hold? And how does this apply to other areas of thinking?

Kuhn pt 1

Just a quick introduction to who we are and what we're trying to do with this podcast.

Introduction to W_ndering toward Wisdom Podcast

Second podcast reflecting on Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." Joel and Travis talk through some of the implications of Kuhn's view and how it relates to one's own "world" and what one counts as evidence. Then some application is made to apologetics.

Kuhn pt 2

Joel and Travis introduce a bit about Wittgenstein's life, Joel inadvertently butchers the name "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus," and they discuss Wittgenstein's view of the relationship between philosophy and religious belief. Can words ever quite get you to religious belief? If not, what "proves" religious beliefs to be true?

Wittgenstein pt 1

Joel and Travis finish up the discussion of Wittgenstein, his view of value, and how it relates to discussion between those with different worldviews, such as takes place in apologetics and evangelism. Can you argue someone into a shift in the values that give shape to worldviews? If not, what are you to do?

Wittgenstein pt 2

Joel and Travis discuss some of the issues about the problem of faith. Specifically, faith seems to be driven by value--by what we desire, care about, etc. Doesn't valuing in this way make faith unreliable? Should we rather pursue objective truth? And, well, what is objectivity and is it possible/desirable?

Faith pt 1

In an effort to further the discussion on faith, science, and value, Joel and Travis discuss the meaning of "objectivity." Is it possible to be objective? And, if not, can we know things as they really are? Is God objective? Should we even want to be objective?

This series on faith goes along with the blog series on Tactical Faith's website which also discusses faith, the nature of valued-sight, and how it relates to science and other forms of "objective" knowing.

Faith pt 2

Joel and Travis continue the discussion faith and the relationship between value and perception through some discussion of the personalism of Karol Wojtyla (who later became Pope John Paul II). Is seeing things correctly a matter of having no values (being "objective")? We can see how this cannot be the case with perceiving people. We also discuss what makes a group, or a "we". (Hint: contemporary talk of groups doesn't quite make the cut.)

Faith pt 3

Joel and Travis continue to talk about faith and science, while managing to make reference to Advent (a time of preparation for the coming of the Messiah) and the issue (raised in a tweet by Bret Weinstein) of the relationship between the metaphysical claims about Jesus and his moral teachings. (Note: Audio is a little messy on this one due to some technical issues, which we have since worked out.)

Faith, Science, And Advent

Joel and Travis again discuss faith and it's relation to how the Incarnation reveals *who* God is, more than *that* God is. We use Kierkegaard's story of the king who fell in love with a peasant girl as an illustration of why God chooses to reveal his character more than proving his existence. We also try to convince you that philosophers can talk about Christmas without ruining it!

Faith and Christmas

Ever wonder why different people look at the same bit of evidence, and one sees it as compelling, while the other sees it as essentially nothing? Joel and Travis discuss evaluative outlooks: What are they? How do they affect the way we see evidence? How do we derive evidence from them? And how might apologetic method, and our view of Christian doctrine, shift when we recognize the values that lie beneath them?

Evaluative Outlook Apologetics

Joel and Travis finish up the series on evaluative outlooks and apologetics by drawing a contrast between that value that gives rise to scientific perception and that value at the heart of Christianity. What are these two values? What do they cause us to see? Are they at odds with one another? And how might apologetics be influenced by a clear recognition of the role of evaluative outlooks? I'm not sure they answer all these questions, but these are good questions nonetheless!

EO Apologetics Fin

Joel and I (Travis) talk briefly about what we've been talking about. We also say a bit about how we are far less rational than we think, toss in a bit of Pascal, and make some general suggestions about apologetics, or really the way to navigate any disagreement. Also, this will be the last podcast until July 1.

Have suggestions for topics? Email us at w_ndering@tacticalfaith.com. Do it, or we'll talk about Iris Murdoch novels for the next 6 months!

Brief Review and Announcement

Joel and Travis continue talking about how learning how to read Plato correctly might help us read the Bible better. After all, as Plato wrote a few thousand years ago, writing is a dangerous thing, which has the tendency to make us arrogant and ignorant, and thus failing to change us in a meaningful way. But some writings, like Plato and the Bible, have a different approach. What is different about these? And how should we read them differently?

For the text of Plato's Phaedrus, go here: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/phaedrus.html

Reading the Bible like Plato 2

Joel and Travis talk about how Euthyphro's sophistic view of the gods leads directly to the Euthyphro Dilemma, why the two horns of the Dilemma are a problem, and suggest that you probably have a sophistic view of God. And you should be ashamed of yourself for this, particularly if you're a Christian. We also hint toward what it might look like to view God in a non-sophistic way—if that is even possible for us silly humans.

SophisticTheology 3

Joel and Travis give an account of the Christian story that is non-sophistic. Or, put another way, an account of the Christian story seen through a Jesus-centered lens. This provides a solution to the view of the divine that led to the Euthyphro Dilemma, as well as to a recognition that most critiques of the biblical God arise from a sophistic interpretive framework. We are all "natural" sophists, so this episode paints a picture of how it is to look at Christianity that is no longer corrupted by our tendency to sophistry.

Un-sophisticating Theology 2

Joel and Travis talk rights - human, moral, legal, what have you. What is the source of rights? Why do we have rights? Is there a correlation between rights and duties? What do we get wrong about rights when we look at them through the lens of an agonistic society? (And what in the world is an agonistic society?!) Get mad that Joel doesn't support your side in the political war in today's podcast!

What are Rights?

Joel, Travis, and outrage hang out for a half hour or so. They talk about the election, why the people on the other side of the political aisle are reprehensible and moronic....and if you're getting excited reading this, you (just like Joel and Travis) have a problem. They talk about how outrage is addictive, whether it is ever appropriate, and related issues that are sure to make you angry...or hopeful.

Outrage

Joel and Travis talk Christian B. Miller's book "The Character Gap." We start off in this podcast asking what Dr. Miller asks in his book: Why would anyone want to develop a good character? And from that we move to questions about whether flourishing has anything to do with our desires being fulfilled, why we might want to change our desires, and what it is that we actually desire.

Talking about The Character Gap

Joel and Travis talk everything from David Foster Wallace to Plato to the claim of 1 Timothy 6 that the love of money is the root of all evil in this last installment reflecting on Christian Miller's book "The Character Gap." How do Joel and Travis, both of which have notable gaps in their own character, think you should develop a virtuous character? Do they agree with Miller or do they think we have some better ideas? And could Travis use the word "more" a bit less, please?

The Character Gap 3

"What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" We're glad you asked!
A couple of Christian philosophers discuss what use there might be in philosophy. We go into depth into various thinkers, texts, ideas and show how they relate to our understanding of Christianity and apologetics.
A new podcast every Wednesday morning (7:00 am central time).
A part of the Tactical Faith Podcast Network.

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