The Spinoza Triad: Philosophy in our World
By John Gibbs, Dr Richard Miller & Dan Rowland
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The Spinoza Triad: Philosophy in our World Nov 15, 2023
The philosophy of history and the lost past.
In this episode Dr Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs discuss how philosophy has grappled with the problem of defining history.
Truth in the age of Post Truth.
In this episode the Spinoza Triad, Dr. Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs, discuss the philosophy of truth and the post truth world. We discuss how philosophy might help us understand the rise of populi, social media, conspiracy theories and the privatisation of truth. We also discuss the possibilities of UFOs.
How to learn. An interview with Dr Richard Miller
In this episode, I interview my fellow Spinoza host Dr. Richard Miller. We discuss learning, schools, music, MMA, and philosophy.
Artificial Intelligence and the problem of Consciousness.
In this episode, Dan, Richard, and John discuss consciousness, intelligence, and AI. We discuss the Turing Test, the Chinese Room, and the future of AI.
Thus Spake Zarathustra: The Jester and the Tightrope Walker
In this episode Richard and John discuss the first part of Friedrich Nietzsche's most poetic book, Thus Spake Zarathustra and as usual, we ask, what does it say to us today?
Kierkegaard and the philosophy of choice
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs and Dr. Richard Miller discuss their reading of Soren Kierkegaard's book Either, Or. Dan Rowland was unable to join us for this episode. Richard supplied the music.
If you could have world peace would you want it. The Beauty Queen experiment
In this episode, Dr. Richard Miller and John Gibbs discuss the concept of evil, free will, and the possibility of world peace. If you could release a virus into the world which would make all humans peaceful- what would you do?
The continuity of the self. The Transporter Experiment
What does it mean to be me? Am I the same person at all times and will I be the same person in the future? In the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs, Dr. Richard Miller, and Dan Rowland discuss the continuity of the self and Derek Parfit's famous 'Transporter Thought Experiment'.
Psychopaths. The others we fear and seem to know.
In this episode, Richard (Dr. Richard Miller) and I consider the appeal of the literature, films, and podcasts which focus on Psychopaths. We wonder what this might say about our world and if philosophy might help us to understand. We share some ideas in a discussion covering many themes including popular culture, Kantian ethics, the nature of evil, and society.
Nietzsche's Eternal Reoccurrence. Would you enjoy the repeat episode of your life?
In this episode, Richard, Dan, and I discuss Nietzsche's famous thought experiment of eternal reoccurrence. Would you wish to live your life exactly as you have lived it, again and again for eternity? Would this be a curse or a blessing?
Richard introduces Mark Fisher: Capitalist Realism
Capitalist Realism: Can we think beyond capitalism?
In this episode, Richard introduces the Spinoza Triad to Mark Fisher's ideas and Capitalist Realism's ideas. Our discussion focuses on his and our experiences in education. We consider the state of British society, and the all-pervasive nature of capitalism and wonder if it is possible to imagine a different kind of world or would this be harder than imagining the end of the world.
Spin-note Why we need not be afraid.
In this episode John and Richard discuss a text which was referred to in an earlier podcast. 'De Rerum Natura' - 'On the Nature of Things'. On of the most remarkable books ever written, On the Nature of Things' by the Roman author Lucretius was an influence on many of the greatest thinkers and artists in the last 2000 years. It was written in the first century BCE by a wealthy Roman as a means of explaining the philosophy of Epicurus to his fellow Romans and in poetic form it contains ideas which are startlingly modern and as exciting to a modern reader as they were to his contemporaries. In this episode I explain my admiration for this book to Richard.
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Squid Game, Marx and the problem of us.
In this episode Dr Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs wonder if the hit Netflix series Squid Game is more than a Marxist critique of capitalism. We discover there is more to it and enjoy discussing the series.
Climate, Pandemic and Capitalism. Is this the end of the world as we knew it?
Why Do People Fight for Their Servitude as If It Were Their Salvation? Spinoza
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad John Gibbs, Dr Richard Miller and Dan Rowland are joined by Dougie Booth. Dougie is teaching at Kings College London and researching his PhD in Politics. We discuss the republican conception of freedom and Dougie's research into the impact of the pandemic and climate change on democracy. Is this going to result in lasting change and the creation of new economic and political structures? Is this the end of capitalism as we know it?
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The World in 2022 or Why you should feed a cow as well as weigh it.
