About Reality Podcast

Hey! This episode is one of eight older episodes from 2020-2021 that I am re-uploading to this channel. They are episodes from back when I first got into podcasting, when I called my podcast 'Metaphor & Reality', instead of 'About Reality'. You'll see the older cover art for the 'Metaphor & Reality' version of the podcast uploaded with these eight episodes to tell them apart. I always liked these episodes, and have had them saved on my computer since discontinuing the older podcast. I'm re-posting them now because I want to bring these earlier episodes 'into the mix' of what's to come in this philosophy series—you'll notice the older episodes feature the books and thinkers you'll likely recognize, whereas 'About Reality' episodes are more about the development of my own philosophy. Moving forward I want to keep the influence past books have had on my own thought and writing very much alive, because I don't think older texts are given their proper due these days—individuals much the same as you or I, but perhaps with less distractions, have examined life's questions with much insight, going back centuries. Hope you find the ideas in these eight episodes are worth sticking around for, and you like them as I do, and can forgive them their faults!

Hey! This episode is one of eight older episodes from 2020-2021 that I am re-uploading to this channel. They are episodes from back when I first got into podcasting, when I called my podcast 'Metaphor & Reality', instead of 'About Reality'. You'll see the older cover art for the 'Metaphor & Reality' version of the podcast uploaded with these eight episodes to tell them apart. I always liked these episodes, and have had them saved on my computer since discontinuing the older podcast. I'm re-posting them now because I want to bring these earlier episodes 'into the mix' of what's to come in this philosophy series—you'll notice the older episodes feature the books and thinkers you'll likely recognize, whereas 'About Reality' episodes are more about the development of my own philosophy. Moving forward I want to keep the influence past books have had on my own thought and writing very much alive, because I don't think older texts are given their proper due these days—individuals much the same as you or I, but perhaps with less distractions, have examined life's questions with much insight, going back centuries. Hope you find the ideas in these eight episodes are worth sticking around for, and you like them as I do, and can forgive them their faults!

Hey! This episode is one of eight older episodes from 2020-2021 that I am re-uploading to this channel. They are episodes from back when I first got into podcasting, when I called my podcast 'Metaphor & Reality', instead of 'About Reality'. You'll see the older cover art for the 'Metaphor & Reality' version of the podcast uploaded with these eight episodes to tell them apart. I always liked these episodes, and have had them saved on my computer since discontinuing the older podcast. I'm re-posting them now because I want to bring these earlier episodes 'into the mix' of what's to come in this philosophy series—you'll notice the older episodes feature the books and thinkers you'll likely recognize, whereas 'About Reality' episodes are more about the development of my own philosophy. Moving forward I want to keep the influence past books have had on my own thought and writing very much alive, because I don't think older texts are given their proper due these days—individuals much the same as you or I, but perhaps with less distractions, have examined life's questions with much insight, going back centuries. Hope you find the ideas in these eight episodes are worth sticking around for, and you like them as I do, and can forgive them their faults!

Hey! This episode is one of eight older episodes from 2020-2021 that I am re-uploading to this channel. They are episodes from back when I first got into podcasting, when I called my podcast 'Metaphor & Reality', instead of 'About Reality'. You'll see the older cover art for the 'Metaphor & Reality' version of the podcast uploaded with these eight episodes to tell them apart. I always liked these episodes, and have had them saved on my computer since discontinuing the older podcast. I'm re-posting them now because I want to bring these earlier episodes 'into the mix' of what's to come in this philosophy series—you'll notice the older episodes feature the books and thinkers you'll likely recognize, whereas 'About Reality' episodes are more about the development of my own philosophy. Moving forward I want to keep the influence past books have had on my own thought and writing very much alive, because I don't think older texts are given their proper due these days—individuals much the same as you or I, but perhaps with less distractions, have examined life's questions with much insight, going back centuries. Hope you find the ideas in these eight episodes are worth sticking around for, and you like them as I do, and can forgive them their faults!

Hey! This episode is one of eight older episodes from 2020-2021 that I am re-uploading to this channel. They are episodes from back when I first got into podcasting, when I called my podcast 'Metaphor & Reality', instead of 'About Reality'. You'll see the older cover art for the 'Metaphor & Reality' version of the podcast uploaded with these eight episodes to tell them apart. I always liked these episodes, and have had them saved on my computer since discontinuing the older podcast. I'm re-posting them now because I want to bring these earlier episodes 'into the mix' of what's to come in this philosophy series—you'll notice the older episodes feature the books and thinkers you'll likely recognize, whereas 'About Reality' episodes are more about the development of my own philosophy. Moving forward I want to keep the influence past books have had on my own thought and writing very much alive, because I don't think older texts are given their proper due these days—individuals much the same as you or I, but perhaps with less distractions, have examined life's questions with much insight, going back centuries. Hope you find the ideas in these eight episodes are worth sticking around for, and you like them as I do, and can forgive them their faults!

