Philosophize This! Podcast By Stephen West cover art

Philosophize This!

Philosophize This!

By: Stephen West
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Beginner friendly if listened to in order! For anyone interested in an educational podcast about philosophy where you don't need to be a graduate-level philosopher to understand it. In chronological order, the thinkers and ideas that forged the world we live in are broken down and explained.2024 Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode #245 ... The Rival Moral Approaches of the Modern World - Alasdair Macintyre

    Episode #245 ... The Rival Moral Approaches of the Modern World - Alasdair Macintyre
    Apr 12 2026
    Today we talk about the book Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry by Alasdair Macintyre. We talk about each of the different sets of assumptions people bring to moral debates that often contain the true location of the disagreement. Hope you love it. :) Sponsors: Nord VPN: https://nordvpn.com/philothis Incogni: https://www.Incogni.com/philothis Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Episode #244 ... After Virtue - Alasdair MacIntyre (why moral conversations feel unsatisfying)

    Episode #244 ... After Virtue - Alasdair MacIntyre (why moral conversations feel unsatisfying)
    Feb 11 2026
    Today we talk about the book After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre. We talk about his genealogy of moral discourse. The teleologies of Aristotle. The failure of the Enlightenment moral project. Our modern culture of Emotivism and the sorts of characters that thrive in it. Shared practices and community as a way to revitalize moral conversation. Hope you love it! :) Sponsors: Nord VPN: https://nordvpn.com/philothis Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Episode #243 ... Hamlet - William Shakespeare

    Episode #243 ... Hamlet - William Shakespeare
    Dec 27 2025
    Today we talk about the play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare. We compare more traditional takes on the themes of the play to a more modern, philosophical analysis of the play done by Simon Critchley and Jamieson Webster. We talk about Hamlet and his inability to take action. Surveillance in 16th century England. Ophelia as the tragic hero of the play. How ultimately Hamlet may best be described as a play about "nothing". Hope you love it. :) Sponsors: Nord VPN: ⁠https://nordvpn.com/philothis ⁠ Better Help: ⁠https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS⁠ Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website:⁠ https://www.philosophizethis.org/⁠ Patreon:⁠ https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis⁠ Social: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast⁠ X:⁠ https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest⁠ Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 mins
All stars
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Wow, yknow this podcast is the first one i’ve ever been truly captivated by, the information is perfectly given, crossovers are amazing, and the everything is displayed in such a PERFECT manner that makes it easy to remember. (Your analogy are also funny but that’s not the point) Definitely a must listen, also Steven West has an amazing voice!

Learning philosophy as a Gen Z teen

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I have been interested in learning about philosophy for years, but I struggled to find a structure for approaching such a deep field of study. This podcast provided the structure I needed and more. Listening to Stephen talk about these individual philosophers has allowed me to decide which ones a want to pursue learning more about. Before I started listening to this podcast, I was in the midst of an existential crisis that had persisted for a few years, lost in the infinite as it were. While I'm still far too skeptical to accept any single world view, this podcast has helped me to start building my own island in the sea of infinite possibilities.

My absolute favorite podcast

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Learning philosophy wasn't something I had a lot of interest in in school - outside of a few pitical philosophers in college and some plato in high school I never read much. Stephen's Podcast changed that!

The way he presents philosophy is relatable and grounded in the way we actually live in this world, so it doesn't feel like a bunch of old talking heads, it feels like people asking important questions. Each thinker gives me a new way to look at the world and understand what I'm doing in it, and what I could do. It helps me think about politics, religion, life... and also little things like why I laugh, how I spend my free time, and how to talk with the people in my life.

It's grounding, it's interesting, and Stephen West does a great job presenting really complicated things in digestible ways. If any of that seems interesting to you, and if you want to learn more about any philosopher from Foucault to Diogenes, give this a listen :)

Learning Philosophy as an Adult

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I absolutely loved this show. I only wish I had learned about it sooner. relatively recently, I learned of a quote by Marshall McLuhan that offered to me a profound philosophical insight for me. "There is no absolute inevitability. So long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening. " To my delight the simplest form of this insight was the ultimate conclusion of this show. Pay attention. since then everything I have learned as far as the philosophical work of Marshall McLuhan has perfectly aligned and grown my own understanding. I am truly grateful for your work on this. I was honestly quite saddened and a little discouraged when I searched McLuhans name into audible and found almost nothing as far as audible books go. I his was a mind we should know better as a society. because I don't think we've been paying close enough attention thus far.

Just what I was looking for.

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The author does a great job of blending entertainment, tone, and simplification to make sometimes complex philosophical content accessible to the masses. This is important stuff!!

Excellent content, excellent delivery!

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