Unlimited Opinions - Philosophy & Mythology: Recent Episodes
Mark & Adam Bishop
Welcome to Unlimited Opinions! Have you ever wanted to listen to a lawyer and his teenage son discuss the history of philosophy and vague ideas about world mythology? No? Well, Mark and Adam Bishop are here to discuss it all the same! In Season 1, they covered Anthony Kenny's "A New History of Western Philosophy" in order to discuss truly groundbreaking and innovative commentary on Western philosophy. Now in Season 2, they are going chapter-by-chapter through Jake Jackson's "Myths & Legends" to singlehandedly unearth the ancient wisdom and lost secrets of world mythologies. There will also be more than the average amount of references to linguistics, 60s music, and J.R.R. Tolkien. If any of that sounds vaguely interesting, then this is the podcast for you! Episodes are uploaded every Monday at 9:00 p.m. CST. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Did Russell Kirk accurately predict the revival of conservatism in late 20th-century America and England? Not really, but his discussion of the goals of conservatism remain lovely. Join us as we discuss the need for conservative leaders to encourage spiritual revival, encourage leadership, reshape education, provide a purpose to the common man, and stabilize the economy.
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Santayana: Latin rock guitarist or materialist conservative thinker? Find out as we discuss Irving Babbitt, Paul Elmer More, and George Santayana, exploring what their critiques of early 20th-century American utilitarianism, materialism, and pragmatism mean for political conservatism today.
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Do conservatives achieve any victories past the 19th century? Find out on this (somewhat depressing) episode of Unlimited Opinions, as we look at how conservatives struggle to make any lasting change in early 20th-century England. We discuss George Gissing's critique of "the science," Arthur Balfour's inability to make any lasting impact, and the truly great insights of W.H. Mallock on religion, culture, and ability.
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What happens to conservatism in a world full of technological and societal change? In this episode, we discuss four pessimistic American thinkers: James Russel Lowell, E.L. Godkin, Henry Adams, and Brooks Adams. While hurt by their pessimism for the American future, they still have deeply relevant thoughts on progress, the media, and economic conditions. We also discuss our run-ins with Stoicism and a self-professed Epicurean.
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Can a coalition of people opposed to the excesses of liberalism, socialism, and utilitarianism really be classified as conservative? At the very least, Russell Kirk sees them as relevant to the history of conservatism! Join us as we discuss the thoughts of James Fitzjames Stephen, Henry Maine, and W.E.H. Lecky, and how they relate to the idea of conservatism.
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What is the best counter to Marxism? To Disraeli and Newman, imagination. To the former, a richer view of the necessity of the nation; to the latter, a view of education as being oriented toward virtue and God. Join us as we discuss the various approaches to countering 19th-century liberalism in this episode of Unlimited Opinions!
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From Unitarianism to socialism to Roman Catholicism, Orestes Brownson shows the potential of American conservatism founded on a deeper truth. Join us in this episode as we discuss the various philosophical movements in the transitional period of early- to mid-19th century America. Alongside Brownson, we discuss John Quincy Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, analyzing their relation to conservativism.
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How do we conserve liberty in a society? Is it by curtailing the dangers of democratization? By using religious and social institutions as a bulwark? By increasing technological capabilities? Find out this and more as we discuss Thomas Babington Macaulay, James Fenimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, Elon Musk, J.D. Vance, Josh Hawley, and more!
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Do Randolph and Calhoun make convincing arguments for a coherent southern conservatism? How can you advocate for a political philosophy while still supporting slavery? More importantly, is love really love? All this and more as we continue discussing Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind!
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Has conservatism really defeated utilitarianism? Or are modern conservatives just utilitarians at their core? Find out as we discuss Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, John Stuart Mill, Walter Scott, George Canning, and Samuel Coleridge in their war for English politics!
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Was Adams truly the most conservative voice among the Founding Fathers? How does he compare to Alexander Hamilton and Fisher Ames? What has been the impact of Adams' influence on the United States to this day? Find out all this and more as we continue discussing Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind!
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Is Edmund Burke really the founder of modern conservatism? What do his insights into prejudice, natural law, and divine providence mean for us today? Was he justified in opposing the French Revolution so strongly? Find out as we discuss Chapter 2 of Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind!
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Season premiere! Join us as we begin discussing Russell Kirk's 1953 The Conservative Mind, reading Kirk's discussion of the history of conservatism from Edmund Burke to T.S. Eliot. In this first episode, we break down Kirk's goal in writing the book, his six canons of conservatism, and the four major claims of its opponents.
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What do we think of Plato's Republic overall? Find out as we conclude our discussion of this cornerstone work as we read the Book X, in which Plato elaborates on his theory of art and representation; describes how he views the soul as immortal; and provides a case for the practical rewards of being a justice person.
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Can you pursue happiness by chasing fleeting pleasures? If not, how can we finally demonstrate that? Join us for our thoughts on Plato's conclusion that the pursuit of knowledge leads to the highest form of happiness, demolishing any argument in favor of pursuing any lower goods!
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How does Plato's ideal state collapse? What kind of society does it become, and what does the soul of the person represented by that society look like? Find out as we discuss the origin and development of timarchy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny, as well as their corresponding faults!
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The perfect society can only be achieved by banishing everyone over the age of 10 and starting fresh! At least, according to Plato. Join us as we discuss Book VII of the Republic, discussing what the allegory of the cave really means and Socrates' description of the ideal education for the philosopher-king.
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What makes someone truly a philosopher? How does knowledge differ from opinion? Does evil really exist? Find out as we discuss all this and more, breaking down Plato's definition of what a philosopher is, and whether it is possible to put philosopher-kings in place.
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Is this the worst book of the Republic? Does Plato think that anything he is describing is achievable? Find out as we discuss Book V, in which Socrates outlines the sameness of men and women, the benefits of having children in common, and the beginning of what it means to be a philosopher.
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Join us as we discuss Book IV of Plato's Republic, which we (surprisingly) both enjoyed! We continue our discussion by reflecting on the necessity of education for the existence of a culture, whether a state needs to be a certain size for unity to exist, and ultimately how Socrates' imagine state reflects the soul.
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Is Plato prescribing what he says in the Republic as literal guidance on how to run a state, or is this all just an extreme allegory for the ordering of the soul? Listen to us debate this exact question on this episode of Unlimited Opinions, discussing what messages in art ought to be outlawed; the relation of moral character and beauty; the different classes of citizens; and much more!
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Thrasymachus, didn't do that bad of a job of arguing in favor of injustice, did he? Glaucon and Adeimantus seem to think so! Join us as we consider the stronger argument in favor of acting unjustly, discussing the Ring of Gyges, the origins of society, and the beginning of Socrates' discussion of the education of the Guardians!
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Is it better to be just than unjust, and what makes something subjective? Find out as we discuss Book I of Plato's Republic, breaking down the opening discussion on old age, Polemarchus' traditional definition of justice as doing good to your friends and harm to your enemies, and Thrasymachus' view of justice as what is in the interest of the stronger party. Additionally, we consider what it means to strive for human excellence.
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Join us as we begin our discussion of one of the most foundational texts in Western history: Plato's Republic! In this episode, we talk about our prior knowledge and opinions of Plato, the historical background leading up to the writing of the work, and what we hope to gain from reading it again. In this season, we are reading Sir Desmond Lee's Penguin Classics translation of the work, but will also be pulling insights from the original Greek and Paul Shorey's Loeb translation, as well as Allan Bloom's. We also discuss an opportunity to get a free 1 of 2000 limited edition official Unlimited Opinions matchbook!
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In the end, what does Allan Bloom recommend in The Closing of the American Mind? Not much, as it turns out. After an excellent diagnosis of the problems facing American higher education, Bloom ends on a pessimistic note, stating that no reforms can fix the problems in the university. Is this true? Find out as we discuss our thoughts on Bloom's work and ideas on how to fix the university!
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Where have Allan Bloom's descriptions of the modern university gotten us? Where have all of these philosophical trends ended up? Join us as we discuss the first half of the last chapter of The Closing of the American Mind, examining what the fight for the university looked like in 1987, and how that fight has changed (or larger remained the same) for us today.
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Why did all university professors and administrators capitulate to the insane mobs of student radicals in the sixties? Find out as we continue discussing Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind, discussing how the 1960s carried along the most damaging threads in prior educational history, ultimately ripping out the foundations of what education ought to be.
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What does Gulliver's Travels have to do with the development of the modern education system? Why does classical scholarship see renewed interests in periods of philosophical interest? Why spend 70 pages on one chapter detailing various components of philosophic history before getting to your point on education? Find out as we continue discussing Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind!
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Was Socrates really all that great? What does he have to say about education, anyway? Find out as we discuss Socrates' impact on the idea and purpose of philosophy, as well as the reasons for our modern society favoring nameless globalist scientists as the architects of civilization!
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Can education actually exist without tradition? In the equalizing system of democracy, is education ever really valuable? Should we just give up on the whole idea of a university altogether? Join us for this and more as we continue discussing Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind!
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How do we recover Western Civilization from its current state? How do we get people to recognize that there is more to our foundations than we realize, and that America is more than just the past century? Allan Bloom's answer: raising the important questions. Join us for this and more, as we discuss how to create a Turning Point in American history.
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Marxism is boring now. So says Allan Bloom. Join us as we discuss the omnipresence of Marxism among the Left, and why the philosophy of the class struggle may not be exactly the crux of the Left, but a desecration of the dignity and depth of man.
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What happens to a culture when rationalism takes precedence over belief in anything eternal? Exactly what we've seen over the past 70 years, of course! Join us as we discuss Allan Bloom's thoughts on values, the issues of cultural relativism, and what the future holds for societies with unstable foundations.
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What exactly is culture? Is it just the food, clothing, and habits of a people, or is it something more? Does human nature really exist, or should we just be studying the differences between cultures to investigate humanity? Is culture downstream of politics, and what does this mean for the Cracker Barrel rebrand? Find out as we continue discussing Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind!
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What is man, really? Do we have a purpose, or should we just listen to our desires and shape the world the way we want it to be? Are the ends of things real, or just fictitious imaginations based on our desires? Find out as we continue to discuss Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind!
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What differentiates America from France? Is it our value of life and stability in our Revolution, or is it a distinction between the bourgeois of America and the deeper thinkers of the Continent? Join us as we discuss this and more in this episode of Unlimited Opinions!
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Where does modern American nihilism stem from? According to Allan Bloom, ultimately from Nietzsche! Join us as we discuss the impact of German thinking on modern American life, talking about the issues with value relativism and self-actualization, and many other such concepts.
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Why has modern society failed to recognize the purpose of marriage? Or, for that matter, the purpose of love, life, and relationships as a whole? Find out as we discuss more of Allan Bloom's thoughts on relationships, examining the complete independence of the modern student, the increased prevalence of divorce, and the lack of love.
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Does American society support the same kinds of relationships that it did in generations past? Find out in this episode, as we continue discussing Saul Bellow's The Closing of the American Mind, in which we examine the rise of self-centeredness, the doctrine of absolute equality, the deterioration of race relations, and the problems with modern ideas of sex.
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Do young people even read anymore? What's up with their obsession with music? Such questions are not as boring as they sound, as Allan Bloom describes in the next chapters of The Closing of the American Mind! Join us as we discuss the importance of literature and good music on the formation of the soul and the coherence of political society!
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Do Americans have a national book? What is America's defining ideology? Is it structured by the Constitution and the Bible, or something else entirely? Such are the questions that Allan Bloom raises in The Closing of the American Mind, and that we discuss in this episode of Unlimited Opinions!
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What is the purpose of education? What is the truth? What is man? Find out in this season of Unlimited Opinions, as we read Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today's Students. In this episode, we discuss Saul Bellow's Foreword, as well as Bloom's Preface and Introduction, as the authors lay out the "new virtues" of relativism, openness, and freedom as the basis of our failing education system.
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Join us as for the finale of Season 11, as we discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford, given in 1959 as he retired from the University. We break down his attitude towards the modern state of research-focused education, the problems in separating Language from Literature, and why Tolkien's essays matter more and more today.
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How weird is it to make your own language? Find out as we discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's "A Secret Vice", in which he describes his own evolution in making languages, the beauty in such a hobby, and language itself being an art form.
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"I was born in the wrong language!" now ranks among perhaps one of the oddest phrases said during an active tornado warning. Join us as we discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's essay "English and Welsh", examining what makes a people a people and the beauty present in studying other languages!
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Join us as we conclude our discussion on Tolkien's fantastic essay "On Fairy-stories"! In this episode, we discuss why fairy-stories are not just for children, what true fantasy really is, the proper attitude of escapism, and why the Gospels are at the heart of it all.
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Join us for the first part of our discussion on one of the greatest essays ever written: J.R.R. Tolkien's On Fairy-stories! In this episode, we examine what is and is not a fairy-story, what is really meant by Faërie, how such stories are made, and much more!
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Is Sir Gawain underappreciated as a Catholic story? How did 14th-century English poets reconcile courtly honor and Christian love? Find out as we discuss Tolkien's essay on the great Middle English poem, as well as our thoughts on people's misconceptions about the pope!
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Why should we care about poetry? Are we just too stupid to really understand it? Find out as we discuss Tolkien's thoughts on how to properly translate an Old English poem into prose, and the many errors that a translator can fall into in the process.
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Is Beowulf still relevant today? How often do we destroy towers to investigate their component parts, failing to recognize that we could have seen the sea from the top of them? These and other important questions are discussed, as we begin diving into J.R.R. Tolkien's The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays, discussing the best of Tolkien's scholarly writings and what they mean for us today.
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Season Finale! Join us as we discuss how Thomas Sowell's early life and upbringing shaped his career, and our thoughts on several of his best one-liners. We also talk about our opinion of his writings overall, and our plans for Season 11!
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Does a university really need a student recreation center with a sauna and a smoothie bar? Find out as we finish our discussion on Thomas Sowell's thoughts on the modern education system! We talk about teachers who don't know very much, the necessity for gifted students to have opportunities, the problems with the "publish or perish" attitude, and much more!
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What is a university for? Is it just to get a degree and a well-paying job, or is it for a bigger, deeper formation? Find out as we discuss Thomas Sowell's writings on education, covering topics from unintelligent educators to the lack of transparency in the educational system!
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What results have affirmative action policies had across the world? How much does geography impact the economies and cultures of various regions? Find out in this episode, as we finish our discussion on Thomas Sowell's thoughts on race and ethnicity!
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Join us for a continued discussion on affirmative action, the historical context behind debates on equality, and race hoaxes! Also in this episode are rants about Linguistics and AI; stories of record collecting; and our recommendations for one of the best places to eat in St. Louis before the end of the month!
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Is the Right partially to blame for the state of our country over the past several decades, and how does our approach to race play into the broader social world? Find out as we discuss Thomas Sowell's thoughts on race and ethnicity, covering stereotypes, false notions of diversity, lowering standards, and more!
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What does the dismantling of USAID mean for freedom? Is this government overreach, or the government pulling back its power? Join us as we discuss this and more, breaking down Thomas Sowell's thoughts on a variety of legal issues, from allegations of racist cops, lack of trust between doctors and patients, and what freedom actually is.
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Should all of the January 6th protestors have been pardoned? Can we do away with birthright citizenship? Why do we keep making martyrs out of criminals? Find out as we examine Thomas Sowell's thoughts on legal issues, ranging from abortion to gun control and everything in between!
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Should we care about the personal lives of influential thinkers? In Marx's case, probably! In this episode, we discuss two more articles from Thomas Sowell: one evaluating John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, and the other giving a detailed description of Karl Marx. We also talk about Donald Trump's second inauguration and what it means for the country!
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How does the Left survive, and how do they keep gaslighting the nation? Find out in this episode of Unlimited Opinions, as we continue reading Thomas Sowell's thoughts on political issues. This is a wide-ranging episode, discussing the Los Angeles wildfires, transgenderism, private charity, and much more!
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Why would people celebrate the death of a CEO they had never even heard of before his assassination? Thomas Sowell raised these kinds of questions 20 years ago! Join us as we begin discussing his articles on political issues, focusing on the role of the media in public life, unfunded mandates from the government, and spoiled brats.
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Hear our thoughts on 2024 in review and what we see coming up in 2025! In this special episode taken from our S10 E6 recording, we recap what we think changed in 2024, the strangeness of the election cycle, and our mix of positive and negative predictions for 2025!
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Join us as we conclude our discussion on Thomas Sowell's thoughts on economics, covering topics such as income disparity, the minimum wage, misuse of statistics, and more! We also discuss Walmart self checkout lanes and the holiday blues!
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Where does all of our recycling go? To the dump! Join us as we discuss the myths of recycling, the rationale behind organized crime, the illusion of social security, the ill effects of "affordability" measures, and much more! We also discuss many anecdotes, from funny t-shirts to experiences with criminals!
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In keeping with our timely opinions, we think that Thomas Sowell is the bee's knees! Join us as we finish discussing his writings on social issues, covering the true purpose of the culture war, the meaninglessness of "equality," the lack of discipline in modern society, and much more! We also give some excellent tips on what to do if you find yourself in the wrong restroom!
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Join us for another wide-ranging conversation on Thomas Sowell's thoughts on social issues! In this rant-laden episode, we discuss the overdiagnosis of autism, the problems with viewing history by our own standards, and the racist practice of dismissing the achievements of white people. We also share many of our anecdotes, such as a trip to France and problems with modern media!
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A new season, a new book! Join us as we start discussing The Thomas Sowell Reader, covering social issues ranging from America's warped education system, the loss of the traditional family, the impact of poverty, and more! We also recap the 2024 election, comparing the results to our predictions and what we see in the coming second Trump presidency!
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According to Orestes Brownson, America is truly a Catholic country! Join us as we discuss the final chapter of The American Republic: Its Constitution, Tendencies, and Destiny, as we break down Brownson's vision of the future of the United States. We discuss the importance of religion, a far-reaching form of manifest destiny, and our own thoughts on the future of our nation. We also offer our much-sought-after opinions on the 2024 Presidential Election!
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How do we manage the battle between rampant individualism and all-consuming socialism, two ideologies rooted in pure humanism? Orestes Brownson's answer: Catholicism! Join as we discuss Brownson's views of the political future of the United States, and how we need to fight for a future based on eternal truth.
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Should we continue to punish the South, or readmit them as full citizens of the United States? Join us for Orestes Brownson's great answer to this question, and some less than great answers to some other questions! We discuss his view of the contradictions between the Executive and the Supreme Court in the handling of the Supreme Court, what actually happened when the States seceded, and what we should do moving forward.
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In perhaps the most convoluted chapter of Orestes Brownson's The American Republic, we discuss secession, and how that relates to modern American politics. We discuss why secession does not make a state an independent sovereign, and instead is the state giving up its existence as a state and becoming a territory once more. We also discuss abortion, immigration, and much more!
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How does the government of the United States actually function, and how does it relate to Orestes Brownson's idea of a providential constitution? We discuss this and more as we continue our discussion of the constitutions of the United States of America, including our first place where we fully disagree with Brownson!
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Are we finally starting to disagree with something Orestes Brownson has said? Find out as we discuss how Brownson applies his theories of the two constitutions to the American Founding, and whether or not the Constitution created the American people, or if the American people existed long beforehand.
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The United States: one sovereign people, or really fifty different sovereigns in a trench coat? Find out as we discuss Orestes Brownson's description of America, eventually concluding that the American people were one unified whole long before 1787. We also discuss many other vitally important topics, such as where college students should vote and how long the ideal nap length is.
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Who really is the sovereign, and why is their job to promote the common good of the people of the nation? Find out as we conclude our discussion of the two constitutions of a nation, how the history of Rome reflects this idea, and when the overthrow of a ruler may be warranted!
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Is there a difference between the constitution of the people and the constitution of their government? How are those two constitutions related, and what is the role of God in their development? What about societies with terrible morals? Find out the answers to these questions and more!
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In this episode, we finally end our discussion of Orestes Brownson's description of where authority comes from! We talk about why the spiritual authority does not grant temporal authority to kings, and how authority really has divine origins as expressed mediately through the people! We also look at how these ideas reflect our society today, and whether the American Revolution is really moral in a Christian context.
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Is sovereignty really held by the people themselves, acting as the voice of God? Or is government just a natural evolutionary development? Or does God supernaturally give certain people the divine right to rule? Orestes Brownson says no to all three! Hear our thoughts on his refutations of these theories, as well as some lengthy rants in this episode of Unlimited Opinions!
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In this episode, we examine all of the reasons why Orestes Brownson believes that social compact theory is not a good explanation for the origin of government! By the end of this episode, we're pretty convinced that he's right! We break down the issues with the theory, including the nature of man, eminent domain, and the logical conclusions of the idea, and how these all fit into Brownson's theory of government.
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In this episode, we break down how Orestes Brownson views the authority of the state as coming from proprietorship of territory, rather than from the private rights of individuals. We also discuss what makes a society barbaric, how a republic should promote the common good, and why we need to bring back manifest destiny!
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Is loyalty one of the highest virtues? Is politics really founded on communion with God? Are libertarians really about liberty, or just licentiousness? Orestes Brownson has the answers to all these questions and more in his description of the nature of government! We discuss his description, beginning with the three ways man communes with God (religion, society, and property), through the idea of politics as a branch of ethics, and the importance of loyalty to proper government! We also discuss all the goods and evils in dealing with municipal government!
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A new season, with a more optimistic topic! For this season, we'll be reading Orestes Brownson's 1865 work The American Republic: Its Constitution, Tendencies, and Destinies. In this book, Brownson, a former socialist and Catholic convert, discusses what the nature of America really is and what it should be, as guided by providence and the truth. Brownson's words are especially prescient in this time, and even in our first discussion of his preface and introduction, we see his desire for the truth and humility everywhere.
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Good riddance to George Lakoff's Moral Politics! In this season finale, we discuss the last section of Lakoff's book, in which he lays out his reasons for being a liberal. His reasons are of course based on his book-long characterization of conservatives as being stupid, crazy, and evil, so his stance is not exactly one we agree with. We also discuss what pieces of value we gained from reading this book and lessons for the future as we move on to Season 9!
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This guy doesn't even know about federalism! Join us as we discuss George Lakoff's magnificent discussion on how he is confused by the concept of federalism, and how he divides up other varieties of liberals and conservatives. We also discuss how Lakoff fundamentally refutes his entire book, insinuates that conservatives are one step away from being violent extremists, and doesn't seem to know much of anything at all. We also diss libertarians and talk about all of the problems with the modern Classics field!
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At this point, our criticisms of Lakoff have even started boring even us, so in this episode, we use his brief (and incorrect) descriptions of liberal and conservative approaches to Christianity and abortion as jumping-off points for our own ideas. We discuss the necessity of a hierarchy within religion (such as in Catholicism), why separation of church and state does not mean what most people think it does, the importance of religious elected officials, and much more!
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Is this our angriest episode yet? Possibly! Join us as we discuss George Lakoff's thoughts on some of the most controversial topics: affirmative action, gay rights, education, the environment, and much more! As always, we point out the issues with an overly simplistic description of the conservative point of view and try to describe the much deeper ideals behind conservative thought. By this point, we're pretty fed up with George Lakoff and are committing to a new goal: MLGA - Make Linguistics Great Again!
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As we all know, conservatives simply view the legal system in a very simple formula: more punishment = more good. Conservatives are certainly not concerned with a millenia-old theological, philosophical, legal, and moral tradition that argues for the responsibility of an individual's free will or anything like that. Join us as we discuss George Lakoff's theories on how conservatives and liberals view crime, covering topics such as the death penalty, societal factors, and nature vs. nurture.
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Ignoring his horrible takes on conservatism, George Lakoff actually does a decent job of explaining the liberal worldview on social programs and taxes. Maybe this shouldn't be surprising - he definitely agrees with the liberals on everything. Join us as we discuss his analysis of liberal and conservative approaches to economic and social problems, ranging from immigration to military spending to charitable organizations!
