Unpacking Ideas

In this episode we unpack the American Philosopher & Psychologist William James' 1907 classic, "Pragmatism." This book explores... *The Pragmatic Theory of Truth *The Nature of Belief Change *The Psychology's connection to Philosophy Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Brent Mondoskin Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free PDF of the book: Pragmatism by William James⁠ Resources Mentioned The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand(book) The Essential Pierce vol.1 by C.S. Pierce(book) Radical Empiricism by William James (book) Mindset by Carol Dweck(book) The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy (book) Timestamps 0:00 Introduction

In this episode we unpack the ancient Chinese classic, "The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu from circa 400 BCE This book explores... *The art of not over-doing *The cyclical nature of all things *Acting in accordance with the nature of reality Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Amon Greene amonra16.ag@gmail.com Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free PDF of the book: Red Pine Translation Resources Mentioned Tao: The Watercourse Way by Alan Watts (book) Trying Not to Try by Edward Slingerland (book) Taoism: An Essential Guide by Eva Wong (book) Timestamps

In this episode we unpack American Sociologist Erving Goffman's 1954 classic, "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life." This book explores... * The art of impression management *The desire to maintain consistent performances *The self as a social construct Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Jason Doe Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free PDF of the book: ⁠free pdf *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Timestamps

In this episode we unpack The Symposium by the Greek Philosopher Plato. This dialogue explores... * The Nature of Eros *The Human desire for immortality *The Guru Disciple Relationship Free Pdf of The Symposium *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Kilaya Ciriello Author of: Socrates Guru: Plato's Spiritual Philosophy in Comparison with the Indian Tradition The Fundamentalist Plato (blog/substack) Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:42 Fundamentalist Platonism 0:06:15 The Tradition of The Symposium  0:09:15 Narrative Structure of The Symposium 0:10:20 The Question of Plato’s Authorship 0:15:35 The Speech of Phaedrus 0:20:10 Historical Context of Pederastic Relationships Between Men and Boys 0:24:31 The Speech of Pausanias 0:28:18 The Speech of Eryximachus 0:31:49 The Speech of Aristophanes 0:38:10 The Speech of Agathon  0:39:46 The Flattery & Humility of Socrates 0:43:25 The Significance of Diotima 0:46:28 Socrates First Argument on Eros 0:50:18 We Only Desire What we Lack 0:53:07 Love as an Intermediary between humans and Gods 0:57:43 The Pursuit of Immortality 1:06:08 Love of “The Good” 1:08:24 The Ladder of Love 1:13:49 Pure Rationality 1:16:24 Criticisms of The Ladder of Love 1:18:42 The Entrance of Alcibiades   1:24:15 The Desire to Possess Another Person 1:27:42 Resentment towards Those Who Highlight our Shortcomings  1:28:45 The Unlikely Chance one will succeed as a Philosopher 1:31:29 Wrapping up

In this episode we unpack Paradiso from The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri. This Poem Explores... -The Limits of Language and The Importance of Experience -Divine Justice & The Problem of Evil -Dante's Vision of God and The Returning of the Boon Links to Books/Articles Mention in the Episode ⁠⁠The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri⁠⁠ ⁠The Aeneid by Virgil⁠ ⁠The Great Course Plus-Dante's Divine Comedy Lecture Series⁠ *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Philip Kobosov Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we unpack Purgatorio from The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri. This Poem Explores... -The Severity of the Sin of Pride -The Significance of Momentum When Climbing the Mount of Purgatory -The Importance of Humility When Reforming the Soul Links to Books/Articles Mention in the Episode ⁠⁠The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri⁠⁠ ⁠The Aeneid by Virgil⁠ ⁠The Great Course Plus-Dante's Divine Comedy Lecture Series⁠ *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Philip Kobosov Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we unpack Inferno from The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri from 1321. This Poem Explores... Why One Must Journey Through Hell Before Entering Heaven Why Fraud is the Considered the Most Severe Sin How Earthly Love Can Inspire Divine love Links to Books/Articles Mention in the Episode ⁠The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri⁠ The Aeneid by Virgil The Odyssey by Homer *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Philip Kobosov Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we unpack, British Mathematician, G.H. Hardy's classic book, "A Mathematician's Apology" written in 1940. This book explores -The Permanence of Mathematical Discovery -The Metaphysics of Mathematical Reality -The Moral Responsibility of the Mathematician Links to Reading & Articles mentioned A Mathematician's Apology by G.H. Hardy The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker Good Will Hunting (movie) Euclid's Proof of Infinitely Many Primes (explained) Pythagoras's Proof of Irrationality of Square Root of 2 (explained) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Brian Allen Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Time Stamps

