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Egg Timer Philosophy

Egg Timer Philosophy

By Eric Roark

A podcast where philosophical ideas are scrambled up in about five to ten minutes. From ancient philosophy to contemporary approaches and everything in between, if you are looking for accessible, interesting, and relevant philosophy served up fast then you are in the right spot. New episode dished out weekly. Check out the egg timer philosophy website at: www.eggtimerphilosophy.com

Send any comments about past episodes or suggestions for new episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com
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15: Four Noble Truths of Buddhism: Part II

Egg Timer PhilosophySep 25, 2020

00:00
07:19
147: Thomas Malthus on Population

147: Thomas Malthus on Population

Today's episode of the egg timer takes a look at Thomas Malthus's ideas about population and the significant influence that they had on 19th century thought.

If you have comments, questions, or ideas for future episodes send them over to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By John Linnell - https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/fa/25/d2c7707f809bd259eb86d61d1cc5.jpgGallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/L0069037.htmlWellcome Collection gallery (2018-04-05): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/f4ep87xc CC-BY-4.0, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38203021

Dec 04, 202315:03
146: Hardin on The Tragedy of The Commons

146: Hardin on The Tragedy of The Commons

in 1968 Garrett Hardin published 'The Tragedy of the Commons' and since that time his ideas have proved highly influential to a wide range of thinkers including philosophers, political scientists, economists, ecologists, and biologists. Tune to learn what the tragedy of the commons is and what solutions have been offered to try to address the problem.

A link to Hardin's article can be found here: https://math.uchicago.edu/~shmuel/Modeling/Hardin,%20Tragedy%20of%20the%20Commons.pdf

Send your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: Image Attribution: By Lennart Sikkema - Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73619388

Nov 09, 202311:47
145: The Commons

145: The Commons

This episode of the egg timer takes a critical look at what the commons are and why they matter to the history of ideas.

Send you comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Lennart Sikkema - Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73619388

Oct 19, 202313:25
144: Confirmation Bias

144: Confirmation Bias

Tune into today's episode to learn more about confirmation bias. What is it? Why do we have it? What can be done about it?


Send you comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Sep 29, 202311:14
143: Bioethics and Organ Donation

143: Bioethics and Organ Donation

Tune in for a discussion of ethical issues related with organ donation and specifically what a system of organ donation ought to be like.

Send your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Tiiu Sild - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16817412

Sep 04, 202312:14
142: Philosophy and 1984: Part 4

142: Philosophy and 1984: Part 4

This fourth and final installment of the Summer Series takes a look at the philosophical themes from the last quarter of 1984. Winston is being interrogated by O'Brien and what ensues in their encounter is a vivid description of totalitarianism at its worse and lots of ground for philosophical consideration.

A free copy of 1984 can be found here: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100021.txt

Send over your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Photographed by Victor Grigas - From EN WP: 1, Public Domain, ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1251371

Aug 12, 202317:38
141: Philosophy and 1984: Part 3

141: Philosophy and 1984: Part 3

This third installment of the Summer Series returns to 1984 where Winston and Julia are becoming increasingly entangled in a dangerous conspiracy against The Party.

A free copy of 1984 can be found here: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100021.txt

Send over your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Photographed by Victor Grigas - From EN WP: 1, Public Domain, ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1251371


Jul 28, 202312:04
140: Philosophy and 1984: Part 2

140: Philosophy and 1984: Part 2

This installment of the Summer Series takes a look at some of the more important philosophical and social themes from the second quarter of 1984. Winston visits the proles section of the city and beings a secret and rebellious romantic relationship with Julia. He also receives an invitation from an Inner Party member named O'Brien which he hopes will set the stage for revolution against The Party.

A free copy of 1984 can be found here: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100021.txt

Send over your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Photographed by Victor Grigas - From EN WP: 1, Public Domain, ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1251371

Jul 12, 202318:26
139: Philosophy and 1984: Part 1

139: Philosophy and 1984: Part 1

This first installment of the Summer Series takes a look at philosophical themes from the first quarter of Orwell's classic, 1984. Tune in to hear ideas about totalitarian dystopia, power and control, and doublethink.


A free copy of 1984 can be found here: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100021.txt

Send over your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com


Image Attribution: By Photographed by Victor Grigas - From EN WP: 1, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1251371

Jun 29, 202322:10
138: Philosophy and 1984 Summer Series Announcement

138: Philosophy and 1984 Summer Series Announcement

The 2023 Summer series will highlight themes from George Orwell's classic dystopian creation, 1984. The initial episode covering the first quarter of the book will be released June 28th, the second episode on July 12th, the third on July 26th, and the last on August 9th.


