Red Letter Philosophy

St. Augustine’s wrote that “Amor meus, Pondus meum”; My love is my gravity. Perhaps our search for what truth and reality is not only an intellectual search? Perhaps the heart can have reasons of which reason knows nothing? In this episode we take up these questions.

The essence of Motherhood: a metaphysical question. Motherhood is surely many things, but if it is anything, it is also surely a kind of life, a life of prayer. A mother is one who raises her mind and heart to God on behalf of her family, and that is something worth noting and celebrating.

Hume, contrary to popular belief, never intended to destroy belief in God. He only meant to destroy a certain conception of belief, and belief in God. In this episode we contemplate Hume’s criticism of, and argument for, belief in God.

The English philosopher and mathematician, W. K. Clifford, famously wrote that, “It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.” Clifford’s approach to belief has come to dominate the way many intellectuals approach matters of belief, especially belief in God. In this episode we argue that Clifford neglected his Hume. Hume’s approach to belief and God shows Clifford’s ethic to be vacuous and incoherent. Take up and listen. Hume, belief, and God on this episode of Red Letter Philosophy.

In honor of Holy Week, this week’s episode is devoted to the mystery of faith. In keeping with this season, we contemplate this mystery with a Modern philosopher, Blaise Pascal. Enjoy.

Philosopher Peter Kreeft wrote that David Hume was, “the most formidable, challenging, and difficult to refute skeptic in the history of human thought. His logic is powerful.” In this episode we taste the fruits of Hume’s empiricism. Have the empiricists helped us to overcome radical skepticism? Are we closer to touching the true, the good, and the beautiful?

Is St. Patrick’s Day a celebration of the Irish; Irish history, Irish storytelling, Ireland herself, or is St. Patrick’s Day a celebration of a saint and of the one who molded the saint? We couldn’t decide. So, on this episode we offer you both one of Ireland’s finest sons and her greatest saint. We offer for your listening pleasure The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde.

David Hume was the last of the great British Empiricists. He is the empiricist, nay, the philosopher of the Enlightenment, outside of perhaps Kant, who has exhibited the most influence over contemporary philosophers. He was also a party guy. Join us as we drink in some Hume and find out why he was (and is) such a big deal.

Bishop George Berkeley was one of the three great British Empiricists. His view, Esse Est Percipi (To be is to be perceived), is as infamous as Descartes’ view, Cogito Ego Sum (I think, I am). In this episode we imbibe the thoughts of one of the most peculiar philosophers of all-time. Drink up!

Philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote that, “the heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.” In this episode we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day by contemplating the heart. In particular, we read and reflect upon H.P. Lovecraft’s poem, "A Garden".

John Locke was first of the great British Empiricists. Locke, and the empiricists who came after him, rejected the philosophy of the rationalists. In this episode, we uncork the empiricists, and drink in their philosophy. Truth, reality and Locke, on this week’s Red Letter Philosophy.

Why is there something rather than nothing? This is a perennial philosophical question; a question taken up, perhaps most famously, by the Enlightenment rationalist, Leibniz. Leibniz and God, on this episode of Red Letter Philosophy.

Meet G. W. F. Leibniz. Leibniz is known as the last “universal genius”. What does Leibniz have to say about truth and reality? Is he worth imbibing? In this episode, we take up these question. All aboard the Red Letter Express.

What does it mean to believe? Is belief a virtue? This week we celebrate Christmas by pondering Christmas belief. In particular, we ponder these questions aboard The Polar Express.

17th century philosopher, Baruch Spinoza, wrote, “nothing exists from whose nature some effect does not follow.” Spinoza, a philosophical child of Descartes’, sought to draw out the logical implications of Descartes’ philosophical revolution. Monism, pantheism, and Spinoza on this week’s episode of Red Letter Philosophy.

What is ultimately real? According to Descartes, reality is composed of two substances, mind and matter. Why did Descartes think this? More importantly, why should we care? In this week’s episode, we take up these questions.

Is gratitude a virtue? Gratitude is not listed among the four cardinal virtues. Gratitude is not listed among the three theological virtues? Should it be among the virtues? Does the Thanksgiving holiday get overlooked? A series of questions and reflections on the Thanksgiving holiday on this week’s Red Letter Philosophy.

In this episode, we continue to contemplate Descartes’ response to the challenge of nominalism, doubt, and radical skepticism. In particular, we ponder a piece of wax. Does a piece of wax hold the key to understanding knowledge, reality, and God? Descartes and the meaning of it all, on this week’s Red Letter Philosophy.

The Red Letter Express resumes its journey. After their encounter with Ockham, our hosts are in search of answers. They are offered Cartesian Delight - the philosophy of Rene Descartes. Does Descartes have the cure for what ails our hosts? Rationalism, Skepticism, and Descartes on this week’s Red Letter Philosophy.

This Halloween we invite you to sit with the Clive, procurer of libations facilitator of seekers and wanderers. Clive recites and reflects upon the poetic musings of H. P. Lovecraft. He warns us to be wary of what the moon brings. Happy Halloween.