In this episode we unpack, Swiss Psychologist, Marie-Louise von Franz's classic book, "The Problem of the Puer Aeternus" from a series of lectures she gave in 1959. This book explores -The Eternal Child Archetype -The Mother Complex (Jungian) -The Loss of Initiation Rituals in the Modern Age Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Problem of the Puer Aeternus by Marie-Louis von Franz The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: David Bloome Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Time Stamps 0:00:00 Introduction

In this episode we unpack the Inferno section of The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet Dante Alighieri. This Books Explores... The Structure of Dante's Hell The Medieval stance on Suicide Why Fraud is considered the worse sin Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (John Ciardi Translation) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Phil Kobasov Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Time Stamps 0:00:00 Introduction

In this episode we unpack "Common Sense" by English-American Political Activist Thomas Paine. This Books Explores... The Functions of Society and Government The Evils of Monarchy The Path Forward for the American Colonies Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Common Sense by Thomas Paine *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Jared Shoup Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Time Stamps 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:01 Historical Context of Common Sense 0:13:37 Thomas Paine’s Background  0:20:48 The Differences Between Society and Government  00:25:00 Government as a Necessary Evil 00:27:28 Anti-Monarchy Sentiments in The Old Testament  0:30:11 Parallels Between The 12 Tribes of Israel and The 13 American Colonies  0:32:01 The Origins of Kings 0:35:35 Paine’s Critiques of Hereditary Succession 00:37:35 Paine’s Critiques of Constitutional Monarchy   0:42:13 The Disease of Monarchy  0:44:19 Paine’s Ad Hominem Attacks 0:45:14 The Present State of American Affairs 0:46:26 Why Separation from England is Necessary 0:47:40 England as “The Mother Country”     0:50:00 Why America Doesn’t Need England for Protection 0:51:16 Why America Doesn’t Need England for Trade 0:52:20 Logistical Nightmare of Communication with England 0:53:52 Why Now is the Time for Separation 0:54:58 The Paradoxical Correlation between a Nation’s Population and Military Size 0:58:00 “Relapse More Wretched Than the First” 0:59:56 Paine’s Ideas in What an American Government Should Look Like 1:04:06 America’s Naval Potential  1:07:44 Paine’s Call to Unite America 1:10:35 The Impact of “Common Sense” 1:13:05 Wrapping Up/Outro

In this episode we unpack several essays from Swiss psychologist Carl Jung's Collected Works on Dreams. These Essays Explore... The Differences between Freudian and Jungian Dream Interpretation Why Common Symbols and Themes Show up in our Dreams The Benefits of Making Dream Material Conscious Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Dreams (excepts from collected works) by Carl Jung Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by Carl Jung Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Aiden Moore ⁠*For one-on-one dream interpretation sessions with Aiden visit AidenMoore.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠ Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction Beginner’s Mind  Assimilation vs Accommodation  Comparing and Contrasting Freudian Dream Interpretation vs. Jungian Dream Interpretation  The Language of the Unconscious Causal vs. Final Explanations of Dreams Compensation Compensatory Dreams Prospective Dreams Little Dreams vs. Big Dreams Archetypes  The Collective Unconscious  Individuation Objective vs. Subjective dream interpretations Traumatic dreams Recurring Dreams The Benefits of Making Unconscious Material Conscious 

In this episode we unpack The Bhagavad Gita from The Mahabharata circa 300 BCE. This Book Explores... Karma Yoga & Non-attachment The Link Between Right Understand and Right Action The Interconnectedness of All Things Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Bhagavad Gita (Translation: Gita Press) The Bhagavad Gita (Translation: Eknath Easwaran) Bhagavad Gita Lecture Series by Gandhar Mandlik *youtube* *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Gandhar Mandlik YogaPoint.com Online/In-Person Yoga Courses and Teacher Training Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro

In this episode we unpack the Second essay in German Existentialist Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's classic work "The Genealogy of Morals" from 1887. This Essay Explores... The Origins of Punishment The Psychology of Guilt The Link Between Civilization and Bad Conscience Links to Reading & Articles mentioned ⁠On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche⁠ *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Samuel Le Coutour Theme Music: ⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 03:16 Questions Nietzsche is Trying to Answer 04:12 Origin of Punishment vs. Utility of Punishment 08:25 Punishment Hardens the Individual 10:24 The Etymology of the word “Guilt” 11:01 The Creditor/Debtor Relationship 12:32 Suffering as Compensation 13:48 Suffering as Entertainment Throughout History  14:39 The Link between Sadism and Social Status 17:14 Grace as a Form of Domination 19:31 The Social Contract 22:52 Lack of Free Will in Early Punishment 24:20 Nietzsche’s Hypothesis on the Origin of Bad Conscience 24:30 The State of Nature Theory 27:10 Turing The Will to Power Against Oneself 32:30 Masochism  33:34 Punishment as Entertainment for the Gods 34:47 Aristocrats Create Bad Conscience in Slaves 37:46 Ancestor Worship 40:22 Original Sin / The Psychology of Guilt 44:43 Debt Becoming Spiritual and Internal 46:19 Internalizing the Creditor/Debtor Dynamic within One’s own Conscience 48:59 Nietzsche’s Views on Bad Conscience / The Sovereign Individual 52:40 Wrapping up/ Outro

In this episode we unpack the first essay in German Existentialist Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's classic work "The Genealogy of Morals" from 1887. This Essay Explores... The Etymology of the words 'good', 'bad', and 'evil' Nietzsche's Concepts of Master & Slave Morality Which type of Morality is dominant in the Western world today Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche The Vocation Lectures by Max Weber Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠ Guest: Samuel Le Coutour Theme Music: ⁠⁠Polyenso Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction

In this episode we unpack Jewish-Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's classic book "Man's Search for Meaning" from 1946. This Book Explores... What happens when our will to meaning has become suppressed How can we derive meaning from our suffering Why 'what is the meaning of life?' a bad question Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Last Day of a Condemned Man by Victor Hugo The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault The Gay Science by Friedrich Nietzsche *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠ Guest: Barbara Spadaro Theme Music: ⁠Polyens⁠o Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction O2:09 Context of book 0:3:36 Egoism & Altruism amongst Prisoners 09:11 Phase 1: Denial 09:58 The Delusion of Reprieve 12:10 Phase 2: Apathy 13:31 Psychology of Guards 16:15 Two Types of Trauma 18:51 Phase 3: Anger 20:05 The desire for Revenge 22:40 Truth and Reconciliation after WW2 Forgive but not Forget 26:15 Finding Meaning Through Suffering 31:00 Finding Meaning Through Love & Work 33:20 Logotherapy in a Nutshell 33:44 The Will to Meaning 36:28 Paradoxical Intention 37:20 The Paradox of Striving for Happiness 40:02 The Meaning of Life 40:57 How The Meaning of Life Changes During the Course of One’s Life 44:00 The Is One Correct Answer to Every Situation in Life 46:24 “Live as if you were living already for the second time…” 48:47 Outro

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In this episode we unpack French Continental Philosopher Henri Bergson's classic essays "Laughter" from 1900. These Essays Explore... What are the common characteristics in all things funny? What are the differences between Tragedy and Comedy? What function does laughter serve for society? Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Laughter by Henri Bergson Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern & Del Close Brain Droppings by George Carlin How to be Funny by Steve Allen Night at the Roxbury (SNL skit) Anchor Man (movie) Liar Liar (movie) The Invention of Lying (movie) Austin Powers International Man of Mystery (Movie) Crocodile Dundee (Movie) Tropic Thunder (movie) Big Mouth (show) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Patrick McInnis  ImprovSanDiego.com Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro

In this episode we unpack Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius's classic book "Meditations" from 170 AD. This book explores... Seeing Things as They Really Are Focusing Only on What is in Your Control Remaining Calm Through Turbulent Times Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin Principles by Ray Dalio Silence of the Lambs (movie) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Steve Chung Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro

In this episode we unpack Swiss Psychiatrist and Author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's classic book "On Death and Dying" from 1969. This book explores... The Fear of Death in the Modern Age The Five Stages of Grief  Advice for Navigating the 5 Stages Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross The Trauma of Birth by Otto Rank Uses of the Erotic by Audrey Lorde  Illness as Metaphor by Susan Sontag  Empathy vs. Sympathy by Brene Brown (video) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Andrea Dispenziere Psychology Today Theme Music: Polyenso