In this episode the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs, Dan Rowland and Dr Richard Miller reflect on the experience of podcasting in 2021 and the themes which have emerged in our discussions. We wonder about the power of data, the media and the quest for meaning. How can we celebrate the sacred and profound in a world of carnival? We conclude that the creative process of learning may be some kind of answer.
Plato's Theory of Forms and the Problem of Beauty
In this episode we discuss Plato's theory of Forms and consider if it is helpful in understanding art and beauty today. The theory of Forms or theory of Ideas is a philosophical, concept, or world-view, that the physical world is not as real or true as timeless, absolute, unchangeable ideas of forms. How can this theory be useful in our post modern world? Do we still have any belief in universal truth? This is the basis of our discussion.
Freedom and the digital society.
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad John Gibbs, Dan Rowland and Dr Richard Miller discuss the concept of freedom and how it might be enhanced of diminished by digital technology and social media. With reference to Thomas Hobbs, Rousseau, Marshall McLuhan and Zizek the discussion considers the meaning of freedom today.
If you wish to suggest ideas for future podcasts, submit a recorded comment or be a guest on future episodes please use the links below. You can follow us on Facebook and on the Spinoza website.
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Orientalism and the Olympics
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad Dr Richard Miller, Dan Rowlands and John Gibbs consider the ideas of Edward Said and how these might be applied to the Olympics in their modern form. While acknowledging our admiration for the extraordinary achievements fort the athletes we took a critical view and tried to understand this vast global event form the point of view of post colonialism. Our discussion includes Foucault, Zizek and Lacan as well as the brilliant insight that is Edward Said's Orientalism. Leave recorded comments or emails with suggestions for future discussions.
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Hegel, the end of history and the rise of China.
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad, Dr Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs discuss Hegel’s theory of history, the end of history and the rise of China. Does China represent an alternative to western liberalism or a dead end? Will the progress of human history end and will it end well or badly? These are some of the questions discussed.
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Social media and the problem of authenticity
In this episode the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs, Dr Richard Miller and Dan Rowlands, discuss how the internet and social media may have contributed to the philosophical debates surrounding authenticity. In Hamlet, Polonius advises Laertes 'to thine own self be true'. It its possible to be true to yourself and true to others on social media. Do we have a 'true self'?
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Classical Philosophy and the ethics of Consumerism.
In this episode we set ourselves the task of trying to use the ethics of Aristotle, the Epicureans, Stoics and Cynics to understand how to live the good and virtuous life in a consumer society. The following conversation was the unscripted result. If you wish to leave a voice message, comment, question, correction or contribution we would be delighted to respond or include in future episodes. Follow the link to Anchor or alternatively send an email with written comments.
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V for Vendetta and ethics of violence
In the third episode of the Spinoza Triad John Gibbs, Richard Miller and Dan Rowland consider the film V for Vendetta. V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian political action film based on the 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. The film is set in an alternative future where a neo-fascist totalitarian regime has subjugated the United Kingdom. It centres on V (portrayed by Hugo Weaving), a masked freedom fighter who attempts to ignite a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts, and Evey Hammond (portrayed by Natalie Portman) a young woman caught up in V's mission.
Taking the film as a starting point we discuss, the morality of violence, the Frankfurt School, Kant's Categorical Imperative, Zizek's critique of the left as well as Jungian and Lacanian cultural analysis.
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Conspiracy Theories and Carl Jung
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad, John Gibbs, Richard Miller and Dan Rowland consider conspiracy theories using the ideas of Carl Jung. In an age of unparalleled levels of education why do so many people believe theories which are so obviously absurd? Is it possible the concepts of the collective unconscious, cultural symbolism and architypes developed by analytical psychologist Carl Jung might provide some explanation. In this episode we explore how architypes of the hero, the trickster and the shadow might be relevant to a world of fake news, internet echo chambers and Donald Trump- which may every bit as dark, mysterious and frightening as the medieval landscapes of myth and daemons.
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Foucault and the Pandemic
In this episode of the Spinoza Triad Richard Miller, Dan Rowland and John Gibbs consider Michel Foucault's concepts of power and discourse and wonder if they help to understand the Pandemic. Richard Miller supplies the steel guitar.
“The first task of the doctor is ... political: the struggle against disease must begin with a war against bad government." Man will be totally and definitively cured only if he is first liberated...”
"How can the free gaze that medicine, and, through it, the government, must turn upon the citizens be equipped and competent without being embroiled in the esotericism of knowledge and the rigidity of social privilege?" Michel Foucault The Birth of the Clinic