To be honest, as I upload this episode I am realizing I may have expressed this sentiment in a previous recording, that the philosopher must first learn how to love if they are to practice philosophy aright. 'Philosophy' as a 'love of wisdom', where emphasis always seems placed on the wisdom, rather than the love; however, to love is to transcend one's self concern for the concern of another, and to learn how to do this is the beginning of wisdom, for why else seek to be wise? Unless one equates wisdom with utlitarian knowledge an individual may possess which they can then use to their advantage, including over others. We don't equate wisdom with such a thing in this podcast series, though. As always, if you are enjoying the episodes, consider (seriously) becoming a supporter on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esdallaire?view_as=patron

If I am going to claim to practice philosophy, and ostensibly occupy the position of philosopher and represent myself as such, I better be able to back that up by what I am saying. That's a pretty simple description of a basic responsibility of the philosopher, but it applies to anyone professing to be any identifiable figure and impactful member within society, that they must speak like that person they present themselves as: doctor, police officer, lawyer, veterinarian, history professor. Speaking with the integrity of one who has dedicated themselves to truly be ___, may just be at the core of any endeavour in this life—one must choose their words with much consideration of their intent, and of course the philosopher is compelled to ask how anyone can be certain of their intention, and their desire to be. Please consider supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esdallaire?view_as=patron

In this episode, philosophers are those who have become cognizant of the moral weight of their thought, and are concerned by it. In fact, they see thinking as equivalent with the recognition of the moral impact of their being within reality; in other words, they think that to be amoral is to be without thought, while to be immoral is to act against the inevitable conclusions of thought, which are always underscored by the acknowledgement of the moral consequence of our being.

Low energy episode. First one recorded in weeks, and I'm uploading it to see how it feels. Another idea for this episode's title could be: 'Moments of Empty Satisfaction'. Peace and love to you

A guest episode with Nikole, wherein we discuss David Foster Wallace's 'Infinite Jest' and the societal problems which the individuals in his novel must grapple and cope with, as they realize in this life they have one of two choices to make: succumb to endless pleasure for lack of any other option, or else delay their gratification for the sake of a lifestyle that is healthier for them mentally and physically.

Picked this book up at a used book store two weeks ago - just getting started on it, and so far it is dynamite! Thank you for tuning in!

This episode is relaunching the series, so in it I spend time stating what is the purpose and intention of continuing with the 'About Reality' Podcast. I am very excited to resume podcasting about philosophy, and this episode (conveniently a round number, at 50) is the beginning of a much more regular series exploring all manner of philosophical ideas, from the past as well as -- maybe -- from the present, so long as we find philosophers in the present stating new things that turn out to be necessary for the conduct of philosophical living.

This episode about how the thoughts we are able to think are limited or bounded by the assumptions we hold about reality, including notions of time, of the freedom of the individual versus determination, etc., and how the discoveries of philosophers are phenomena used to think beyond those limits. The question is whether philosophers have discovered all that there is to uncover about humankind and their presence in the world—and then, if they have, where does that leave us in the present age? Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated.

What does it take for an individual, or a nation, to forget what history has inscribed on their land and their psyche, in order to be able to see the reality of the moment for what it is, and resolve the historical tension and conflict diplomatically in order to envision together a different world for tomorrow? What role does philosophy play in this? Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated.

Let's forget everything we thought we knew, without letting go of all that we've gained. Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated. 'About Reality' Substack: https://aboutreality.substack.com/ Also, check out the YouTube channel of this series, where you can find the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaiMn_zH9BcGGLAlNVYIcLw?app=desktop

Exploring a classical philosophical question today, owing to the past month where I've undergone a change in perspective in my valuation of knowledge gained through books and theory versus what is gained through accepting that we can't think our way out of our bodily experience and what we're bounded to in these corporeal forms filled with desire and instinct. Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated. Check out the 'About Reality' Substack: https://aboutreality.substack.com/ Also, check out the YouTube channel of this series, where you can find the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaiMn_zH9BcGGLAlNVYIcLw?app=desktop

Still searching for the philosopher as heroic figure embodying the spirit of the present age, and the need we may have, insofar as we are seekers of truth, to find someone who practices a wisdom grounded in corporeal reality while simultaneously maintaining a view toward higher, perhaps even eternal, truth. How do we do this in the globalized, modern world, using the instruments provided to us as conscious, embodied beings, even as our local, personal experience is cheapened in the vision of the globalized world. Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated. Also, check out the YouTube channel of this series, where you can find the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaiMn_zH9BcGGLAlNVYIcLw?app=desktop

This weekend I was reading the second part of Kant's 'Critique of Judgment', as well as the fourth book of volume one of Schopenhauer's 'The World as Will and Representation', and in this episode I get to talking about both of them, particularly in their relevance to the protagonist in the novel I am writing, Anatole. This project involving this podcast and my writing is coming together, folks, and you're here for the start of it! Thank you for your support! Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated.

Here we make an argument that 'good' and 'bad' are stagnant terms for evaluating emergent phenomena in an ever-changing world, and that as terms of judgment they refer back to a static and traditionally conservative worldview, where 'good' and 'evil' are eternal presences in the cosmos and the world is a battleground between them in which humans too take part. There's certainly a case to be made for the coherent order this provides the individual desperate for a way of making sense of what is otherwise the chaos of existence, but in this episode I introduce the possibility of supplanting ethical theory with an aesthetic one that is more appropriate and accommodating of the modern world and our experience of it. Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated.

Can a philosopher of ethics get away without a metaphysics to support or corroborate their ethical theory? Can a metaphysician get away with leaving unexamined the existence of good and evil, as well as free will, which informs good and bad action? In this episode, we use Mr. Ramsey from Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse', as well as Socrates, as exemplary case studies of one version of the philosopher—the ethicist without a metaphysics—and the other—the metaphysician whose own conduct is his blind spot when examining reality. Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe and rate! It's very much appreciated.