Tapping into my eternal student syndrome, I was on Harvard’s free online course webpage, giddy over which class to pick. The opportunity to enroll in one of these course offerings reminded me of why I wanted to create and continue to produce Good Is In The Details podcast, namely, access for a broad public to engage in Philosophy and university subjects (sans uncomfortable desks, stressful deadlines, and costs that put education out of reach).
In lieu of a semester course, I’ve linked four podcast episodes below, each focused on a distinct area of philosophy, featuring professors from Columbia University, UC Riverside, UConn, and Loyola Marymount University. Each episode is an opportunity to essentially take an intro class from a stellar, well-established academic on your own time and without the pressure of a quiz at the end.
Does Aristotle have something to do with your healthcare?
What is the “wandering womb” theory?
Professor Christia Mercer makes the case that the Ancient Greek descriptions of women’s bodies are echoed in today’s politics and bioethics.
Are we too dependent on rules? What role should discretion play if or when it doesn’t exactly adhere to an existing rule?
Professor Barry Lam joins Good Is In The Details to discuss his book The Case for Discretion. Fewer Rules, Better People.
Much of his work for this book was inspired by his highly acclaimed podcast Hi Phi Nation.
What does it mean to center our humanity in our everyday?
What does Plato’s Symposium teach us about love and philosophy?
Is there Philosophy to unearth in the Horror genre?
What’s the value of film analysis for philosophy?
How can the movie Blade Runner teach us about what it means to be human? To have empathy? To love?
When I reflected on these episodes, something interesting stood out. They were recorded years apart, each addressed subtopics within philosophy, yet all four professors, in the flow of discussion, spoke about the importance of studying philosophy and how it contributes to a thoughtful and enjoyable life. They spoke about their teaching experiences and how they engaged students with the material. It’s a testament to their character, I believe, that they prioritized their relationships with students and spoke with a genuine disposition of care for their intellectual development. They respect their students’ curiosity, recognizing that their own intellectual growth is shaped by these exchanges too. That is to say, very much in the spirit of Socrates, these professors are aware that interactions with students cannot be reduced to a one-directional, “I’m in charge and know it all” sort of relationship.
It’s quite tempting to treat the accolades of a PhD, notable publications, and a tenured position at a prestigious university as sufficient for asserting one’s authority. Of course, the authority is earned. But the distinction between wisdom and merely holding information comes through in these podcast episodes because despite all of their credentials, they’re still listening and learning and have the humility to appreciate that a new thought or way of viewing a philosophical problem may very well come from the younger mind sitting in their classroom.
Choose one episode that you’re drawn to and start your “course” in philosophy.
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