Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

Series produced by Prairie Public

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A monthly philosophy show hosted by Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein that explores current everyday themes. Jack visits with guests who work in academic philosophy or whose professions are ideal for digging into the philosophical issues that affect everyday life.

The mission of "Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life" is to create a large-scale conversation between philosophical professionals and the general public. Even more so, however, the show was created to illustrate how day-to-day life is steeped in deep philosophical commitments and to provide a venue for exploration of those same commitments.

Each episode begins with a monologue-style discussion of current events as seen through a philosophical lens then features a discussion with the guest about their work and how it relates to general audiences.

Dr. Weinstein is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Dakota and the Director of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life. He has had a career-long interest in public philosophy as well as long-term interest in radio. Why? is the combination of the two. He has authored two books, three edited collections and journal symposia, and over two dozen articles and reviews. He has contributed work for lay audiences to newspapers, magazines, and public radio. He lives in Grand Forks with his wife Kim, their daughter Adina, and their dog Mingus. Hide full description

The mission of "Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life" is to create a large-scale conversation between philosophical professionals and the general public. Even more so, however, the show was created to illustrate how day-to-day life is steeped in deep philosophical commitments and to provide a venue for exploration of those same commitments.Each episode begins with a monologue-style discussion of current events as seen through a philosophical lens then features a discussion with the guest about their work and how it relates to general audiences. Dr. Weinstein is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Dakota and the Director of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life. He has had a career-long interest in public philosophy as well as long-term interest in... Show full description


76 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Heather Douglas, "best known for her work on the role of values in science, science policy, the importance ...

  • Added: Dec 09, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Peter Singer, the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and a Laureate Professor at...

  • Added: Nov 01, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Aubrey de Grey
Host Jack Russell Weinstein is a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Dakota. In this episode, he visits ...

  • Added: Oct 09, 2017
  • Length: 53:59
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Rutger Bregman, historian and author. He has published four books on history, philosophy, and economics. Hi...

  • Added: Aug 25, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with British philosopher Helen Steward, Professor of Philosophy of Mind and Action at the University of Leeds.

  • Added: Jun 05, 2017
  • Length: 53:59
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Kerry Diamond, co-founder of Cherry Bombe magazine.

  • Added: May 17, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Otavio Bueno
Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Otavio Bueno, professor of philosophy at the University of Miami. He focuses on philosophy of science, phil...

  • Added: Apr 10, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Ernest Sosa
Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Ernest Sosa, professor of history at Rutgers University.

  • Added: Mar 09, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
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It is Why? Radio’s 100th episode; a powerful milestone for a monthly show. To help us celebrate, we are joined by writers, activists, and feminist ...

Bought by High Plains Public Radio, Public Radio for All, and XRAY.fm


  • Added: Feb 25, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: David B. Wong
It's common for people to disagree about what constitutes an ethical approach to an issue or a way of living. Can more than one approach be right? ...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Oct 22, 2016
  • Length: 53:58
  • Purchases: 1
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Deborah Tannen, University Professor and Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University and author of ma...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Oct 01, 2016
  • Length: 53:50
  • Purchases: 1
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Peter de Marneffe, Professor of Philosophy at Arizona State University. He writes about liberty and libera...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Oct 01, 2016
  • Length: 55:11
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Tommie Shelby
Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Dr. Tommie Shelby, department of philosophy at Harvard University, the Caldwell Titcomb Professor of Africa...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jul 30, 2016
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Robert Audi
Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Robert Audi, the O'Brien professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.

  • Added: Jun 25, 2016
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Ryan Hanley
Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Ryan Patrick Hanley, associate professor of history at Marquette University. His research in the history of...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: May 17, 2016
  • Length: 53:40
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Sharona Hoffman
Everyone gets older, but not everyone plans for it. Even fewer people think about that planning philosophically. We look closely at one author’s pr...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: May 05, 2016
  • Length: 53:59
  • Purchases: 1
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of “Plato at the Googleplex, Why Philosophy Won't Go Away.”

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Mar 10, 2016
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
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When we think of college, we think of sports: of the big 10, of the NCAA, of the draft. Yet, the more money college sports earns and the more profe...

Bought by KPOV, WMUU-LP, and KTSW 89.9


  • Added: Feb 17, 2016
  • Length: 54:01
  • Purchases: 3
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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, authors of the classic text, "Metaphors We Live By," which changed our unde...

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Dec 29, 2015
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Alexandra Grant
Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Alexandra Grant, exploring her use of language to combine art and literature.

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: Nov 08, 2015
  • Length: 53:50
  • Purchases: 1