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The Partially Examined Life

Mark Linsenmayer

The Partially Examined Life is a philosophy podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode we pick a text and chat about it with insight and flippancy. You don't have to know any philosophy or even have read the text we're talking about to follow and enjoy the discussion.

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27 episodes
Avg 52 min
English

Episodes 27

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Yesterday · 48 min
Ep. 404: Could AI Be Conscious? (Chalmers vs. Dreyfus) (Part One)
On David Chalmers' "Could a Large Language Model Be Conscious?" (2023) and Hubert Dreyfus' What Computers Can't Do: The Limits of Artificial Intelligence (1972), ch. 7-9. How are intelligence and consciousness related, and even if an AI should be considered authentically intelligent, could any AI ever be considered conscious? Chalmers considers various arguments why current LLMs should be considered conscious now (he considers these unconvincing) and why they will never be (he also finds these unconvincing). Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: If you're ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to Shopify.com/pel to start your free trial. Visit functionhealth.com/PEL by midnight Cyber Monday to get your first year of membership for $295 (normally $365).
Friday · 50 min
PEL Presents PvI#127: Naturally Intelligent Mushmouth
Mark, Mary, and Anthony continue to chat about Ch. 1 of The Therapy of Desire by Martha Nussbaum (aka Noose Bomb). We talk and/or act out mush-mouth characters, "acting naturally," human-object hybrids, AI, plus puppetry, being on hold, how to take notes on philosophy, Elf Ron Hubbard, and more. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at patreon.com/philosophyimprov.
November 2 · 53 min
Ep. 403: Are LLMs Actually Intelligent? (Part Two)
Continuing on Raphaël Millière and Cameron Buckner's "A Philosophical Introduction to Language Models, Part I: Continuity With Classic Debates." We go through the various arguably important features for intelligence, including particular ways of learning and comprehending language, being able to generalize from the data set, and to use a world model to navigate problems. Can something have intelligence without having intentions, and do programmed goals count as intentions? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Go to Quince.com or download the Quince app for free shipping on high-quality, affordable clothes and more. Let them know you heard about them from The Partially Examined Life.
November 1 · 55 min
PEL Presents Closereads: David Lewis on Mind-Brain Identity (Part One)
On "An Argument for the Identity Theory" (1966), which unlike U.T. Place who merely argued that minds could be brains, argues that minds must be brains, in all possible worlds. The argument appears functionalist: mental states are defined by their causal roles, and causality is naturally the realm of the physical, so mental causality makes most sense if it is a way of talking about physical causality. Read along with us. You can choose to watch this on video. Subscribe to Closereads at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy; follow us there via the free tier to get many other episodes like this one ad free, or pay us to get part 2 and everything else we've recorded. (Alternatively, support both PEL and Closereads at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife for a nice combo deal.)
October 31 · 1 hr 6 min
PEL Presents NEM#263: Dan Cuddy (Hypnolovewheel, The Special Pillow)
Dan played bass for and co-fronted NYC band Hypnolovewheel, with six releases 1987-1993. Since 1994, he has fronted Hoboken's The Special Pillow, with nine releases to date. We discuss "Fond and Foggy" from The Special Pillow Meets the Space Monster (2024 EP), I Woke Up, also by The Special Pillow, from World's Finest (2020), and "Wow" by Hypnolovewheel from Angel Food (1992). End song: "Automatic Doom" from Inside the Special Pillow (2003). Intro: "Sabrina (Open Your Window)" by Plastic Device (1983), unreleased until E Pluribus Plastic (2019). To hear more, look up these bands on bandcamp.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic. Visit Tidal.com/NEM to create an account and start uploading your music for free.
October 26 · 49 min
Ep. 403: Are LLMs Actually Intelligent? (Part One)
On Raphaël Millière and Cameron Buckner's "A Philosophical Introduction to Language Models, Part I: Continuity With Classic Debates" (2023). Is the Large Language Model type of architecture currently in use by AIs a legitimate basis for intelligence? M&B explain the technology and run through arguments for and against, with the conclusion that while current LLMs are not properly intelligent, there's no in principle reason why they could become so. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