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George Lakoff is right about one thing: conservatives do not like Hillary Clinton. In this episode, we look at Lakoff's descriptions of how liberals and conservatives categorize the ideal and worst citizens. Do conservatives really just care about upholding the current authority? Are liberals the only ones who believe in virtues? Lakoff seems to think so, and we criticize him heavily!
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In this episode, we actually give Lakoff some credit! He is embarking on a good project: analyzing liberal and conservative speech into a cohesive cognitive worldview. Unfortunately, he still can't seem to understand conservatives. We look at his descriptions of how liberals misunderstand conservatives (and his simplistic counters to those misunderstandings), how conservatives misunderstand conservatives, and how exactly he plans to create his model.
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Despite not really understanding morality, Lakoff does accurately describe the views of the nurturant parent! Join us as we discuss his description of this moral system that believes that people who need help should be treated like children, that promoting your self-interest is a moral good, and sensuality is a virtue! We discuss what we think is wrong (and very briefly what is right) about this moral system and how Lakoff describes it somewhat effectively!
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Does George Lakoff understand nothing about conservative morality? Maybe! Join us as we discuss his idea of Strict Father Morality, a system that he thinks conservatives believe in, with respect only for authority and strict punishments for those who do wrong. Somehow, Lakoff misses the fact that conservatives tend to believe in an objective morality that exists beyond worldly authority, but that does not stop him from professing his ideas, nor does it stop us from heavily criticizing this chapter of Moral Politics!
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Which came first? Foundational moral thinking or metaphors that we use to express those foundations? George Lakoff seems to think the language came first! Join us as we try to figure out Lakoff's chicken-or-the-egg moral system as he outlines the metaphor of accounting and how morality is viewed as a system of transactions. Are we all really just trying to reach net zero in our moral obligations, or is there something much deeper to morality?
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Our very first episode with a live studio audience! Join us as we discuss what linguist George Lakoff views as the worldviews of liberals and conservatives. In this episode, we examine what Lakoff thinks confuses liberals about conservative views (while also just attempting to refute the conservative opinion), the different words that people on the right and left use, and what he sees as the goal for studying these worldviews. Despite his accurate assessment of what each worldview is, we find a lot to criticize in this chapter, and go on many, many tangents!
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In this episode, we discuss George Lakoff's completely analytical, opinion-free, 100% objective explanation of what he views as the role of cognitive linguists in examining liberal and conservative worldviews. We discuss whether or not unconscious thoughts truly exist, the importance of categories, and Lakoff's ever-present idea of conservatives being a mysterious "gorilla in the mist!" We also discuss what he gets severely wrong about the relation of political opinions to moral philosophy, and why your moral beliefs truly matter in political conversation.
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In this first episode of Season 8, we look at the preface to our new book: George Lakoff's Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think, which examines the different linguistic metaphors that liberals and conservatives use to shape their worldview. We discuss Lakoff's plan for the book, how he draws his conclusions, and the immense amount of biases that he presents just in the introduction. We also go on many rants, including one about an Easter egg hunt that is spurred by the acknowledgements!
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Is the sexual revolution the true cause of moral relativism, or are the two intertwined? In this final episode covering Peter Kreeft's A Refutation of Moral Relativism, we look at some of the biggest cultural issues in the world today, particularly contraception, abortion, and divorce. We also take a retrospective look at the book as a whole, discussing what we admire about Kreeft's writing, how ahead of his time he was, and our own predictions for the fruits of relativism going forward!
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We were always destined to publish this episode, at least according to the crazy determinists! In this episode, we discuss the philosophical assumptions that one must make in order to be an absolutist, particularly regarding metaphysics and epistemology. We look at flawed theories such as nominalism, determinism, materialism, and more, all while we go on endless tangents!
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Do you want to hear our thoughts on Bryan Fiel's 1990 play Dancing at Lughnasa, a story of five sisters in 1936 Ireland? Do you want to hear our thoughts on the arguments in favor of moral absolutism? Luckily for you, we have those exact things in this episode! Join us as we discuss how language proves absolutism correct, the poor track record of relativism, and how relativists only extend tolerance to those that they like. We also go on many tangents, including one about a long-held legal precedent: if a man puts something down his pants, he intends to keep it.
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What does hemlock taste like, and if drank in a small enough dose, can we find out? This important question and much more is discussed in this episode of Unlimited Opinions, as we examine where the philosophy of relativism came from. We talk about how reductionism has led to a complete lack of acceptance of anything beyond the physical world and how this has impacted morality, and especially how this has impacted education. We also talk about how reductionism refutes itself and how it just makes someone miserable!
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Do good intentions make acts good, or do we need something more? Did we simply evolve morality as a beneficial social system? Are relativists really just the most judgmental people of all time? Find out as we continue discussing Peter Kreeft's A Refutation of Moral Relativism, examining even more common arguments for moral relativism and how easily they are refuted!
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Does Jesus just get us, or does he call us to something more? Is He really all about tolerance, or is there an objective truth beyond that? Join us as we discuss how our values aren't just ingrained in us by society, why absolutists promote freedom more than relativists, and how those proclaiming that everyone needs to be tolerant really aren't tolerant at all! We also puzzle over how someone can be caught plagiarizing something in a field that is entirely subjective!
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"Be better:" the new horrible slogan for Unlimited Opinions! In this episode, we look at Peter Kreeft's answer to one of the most difficult objections to moral absolutism: if there are absolute moral truths, why have there been cultures with wildly different moral norms? We examine his answer of this argument asserting its own conclusion as part of its evidence, how different societies may not have as different of moral codes as people think, and why using your own feelings to determine morality is a bad idea.
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Does the existence of a moral conscience prove moral absolutism right? This is the question on the table as we continue reading Peter Kreeft's A Refutation of Moral Relativism. We discuss the four sources of data for moral absolutism (our conscience, our interpersonal understandings, our language, and human history) to see if they back up the difficult position of the absolutist! We also talk about the issues with modern psychologists and go on a very long tangent about the nature of the death penalty!
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Introducing our new product: Unlimited Opinions Deconstructed Peanut Butter!* Join us as we look at the history of relativism according to Peter Kreeft, beginning with the devil in the Garden of Eden, the rise of nominalism, and the eventual prominence of complete Deconstruction. We also talk much about how language shows us the truth, the ill effects of relativism in the modern day, and the importance of humor.
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*Unlimited Opinions Deconstructed Peanut Butter is just sand and should not be consumed.
In this episode, we find a new favorite feature of the podcast: relative buzzing! We also continue looking at Peter Kreeft's conversation between an absolutist and relativist, this time examining how exactly to define moral relativism, separating it out from metaphysical, epistemological, and religious relativism. We also discuss how we're facing a new, dangerous form of epistemological relativism that says that people really can't know anything about someone else, and how this is seen in the world today. And as always, we go on several side tangents, including about the "one-shirt" murderer and Apocalypse Now!
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Season Premiere! Join us as we begin discussing Peter Kreeft's wonderfully written A Refutation of Moral Relativism: Interviews with an Absolutist. In this episode, we talk about the structure of the book and Kreeft's use of the dialogue format, the importance of truth in a society, whether our current society is truly relativist or just another flavor of absolutist, and how we got to where we are. We also talk about the issues with the spread of American culture and how America is perceived by the rest of the world, and the dangerous ideology of obfuscation that is permeating the Left's attitude towards language, gender, and much else!
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Happy New Year! Join us as we have a more free-form discussion not attached to a particular Season of Unlimited Opinions! We look back at some of our highlights from 2023, including reading James Hitchcock's History of the Catholic Church and Austin Freeman's Tolkien Dogmatics, and especially our first episode of Unlimited Guests where we were fortunate enough to host Dr. Freeman himself. We also talk about the Latin Mass, problems with modern society, and how we want to bring more guests on the podcast in the new year. We've also decided on our book for Season 7: Peter Kreeft's A Refutation of Moral Relativism!
Thank you all for the best-performing year in Unlimited Opinions history, and we look forward to having you join us for Season 7!
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We end Season 6 on a fitting note: the aftermath of Vatican II and a crisis in Catholicism! Join us as we talk about the continuing fights between aggiornamento and ressourcement, the decline in vocations and obedience, and the overall issues with the conciliar spirit. We also discuss Pope Francis' recent statement on blessing same-sex couple, go on many rants, and discuss our new favorite supervillain: the Gay Jesuit!
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The long-awaited discussion on Vatican II! In this episode, we look at the theological current preceding the Council, the different core blocs in the proceedings, and what the Council actually decided. We realize that Vatican II really mandated very little, but left much up to interpretation, which has led to widespread confusion and a crisis in the Church since then. We also talk about our own ill feelings towards modernization efforts and what we think the Catholic Church needs at this time.
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Finishing our discussions on the modern English-speaking countries, we focus here on the United States and Australia! We discuss the "phantom heresy" of Americanism, the Church's position on social issues, the connections between Catholicism and politics, and a lot about abortion! We also go off on many side tangents, including about how we are distantly related to one of Notre Dame's Four Horsemen!
Join us as we discuss the history of Catholicism in Canada and the United States! We look at Quebec's rise to the most Catholic society on Earth and its eventual fall; the three ethnic zones of the United States, being the English East Coast, the French Mississippi Valley, and the Spanish Southwest; and how Catholics viewed slavery in the U.S. We also discuss our future plans to rename the Mississippi River to the Immaculate Conception!
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Wow, the Jesuits really went everywhere! Join us as we look at the missionary efforts of the Catholic Church from the Mongols to the modern day. We discuss the conquistadors in Latin America, St. Francis Xavier in India, Matteo Ricci in China, and much more. We especially examine the cultural differences between Catholics and various countries, particularly human sacrifice in South America, the Indian caste system, Japanese honor codes, and Chinese Confucianism.
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From World War I to the Spanish Civil War to World War II, we cover some of the worst periods for the Catholic Church (and for humanity) in this episode. We start by discussing St. John Henry Newman and the fight against modernism, then look at the First Vatican Council, and then how the Church dealt with both liberal democracies and communist and fascist totalitarianisms with the principle of corporatism. Throughout this episode, we realize that the problems facing the Church then are the same problems we are facing today!
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Maybe John Bosco just carried around really smelly bread, and that's where Bosco sticks came from! You can hear this groundbreaking idea and many more in this episode, as we look at the first half of James Hitchcock's chapter on how the Catholic Church dealt with the issues of modernity. We look at the rise of conservatism, liberalism, nationalism, and socialism; the end of the papal states, the social principles of subsidiarity and corporatism; Pope Pius IX's intriguing Syllabus of Errors, and much more! Mixed in are plenty of rants about our own thoughts on modernity, as might be expected.
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Do "enlightened" and "inclusive" really just mean the same thing? Find out as we discuss the French Revolution! We break down the scientific revolution that led to the rise of Deism, the assaults on the Jesuits prior to the Revolution, and all the horrors of the Terror. We especially look at how these events and the rhetoric of the Revolutionaries resembles the modern political climate that we're experiencing today.
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A rare in-person episode! Join us as we look into the beginnings of the scientific revolution and what that meant for Church history. We look at new ways that politics plays into religion, various degrees of religious toleration, some great saints, the rise of Jansenism, and more! And as to be expected with in-person episodes, we go on plenty of tangents, including about the issues with modern Classics scholars and hating the skeptics!
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In this episode (as in all the others), we look at why the Catholics are correct! We continue our discussion on the Reformation, this time looking at English and French political history, persecution, toleration, the Inquisition, the Council of Trent, and much more. We also compare these events in Church history to the modern controversies of the Council of Vatican II, the ongoing Synod of Synodality, and Bishop Burke's dealings with St. Stanislaus Church!
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We really don't like predestination! Join us as we look at the history of the Catholic Church during the Reformation! In this episode, we discuss the Fifth Lateran Council, the Jesuits, the rise of Lutheranism, the teachings of Zwingli and Calvin, and much more. We also find a way to rant about Covid and the most recent Republican presidential debate!