A free copy of 1984 can be found here: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100021.txt


Send over your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com


Image Attribution: By Photographed by Victor Grigas - From EN WP: [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1251371

Jun 13, 202302:58
137: Leibniz on Monads

137: Leibniz on Monads

What is the fundamental element of reality? In 1714 Leibniz published the Monadology and gave a very interesting answer to this question. There he argued that a non-physical part less basic substance called a Monad was indeed the fundamental element of reality. Tune in to learn more about Monads and see if you think Leibnitz was on to unlocking one of the oldest metaphysical quandaries.


You can find a free copy of the Monadology here: https://www.plato-philosophy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/The-Monadology-1714-by-Gottfried-Wilhelm-LEIBNIZ-1646-1716.pdf


Image Attribution: By Christoph Bernhard Francke - Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, online, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53159699

Send your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

May 17, 202313:50
136: Duties Owed to Future Generations?

136: Duties Owed to Future Generations?

Can we owe duties to people who do not yet exist? Tune in as this vexing philosophical and ethical question gets scrambled up.

Apr 26, 202310:31
135: Ethics And The Law

135: Ethics And The Law

This episode of the egg timer offers some introductory questions and themes about the relationship between ethics and the law.

Send you questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Themis-jp - 撮影者自身, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6428997

Apr 11, 202312:01
134: Camus's 'The Stranger': Part 2

134: Camus's 'The Stranger': Part 2

This episode of the egg timer scrambles up existential themes from the second half of Albert Camus's 'The Stranger'.

You can find the full text of 'The Stranger' here: https://archive.org/stream/CamusAlbertTheStranger/CamusAlbert-TheStranger_djvu.txt

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Lantz, Gunnar - Stockholms källan, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12278356

Mar 29, 202315:39
133: Camus's 'The Stranger': Part 1

133: Camus's 'The Stranger': Part 1

This episode of the egg timer scrambles up existential themes from the first half of Albert Camus's 'The Stranger'.


You can find the full text of 'The Stranger' here: https://archive.org/stream/CamusAlbertTheStranger/CamusAlbert-TheStranger_djvu.txt

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Lantz, Gunnar - Stockholms källan, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12278356

Mar 21, 202311:07
132: Camus's 'The Stranger' Preview

132: Camus's 'The Stranger' Preview

This episode of the egg timer previews Albert Camus's 20th century classic novel 'The Stranger'.  The next two episodes of the podcast will be devoted to taking a look at the major philosophical themes within that work.

You can find the full text of 'The Stranger' here: https://archive.org/stream/CamusAlbertTheStranger/CamusAlbert-TheStranger_djvu.txt

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Lantz, Gunnar - Stockholms källan, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12278356

Mar 14, 202302:57
131: Hannah Arendt on the Banality of Evil

131: Hannah Arendt on the Banality of Evil

This episode of the egg timer takes a look at Hannah Arendt's thoughts about the banality of evil.  Arendt's treatment of evil was one of the most important and controversial ideas within 20th century political philosophy.  

Send your thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com


Image Attribution: By Unknown author - American Memory, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74309774

Mar 03, 202307:00
130: Isaiah Berlin's 'Two Concepts of Liberty'

130: Isaiah Berlin's 'Two Concepts of Liberty'

This episode of the egg timer takes a look at Isaiah Berlin's 20th century political philosophy classic, 'Two Concepts of Liberty'.  Tune in to learn more about the distinction Berlin makes between positive and negative liberty and why he rejects the idea that political communities should strive to enhance positive liberty.

Here is a link to Berlin essay: https://cactus.utahtech.edu/green/B_Readings/I_Berlin%20Two%20Concpets%20of%20Liberty.pdf

Send you comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Rob C. Croes (ANEFO) - GaHetNa (Nationaal Archief NL), CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45595345

Feb 21, 202311:42
129: Two Utilitarian Thought Experiments

129: Two Utilitarian Thought Experiments

For today's episode a couple of thought experiments meant to provoke some critical thought surrounding utilitarian ethics.

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Feb 10, 202309:48
128: Price Gouging and Scarcity

128: Price Gouging and Scarcity

For most people price gouging is a very cut and dry ethical issue.  Tune in to find out how considerations of scarcity make the issue more complex than it first appears to be.

