The Partially Examined Life
Mark Linsenmayer
Four philosophers closely read European thinkers like Hegel and Habermas, often in multi-part episodes.
Why we picked this
We picked The Partially Examined Life for the discipline of its group arguments. Four philosophers work through primary texts—Aristotle, Hegel, Habermas—on tape, stopping to challenge each other's analogies and press on unclear definitions. The show treats difficult books as problems to reason through, not subjects to summarize. A listener subscribes for the hosts' sustained, corrective back-and-forth, which makes even the Phenomenology of Spirit tractable without flattening its difficulty.
Recent episodes
PEL Presents PMP#226 Toy Story Played Out
Jul 24, 202657 min
Ep. 396: Peirce on Knowledge (Part One)
Jul 20, 202649 min
PEL Presents PvI#121: Meat Suit Dolls w/ Maddie Mutations
Jul 18, 202651 min
PEL Presents NEM#256: Bruce Soord (Pineapple Thief): Heartbreaking Prog by Ear
Jul 17, 20261h 9m
Ep. 395: C.S. Lewis Argues for Christianity (Part Two)
Jul 13, 202654 min
PEL Presents Closereads: Hegel on Faith vs. The Enlightenment (aka PEL#394 pt. 3)
Jul 12, 202656 min
PEL Presents PMP#225: Survivor the Constant (with Wes!)
Jul 11, 202654 min
Ep. 395: C.S. Lewis Argues for Christianity (Part One)
Jul 6, 202647 min
PEL Presents PvI#120: Mark and Mary in the Struggle Club
Jul 4, 202653 min
Ep. 394: Hegel on Faith vs. The Enlightenment (Part Two)
Jun 29, 202653 min
PEL Presents NEM#255: Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies): Mellow But Energized
Jun 28, 20261h 12m
PEL Presents PMP#224: Fantasy Novels Galore
Jun 26, 20261h 4m
Related shows
Hi-Phi Nation
Philosophers and critics discuss ethics and culture in unexpected contexts, from zombies to gig work.
Word of Mouth
Linguist Michael Rosen's eclectic conversations on language, culture, and communication.
Closereads: Philosophy with Mark and Wes
Mark and Wes dissect dense philosophy texts line-by-line.
A Changed Mind | Mindset That Matters
Consciousness and manifestation explored through unconventional principles and counterintuitive advice.