Philosophy After Hours

Bethany needs advice. She can no longer rely on her body to take care of itself, and recognizes the importance of fitness as she is getting older, but she hates it and finds nothing rewarding about it. What, then, is she to do? Aaron and Jp both speak about their motivation behind wanting to stay fit, including a psychological complex and the desire to simply not make noises when you get up from a chair. We then discuss whether or not remaining fit is a moral imperative, the importance of appropriately situating fitness within the context of one's life, the desire to "escape" the body experiencing pain, and the gendering process. Finally, might being fit promote both one's own agency and the agency of their companions? If fitness promotes co-agency, must we admit it as imperative?  If you want to learn more about the show, visit us at philosophyafterhours.com. There you can find links to our socials and how to become a Patreon member.  

In this episode we discuss personal grooming and the role played by practices of self-nurturing in the formation of the social self. What do our grooming habits tells us about who we are? How might brushing one's hair or showering be relevant to one's political and civic participation? Can cuticle care shed light on our metaphysics? In answering these questions, we entertain a long discussion on the so-called nature-history/culture/nurture distinction. And we explore the idea of grooming as a practice of self-learning, which influences (implicitly or explicitly) how we socially enact our identities.  If you want to learn more about show, visit us at philosophyafterhours.com. There you can find links to our socials and how to become a Patreon member. 

In this episode we begin with a discussion of Zen and the practice of the koan, which serves as a starting point for our more prolonged back-and-forth on the nature/value of egolessness in the Buddhist tradition. Aaron is insistent in his disavowal of egolessness and its implications, and although Bethany wishes to be more persuaded by the notion, she falls within Aaron's camp, for the most part. Jp spends the majority of the episode fielding questions on this topic and does his best to persuade Bethany and Aaron; or, at the very least, assuage the weight of their poignant criticisms. The extent to which he is successful in this endeavor, we hope you will listen and determine for yourself.  If you like what you hear, visit us at philosophyafterhours.com. There you can find links to our socials as well as how to become a patreon member.    

In this episode we return to a discussion about the value of sex in relationships. (See Part 1 - ep. 142 - to get caught up on the conversation - although you don't need to listen to it to appreciate this episode.) Here, we talk about what's involved in "primary" relationships. What role does sex play in establishing certain relationships as primary? How do we fairly negotiate the time and energy we give to our primary, secondary, and then tertiary relationships? Should we always chose our partner(s) over our friend(s), family, or acquaintance(s)? Does our culture support/encourage healthy relationship practices?  If you want to learn more about our podcast, including how to become a Patreon member, visit us at philosophyafterhours.com.            

In this episode we talk about value. What does it mean to value something? How does money, as a marker of value, align with or contradict other markers of value (e.g., affection)? We all know the story of the underpaid teacher, who does what they love. But what do you do when what you love isn't valued by the market? This discussion explores that tension, attempting to identify ways to address our divers needs, without viewing the dollar as the sole tool. If you like what you hear, check us out at philosophyafterhours.com. There you can find links to our socials, as well as our Patreon account.

In this episode we explore the difference between sex-including unions (like marriages) and sex-excluding unions (like bestfriends). Does the erotic activity of sex necessarily mean that couples engaging in this activity reach deeper levels of intimacy than those that do not? Aaron, Bethany, and Jp all agree that our contemporary society values sex-including unions to a greater extent than sex-excluding unions, but why? And are we incorrect to do so? Lots of good stuff here, and be prepared for a Part II on this topic that will be coming out in the next few weeks! If you want to learn more about our podcast, including how to become a Patreon member, visit us at philosophyafterhours.com. 

Growing tired of the word 'intimacy' to describe her work, Bethany puts forward "the Primal:" an experience beyond conceptualization, that which horrifies us and transcends language. After a brief discussion of intimacy, Bethany outlines--to the extent possible--primal experience. Have we made the mistake of avoiding the primal or believing ourselves to have sufficiently narrativized it, and in doing so have made ourselves more susceptible to the madness it can cause? Does the primal demand new narratives that are less individualistic and more socially-oriented? Is all of this ridiculous and you should just go eat a sandwich and fuck?  To learn more about the show, including how to become a Patreon member, find us at philosophyafterhours.com.  

We're gone this week, but here's a quick look at our Last Call episode on chart readings. As a follow up to our discussion of astrology, Kelsie (aka DJ Chia Pudding) was so kind to give each of us a peek into what our astrological signs indicate about our personalities. Among other things, we learn that Bethany is dedicated to philosophy, Aaron is irritable and classy, and Jp has the jolly spirit of Santa Clause. Maybe these readings will shed some light on the perspectives we bring to the show. Go over to our patreon page to subscribe and hear the conversation!

In this Shooting the Shit episode, we begin with Bethany recounting her inspiration-filled week, which included the act of letter writing. Aaron had his wisdom teeth removed a few days prior to recording, and the lingering pain of that surgery directed his attention towards the inescapablness of the bodily experience--Levinas and phenomenology are brought up, of course. We spend the last half of the episode on the vertiginousness of media in the"meme industry" and Gen Z irony as a critique of contemporary institutions, yet lacking genuineness.  If you like what you hear, check us out at philosophyafterhours.com. There you can find links to our socials, as well as to our Patreon account. 

In this episode we talk our movements - and the conditions that organize them. What do our transportation habits and infrastructure reveal about our social norms? Who yields to whom when passing on a narrow sidewalk? How functional are our organizing systems of movement, and do they reflect more freedom or constraint? These are some of the questions we entertain in a winding discussion about our everyday patterns of motility. If you like what you hear and want to support the show, find as at philosophyafterhours.com for links to our Pateron account.