Send your thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By ThoBel-0043 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90826551

Jan 31, 202314:53
127: Herbert Spencer's Evolutionary Individualism

127: Herbert Spencer's Evolutionary Individualism

Herbert Spencer was an extremely influential 19th century thinker but his ideas exist in relative obscurity today.  He coined the phrase 'survival of the fittest' and wrote extensively on a variety of topics within evolutionary theory, political thought, sociology, psychology, and ethics.  Tune in to learn more about Spencer's ideas and how they are still plenty relevant today.

Send you thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Engraved by Geo. E. Perine, New York. - http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/B24017, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18913026

Jan 20, 202318:38
126: Darwin on Natural Selection

126: Darwin on Natural Selection

Tune in to learn more about Charles Darwin's idea of Natural Selection and how that idea was impactful well beyond the biological sciences.  

Send over your questions, thoughts, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Julia Margaret Cameron - Reprinted in Charles Darwin: His Life Told in an Autobiographical Chapter, and in a Selected Series of His Published Letters, edited by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1892.Scanned by User:Davepape, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3560761

Jan 10, 202316:04
125: Princess Elisabeth's Objection to Descartes's Dualism

125: Princess Elisabeth's Objection to Descartes's Dualism

In 1643 Elisabeth, Princess of Bohemia, wrote a series of letters to Descartes which posed a strong objection to his dualism.  Tune in to learn more about that objection and how Descartes responded in a lively correspondence with the Princess.

You can find the correspondences between Elisabeth and Descartes about dualism here: https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/descartes1643_1.pdf

Send you questions, thoughts, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Gerard van Honthorst - Alexander Palace, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3819853

Dec 30, 202216:09
124: The Gettier Problem and Knowledge

124: The Gettier Problem and Knowledge

In 1963 Edmund Gettier's short paper offering counterexamples to the idea that knowledge amounts to justified true belief sent shock waves around the philosophical world.  Tune in to learn more about Gettier's influential ideas that still garner a great deal of attention today.

You can find a copy of Gettier's paper here: https://fitelson.org/proseminar/gettier.pdf

Send your thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By DaveGettier - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=103656875

Dec 20, 202213:24
123: Knowledge as Justified True Belief

123: Knowledge as Justified True Belief

Knowledge is often defined today as justified true belief.  This episode is devoted to taking a look at each part of this influential approach to understanding what knowledge amounts to.

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com


Dec 09, 202212:19
122: Natural Procedural Rights

122: Natural Procedural Rights

Do people have natural procedural rights to be judged by fair and reliable processes?  That's the topic for this episode of the egg timer.  Tune in for an application of natural rights to an age old question.  

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Jonathunder - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3899115

Nov 29, 202213:15
121: Rousseau on Inequality

121: Rousseau on Inequality

Why does inequality exist?  That's the question that Jean Jacques Rousseau set out to answer in the mid 18th century.  Tune in to find out the answer he gives and why his ideas about inequality still hold significant relevance today.

Send over your questions, comments and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Art Attribution: By Maurice Quentin de La Tour - Unknown source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24158

Nov 18, 202212:50
120: Egalitarianism

120: Egalitarianism

Today's episode takes a look at the nuanced idea of egalitarianism.  Tune in to find out why the view is much more than simply giving everyone the same.

Send over you comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Nov 08, 202212:48
119: The Ring of Gyges in Plato's Republic

119: The Ring of Gyges in Plato's Republic

If a person found a ring that gave them the ability to be invisible and face no consequences for how they acted would they have any reason to act justly?  This is the Ring of Gyges example found in the second book of Plato's Republic.   Tune in as this long standing philosophical thought experiment is cracked open.

Send your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Art Attribution: By RaphaelQS - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65546874


Oct 28, 202210:40
118: The Prisoner's Dilemma and Game Theory

118: The Prisoner's Dilemma and Game Theory

For this episode of the egg timer a look at the classic prisoner's dilemma.  This is the game that ushered in contemporary game theory in the 1950's and it remains highly relevant today.

Send over your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Oct 18, 202214:23
117: The Rabbit Duck Illusion

117: The Rabbit Duck Illusion

Take a look at the cover art for the episode.  What do you see?  I see a duck but many other people see a rabbit.  Listen in to find out how the rabbit duck illusion brings with it some very interesting philosophical discussion.

