From the PCA: Plagues, Video Games, and Spaghetti in the Bathtub!

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In this episode we are coming “live” from the 2021 meeting of the Popular Culture Association (this is the first installment of a multi-episode series). We talk to a couple of prominent scholars, Ed Cameron and Jennifer McMahon, about some of their favorite points of intersection between philosophy and pop culture. We discuss (among other things) the films of Harmony Korine, Sartre’s No Exit, Camus’s The Plague, and the online game Among Us. Just doing our part to keep things light and positive.

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
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For Hume the Bell Tolls!

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In this episode we talk about David Hume’s thoughts on miracles and beliefs as they apply to that ugliest of pop culture phenomenon: the conspiracy theory. Along the way we visit a couple of underground pizza parlors, talk with some lizard people, and dare Bill Gates to just try tracking our whereabouts.

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
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A Selfie is Worth about 25 Words

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In this episode we talk about challenges to living an authentic life in light of some recent trends on social media. We address the timeless question: can someone truly be in bad faith if they are like really photogenic?

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
Up Your Street https://www.purple-planet.com

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Canceled Like Socrates

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In this (our 50th!) episode we talk about cancel culture as a pop culture phenomenon. We look a bit at the history of cancel culture and discuss the ethics of it. In the end we unwisely refrain from canceling ourselves.

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com

Slow Dissolve https://www.purple-planet.com

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(Wanda)Visions of Theseus

2

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In this episode we talk about the myriad of philosophical issues raised in the MCU limited television series WandaVision. Along the way we discuss a number of really fun topics such as regret, life’s really devastating choices, death, existential dread, and the ship of Theseus.

Music in this episode:
“Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
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Birds, Moon Landings, and Other Things that Are Not Real

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In this episode we talk about the philosophical aspects of conspiracy theories, especially as they are found in pop culture. Along the way we fake a moon landing, rig an election or two, and try, but fail, to make birds real again.

Music in this episode:
“Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
Maelstrom https://www.purple-planet.com

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Who Ya Gonna Call?

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In this episode we talk to philosopher Jamie Watson about his new book, Expertise. Along the way we talk about the portrayal of experts in pop culture, and re-establish that philosophers are the ultimate authorities on everything (see: Plato, philosopher kings).

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
Project Plan https://www.purple-planet.com

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The Doctor (of Philosophy) is In!

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In this episode we talk to philosopher Ian Olasov about his Ask a Philosopher project and book. We discuss all things public philosophy, and Ian shares some terrific stories.

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
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A Vote for Philosophy is a Vote for The Good Life

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In this episode we interview philosopher and political candidate Randy Auxier. We discuss elections as pop culture as well as elections in pop culture. As a bonus we save democracy, while establishing the rule of philosopher kings, by voting early and voting often.

Music in this episode: “Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
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It’s Good to Be the (Philosophical) King

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In this episode we resume our tradition of devoting at least one episode each October to philosophical themes in horror. This year’s Halloween episode discusses philosophical themes in the works of Stephen King. Tune in to see if we take a Shining Stand on anything of just leave IT at that.

Music in the Episode:
“Attack of the Mole Men” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Fat Cartoon Jazz https://www.purple-planet.com
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