Emrys Westacott

Today on the show, I talk to Emrys Westacott, philosophy professor and author of "The Wisdom of Frugality," about the philosophical history of penny pinching. We begin our conversation discussing what philosophers mean by frugality and the various philosophical schools that gave frugality primacy. We then go on to summarize the arguments as to why frugality makes people wiser and happier, the counter-arguments to frugality as a virtue, why the ideal of frugality changes based on circumstances, and why living frugally is harder to do today than in times past.This show provides a nuanced look at a much-praised virtue and will leave you mulling over how, why, and to what extent to strive for it in your own life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Emrys Westacott, a philosophy professor and author focused on epistemology and philosophy of mind. They probe the mystery of consciousness, debate whether the self is real or illusory, and weigh physicalism against alternatives like neutral monism and panpsychism. The conversation also tackles animal sentience, the possibility of conscious machines, and how science may reshape common sense.

Dr. Emrys Westacott, a philosophy professor and author, tackles whether objective truth exists and how we justify beliefs. He explores epistemic norms like coherence and simplicity. Conversations range from science versus religious standards to the limits of persuasion and the tension between everyday objectivity and philosophical doubt.