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Wow, some of these popes really sucked! Join us as we look at the decline and rebirth of the Roman Catholic Church from 1300 to 1500. We discuss the Great Western Schism, heterodox movements, the Black Death, Joan of Arc, humanism, Michelangelo, and much more! This period of time faces some of the greatest lows of the Catholic Church and some of the greatest highs, and so makes for a very interesting discussion.
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In this episode, we find out that words are really hard to say! We break down the history of the Eastern Catholic Church and its eventual schism, becoming what we now know as the Eastern Orthodox. We look at the political background and disagreements that lead to the Great Schism, the events of the Schism itself, and the current Eastern Rites that have since been reunited with Rome. We also really enjoy thinking about what happens when infants receive Communions directly after Baptism!
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The history of indulgences may not be what you think! In this episode, we continue our discussion of the Middle Ages, looking at the Crusades, the development of the Liturgy, and the intellectual renaissance! We break down St. Thomas Aquinas' theological writings, look into why the Crusades were so popular, and discuss the sacraments, holy architecture, and Dante's Divine Comedy. As always, we go on many tangents, and what was meant to be a short episode ended up being over an hour long!
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A societal revival and a long rant on what our lives mean after we die! Join us as we discuss all this in more in another two part episode, now looking at the next 500 years after the Dark Ages. In this episode, we discuss how all of medieval life was directed towards the salvation of souls, the two swords doctrine, the various anti-popes and reform movements, the development of Canon Law, the origins of the Franciscans and Dominicans, and much more! We also go on many rants, talk about St. Joan of Arc, and discuss why a liberal attitude towards criminal justice reform may not be the best.
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This chapter was so dense that we still had over an hour's worth of thoughts for the second episode! Join us as we look at the rest of the Dark Ages, specifically covering the Vikings, the decline of Western culture, the theology of the Dark Ages, the continuing formation of the liturgy, and much more! We of course keep asking the central question: were the Dark Ages truly dark?
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The first two-parter in Unlimited Opinions history! Join us as we look at the Catholic Church during the Dark Ages, beginning with the fall of Rome, the conversions of the various barbarian tribes, the invasion of the Muslims, and the low point of papal history! Throughout this episode, we continuously ask whether or not the Dark Ages were truly dark, given the presence of strong theological centers in monasteries and the presence of a new Christian legal system. We also go on plenty of rants, including one about Andrew Tate and starting our own combination fraternity-monasteries!
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Join us for our first in-person episode in many months! In this episode, we look at the philosophical ideas of the Church Fathers, the natures of Jesus Christ, the relationship of the Holy Trinity, and the authority of the Church. Focusing on figures like Origen, Cyril of Alexandria, Ambrose, and especially Augustine, we look at the early Church's answers to the false teachings of Arianism, Docetism, Nestorianism, Monarchianism, and more! We also manage to revive the age-old debate of whether or not God exists within time, this time focusing on if God is changeable in His perfection!
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We begin this episode with a guarantee to not go on any rants, which itself prompts a rant! We discuss how Christianity came to be accepted in the Roman Empire, the flawed conversion of Emperor Constantine, the early Liturgy, the first monks, and much more! Centered around figures such as St. Augustine, Julian the Apostate, and St. Simeon Stylites, this is a wide-ranging discussion that covers many topics. As always, we share our own opinions on topics like allowing priests to marry, the value of architecture, and personal gripes with certain prayers at Mass!
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In this episode, we find out that the Church had it pretty well figured out in the beginning! Join us as we look at the first few centuries of the Catholic Church, looking at the theological battle against the Gnostics, the development of Church hierarchy, the early Liturgy, the first martyrs, and more! As always side tangents abound, and we critique things like the Snow White remake, compare ancient Church debates to modern day issues, and somehow end up talking about Donald Trump.
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In this episode, we mostly just talk about panhandlers! Mixed in with the many rants are discussions of the very beginnings of the Catholic Church. We look at the ties between early Christianity and Judaism, the sacraments practiced by the early Church, the first ecclesial offices, the spread of Christianity, and much more! We also talk about a certain McDonald's in Washington, DC, an unfortunate lack of tubing, and why St. Paul gets to be in the Bible.
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A new season and a new book! Join us as we discuss the introduction to James Hitchcock's History of the Catholic Churchand our plans for Season 6! We break down the importance of the Church's historical character, the issues with the modern historical-critical method of examining the past, and what one's approach should be in analyzing Church history. We also discuss Gnosticism, modern feminism, and more, and we somehow end up in another rant about whether or not PhDs should be called Doctor!
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Join us for the very first episode of Unlimited Guests, where we bring on anyone willing to talk to us! For the first time in our over 2-year history as a podcast, we've brought on someone other than just the two of us! For this episode, we talked to Dr. Austin Freeman, the author of the book that we just covered on Season 5: Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth.
We discuss Dr. Freeman's background with Tolkien, the varied reactions to his book, the issues with modern academia, and much, much more. Perhaps most surprisingly, it was revealed that Dr. Freeman knows that we exist, but in fact listened to all of Season 5! With that in mind, we're still not sure how we got him to agree to an interview, but it's an episode you don't want to miss!
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Season finale! Join us as we discuss the last chapter of Dr. Austin Freeman's fantastic Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth. We look at all of J.R.R. Tolkien's thoughts on death and the afterlife. We look at how the the different races of Men and Elves view the concept of death within his works, purgatory as seen through Leaf by Niggle, and what the nature of heaven and hell are. We also go on many, many tangents, as per usual! Be sure to also catch our big announcement in this episode for a very special upcoming episode of the podcast! Follow us on Twitter, and give us book suggestions for Season 6!
In this episode, we talk about Matt Walsh's What Is A Woman?, the early 2000's children's show 3-2-1 Penguins, and a whole lot of other things that tangentially relate to our main topic! We break down exactly how J.R.R. Tolkien presented the Christian life throughout his writings, discussing the everyday practices of grace, mercy, repentance, humility, and prayer; the concept of Christian ethics; and even Tolkien's political beliefs! We look at all these concepts through the characters of The Lord of the Rings, other writings such as Leaf by Niggle, and even Tolkien's own life. Additionally, give us book recommendations for Season 6 by tweeting at us! @UlmtdOpinions
What's the central point of all of Catholicism? The fact that you're a sinner, of course! Join as we dive into Tolkien's thoughts on the Catholic Church, the Virgin Mary, Protestantism, and the sacraments! As per usual, we also go on many tangents, including on the loss of creative beauty over time, whether or not we believe in relics, and the issue of Mother Teresa! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Want to learn how to mess with Calvinists? Need some movie recommendations? We've got both of those things covered in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! Join us as we look at how Tolkien's ideas of Christ and salvation are apparent in his writings. We look at the incarnation as seen through the Wizards; the roles of Christ as seen through Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn; the harrowing of Hell; and much more! All the while, we discuss whether or not it's appropriate to discuss these parallels, considering the fact that Tolkien never intentionally included an allegory for Christ in his writings. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode, we accidentally try out a new format in which one of us reads the wrong chapter! Join us as we look at depictions of Satan and other demons in Tolkien's writings, primarily through the lens of Morgoth and Sauron. We discuss how Satan fell, the temptations of the modern world, spiritual warfare, and much more! As always, we go on plenty of tangents, such as talks about letters to the editor of a local newspaper and boxes of way too many books! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Wow, the modern world really sucks! Join us as we explore this idea and more as we talk about how evil is represented through J.R.R. Tolkien's works. We look at how it can occasionally be good to hate, the three enemies of the soul, temptation, Satan, atheism, and so much more. There are nearly infinite ways to discuss evil as shown through Sauron, Morgoth, Saruman, Wormtongue, Gollum, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, etc., so join us as we attempt to scratch the surface of Tolkien's ideas of evil! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
We mock the Israelites, but we all definitely still worship golden calves to this day! Join us as we discuss how J.R.R. Tolkien portrays the Fall of Adam and Original Sin throughout his writings! We look in-depth at the topics of the Fall of Satan, inherited sin, the corruption of the material world, and much more, all through then lens of humanity's turn away from Eru and towards Sauron and Morgoth in Tolkien's works! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode, we find out that we're much more like Jesus than we originally thought, because we are very judgmental! Join us as we discuss the theology of angels as described through J.R.R. Tolkien's Ainur. We look at the spiritual nature of angels, the hierarchy of divine powers, how angels communicate, and much more! We also talk about National Record Store Day, whether or not Jesus mocked people, and whether people should be called "Doctor" if they're not an MD. You should be like Austin Freeman and follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Death, gender, and society! What do these three major topics have in common? Humanity! In this episode, we break down Tolkien's philosophies on the importance of life and death, how the soul and the body interact, gender differences between men and women, society itself, language, and much more! We also find a way to work in Andrew Tate, Joe Rogan, and as per usual, many other tangents into this episode! Join us for our varied discussion on some of the most important topics in today's world through the lens of J.R.R. Tolkien. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode, we talk about what is arguably the most interesting of J.R.R. Tolkien's philosophies: Creation! We break down how God created the real world and how this is portrayed in the Ainulindalë, how God's omniscience relates to humanity's free will, and the greatest philosophy of Tolkien: sub-Creation. This one idea points to Tolkien's theory of the purpose of Creation, the reason for existence, and what beauty is. We also complain about modern art and mention the dreaded c-word! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Did we accidentally start a cult of Judas Iscariot? Find out as we discuss the role of revelation in J.R.R. Tolkien's writings! We break down the difference between general revelation and special revelation, talk about the examples of divine influence within Middle-earth, and have a long discussion on whether it's possible for an ordinary person to be divinely inspired, and if Tolkien was divinely inspired himself! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Jesus must have told the best jokes! All these deep theological insights and more are contained in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! We break down Chapter 1 of Austin Freeman's Tolkien Dogmatics, discussing whether or not we can really know God, what God is, how Tolkien represents the Trinity in his works, and the names we give to God. We go deep into the forest of Tolkien lore in this episode, looking at Tolkien's discussion with C.S. Lewis on Addison's Walk, The Debate of Finrod and Andreth, Leaf by Niggle, and much more! We also talk about whether or not Joe Biden listens to our podcast! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Prolomenagana? Promenalega? Progomanalagomena? However you pronounce that fancy word, it means an introduction to a theological work! In this episode, we begin looking at Dr. Austin Freeman's new book: Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth! We'll be reading this book all throughout Season 5 as we look at J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and much more, and how his religious ideas are reflected through his many writings. We discuss whether or not Tolkien's writings are truly Christian works, the various issues in finding the theological beliefs beneath the writings, the many mistakes others have made in interpreting Tolkien, and more! Be sure to catch every episode as they air every Monday night at 9pm CST so that you can hear us nerd out about Tolkien and go on many, many rants! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this finale to Season 4, we look at what is currently talked about in political thinking. At least, current for 2012, when Alan Ryan's On Politics was published. We discuss why secularization has not taken hold to its projected extent, the threat of nuclear war, and of course, climate change! Join us in a rant-filled finale that covers much of what we have discussed throughout the last 28 weeks and more. We rant about the importance of art and architecture, the necessity for a national mission, and why religion is still so vital today. To get updates on what we'll be talking about in Season 5, follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
"Don't you know how to make widgets!?!?" This question and many more are answered in this episode of Unlimited Opinions as we look at modern theories of democracy! We discuss the differences between ancient and modern democracy, the Social Democracy of John Dewey, the Realistic Democracy of Joseph Schumpeter, the ridiculous ideas of the Students for a Democratic Society, and much more! We also might have broken the record for most tangential rants in one episode, as we rant about Student Government; the necessity of impeachment; diversity, equity, and inclusion training, and so, so, so much more! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
What is the intellectual basis for totalitarian regimes, and why do so many bad ideas come from France? In this episode, we break down some of the most horrible regimes in history: Soviet Russia, Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany. We look at how these powers came to be, why they were so awful, and whether or not we should fear similar totalitarianism in the modern day. Are the days of total control behind us, or are the agents of total control just more hidden today? Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Utopias! Our favorite things to discuss on this podcast! In this episode, we look at various utopian socialist systems, including Robert Owen's millhouse, Charles Fourier's temperament-based society, Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward, and more! What is common between all of these utopias? Well, they're all complete failures! We also talk about whether the modern welfare state is socialist, the issues with socialism overall, and many other rant-based topics! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In a time where all colonization is deemed 100% evil and racist, Alan Ryan gives a very nuanced account of imperialism, and that is where our discussion takes us in this episode! We look at the ancient Roman concept of empire, the various justifications that were given for European imperialism in the 16th and 17th centuries, and more modern anti-imperialist thinkers. We cover such people and topics as Francisco de Vitoria, the Valladolid Debate, Emerich Vattel, Lenin, Frantz Fanon, Sayyad Qutb, and more! You can follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Our elected officials should meet in a swamp in the pouring rain while knee-deep in muck to prevent corruption! Maybe that idea needs some work, but among other rants, we discuss theories of mass society in the twentieth century. At what point does politics just become the masses ruled by the elites? Has this process already occurred, and if so, how did it happen? Is there any hope in bringing back the educated, independent civic-minded individual, or are we all just ruled by a secret elite anyway? All this and more as we discuss Tocqueville's quiet despotism made real, Marxists' reaction to the lack of revolution, and other theories on how the people may lose power. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The incredible urge to have everybody share everything with you, just as Friedrich Engels shared his wealth to keep Marx and his family alive while he refused to work and instead wrote books on the evils of capitalism! In this episode, we look at our absolute favorite thinker, Karl Marx! Surprisingly, we end up defending him quite a bit, particularly by looking at the evils of unregulated capitalism in Marx's time. We explore Marx's philosophy of alienation, exploitation, class struggle, revolution, and the ultimate goal of communism. However, at the end of all of Marx's writings, true socialism and communism still remain an unattainable utopia and nothing more. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The culture war! This topic may have been as familiar to Alexis de Tocqueville in 1830 as it is to us today. What makes for a stable government, and how do the morals and values of the citizens impact the success of a country? This is one of the central questions of Tocqueville's two volume work Democracy in America, and we discuss this work and much more in this episode! Join us as we compare the failure of France's revolutions to America's success, the nature of equality, and how America's people truly govern themselves. We also rant (as always) about whether God has a definite plan for individuals, the need for a national goal, and how federal judges are all just Emperor Palpatine! Follow us on Twitter @UlmtdOpinions, and leave us a review to win a free Unlimited Opinions t-shirt!
