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Philosophy for the People

Patrick Flynn

Philosophy for the People's mission is an educational program aimed at overcoming the paucity of serious, fair-minded, and accessible philosophical discourse available to a popular audience. Though we are ourselves dedicated to the Catholic intellectual tradition, we are likewise committed to exploring ideas from all rigorous traditions of philosophizing (scholastic, classical, analytic, and phenomenological). We pursue this mission by providing long-form guided readings of great texts, discussions with expert guests, our own open-ended philosophical discussions of issues and thinkers, live question and answer opportunities, in depth lecture courses, and our own articles and book-length writings. Philosophy for the People's pedagogical materials will be provided either without charge or for minimal cost to assure provision of broad access to first-rate philosophical education.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 10 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • July 31 · 1 hr 10 min

    Can God Be the Ultimate Explanation? Dissertation Defense, Part II

    Dr. W. Matthews Grant—one of my greatest philosophical inspirations—served as an external examiner for my dissertation defense. Apparently, he didn't beat me up enough the first time, so he returned to the podcast to finish the job. (Okay, it wasn't really that combative. He just wanted to continue our conversation about the dissertation. : ) This was a fun, productive, and wide-ranging discussion. We get into divine simplicity (obviously), God as the ultimate foundation of reality, the principle of sufficient reason, epistemology, metaethics, and more. Consider this Dissertation Defense, Part II. ; ) For more philosophy content, head over to my Substack at https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • March 31 · 1 hr 5 min

    Why Thomism Still Matters w/ Dr. Gaven Kerr

    Dr. Gaven Kerr returns to the podcast to discuss his recent editted volume Thomism Revisited: https://amzn.to/4m3Z4Jx For more philosophy content, head to Pat's Substack: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • January 13 · 1 hr 22 min

    Aquinas's Five Ways Are Stronger Than You Think (w/ Dr. Rob Koons)

    Dr. Robert Koons has two forthcoming books on Aquinas's Five Ways—one popular, one academic—so we spend this episode walking through how he understands and defends each of the Five Ways, and why they're far more philosophically interesting than they're usually given credit for. For more philosophy content, check out Pat's Substack at https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • Nov 25, 2025 · 1 hr 18 min

    Can Evolution Fit With Christianity? Dr. Tim Pawl Says Yes.

    Pat talks with philosopher Dr. Tim Pawl, author of Jesus and the Genome, about the theological and philosophical challenges raised by evolutionary biology and how Christians can think clearly about them. Jesus and the Genome: https://amzn.to/4il5Ys8 Tim on Substack: https://pawlineepistles.substack.com/ Pat on Substack: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • Oct 16, 2025 · 2 hr 12 min

    Did the Church Change Her Mind on the Death Penalty? (Catholics Debate the Death Penalty)

    Pat is joined by Suan Sonna and Daniel Vecchio to discuss recent controversies related to capital punishment and magisterial teaching. Pat's Substack article: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/p/an-intelligent-catholics-guide-to Ed Feser's article: https://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2025/10/fastiggi-and-sonna-on-catholicism-and.html

  • Aug 18, 2025 · 45 min

    Bible Basics w/ John Derosa

    John DeRosa is launching an online Bible Workshop--and you should join! Here's the link: https://classical-theism-podcast.aweb.page/p/3e983115-1a58-48ed-a9cc-e5b9ef419c28

  • Aug 1, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

    John Henry Newman on Common Sense, Faith, and Epistemology | w/ Dr. Logan Paul Gage

    Dr. Logan Paul Gage joins Pat for a conversation on the thought of John Henry Newman—soon to be declared a Doctor of the Church—with a special focus on his commonsense epistemology and how it compares to modern epistemological projects. For more philosophy content, head to Pat's Substack: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • Jul 21, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

    Philosophy and the Interpretation of Scripture w/ Dr. Gaven Kerr

    Dr. Gaven Kerr returns to Philosophy for the People to discuss another recent article of his: Primary Causality, Providence, and Scripture. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/new-blackfriars/article/abs/primary-causality-providence-and-scripture/4A69C86C7310F54F7D413FC6261EBE06 Please like, share, comment, and subscribe! For more philosophy content, see https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • Jul 14, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

    The Nature and Conditions of Knowledge w/ Dr. Gaven Kerr

    Dr. Gaven Kerr returns to Philosophy for the People to discuss Thomistic epistemology and cognitional theory. We discuss the metaphysics of knowledge, proper functionalism, error theory, whether Aquinas was an externalist, and more. Please like, share, and subscribe! For more philosophy content, head to Pat's Substack: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/ Check out Pat's book The Best Argument for God here: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Argument-God-Patrick-Flynn/dp/1644137801

  • Jul 7, 2025 · 44 min

    Establishing the Real Distinction w/ Dr. Gaven Kerr

    Gaven Kerr returns to Philosophy for the People to discuss some of the recent work he's been doing with respect to the Thomistic understanding of existence. For most philosophy content, check out Pat's Substack: https://streamyard.com/72mnfcbg7j

  • Jul 2, 2025 · 1 hr 30 min

    Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? w/ Tomas Bogardus

    Pat is joined by Dr. Tomas Bogardus to discuss the question of whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God. We chat philosophy of language, including different theories of reference (descriptivism, causal theories, etc.) and how the occurrence of reference drift can make answering this questions somewhat difficult! For more philosophy content, head to Pat's Substack: hps://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com

  • Jun 23, 2025 · 57 min

    Analyzing (Some of) Jordan Peterson's Claims

    In this episode, Pat and Mike respond to Jordan Peterson's recent appearance on Surrounded. For more undoubtedly awesome philosophy content, head to Pat's Sbstack at https://substack.com/@journalofabsolutetruth

  • May 21, 2025 · 32 min

    1 philosopher everyone should read

    Pat and Mike discuss one particular philosopher everyone should read (that isn't Plato, lol). For more philosophy content see Pat's substack at https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • May 12, 2025 · 42 min

    talking arguments for God (w/ Mike Schramm)

    Pat introduces Mike Schramm, new associate editor for The Journal of Absolute Truth. They then discuss the state of some argumetns for God. https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • Jan 13, 2025 · 50 min

    The Philosophy of Freud (Part 1)

    Pat and Jim begin a new series on Freud. Live QnA at the end! More philosophy content on Pat's Substack: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

  • Jan 6, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

    Our Favorite Philosophy Books of 2024 (Plus Live QnA)

    Pat and Jim do a year in review, including discussing some of their favorite books. Also, live QnA at the end. Head to Pat's Substack for more philosophy content: https://journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes