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Red Letter Philosophy

Dec 19, 2020

From Aristotle to Camus, wisdom has taught us that our destinies are related to our identities.  Our pursuit of beauty reveals a truth about our natures (our identities), namely, that we are not animals.


Dec 4, 2020

It is science that is beautiful, not beauty that is scientific.  This is why beauty cannot be found in a test tube (as we discussed in the previous episode).  In this episode we look at the nature of beauty and confront one of the deep paradoxes of philosophy, namely, that there is nothing more useful than...


Nov 24, 2020

In this episode we celebrate Thanksgiving in the light of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The story of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is reminiscent of the stories of Flannery O'Connor and the Coen Brothers. Their sorties are often violent, taking a sober look at the human condition and evil. But there is a moment in...


Nov 20, 2020

In this episode we look at attempts to explain beauty away scientifically and evolutionarily. We ask the question, what is it about beauty that sets it apart? What is it about beauty that makes it a special kind of special? We suggest that it’s an awareness of something that cannot be captured in a test tube.


Nov 6, 2020

Beauty is strange; being both objective and subjective.  Our experience of beauty suggests that not everything real can be understood scientifically.  Beauty cannot be found in a test tube, and yet it is objective.  Perhaps Plato is right?  Perhaps the experience of beauty is key to perceiving another reality, a higher...