Lyndon B Johnson declared war on poverty, and the poor lost! In this episode, we look at the ideas of three major utilitarian thinkers: Jeremy Bentham, his secretary James Stuart Mill, and his son John Stuart Mill. In the midst of learning new degrading terms about American Indians, we look at the principle of utility, the many issues with utilitarianism, and the importance of free speech amidst an oppression of majority opinion. We talk in detail about the issue with today's society in how the only moral standard is to ostracize those who don't agree with the mob-held opinion. This opinion of the mob is of course that there are no moral standards. You can still win a completely free Unlimited Opinions t-shirt! Instructions for entering the giveaway can be found on our Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Can slaves truly be free? How is freedom realized in the modern state? Is the entire continent of Africa completely irrelevant to world history? All these questions and more are answered by Hegel! Join us as we discuss Hegel's theories by examining Alan Ryan's summaries of The Phenomenology of Spirit, The Philosophy of History, and The Philosophy of Right. We talk about how freedom evolves throughout cultures and time, how Stoicism impacted Hegel, and how history advances by acting through certain important figures in time. We also go on a long tangent about whether or not certain cultures' mythologies are intrinsically valuable! You can win a completely free Unlimited Opinions t-shirt! Details can be found on our Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
"We're just gonna own it, and we're gonna start beating people up!" - Mark Bishop, 2022. In this episode, we look at how certain political thinkers responded to the French Revolution, particularly the conservatives Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre, the reformer Thomas Paine, and the proto-socialist Saint-Simon. We discuss how Burke invented the modern idea of revolution and his thoughts on representative government, Joseph de Maistre's will-crushing solution to the French Revolution, the mixed bag that is Thomas Paine, and much more! We also find some great new band names, go on several rants about fascism and drag queens, and end with a much longer episode than we anticipated! Follow us on Twitter, and find details on how to win a free Unlimited Opinions t-shirt! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode, we go on rants galore about the federal government and how things have shaped up in ways that the American founders did not intend! We look at Thomas Jefferson and the writing of the Declaration of Independence, James Madison's authorship of the Constitution and the Federalist Papers, and Alexander Hamilton's ideas that were not enshrined in our government. We especially focus on federalism, how unique and great the American Constitution really is, and how best to face the problems affronting America's future. Follow us on Twitter, and join our t-shirt giveaway! @UlmtdOpinions
Brittney Griner, a deadline on the existence of the Constitution, and whether or not children create language! What do all of those things have in common? Jean-Jacques Rousseau, of course! Join us as we look at Rousseau's interesting (if not a little crazy) theories on the evils of society, education, and the pacts that we make with our governments. We look at his most influential works, particularly the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality among Men, Émile, and the Social Contract. We also go on several rants, particularly on the evils of infanticide and how best to ensure everyone is represented by our Constitution. You can also enter our t-shirt giveaway by leaving us an interesting review! More details on this giveaway can be found on our Twitter @UlmtdOpinions!
These are some authors we really agree with! Join us as we look at the foundational republican thinkers: James Harrington, Algernon Sidney, and Montesquieu. We discuss Harrington's economic-based republicanism of Oceana, with the ability of freeholders to form militias and defend themselves against the government. We also talk about Sidney's aristocracy-based popular republic, and heavily feature Montesquieu's spirit-based approach to politics, which is something that we both agree should be discussed more in the modern day. We break down how these theories could (and should) be applied today, why they are so important, and also why firefighters think too highly of themselves. Also, join our t-shirt giveaway competition by leaving us the most interesting review you can! More details for entry can be found on our Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
John Locke may just be our favorite political theorist yet! Join us as we cover Locke's political theories, including the peaceful state of nature, religious toleration, and the idea of a very limited government. We discuss in detail our natural rights, how moral foundations are important for any society, when one can engage in a revolution, and whether modern liberal democracies are doomed to fail with the loss of belief in God. To commemorate our 100th episode, our 2nd full year of producing this podcast, and the Christmas season, we are also holding a free t-shirt giveaway! We'll be giving a completely free Unlimited Opinions t-shirt to the person who leaves us the most interesting review on any platform where you listen to podcasts! Check us out on Twitter @UlmtdOpinions for more details.
We give consent to those who govern us, but after that, they can kinda just do whatever they want except kill us. At least, according to the 17th century political theorist Thomas Hobbes! In this episode, we break down all of Hobbes' political theories, particularly how his nominalism relates to politics, the role of the sovereign, the state of human nature, and whether he ever answers the question of what one can do against a wicked ruler. We also look at a bad review of our content claiming that we are faux mouthpieces of right wing propaganda, which is clearly untrue, as we really are mouthpieces of right wing propaganda! There's nothing faux about us! We also begin a new t-shirt giveaway for Seasons 3 and 4, so listen to the end of the episode or follow us on Twitter @UlmtdOpinions for more information!
Machiavelli and nuclear bombs! Those are just two of the many topics we cover on this episode of Unlimited Opinions! We break down who Machiavelli was, the political history of Renaissance Florence, and his The Prince and Discourses on Livy. We discuss whether one can be a truly moral politician, the nature of political families, whether one should caress or crush a population, and much more! We also look at how Machiavelli influenced the Boy Scouts! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
As punishment for believing that infants shouldn't be baptized, you should be immediately drowned! At least according to Ulrich Zwingli, that is. In this episode, we look at the Reformation, and how the ideas of Martin Luther, Jean Calvin, and various radicals played into the discussion of church and state in Europe. We discuss the economic roots of the Reformation, how the various wars and uprisings were furthered by theological issues but perhaps not caused by them, and some of the more unfortunate aspects of this period in time, including the very bloody wars. We also get into a rant about whether the Counter-Reformation should really by called a Catholic Reformation! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Our plans for the immediate future are to write 901 theses on every topic imaginable, with many of them focusing on how much utopias suck and how bad tattoos will look in the future! Along with this, we discuss humanism in the fifteenth century, looking at how various thinkers valued education and classical literature in order to argue for peace and the importance of the common person. We discuss one of the first feminist authors, Christine de Pizan, the somewhat crazy Pico della Mirandola, the great thinkers Erasmus and Sir Thomas More, and conclude with Montaigne. Humanism brings up many great questions, such as the importance of pacifism, how we can bring together all forms of knowledge to find the truth, and monarchy being the best form of government. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
"The Catholic Church hierarchy is corrupt." - Dante, Marsilius of Padua, and Mark & Adam Bishop. In this episode, we look at the thoughts of three major figures in the fourteenth century: Dante Alighieri, Marsilius of Padua, and Bartolus of Sassoferrato. The biggest political issue in the fourteenth century was the administrative functioning of the Western Catholic Church. This time saw a period of no pope at all, a pope who resigned, and three popes at the same time! Needless to say, Rome was a chaotic mess, and so each of these thinkers devised solutions, whether that be a universal monarchy, a "temperate" government, or conciliarism. Join us as we break down the issues with the Church both then and today, and look at the various political theories described by these fourteenth century thinkers. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
A half-hour long rant on the role of morals in the government! What else could you ask for from an episode of Unlimited Opinions? Join us as we continue in the Middle Ages, looking at how Aquinas ingeniously combined the pagan philosophy of Aristotle with the increasingly complex faith of Christianity. We talk about the rise of universities in Europe, the question of how divine law interacts with human law, the virtues of the state, and above all else, how morality fits into the government, and how we believe the government should work to encourage moral behavior. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
We are now the People's Podcast, producing the REAL People's Paper! In this episode, aside from our lengthy rants about communism on college campuses, we focus on the wide time period between the writings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. We look primarily at the political role of the church in medieval Western Europe, looking at the relations between church and state, the origin of private property, the issues of lay investiture, and much more! If for nothing else, at least join us to listen to our phenomenal ideas on how best to make fun of college communists! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
St. Paul's letters: a good addition to the Bible or more of an optional editorial? In St. Augustine's eyes, absolutely essential! Join us as we discuss everything there is to know about St. Augustine's political theory. We start with the problem of evil and St. Augustine's temporary solution in Manichaenism, his conversion to Christianity, and the writing of The City of God, which explains why Rome's fall was not the fault of the Christians, theories on punishment, the death penalty, just war, and more! This is the longest episode we have ever recorded, so it is jam packed with rants, opinions, and all the political discussion you could possibly ask for! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Away from the idealized theories of the Greeks and into the practical wisdom of the Romans! In this episode, we look at two of Rome's most influential authors: Polybius and Cicero. Through Polybius' historical accounts and Cicero's assorted works, we are able to look at the structure of the Roman Republic and how it differed from all previous forms of government. We discuss the idea of the mixed constitution, the very effective citizenship system, and what ultimately led to Rome's downfall. We also provide the good rule of thumb that it is probably not a good idea to be on the side of the political party that is in favor of killing nuns. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Mark has a change of ideals and has become a Marxist! Join us as we look at Aristotle's political thought in The Politics, as we look at the teleology of politics. What is the goal of the government, how should we examine the world around us, how do economics affect political stability, and what is the ideal state? We also realize that a random lottery is the best way to pick our political leaders and go on several rants, especially about San Francisco! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Everyone's favorite philosopher who gives no specifics on how to achieve his utopia: Karl Marx! And Plato, too! In this episode, we look at two of Plato's political (or antipolitical) dialogues: Gorgias and Republic. We look at the varying definitions of justice, whether it's just to act according to your power, and how Plato's ideal society was structured. We look at all this with a critical eye, but we do appreciate many of the opinions on justice and the faults with lying politicians. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The failures of radical democracy! In this episode, we look at Chapter 1 of Alan Ryan's On Politics, beginning with the emergence and rule of Athenian radical democracy. We look at the origins of the Greek city-state, the functioning of the Athenian Assembly, the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, the Trial of Socrates, and more! We also break down why the Athenian democracy ultimately failed and why it might not be the best idea to praise radical democracy as a great political system. We're also planning a future giveaway, so be sure to follow us on Twitter @UlmtdOpinions for more upcoming details!