Send over your thoughts, questions and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Art Attribution: By Unknown artist - Vectorized using Inkscape 0.92.3 from Kaninchen_und_Ente.png, itself a high-resolution scan from scanned page of Fliegende Blätter, full page: Flegende-Blatter-1892.png, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72893799


Oct 07, 202210:36
116: Aristotle On The Best Type of Life

116: Aristotle On The Best Type of Life

This episode of the egg timer takes a look at why Aristotle thought the best type of life could only be the life of contemplation.  

Send your questions, comments, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Art Attribution: By After Lysippos - Jastrow (2006), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1359807

Sep 27, 202209:14
115: The Montey Hall Puzzle

115: The Montey Hall Puzzle

The Montey Hall Puzzle has perplexed people for over three decades.  Tune in to find out what the puzzle can teach about the idea about making decisions under conditions of variable change.

Image Attribution: By The logo is from the following website: cbs.com/lmad cbs.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33711854

Send you thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Sep 16, 202207:03
114: Presentism

114: Presentism

Philosophical presentism is the view that the present or present entities are the only things that are real.  Tune in to learn more about this intriguing view.

Send over your thoughts, questions and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com


Sep 09, 202208:16
113: Big Lotteries and Expected Value

113: Big Lotteries and Expected Value

For today's episode a look at the topic of expected value through the lens of the lottery.  

Send over your thoughts, questions and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Santeri Viinamäki, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49450513

Sep 02, 202211:02
112: Descartes's Sixth Meditation
Aug 26, 202216:30
111: The Blind Chessmaster

111: The Blind Chessmaster

Where does a game of chess actually exist?  That's the question for this episode of the egg timer and its answer open a number of very interesting philosophical possibilities.

Send your thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Photo Attribution: By Alan Light - Own work by the original uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20299


Aug 18, 202208:56
110: Descartes's Fifth Meditation
Aug 11, 202213:57
109: Descartes's Fourth Meditation
Jul 28, 202217:40
108: Descartes's Third Meditation
Jul 14, 202219:47
107: Descartes's Second Meditation
Jun 30, 202213:03
106: Self-Defense

106: Self-Defense

For this episode a discussion of self-defense with emphasis given to the ideas of proportionality and aggression.

Send over your thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-00504 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5478932

Jun 23, 202210:32
105: Descartes's First Meditation
Jun 16, 202211:33
104: Descartes Summer Series Announcement
Jun 09, 202203:39
103: Tocqueville's Democracy in America: Part 2

103: Tocqueville's Democracy in America: Part 2

Join in for this part two of a discussion about Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America.  Special focus will be given the the greatest threats to democracy that Tocqueville sees and how he thinks the idea of enlightened self interest can be used to confront them.

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: Image Attribution: By Théodore Chassériau - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87145391

Jun 02, 202211:43
102: Tocqueville's Democracy in America: Part 1

102: Tocqueville's Democracy in America: Part 1

Alexis de Tocqueville is most well known for his phrase, 'the tyranny of the majority'.  Listen in to learn more about Tocqueville's thoughts about Democracy in America that he formed after his journey to the United States in the early 1830's.  

Send over your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Théodore Chassériau - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87145391

May 26, 202212:50
101: Economics Without Ethics?

101: Economics Without Ethics?

This episode of the egg timer takes a look at the possibility of offering a comprehensive economic view without an ethical foundation.  Those prospects are not good.

Image Attribution: By Foto: Jonn Leffmann, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81842350

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

May 19, 202211:50
100: Are Numbers Even Real?

100: Are Numbers Even Real?

A hundred episodes of the egg timer later, but are numbers even real?  

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Alex1011 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1013851

May 12, 202211:59
99: Peter Kropotkin on Mutual Aid

99: Peter Kropotkin on Mutual Aid

Listen in the learn more about the late nineteenth century philosopher and historian Peter Kropotkin.  Kropotkin was a communist and anarchist.  He argued that mutual aid, not competition, defined the evolution of species, including that of human beings.  

Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com

Image Attribution: By Nadar - NYPL, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7604176


May 05, 202212:08
98: Religious Liberty And The State

98: Religious Liberty And The State

This episode of the egg timer reviews the topic of religious liberties and toleration within political communities.  Special focus is given to the tension between the state as a being understood as a supreme authority with the belief by many that actually this is false and God, not the state, is the supreme authority. 

Send you thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes to: eggtimerphilosophy@gmail.com 

Apr 29, 202211:40