WHY? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

Jennifer M. Morton, philosopher and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the ethical costs of upward mobility. She discusses fractured family ties, cultural code-switching, and how colleges and workplaces mismatch with students’ lives. Short reflections probe tradeoffs between material gains and irreplaceable relationships.

Erich Hatala Matthes, a Wellesley philosophy professor and author on ethics and conservation, discusses why we conserve artifacts, practices, and identities. He explores how saving shapes personal and communal narratives. Conversations range from monuments and repatriation to everyday mementos, replicas versus originals, participatory cultural goods, and practical guidance on stewarding what matters.

Philosophy professor Adrian Bardon, author of The Truth About Denial, delves into the perplexing nature of human denial. He explores why people reject evident truths and how self-deception is tied to fear and identity. Bardon discusses the social constructs that shape our beliefs and the curious trend of selective expertise rejection, revealing that ideology often colors perception. He highlights the emotional roots of reasoning and shares practical strategies to combat denial, emphasizing the role of community and identity in shaping our views.

Lowry Pressly, a writer and Stanford-affiliated teacher, dives into the nuances of privacy and human flourishing. He argues that despite our oversharing culture, offline privacy remains essential. Pressly distinguishes between secrecy and privacy, claiming the latter fosters trust while reducing suspicion. He highlights the historical impact of photography on privacy concerns and how documenting experiences can diminish spontaneity. Ultimately, he connects privacy to personal well-being, asserting that it allows for self-discovery and societal trust.

Jack sits down with Elizabeth Minnich, moral philosopher and author, to explore a haunting and urgent question: How is it that ordinary people can commit extraordinary evil? Together, they unpack Minnich’s idea of the evil of banality, a subtle, everyday corruption of thought and conscience that allows atrocities to unfold, and consider what it means for our moral lives today.

This episode features Elizabeth S. Anderson, a political philosophy expert from the University of Michigan, and Jason D. Hill, a public intellectual from DePaul University. They delve into how philosophy can adapt to turbulent times, addressing issues like AI's impact on reasoning and shifting campus climates. The conversation covers the need for open-mindedness in classrooms, the balance between mental health and rigorous debate, and the philosophy of justice. Their insights challenge us to reconsider the role of educators amid societal pressures.

Jack sits down with Brian Burkhart, Indigenous philosopher and scholar, to explore a radical and timely idea: What if Indigenous thought isn’t just tradition or spirituality, but a powerful philosophical framework—one that challenges Western systems and offers a deeply relational way of understanding nature and community in our time?

Jack interviews Vanessa Wills, philosopher, professor, and author of Marx’s Ethical Vision, to explore a radical and timely idea: What if Marx wasn’t just a political economist, but a moral thinker, one whose ethical critique of capitalism speaks urgently to the injustices of our time?

Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with peace activist Kathy Kelly

Jack interviews Justin Garson, writer, philosopher, and professor, to explore an unsettling and illuminating idea: What if madness isn't just a disorder, but a signal, expressing something deeply out of sync in our lives or society?