This is the start to potentially the most rant-filled season of all time! For Season 4, we are reading Alan Ryan's On Politics, a book discussing the history of political theory from Herodotus to the modern day. In this episode, we discuss the introduction as well as give an introduction for this season as a whole. We discuss the Athenian and Roman degrees of citizenship, how to think about politics, why it's not a good idea to have direct democracy, and much more! We also have the first of many long rants about the direct election of U.S. senators! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The finale to Season 3! We discuss Joseph Campbell's philosophies on God, metaphysics, and ethics, which are all framed in the idea that all people are of the same energy. Join us as we break down whether or not you and the other are truly one, why we have so many different images of God, what it means to live an ethical life, and much, much more! Stay tuned to the end to hear our very real and definitely not a terrible idea for a podcast under the acronym D, D, and D! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Listeners beware: skip to 11:40 to avoid a very lovely rant! In this episode, we discuss Joseph Campbell's views on love and meaningful relationships. Campbell takes a slight break from mythology and really dives into his philosophies on love, including how the 12th century troubadors transformed the nature of love, the necessity of compassion, and why relationships based on please do not work. We discuss our own thoughts on love as well many other related topics, as well as some topics that are not so related. We are looking for suggestions on what book to cover for Season 4, so be sure to tweet suggestions at @UltmdOpinions!
Listen to the worst mythological joke of all time in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! Join us as we discuss Joseph Campbell's thoughts on the development of the goddess in myths and how this relates to masculine and feminine characteristics, as well as society as a whole. We discuss our own thoughts on gender roles, the importance of a mother and a father, and much more! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
What makes a hero a hero? In this episode, we look at Joseph Campbell's theory of the Hero's Journey as he discusses it with the journalist Bill Moyers. We look at what the Hero's Journey entails, why life is full of suffering, and how one becomes a hero in their own life. We also discuss theology, the ego, and J.R.R. Tolkien's thoughts on life and death. As always, there are rants and tangents galore! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? What is the moral way to live your live? Who would order peas at a restaurant? These are the critical questions we are asking in this episode as we break down Joseph Campbell's thoughts on how spirituality should be practiced in your life. We discuss the importance of taking a break from the outside world, the idea of sacrifice, the issues with just listening to your heart in making moral decisions, and much more. We also give our opinions on the Thor movies along with many other tangents! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
What began humanity's mythological stories? Death or something else? In this episode, we break down the third chapter of The Power of Myth, discussing Joseph Campbell's theories on how myths began, amongst other concepts, including whether or not humans make beautiful things instinctually and how the self relates to society. As may be expected, we disagree with Campbell in some aspects but admire his insights in others! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Is this the first chapter that Adam does not particularly like? In this episode, we look at much of Joseph Campbell's personal philosophies and largely disagree with them. We discuss how humans now are the same as 30,000 years ago, how dreams and myths relate, transcendence, the use of allegory, and much more. We also return to our season-spanning debate over whether or not God is omniscient about the future! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
"I'm fed up! I'm about to start caring!" - Mark Bishop, 2022. What issues prompted this radical turn to caring? Find out in this episode as we discuss the first chapter of The Power of Myth: "Myth and the Modern World." We discuss the importance to studying mythology, the experience of being alive, generalists vs. specialists, whether or not we should return to old beliefs, and much more. Throughout this episode, we connect the beliefs of Joseph Campbell to the various social issues in the world today, so be prepared for an abundance of semi-political rants! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Welcome to Season 3 of Unlimited Opinions! In this episode, we look at journalist Bill Moyers' introduction to The Power of Myth, a text edition of the conversations held between Moyers and mythologist Joseph Campbell. We look at many of the big topics that are to come in the rest of the book, including why mythology is relevant today, the use of rituals in our daily lives, the Hero's Journey, the universality of mythology, and much, much more! We delve into the political side of things as well, including the state of the media today and how important it is to just keep learning. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this finale for Season 2 of Unlimited Opinions, we look at Scottish legends for children and stories of Fionn mac Cumhaill. We discuss the Ainsel, the story of Ossian and the Crow, the legend of how Fionn got his sword Mac an Luinne, and much more! We also talk about the importance of mythology overall and why it's important today, and how this relates to the book that we will be covering for Season 3! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Porridge: the cure-all food of Scotland, apparently! In this episode, we look at Scottish stories about ghosts, tales of how things came to be, and fables instructing you how to live your life. We discuss the Fiddler of Gord, Dubh u'Giubhais, Luran, the Three Questions of King James, and much more! We also somehow end up on many tangents, including one comparing the complexities of World War II and the American Civil War! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode, Mark begins his descent into becoming a cartoon supervillain! Amidst many tangents and asides, we discuss the rather cheerful stories of Scottish fairies and sea-folk. We look at the legend of the Selkie, several stories about Changelings (including the story of Wee Johnnie in the Cradle), and the tale of how you should always accept mysterious buttermilk! We look at many of the morals and underlying symbolisms of these Scottish tales, and how they relate to us today. Follow us (and recommend us books for Season 3) on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The beginning of Scottish mythology! In this episode, we cover various tales of witchcraft, including the legend of the brownie, the three knots, the daughter of Duart, and the cauldron. We also discuss what distinguishes Scottish mythology from other Celtic traditions in its role in primarily oral storytelling. As is par for the course, we ramble in various tangents, some of which aren't connected to the stories at all, including discussions on H.P. Lovecraft and Harry Potter! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this epic conclusion to Norse mythology, we cover the entire story of Ragnarok, the Norse end of the world. We tell the whole story, from Balder's death to Loki's punishment, and the battle itself on the field of Vigrid, and the renewed world. We also discuss the dichotomies represented by each of the gods and their enemies, and discuss our thoughts on Norse mythology as a whole. As always, there are many tangents, including a discussion on cynicism, a comparison of the punishments of Prometheus and Loki, Revelations, and how many pencils are on a certain endtable. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Tangents, many connections to other writings, and rants! The quintessential Unlimited Opinions episode! We look at Freyja and Odur's love story, the tale of how Tyr lost his hand, the passing of the dwarfs, and much more! In this episode, Tolkien references abound and off-topic conversations run rampant. We're also looking for suggestions for a book to follow along with in the next season, so make sure to tweet any suggestions to us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Thor: hero of Norse mythology or kinda just a jerk? In this episode, we look at various legends of Thor's exploits in the Norse myths, including how Thor's hammer was made and later stolen, his fishing adventure, and the page-turner that is the story of Thor's journey to the hall of Utgard-loki. As always, this episode is full of tangents and other discussions, including our thoughts on if the giants are really just misunderstood. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode packed full of information about the Norse myths, we cover some of the most famous stories of Norse mythology! We look at the halls of Asgard, Heimdall's visits to Midgard, several of Loki's trickster stories, the tales of the Norns, Idunn's apples of immortality, and a very abridged version of the Sigurd Saga. We also narrowly avoid several rants, talk extensively about J.R.R. Tolkien, and share the important themes behind many of these stories. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Mark's Manifesto, an undocumented Berber language, and the plot of John Wick: our favorite trinity in Norse mythology! In this episode, we break down the Norse creation myths, including the creation of Ymir in Ginnungagap, the shaping of the earth by Odin, Vili, and Ve, the chariots of Nott and Dag, the first humans, and the founding of Asgard in Yggdrasil. We also talk about the phases that Norse mythology has gone through, J.R.R. Tolkien's inspiration from these tales, and our major takeaways from these Norse creation myths!
Don't we all just wish that we had a Cone of Buffalo Protection? It would definitely make my trips to Yellowstone a lot less hazardous. In this episode, we discuss legends from various Native American peoples, including how the sun was ensnared, how the Pawnee are able to hunt buffalo, and the Seminole account of the origin of the three races. We also look at the legend of Osseo, the Son of Evening Star, the escapades of White Feather and the Six Giants, the tale of the broken promise, and much more. Listen on to hear discussions of linguistic color theory, the various tropes of Native American mythology, and many, many surly remarks! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
If someone rejects you, it might just be a little overboard to make a sentient snowman to lead them to their doom. But what do I know, I'm no judge! On this episode, we look at Algonquian myths and legends, including the tale of Michabo and his role in the creation of the world, the journey to the Land of Souls, Moowis the Snow-husband, and the legend of Scar-face. We discuss comparative mythology, the various morals found in these stories, the agricultural revolution and much more! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Rants, rants, and more Mark Bishop rants! In this episode, we begin looking at Native American mythology, starting with the Iroquois people. We talk about the creation myth of how Atahensic created the Good Mind and the Bad Mind, the origin of medicine, the legend of Hiawatha, the story of the stone giant Ganusquah, the mysterious tale of Great Head and the 10 Brothers, and Sayadio's sad attempt to bring his little sister back to life. We also talk about 60s music and give perhaps the worst plot synopsis of Inception! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
What does your mind jump to when learning about various important tales from India? If your answer is the soundtrack to the 1978 movie Convoy, you might be Mark Bishop! In this last episode focusing on Indian mythology, we look at various important tales from India, such as the Birth of Ganga, in which King Sagara's 60,000 sons are turned to ash and his great-grandson Bhagirath prays for Ganga to come down from heaven and create the seven sacred streams of India. We also discuss the moralistic tales of The Elephant and the Crocodile and the King, Pigeon, and the Hawk. We also see yet another example of a beautiful woman bathing in a stream in the story of the Ashvin Twins, and we break down their attempt to join the pantheon of gods by convincing a woman to leave her elderly husband. As always, our stories are filled with consistent interruptions and tangents about semi-related topics! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Back in person and with more rambling than ever! On this episode, we look at some legends about the Hindu god Shiva, and his role as destroyer in the triumvirate of Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. We look at Shiva's birth, his wedding to Sati, and his dance of change. We also talk about the nature of destruction and preservation, the importance of a spouse, and a whole lot of off-topic nonsense! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Was the Empire in Star Wars on the right side? - and other topics that can be vaguely related to the Mahabharata, the longest epic poem ever written! On this episode, we break down some summaries of the stories of the origin of Arjuna, the warrior prince of the Pandavas. We look at how the Pandavas met their mentor Drona, how Arjuna and his rival Karna came to fight, and how Arjuna won the hand of Draupadi in marriage. We also discuss Jungian archetypes, the role of the caste system, and the morality of Indian mythology. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Reincarnation: a wise philosophy or nonsense? We attempt to answer that question and more as we look at some legends about Buddha. We look at Guatama Buddha's conversion, life, and death, the story of how Sumedha became a disciple of Buddha, and the tale of the six-tusked elephant. We also look at the nature of desire as the root of all evil, the popularity of Buddhism, and how Buddhism relates to other religions! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Krishna's major accomplishments: battling a monstrous snake, lifting an entire mountain with the tip of his finger, and...stealing clothes? In this episode, we continue our look at Indian mythology, covering the legends of Krishna's early life, from his birth and prophesy to defeat Kansa, his mischievous and powerful adventures as a boy, his battle with Kaliya, and his love of Radha. We also talk about the nature of love and loyalty, and how Krishna, Rama, and other heroes that we've covered so far follow the Hero's Journey!
In this episode, we look at tales from the Ramayana, one of the epic Hindu poems. It tells the story of Rama and his brothers Bharata, Lakshman, Sutrughna, all embodiments of the great god Vishnu. We look at Rama's youth and exile, and how he rescued his wife Sita from the terrible evil of the rakshasa Ravana. We break down the morality tales and lessons that each episode of Rama's story gives to us, and how this first section of Indian mythology relates to other world mythologies. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Join us for a discussion of some of the most famous Greek myths, such as Eros and Psyche, Persephone and Hades, Orpheus and Eurydice, Echo and Narcissus, Perseus, Daedalus, and Icarus. We talk about how love and the mind work together, how myths develop from the values that a culture holds, and how power leads to corruption. Also included is a world-famous Mark Bishop Rant!
