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Terrifying Questions

Terrifying Questions

By: Eric Kaplan & Taylor Carman
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About this listen

 Eric Kaplan, a comedy writer (Futurama, Big Bang Theory) and doctor of philosophy, and Taylor Carman (Barnard College, Columbia University), a philosophy professor specializing in phenomenology, existentialism, and hermeneutics, host a podcast that addresses unsettling questions concerning human existence and the order of things with the goal of finding a path to courage using comedy, imagination, and dialogue. Along the way they occasionally grapple with the deep uncanniness of being.Eric Kaplan & Taylor Carman Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 48: Was Nietzsche a Proto-Fascist?

    Episode 48: Was Nietzsche a Proto-Fascist?
    Mar 3 2025

    Was Nietzsche a fascist? Does liking Nietzsche make you a fascist? If the bully boy heralds of MAGA are present-day fascists, does that make them latter-day Nietzscheans? Join Eric and Taylor as they distinguish several varieties of chest-thumping, bluster, and skepticism about truth. And as Nietzsche himself said, “If this podcast episode does not kill you, it will make you stronger.”

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    58 mins
  • Episode 47: Are We Always at War with Ourselves?

    Episode 47: Are We Always at War with Ourselves?
    Feb 17 2025

    Did you ever want something and not want it, or love somebody and also hate them? If you did, does that mean there are two different things inside you and they are having a war? Or are there three? This week Eric and Taylor look at the idea of internal conflict, internal peace, what it all means, and what if anything can be done about it. They also reply to two letters from nonimaginary listeners.

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    59 mins
  • Episode 46: Are We Living in a Cave? (Part 2)

    Episode 46: Are We Living in a Cave? (Part 2)
    Feb 10 2025

    Are we still living in a cave? In this sequel episode Eric and Taylor contemplate what might happen if you got out of Plato’s cave. Would the sun blind you? And if you tried to convince the other prisoners to escape, would they kill you? Also this week, replies to some letters from listeners.
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    44 mins
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