October 24 · 54 min
PEL Presents PMP#233: Not-Scary Carrie
We discuss the new Mike Flanagan series adaptation of Stephen King's 1974 novel in comparison to the 1976 Brian De Palma film and the other adaptations (the 2013 film, the 2002 TV movie, and 1998's The Rage: Carrie 2). Featuring Mark, Lawrence, Al, and spanked-in-school Sarahlyn. What does the story say about human nature? How much agency does Carrie have? Was the new version just a fundamentally different story grafted onto this basic framework of a psychic girl destroying the prom? Does it totally ruin the premise to try to turn this into a multi-season series? Is it destined to devolve into the X-men if this continues? Get more at prettymuchpop.com. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop. Sponsor: Get started with Claude AI at claude.ai/pmp.
October 23 · 51 min
PEL Presents PvI#126: Waiting for Cluckman w/ Anthony LeBlanc
Mark, Mary, and Jenny are joined by improviser Anthony to restore us to a 2 X 2 Team Play balance, again reading part of Martha Nussbaum's The Therapy of Desire as a way of exploring ancient traditions by which one might use philosophy for self-improvement. We act out and/or discuss vacation portal polyamory, voluntarily living in dangerous places, life return bureaucracy, risk bricks, connecting the classroom to the real world, and the first weekly check-in of the robots' revolution scheduling society. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at patreon.com/philosophyimprov.
October 19 · 55 min
Ep. 402: Plato Talks Homer: Hippias Minor and Ion (Part Two)
Finishing up on Hippias Minor and moving on to the Ion, where Socrates convinces a rhapsode (someone who does public, dramatic readings of Homer and is a Homer scholar) that his talent is a matter of inspiration and not knowledge. So how does this relate to Plato's dismissal of poets in the Republic? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: If you're ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to Shopify.com/pel to start your free trial.
October 18 · 1 hr 6 min
PEL Presents NEM#262: Bruce Cockburn Expands Political/Spiritual Folk
Bruce has released 34 solo albums between 1970 and the present. He's a very accomplished finger-picker and often plays entirely solo but has also written rock, jazz, Christian, and 80s syntho songs. We discuss "Louis Collins" from The Blood of Others (2026), "Look How Far" from Breakfast in New Orleans Dinner in Timbuktu (1999), and Let's Go Laughing" from High Winds White Sky (1971). End song: "Café Society" from Bone on Bone (2017). Intro: "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" from Stealing Fire (1984). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.
October 16 · 44 min
PEL Presents PMP#232: Obsession (for Men?)
On the 2024 low-budget horror blockbuster film by Curry Barker. Mark, Lawrence, and Sarahlyn are joined by feminist philosopher Jenny Hansen to talk about this peculiar film. Is it a feminist tract exposing "nice guys" for their underlying narcissism, or just a lengthy Twilight Zone episode getting creative about the mechanics of the old magic wish trope? Like Get Out, this film is a surreal take on exploitation, but it also places itself in the tradition of Fatal Attraction as playing on our fear of and disdain for "clingy women." Did Barker even know what his message is? Is this film actually scary? Get more at prettymuchpop.com. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.
October 12 · 47 min
Ep. 402: Plato Talks Homer: Hippias Minor and Ion (Part One)
On two short Platonic dialogues, written perhaps around a decade after Socrates' death in 399 BCE. Hippias Minor, where Hippias is (like many of Socrates' interlocutors) a Sophist. In this case, this means that Hippias presents himself as an expert in all sorts of practices (techne) including not only literary marvels but even making his own clothes. Do these things add up to virtue? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
October 11 · 57 min
PEL Presents Closereads: Gilbert Ryle on Self-Knowledge (Part One)
On The Concept of Mind (1949), Ch. 6, "Self-Knowledge." Ryle is arguing against a Cartesian take on mind that he sees as over-intellectualizing. In this case, it is not the case that every conscious act is itself an object of an act of consciousness: Not all consciousness is self-conscious, and introspection itself must involve a layer of mentality (the act of self-consciousness) that is not itself the object of an act of consciousness. Read along with us, starting on p. 136 (PDF p. 199). Subscribe to Closereads at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy; follow us there via the free tier to get many other episodes like this one ad free, or pay us to get subsequent parts to this and everything else we've recorded. (Alternatively, support both PEL and Closereads at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife for a nice combo deal.)
October 9 · 48 min
PEL Presents PvI#125: Mrs. Nussbaum's Credit Card
The new official crew of Mark Linsenmayer, Mary Hynes, and "Jus' Jenny" Hansen kicks off our new endeavor to explore ancient self-help/psychologically therapeutic philosophical traditions via Martha Nussbaum's book "The Therapy of Desire," which we've read the intro of. We talk and/or act about preconceptions about philosophy, AA, a single-celled support group, a foul-mouthed poetry slam, and more. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at patreon.com/philosophyimprov.
October 7 · 53 min
Ep. 402: Plato Talks Homer: Hippias Minor and Ion (Part Two for Supporters)
Finishing up on Hippias Minor and moving on to the Ion, where Socrates convinces a rhapsode (someone who does public, dramatic readings of Homer and is a Homer scholar) that his talent is a matter of inspiration and not knowledge. So how does this relate to Plato's dismissal of poets in the Republic? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
October 5 · 59 min
Ep. 401: Mind/Brain Identity Theory (U.T. Place, J.J.C. Smart) (Part Two)
Finishing up U.T. Place's "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?" (1956) and starting on J.J.C. Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes" (1959). Place argues against the "phenomenological fallacy," i.e. the reality of the contents of one's inner life. Then Smart considers objects against mind/brain identity: Must qualities of sensations be something over and above qualities of brain processes? Finally, is mind/brain identity a scientific hypothesis at all? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
October 4 · 58 min
PEL Presents NEM#261: Joan as Policewoman's Living Growth
Joan Wasser started as violinist/support member in the 90s for The Dambuilders and then for Mind Science of the Mind and Antony and the Johnsons. In the mid-90s, she co-led a band called Black Beetle that released nothing, but taught her songwriting. She's had 13 solo releases, as she has continued to guest and tour with major artists including Iggy Pop, and Gorillaz. We discuss "Eternal Flame" from Real Life Evolution (2026), "I Defy" from Real Life (2006), and "Full-Time Heist" from Lemons, Limes and Orchids (2024). Intro: "The Magic" from The Deep Field (2011). End song: "Valid Jagger" from Damned Devotion (2018). More at joanaspolicewoman.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.
October 1 · 53 min
PEL Presents PMP#231: Euphoric Teens
We discuss high school drama TV shows and films in light of the genre-breaking, star-birthing teen drama Euphoria. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al touch on Riverdale, Skins, Degrassi, John Hughes films, Buffy, Saved By the Bell, 90210, and many others. How much of the plots are driven by "affluenza?" What do they have to say about friendship? Is there something very white about even shows like Euphoria that have plenty of POC characters? Do the "genre" shows (e.g. The Craft) count? What about anime? Get more at prettymuchpop.com. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop. Sponsor: Get started with Claude AI at claude.ai/pmp.
September 28 · 49 min
Ep. 401: Mind/Brain Identity Theory (U.T. Place, J.J.C. Smart) (Part One)
On U.T. Place's "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?" (1956) and J.J.C. Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes" (1959), w/ guest Chris Heath. Is there some a priori reason for denying that the mind can actually be the brain? Obviously those two words don't mean the same thing, but can we think of them as a single thing under two descriptions? Place argues that the identity is not unlike other scientific identities, like lightning being the same as a motion of electric charges. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
September 26 · 10 min
PREMIUM-Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part Three)
Mark and Seth rejoin to complete our treatment of Consciousness Explained, focusing on Dennett's responses to Frank Jackson's Mary the Color Scientist thought experiment, Searle's Chinese Room, inverted qualia, and more. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

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