You know you're a good king when you have a giant bronze jar made specifically to hide in out of your own fear and cowardice! At least, that seemed to work for King Eurystheus as he sent Heracles out on his twelve famous labors. In this episode, we look at all twelve labors, including the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Cretan Bull, the capture of Cerberus, and all nine others! We also discuss the bare minimum requirements to be a good hero.
Join us in this episode of Unlimited Opinions as we look at the real Avengers of the Ancient Greeks: Jason and the Argonauts. We discuss every part of the journey, from how the quest to capture the Golden Fleece was begun, the members of the Argonauts, the trials they faced along the journey, and how Medea is just absolutely terrifying. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
We now come to the conclusion of Odysseus' story as he makes it back to his home of Ithaca. However, he still has many trials to face, as we discuss in this episode! Join us as we look at the reunion of Odysseus and Telemachus, Penelope's plan to keep the suitors away, the battle in Odysseus' palace, and much more! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode, we break down Odysseus' famous journey to Ithaca from Troy. Every scene in this story is famous, from the Lotus-Eaters to the Cyclopes. from the sorceress Circe to the House of Hades, and from the Sirens to the Flock of Helius. Join us as we look at all of these famous adventures and discuss what to admire in Odysseus and what you should definitely not admire! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The Trojan War: just an Ancient Greek Avengers? Join us as we look at the stories surrounding the city of Troy, including the judgement of Paris, all the events leading up to the Trojan War, and the war itself, which is really a lot of miniature battles in one big battle. We also talk about the Latin language, the nature of warfare, and how the Siege of Gondor relates to the Trojan War. We also have a new t-shirt giveaway for Season 2! Listen to the end for info on how to tweet @UlmtdOpinions to win a free t-shirt!
If I had a nickel for every story in this episode that featured a man stealing clothes from a woman and forcing her to marry him, I'd have two nickels! Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. In this last episode focusing on Chinese mythology, we look at an assortment tales, including the story of how the silkworm came to be, the Crane Maiden, the Wooden Bridge Inn, the Dragon King's Daughter, and my personal favorite, How Monkey Became Immortal. Next episode: Classical Greek mythology! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
If you listen to a prerecorded form of entertainment, are you then engaging in a live performance? Of course not, right? Apparently that is up for debate in this episode as we look at various Chinese gods that are important to the connection between the mortal and immortal worlds. We look at the kitchen god who reports families' behavior to the Supreme Being of the Heavens, the door gods who protect from unwanted visitors, the bureaucracy of the elements (particularly Lei Kung, the Duke of Thunder), the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kuan Yin, and the Eight Immortals of Taoism, who each represent a unique aspect of life. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Chang E: worst wife ever? This episode is rife with unfortunate relationships, including the terrible parenting of Dijun and Xihe, the atrocious mother of Hou Ji, and the sad tale of Nu Jiao and the dragon Yü. Join us as we look at how Yi hunted down the ten suns and various other monsters, the story of how Chang E is the worst and now rightfully lives on the moon alone, how Hou Ji survived a multitude of attempted murders, how Tiandi just wanted to wipe out humanity, and how Gun and Yü subsequently saved everyone. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
In this episode we look at two stories of giants in early Chinese mythology, and talk about how the word 'giant' is not to be confused with 'jötunn,' even though the words are clearly related! We talk about Xing Tian's battle with the Yellow Emperor, which could have been a much funnier story if it was played like the scene in the hit animated movie Robots. We also discuss how Kua Fu chased the sun, and the many ways his plan could have been improved. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Every fall, we'll talk about Chiyou and absolutely nobody but us will have any idea what we're talking about but us! Join us in this episode as we look at the Chinese Tales of the Five Emperors, including how Huang Ti became the Yellow Emperor and founded his palace, how the Red Emperor helped humanity in just about every way possible, and how Chiyou challenged the Yellow Emperor and humanity and the gods were separated. We also spend a very long time discussing linguistic color theory and old movies, of course!
What was the result of the War Between the Gods of Fire and Water? Steam, of course! This and more non-jokes are in this episode of Unlimited Opinions as we cover Chinese Creation Myths. We look at Pan Gu and how his body became the world, how Nü Wa created humanity, and the actual result of the War Between the Gods of Fire and Water, which was more than just a little steam. We also make connections to the Old Testament, modern-day thinkers, and Tolkien's types of Evil! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Adam Franklin Francis Finn mac Cumaill Bishop. That has a nice ring to it! Well, it's easier to pronounce than some of these other Celtic names. In this episode, we look at the last section of Celtic mythology: the Fenian Cycle, especially the stories of Finn mac Cumaill. We look at Finn's birth and how he became leader of the Fianna, how he pursued Diarmuid and Gráinne in his old age, and how his son Oisín travelled to the Land of Youth. All this is mixed in with various rants, side topics, and references to samurai for some reason. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Our favorite Celtic hero? Well, it's that kooky guy, of course! Join us for this and more mispronunciations of Celtic names as we continue to dive into Celtic mythology. This time, we look at stories of Cuchulainn, from the birth of the famous hero , to how he earned his name, and the tragedies of his son Connla and his friend Ferdia. We also look at the significance of pride and how one can make rash decisions due to mockery, as well as discussing the significance of Fairy and the unknown. Also, why is Medb spelled like that?
Misery! Never-ending misery! Join us as we look at impossible tasks, thousand-year punishments, bloody battles, and more fun stuff in Celtic mythology. We look at three major stories of the Invasion Cycle: The Quest of the Children of Tuirenn, The Tragedy of the Children of Lir, and the Wooing of Etain. We discuss the impossible tasks that Lugh of the Long Arm gives to Brian, Iucharba, and Iuchar to atone for killing his father Cian, the evil stepmother Aoife and how she turns her stepchildren into swans for nearly one thousand years, and how the beautiful Etain jumped from husband to husband after being transformed into a butterfly. Naturally, we also look at how Celtic myths relate to J.R.R. Tolkien and his invented mythology.
Who in the world feeds flies? Apparently Sadaka, the hero of the Swahili story of the Three Tests! In this episode of Unlimited Opinions, we cover more than just fly-feeding as we look at African parables and how we can apply the morals of these stories to our lives today. We discuss the story of Walukaga the blacksmith and his order to be build an iron man, the hauntingly cyclical Mbundu story of the Young Man and the Skull, the amazing story of the Feast from Cameroon, the Tom and Jerry-esque story of the two rogues from Kano and Katsina, and many more. Follow us on Twitter for updates on when the next episodes will be released! @UlmtdOpinions
What do Terminator 2 and Roadhouse have in common? African Animal Fables, apparently. In this episode, we look at tales about animals from all over Sub-Saharan Africa, including how Anansi became a story-telling spider, the slow-moving Tortoise's often devious tales, Gihilihili the Snake-Man, and many more! Join us in looking at these varied tales as we discuss their morals and how they can be applied to today's world. We also take the time to mock California as well.
Unlimited Opinions is back! In Season 2, we're reading Myths & Legends, a compendium of world mythologies edited by Jake Jackson. In this episode we look at Sub-Saharan African myths of Creation, especially the Yoruba stories of Olorun, Olokun, Obatala, and how they created the world and humanity. We also look at various stories of Death, including the Krache story of the giant Owuo and his ever-blinking eye. We also discuss how darkness was unleashed according to the Kono, the Dahomean pantheon, and the Kakiru story of Wanjiru. Join us as we look at the modern-day relevance of ancient myths and what we can learn about them in the first episode of Season 2 of Unlimited Opinions! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Join Mark and Adam for the heartfelt conclusion to Season 1 of Unlimited Opinions, in which they discuss modern philosophers' opinions on God! They discuss the various ideas that God is not real, from Ludwig Feuerbach's belief that God is just a projection of the human mind, Marx's "opium of the masses," and Nietzsche's famous "God is dead." They also look at the opposite beliefs, with Kierkegaard's opinion that religion is the summit of human progress, Cardinal Newman's religious ideals, and Wittgenstein's belief that only faith can give meaning to life. They are also open to suggestions for what the next season should center around, and would welcome any suggestions on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Wow, there sure are a lot of bad political philosophies. Join Mark and Adam as they discuss the various political ideas of modern philosophers, including the horrors of utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill's classical liberalism, Schopenhauer's hatred of women, the nonsense of Marx's never-defined communism, and John Rawls' guide to making a perfect society. They also discuss their opinions on how society should function, seeing as Mark and Adam are truly the most qualified to discuss the topic. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
What is beauty, really? Well, Mark and Adam might not have an answer for that, but they sure know what beauty isn't! In this episode, they look at the philosophy of aesthetics in the Modern Era, discussing the beautiful and the sublime of Hume, Kant, and Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard's opinions of music, and Nietzsche's insane ramblings about the origins of music, epics, tragedy, and novels. They also look at how art relates to morality and one's mental health and how your aesthetic surroundings can impact yourself deeply.
Man, utilitarianism sure does suck. This and other groundbreaking ideas are discussed in this episode of Unlimited Opinions as Mark and Adam discuss ethics in the Modern Era of philosophy. They point out the flaws in Bentham's utilitarianism, discuss the strangeness of Schopenhauer's ethical will, and laugh at the absurdity of everything that is Nietzsche. They also discuss major plans for earning a PhD in someone else's name! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Nights at White Castle....The one on Big Bend... In this episode, Mark and Adam discuss the amazing KSHE 95 hit song Nights at White Castle, along with the philosophy of mind in the Modern Era. They look at Bentham's intentions and motives in relation to criminal law, Schopenhauer's will, Freud's psychology, and a whole lot of Wittgenstein. There is also a lengthy discussion of Tolkien's eagles in The Lord of the Rings, so stay tuned for that riveting conversation. Be sure to check out KSHE 95's hilarious song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYHnpFuEG0
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Mark and Adam are here to talk about metaphysics, but man, are they angry about it! In this episode, they break down the various approaches to metaphysics in the Modern Era, from Schopenhauer's Idealism, the concept of teleology, to Peirce's triadic system. Even though they are not as entertained by metaphysics as they are by many other topics, they will discuss it all the same! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
The best epistemology chapter yet! In this episode, Mark and Adam heavily agree with a lot of what is being said about the philosophical approaches to knowledge in the Modern Era. John Henry Newman and Ludwig Wittgenstein are highlights with their respective opinions on the role of reason and the grounds for doubt. They also break down Peirce's scientific method, Frege's beliefs on logic, and Bertrand Russell's knowledge by acquaintance and description. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Adam's favorite topic: language! In this episode, Mark and Adam break down the various philosophical opinions on language in the Early Modern Era of philosophy. They discuss Frege's sense and reference, Russell's theory of description, an Wittgenstein's picture theory, language-games, and private language. Well, they discuss these topics for about half the episode. The second half is all about the use of language in our current political climate and how important it is to keep language open and to always do your research.
On this episode, Adam is...well, kinda bored actually. Mark and Adam break down the approaches to logic of various philosophers in the Modern Era of philosophy. They look at the empiricist logic of Mill, Frege's refoundation of logic, the inductive reasoning of Peirce, and the saga of the Principia Mathematica, all while discussing the absolute importance of being able to use logical reasoning. Stay tuned after the outro to listen to an overly long argument about whether or not we are same sides of a different coin! Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Phenomenology: a branch of philosophy or a song famously covered by the Muppets? Find out on this episode of Unlimited Opinions! This time, Mark and Adam look at the last summaries of philosophers in the Modern Era of philosophy from Freud to Derrida. They discuss Freud's psychoanalysis, Husserl's phenomenology, the existentialism of Heidegger and Sartre, and the potentially complete satire of Derrida. They also talk and/or rant about how some people are just bad, how we limit our free will, and how it would be much easier to be a comedian if you are funny.
