Latest Political thought Podcast Episodes

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22 - Thought Lab 1: The Dead Chicken Experiment

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - March 01, 2021 19:00 - 44 minutes
This is the first in our Thought Lab series, in which political theorist Paul Sagar comes by to chat about thought experiments and the themes they raise. This week, we ask: are harmless acts ever morally wrong? Official liberal morality says “no” but most actual liberals will “yes,” if you fin...

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21 - GiT Valentine's Day Special: Rousseau and Romance Past

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - February 15, 2021 19:00 - 1 hour
I talk about a crush I had in Paris as a boy. Then Sep and I dig into Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Marcel Proust to explain what on earth was going on in my heart. Rousseau advises how to get from boner to bonheur. Proust explains why it’s easier to fall for someone you pass in a car than someone y...

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20 - Do Free Markets Make Free Humans? Interview with Jeffrey Bercuson

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - January 18, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour
Jeffrey Bercuson is author of A History of Political Thought: Property, Labor, and Commerce from Plato to Piketty. This book does a whirlwind tour through the history of political thought explaining how different thinkers have approached the commercial or money-making part of human life. We tal...

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19 - Granny Gore to Girl Power: Naomi Hamer on the History of Fairy Tales

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - January 04, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour
Naomi Hamer of Ryerson University tells us an unfamiliar version of a classic fairy tale then chats about how children’s stories have changed and the different moral and political and economic factors that changed them. According to Hamer the seduction and cannibalism isn’t gone, it’s just less ...

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19 - From Piss Play to Girl Power: Naomi Hamer on the History of Fairy Tales

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - January 04, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour
Naomi Hamer of Ryerson University tells us an unfamiliar version of a classic fairy tale then chats about how children’s stories have changed and the different moral and political and economic factors that changed them. According to Hamer the seduction and cannibalism isn’t gone, it’s just less ...

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18 - GiT Xmas movie special with Sep

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - December 21, 2020 23:00 - 49 minutes
Sep of Sep’s Weird Movie Blog comes on to talk about Christmas movie and capitalist fairy tale, Trading Places. Sep is Good in Theory’s episode artist, editor, and BFF of the pod.  Links: Sep's Twitter Trading Places trailer   Zardoz trailer Roadhouse trailer  My CBC Xmas article we mentio...

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17 - Plato's Republic 6: How to be a Good Person

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - December 07, 2020 02:00 - 45 minutes
This episode covers book 4 of Plato’s Republic. What does it mean to be a good person? What is justice?  To answer these questions, Socrates and the boys have built imaginary cities, raised educated and nobly lied to armies, and sent them all to live in a camp. Today’s the day Socrates brings i...

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17 - Plato's Republic 6: How to be a Good Person

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - December 07, 2020 02:00 - 45 minutes
This episode covers book 4 of Plato’s Republic. What does it mean to be a good person? What is justice?  To answer these questions, Socrates and the boys have built imaginary cities, raised educated and nobly lied to armies, and sent them all to live in a camp. Today’s the day Socrates brings i...

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16 - Plato's Republic 5: Lies, Noble Lies and Gymnastics

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - November 16, 2020 22:00 - 43 minutes
This episode covers the second half of book 3 of Plato’s Republic. Glaucon and Socrates develop a completely immersive education program for the guardians that controls every aspect of their social and physical environment. Then, they tell them it never happened because actually they were sleepi...

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15 - Interview: politics v. philosophy with Agnes Callard

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - November 02, 2020 19:00 - 42 minutes
Agnes Callard is a philosophy prof, Plato expert and public philosopher. We talk about the relationship between politics and philosophy (it’s complicated), why nobody should trust philosophers (they don’t know anything), and why human beings can’t even think something without someone else tellin...

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14 - Plato's Republic 4: Myths 4 KidZ

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - October 19, 2020 04:00 - 37 minutes
This episode covers parts of books 2 and 3 of Plato’s Republic. Adeimantus and Socrates start planning an education for the guardians. As it stands, young Athenians are fed an unhealthy banquet of lies written by the likes of Homer and Hesiod. Socrates wants new lies that set a good example fo...

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13 - Plato’s Republic 3: City of Pigs, Army of Dogs

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - October 05, 2020 15:00 - 41 minutes
This episode covers the first part of book 2 of  Republic. Glaucon and Adeimantus take over the conversation with Socrates and challenge him to prove that it’s good to be good. Glaucon gets wild with a ring of invisibility. The gang builds a utopian city of pigs and meets an army of good-natured...

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12 - Interview: Paul Sagar, what's your problem with Plato?

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - September 21, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes
Paul Sagar is a lecturer in political theory at King's College London and the guy who played Thrasymachus in book 1.  He actually doesn't like reading Plato very much. I ask him why.  Support the Show.

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11 - Plato's Republic 2: Good to be Bad

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - September 21, 2020 04:00 - 34 minutes
(covers the second half of book 1 of Plato's Republic) In this episode, Socrates goes up against his most formidable opponent yet: the sophist Thrasymachus.  Thrasymachus leaps at Socrates “like a wild beast” and yells at him for playing dirty. Then, he tells the boys that morality is a lie a...

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10 - Plato's Republic 1a: Justice for Beginners

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - September 07, 2020 04:00 - 34 minutes
Plato’s Republic is full of bad arguments and worse political proposals and it may still be the most influential work of political theory ever. Book 1 sets the stage for an all-night conversation between Socrates and some friends that covers: ethics; politics; education; epistemology; psycholo...

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10 - Plato's Republic 1: Justice for Beginners

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - September 07, 2020 04:00 - 34 minutes
Plato’s Republic is full of bad arguments and worse political proposals and it may still be the most influential work of political theory ever. Book 1 sets the stage for an all-night conversation between Socrates and some friends that covers: ethics; politics; education; epistemology; psycholo...

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9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi!

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - August 11, 2020 02:00 - 53 minutes
9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi! The Athenians ran their government like an open mic night, pulled off one of the greatest golden ages in human history and show why true democrats hate elections. The secret sauce of Athenian greatness? Seamen. Lots of seamen.  Old Oligarch: Alan Mark at Tankards n...

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9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi!

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - August 11, 2020 02:00 - 53 minutes
9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi! The Athenians ran their government like an open mic night, pulled off one of the greatest golden ages in human history and show why true democrats hate elections. The secret sauce of Athenian greatness? Seamen. Lots of seamen.  Old Oligarch: Alan Mark at Tankards n...

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8 - Sparta: Killer Beehive

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - July 21, 2020 18:00 - 45 minutes
The Spartans are legendary fighters and legendary patriots. They believed in equality, meritocracy, and freedom. They also ran the most brutal slave state in the ancient world. Their secret? Institutions! Art: Marijke Bouchier Music: David Zikotivz, Clayton Tapp, and The Green Hornet Theme. ...

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7 - BONUS: Interview with Rebecca Goldstein

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - July 13, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour
Rebecca Goldstein wrote a book of Platonic dialogues, in which Plato is on a 21st-century book tour in America. It’s called Plato at the Googleplex. We talk about Plato and whether you can do philosophy and politics at the same time, and the Harper’s letter in favour of “open debate” that Golds...

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7 - Interview: Rebecca Goldstein

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - July 13, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour
Rebecca Goldstein wrote a book of Platonic dialogues, in which Plato is on a 21st-century book tour in America. It’s called Plato at the Googleplex. We talk about Plato and whether you can do philosophy and politics at the same time, and the Harper’s letter in favour of “open debate” that Golds...

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6 - The Polis: Freedom Farms, Phalanxes and Class War

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - July 06, 2020 18:00 - 32 minutes
The Greeks invented political liberty and everyone loves them for it.  Were they freedom-loving geniuses? Maybe.  Were they farm boys who could handle a spear? Yes.  Were they deep in debt and looking for a way out? Absolutely.  Art: Marijke Bouchier Music: David Zikovitz and Clayton Tapp Edit...

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5 – Plato’s Apology 5: The Apology of Athens

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - June 22, 2020 19:00 - 37 minutes
Executing an innocent 70-year-old philosophy might look bad but you had to be there. Topics include: Why a reasonable, well-intentioned Athenian may have voted to kill Socrates. Why politics might get interested in you, even if you’re not interested in politics. The difference between morali...

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5 - Plato’s Apology 5: The Apology of Athens

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - June 22, 2020 19:00 - 37 minutes
Executing an innocent 70-year-old philosophy might look bad but you had to be there. Topics include: Why a reasonable, well-intentioned Athenian may have voted to kill Socrates. Why politics might get interested in you, even if you’re not interested in politics. The difference between morali...

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4 - Plato's Apology 4: Your Brain On Politics

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - June 08, 2020 03:00 - 51 minutes
A lot of Athenians suspect Socrates of plotting to overthrow democracy. On the other hand, Socrates says that when Athenians start thinking politics, they turn into a paranoid mob. This episode covers both sides and it honestly sounds like Socrates is complaining about Twitter.  Topics: -Why pe...

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3 - Plato's Apology 3: Not-So-Dangerous Minds

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - May 25, 2020 15:00 - 33 minutes
Some people think that philosophy is an outrage to religion and a danger to morality. Was this why the Athenians killed Socrates? Are these ever good reasons to kill a philosopher? Do people say philosophy is dangerous just to make it sound sexier? Pod art: Marijke Bouchier Music: David Zikoti...

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2 – Plato’s Apology 2: Free Speech Hero?

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - May 11, 2020 20:00 - 39 minutes
Socrates insults his jury, dares them to sentence him to death, then makes fun of them when they do.  Unswerving commitment to truth? Troll’s defence? Suicide by jury? All of the above?  Part 2 of a 4-part series on Plato’s Apology.  Bill and Ted trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fx6...

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2 - Plato’s Apology 2: Free Speech Hero?

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - May 11, 2020 20:00 - 39 minutes
Socrates insults his jury, dares them to sentence him to death, then makes fun of them when they do.  Unswerving commitment to truth? Troll’s defence? Suicide by jury? All of the above?  Part 2 of a 4-part series on Plato’s Apology.  Bill and Ted trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fx6...

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2 - Plato’s Apology 2: Free Speech Hero?

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - May 11, 2020 20:00 - 39 minutes
Socrates insults his jury, dares them to sentence him to death, then makes fun of them when they do.  Unswerving commitment to truth? Troll’s defence? Suicide by jury? All of the above?  Part 2 of a 4-part series on Plato’s Apology.  Bill and Ted trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fx6...

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1 - Plato's Apology 1: The Divine Troll

Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast - May 11, 2020 16:00 - 41 minutes
Socrates, daddy of Greek philosophy, is on trial for impiety and corrupting the youth.  According to him, his only crime was trolling the city of Athens.  The Apology is an account of Socrates’s court defence, told by his student Plato.  This is part 1 of a 4-part series on this book.  Text o...

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