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
Caption: Rebecca Goldstein
Join WHY? as we interview Rebecca Goldstein, author of such novels as 36 Arguments for the Existence of God, The Mind-Body Problem, Mazel, and Stra...

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  • Added: Dec 14, 2010
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Arthur C. Danto
What is art? What is beauty? How are they related to truth? These questions lay at the core of philosophical inquiry. Host Jack Russel Weinstein of...

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  • Added: Jan 12, 2011
  • Length: 53:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Carol Gilligan
Do men think differently than women? Is moral reasoning inherently male? Is psychology biased against relationships and the women who value them? T...

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  • Added: Feb 25, 2011
  • Length: 52:57
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Deborah Brandt
Every day, politicians publish books telling the stories of their lives and their political views. But more often than not these “autobiographies” ...

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  • Added: Mar 17, 2011
  • Length: 53:56
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: James Otteson
Political freedom lies at the core of any democracy. Yet some people claim that even countries like America and England aren’t free enough. What...

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  • Added: May 13, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
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UND philosophy professor Jack Russell Weinstein hosts a panel discussion with four native North Dakotans: Joshua Boschee, Kathryn Joyce, Jesse Veed...

  • Added: Jun 10, 2011
  • Length: 53:00
Caption: Maughn Gregory
How young can children learn philosophy? How should it be taught in the schools? What does philosophy offer that other curricula do not? Join WHY? ...

  • Added: Jul 29, 2011
  • Length: 52:52
Caption: Michael Walzer
Host Jack Russell Weinstein of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life at the University of North Dakota visits with Michael Walzer, professor ...

  • Added: Jul 29, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Jay Basquiat
How much thought have you given to the idea of food? Why do we eat some things and not others, even though they are all edible? And, what exactly d...

  • Added: Aug 10, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Lou Marinoff
Can philosophy make our lives better? Can it help us develop better senses of self? Join host Jack Russell Weinstein and his guest Lou Marinoff, as...

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  • Added: Oct 12, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker argues that the world is less violent today than it has ever been before. For some of his critics, this claim is more than false, it’...

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  • Added: Dec 05, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Stephanie Coontz
Is the “traditional” marriage between one man and one woman really the most preferred form of marriage? History suggests it is not. In addition to ...

  • Added: Dec 22, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
Caption: Gary Gutting
Join WHY? as we discuss one of philosophy's deepest and most divisive controversies: the battle between the "continentals" and the "analytics." Hos...

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  • Added: Jan 09, 2012
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Virginia Held
Does the government have the responsibility to care about its citizens? Does it have an obligation to think of each of us as people, as individuals...

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  • Added: Feb 15, 2012
  • Length: 54:00
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Caption: Deidre McCloskey
Everywhere we look there are “economic indicators.” We talk about the jobless rate and the national debt. We learn about the first quarter and eval...

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  • Added: Mar 12, 2012
  • Length: 53:26
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Stephen M. Bainbridge
On this episode of WHY?, we will ask what it means for a corporation to be a person, how collective action affects agency, and how these large comp...

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  • Added: Jun 13, 2012
  • Length: 54:02
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Jan Golinski
Is there such a thing as objectivity or does science just describe what we ourselves bring into the laboratory? On this episode of WHY? we are goin...

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  • Added: Jun 13, 2012
  • Length: 54:02
  • Purchases: 1
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In 1995, James Loewen published Lies My Teacher Told Me, a powerful critique of how American history is taught in schools. He visits with host Jack...

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  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 53:25
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Samuel Walker
Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Samuel Walker, Emeritus Professor of Criminal Justice.

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  • Added: Aug 21, 2013
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Jack Russell Weinstein visits with Michael Apple, professor of education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. A leading theorist of education, ...

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  • Added: Sep 09, 2013
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1