How many people in our lives are really fully-fledged people to us and not just NPCs? How do we wrap our minds around the fact that everyone is their own individual person? All this and more probably will not be answered in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! Mark and Adam look at more philosophers in the Modern Era of philosophy, including Frege's birth of analytical philosophy, British Idealism, and Wittgenstein's various philosophical beliefs. Language is discussed heavily, and Mark and Adam describe its importance in every aspect of human life. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Mark and Adam are moving into the Modern Era of philosophy! In this episode, they cover philosophical ideas such as Bentham's utilitarianism, Schopenhauer's philosophy of the will, Karl Marx's communism, Nietzsche's denunciation of Christian values, and many more in between. They break down the evils of pure utilitarian majority rule, the fallacies of acting purely on faith, and the complete failure of communism and socialism. They also go on a long tangent about comedy and Mark's dreams of being a comedian. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
After a brief hiatus, Unlimited Opinions is back! In this episode, Mark and Adam discuss the Early Modern philosophical beliefs about God. They break down Molina's opinions on omniscience and freedom, Pascal's safe bet, Hume's disregard for miracles, and much more. The long-lasting debate on God's omniscience continues strong on this episode, and the two talk about their experience actually eating spumoni ice cream. They also talk for an oddly long time about carnivals and carnies for some reason. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
What are the qualities of a righteous government? Is it complete governance by the people? Complete authority from the government? A mix of both? In this episode, Mark and Adam look at the answers to these questions provided by philosophers from the Early Modern era. They delve into Machiavelli's practical, yet cynical and brutal approach to how to lead a group of people. They look at the complete impracticality of a Utopian society and discuss the supremely influential ideals of John Locke. Also influential but destructive are the beliefs of Rousseau and Hegel, who herald the abilities of the majority or the state to always determine what is best. All these philosophers and more (including various political rants) are discussed in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! Follow as on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
How is casuistry pronounced? Cause-istry? Kazoo-istry? It probably would've been very easy to Google before recording, but who need professionalism anyway? In this episode, Mark and Adam look at the Early Modern Ethical systems. Should morality be looked at on a purely case-by-case basis as the casuists suggest, or does every action need to be universally moral as Kant says? Or is it best to have a blend of the two like in Hegel's Synthesis? Download and listen to the podcast to find out! Follow us on Twitter for updates on when the next episodes are published! @UlmtdOpinions
This isn't a podcast episode! This is just your collection of ideas about a podcast episode! You can't perceive us, no matter how hard you try! On this episode of Unlimited Opinions, Mark and Adam look at the Early Modern perspectives on mind and soul. They look at whether or not souls exist, how they relate to our bodies, and what exactly our identity is. They cover philosophers like Descartes, John Locke, Berkeley, Spinoza, and many more! Follow us on Twitter to get updates on when the next episode is live! @UlmtdOpinions
What is everything? Do things exist? Does God take an active role in our lives? What causes things to happen? Mark and Adam probably don't know, but they're going to talk about these questions all the same! In this episode, they break down the Early Modern approaches to metaphysics, from the Eternal Truths of Descartes to Berkeley's Idealism to Hume's ideas on Causation. There is also a lengthy discussion on whether or not God takes an active role in our lives, and countless other side stories and rants, as is to be expected! Follow us on Twitter to get updates on when the newest episodes are released and for a chance to win a free t-shirt! @UlmtdOpinions
Who wanted to hear about Roadhouse again? Probably nobody, but there's another reference to it all the same! In this episode, Mark and Adam break down the Early Modern philosophical approach to Physics, covering philosophers and scientists such as Descartes, Galileo, and Isaac Newton. From Cartesian mechanistic physics to the revival of atomism and the Universal Law of Gravitation, the progress of science is discussed in determining what the natural world is. Also, Mark flagrantly insults the Lord of the Rings, and a question is posed: Is knowledge really knowledge if what you know is wrong?
What can we know? How much can we know? Who cares? All these questions and more are answered in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! Mark and Adam break down the various Early Modern philosophical perspectives on what we can and cannot know. Adam's least favorite philosophy, scepticism, rears its ugly head in full force, and the pair looks at realism, idealism, empiricism, nominalism, and the various other approaches to knowledge. Follow us on Twitter! @UlmtdOpinions
Adam is compared to a French revolutionary and Mark gets very upset! Also, the pair breaks down the third and final section of background of Early Modern philosophers, from David Hume to Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. They discuss the flaws in empiricism, the value of theology, and the overcomplication and categorization of many of the philosophers. There are also a couple Tolkien references and a brief discussion on the importance of mythology and other old things!
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We can't prove if anything exists or not, and that's either really scary or does not matter at all! On this episode of Unlimited Opinions, Mark and Adam break down more of the Early Modern Philosophers from Descartes to Berkeley, as the name would suggest. They discuss Descartes' massive influence on all of modern philosophy, John Locke's brilliant political ideas, Baruch Spinoza's examination of Scripture, and George Berkeley's perception of non-existence.
Also, please forgive the two moments in the podcast where the audio drops out! We would fix it, but we truthfully have very little idea how to work recording equipment, as is probably evident by this point.
"Prolix and tedious." "An unnecessary tragedy." "Scholars were impatient of it, regarding its terminology as barbarous, and its complexities as pettifogging." No, those are not reviews of the podcast, but descriptions of sections of Sixteenth-Century Philosophy! Join Mark and Adam as they discuss a brief overview of the major shifts in philosophy in the 16th century. They discuss the new humanist approach and the diminishment of logic and Aristotle, and primarily focus on the split in Christendom in the Protestant Reformation. New discussions of free will and papal authority emerge, and Mark and Adam discuss major current issues with religion. Also, Anthony Kenny himself makes a Tolkien reference and new band names abound!
Outside of time? Inside of time? Beyond time? Who understands when God truly is? Not Mark and Adam, that's for sure! Nevertheless, they tackle medieval opinions on the existence and qualities of God in the nineteenth episode of Unlimited Opinions. From the well-known philosophers of Augustine, Aquinas, and Ockham to the lesser-known opinions of Eriugena, Peter Damiani, and Lorenzo Valla, Mark and Adam break down the medieval history of philosophical opinions on God. There are also several J.R.R. Tolkien and movie references, as is to be expected!
In this episode, Mark and Adam hit some heavy topics. They move through the medieval ethics of St. Augustine, Abelard, St. Thomas Aquinas, duns Scotus, and William Ockham, while discussing pressing topical issues. The episode is ended with an expletive-ridden rant against God's orders to Abraham, so make sure to listen through to the end!
"Pain don't hurt!" Interspersed between Roadhouse references, Mark and Adam discuss medieval beliefs on mind, soul, intellect, and free will. They highlight philosophers such as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Avicenna, and Ockham. They also invent a new superhero, Agent Intellect, point out the flaws in Bucky Barnes' Hobbit reference, and discuss the Borg!
In this episode, Mark and Adam discuss what a horse actually is and other important questions. Their discussion about medieval metaphysics leads to many interesting places, such as St. Thomas Aquinas and Avicenna, potentiality and actuality, essence and existence, and a particularly awful childhood limerick.
Countless stupid asides! From the X-Men and college stories to The Young Ones and Gozer the Destructor, Mark and Adam bring up an unnecessary amount of ridiculous side tangents. In between the tangents, they discuss Medieval Physics surrounding time, infinity, and space! Notable philosophers discussed in this episode are St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Philoponus, and Henry the Dumb.
In this episode, Adam explains philosophical concepts about how we come to possess knowledge and how intellect differs from faith. Much is explained about the differences between Augustine's, Aquinas', and Duns Scotus' views on our acquisition of knowledge and reason. Mark responds with "yes." Frequently. He also discusses his college experiences and divulges helpful information on how to get an A in philosophy classes. Also, there will be a t-shirt giveaway every week to the most creative or thought-provoking tweet at our Twitter, @UlmtdOpinions!
In this episode, Mark and Adam discuss medieval takes on language and its relation to logic. While Mark would rather talk about dinosaurs, his hatred for Caillou, or riddling ogres, Adam breaks down the very many details regarding the function of language in the medieval period. They also finally figure out the practical use for philosophy! Follow us on Twitter @UlmtdOpinions!
Follow us on Twitter @UlmtdOpinions! In this episode, Mark and Adam tackle the massive second half of Medieval Philosophy. They look at the many schoolmen of Paris and Oxford, from Robert Grosseteste and St. Thomas Aquinas to William Ockham and John Wyclif. They also discuss their opinions on Catholic school teaching and their disapproval of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church as it stands today.
Adam and Mark move on to medieval philosophy! Beginning with the second half of St. Augustine's life, through Boethius and the great early Muslim and Jewish philosophers, all the way to Maimonides, the duo breaks down the doings of many of the great medieval philosophers. Scattered amongst the discussion are several Star Trek references and discussions of Latin classes.
Polytheism, monotheism, and trinities, oh my! In this episode, Mark and Adam look at the evolution of Ancient theology as philosophers move away from the polytheism of the Greeks and head into belief in monotheistic prime movers. They also talk for an excessive amount of time about whether or not you can really think about thinking, or if you are really just thinking about nothing when you are only thinking abut thinking thoughts. They also notice a distinct trend towards the basis of Christian beliefs among the ancient philosophers as they wrap up the beginning section of Ancient Philosophy. Next week: Medieval Philosophy!
Mark and Adam continue with Chapter 8 of Anthony Kenny's History of Western Philosophy, which is all about ancient ethics. From the first moralist Democritus to Aristotle to the Stoics, all kinds of different ethical views are discussed. Mark discusses his favorites of Democritus' aphorisms (with Adam throwing in some Norse wisdom), and a discussion of sin and the ultimate goal of life begins and is to be continued next episode. Also, Adam hates the Sceptics.
Mark is convinced of Adam's beliefs on God's knowledge and humanity's free will! Well, part of it, anyway. And Adam doesn't convince him. St. Augustine does. But it's still a victory! In this episode, Ancient ideas on Soul and Mind are broken down, from Pythagoras to Plato to St. Augustine. The soul's immortality and human free will are also major topics, as well as a story of Mark being chased by a dog and being laughed at by a group of people.
Mark and Adam discuss different ancient views on metaphysics, from Parmenides to Plato to the Stoics. Metaphysics, or the study of Being, can be clouded in definitions, but it provides a helpful framework for what a being is. Adam also finally finds a chance to reference 60s music, and, as always, mentions his hatred for the Sceptics.
The God discussion continues! In this episode, Mark and Adam look at Aristotle's views on Physics and the Stoic look at causality and determinism. The ongoing discussion of fatalism and infinite knowledge continues in full swing, now framed with more ancient philosophy.
In this episode, Mark and Adam discuss epistemology, or the inquiry into what is knowledge and what is knowable. From pre-Socratic epistemology to Plato to Scepticism, they discuss what the ancient Greeks believed about what is and isn't the truth. The discussion of an infinitely knowledgeable God continues, Tolkien is referenced, and Adam decides that he really hates the Sceptics.
In this episode, Mark and Adam loosely discuss the fourth chapter of Anthony Kenney's "A New History of Western Philosophy." Centered around both the Aristotelian and Stoic views on Logic, they discuss the roots and beginnings of what has became Western logical reasoning. As per usual, there are several Tolkien references and a feature-length side discussion on whether or not free will and an infinitely knowledgeable God can exist.
In this episode, Mark and Adam discuss the second chapter of "A New History of Western Philosophy," Schools of Thought: Aristotle to Augustine. They break down an in-depth look at Aristotle's teachings, look at the philosophies of Stoicism, and touch on the beginnings of St. Augustine's ideas. They also mispronounce Aristotelianism many times and begin arguing about the true hero of "The Lord of the Rings!"
In this episode, Mark and Adam break down the first chapter of Anthony Kenney's "A New History of Western Philosophy." From the founding father of Greek philosophy, Thales of Miletus, to the ego of Heraclitus and the convoluted mess of Plato's "Republic," the beginnings of Greek philosophy are broken down in great detail. As expected, there are more references to Tolkien and linguistics!
In the first episode of Unlimited Opinions, Mark and Adam discuss who they are and their interest in philosophy. They also break down the historic and philosophic approaches towards studying philosophy and why philosophy is important today. Also, Tolkien and language references!