Unsolicited advice

Episodet

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  The Philosopher the Modern World Needs | Simone Weil 26.09.2026 58min

  Simone Weil is one of the most interesting thinkers of the twentieth century. Yet she remains tragically underrated and underread. This is a shame, because she is a truly fascinating and original thinker, with a lot specifically to add to our understanding of the modern world.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 The Needs of The Soul14:32 Suffering and The Poem of Force29:11 Social Prestige and the Power of Words41:49 Friendship, Necessity, and Hatred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why you NEED to read Franz Kafka 26.09.2026 34min

  There are few authors who speak as clearly to the problems of modernity as Franz Kafka. But in him, we also find reassurance that our problems are not unique, or pathetic, but have been felt and understood by those who came before us. And, above all, are dignified enough to fashion great art out of them. So here let's look at Franz Kafka, and how he is the perfect philosopher for the modern age.Support me on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN7Loneliness sources:https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/facts-and-statistics/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/24/health/lonely-adults-gallup-poll-wellness/index.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/nov/16/who-declares-loneliness-a-global-public-health-concernhttps://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/unlock-loneliness/loneliness-young-people-research-briefing#:~:text=BBC.,new%20BBC%20Radio%204%20survey.Video on Kafka and TikTok: https://youtu.be/JuaWj0GVU9o?si=ErfYiLqGWy7-gyYF00:00 Kafka Populi01:13 A Question of Identity08:11 Isolation in Public14:45 Mundane Helplessness21:24 A Portrait of Fear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Thought Experiment Tier List 26.09.2026 1h 22min

  I love a philosophical thought experiment, and I love a tier list. So today we are going to rank some of the most famous thought experiments in history. Thank you so much to the friend who was kind enough to send me his list to react to.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Mary's Room10:27 Ship of Theseus16:01 The Teleporter Problem25:55 Utility Monster33:10 Euthyphro Dilemma38:06 Russell's Teapot43:22 Fake Barn Country51:45 Are you a Brain in a Vat?58:46 Wittgenstein's Beetle in a Box1:07:17 Chinese Room Argument Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Hidden Problem with Religious Arguments 26.09.2026 33min

  Head to https://squarespace.com/unsolicitedadvice to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code unsolicitedadviceDebates about God are almost always pitched as between atheists and theists. But we do not give very much thought to the middle position. What about the skeptic's position on the issue? What are the strong arguments in favour of agnosticism?Support me on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN7Image: Square made of Two Triangles. Credit to Michael Angelkovich. Licenced under CC 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en00:00 Agnosticism and Scepticism02:02 The Limits of Analogy07:32 The Problem of Understanding God14:12 Possibilities, Plausibility, and You20:05 Knowledge, Belief, and Doubt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Christian Case Against Cultural Christianity | Matt Whiteley 26.09.2026 1h 49min

  An argument that has become increasingly popular in apologetic or cultural apologetic circles is arguing for the cultural influence of Christianity through the "Tom Holland Argument". I talked to a prominent Christian critic of that argument to see why he thinks Christians should not take this route.Also check out Matt’s Substack here! It is really good!: https://substack.com/@thisisleisfullofnoises?r=2ohjsz&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=imageSupport me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 What is the "Tom Holland Argument"06:20 Why shouldn't Christians use it?16:46 The trouble with defining Christianity29:15 The difficulty of writing history through ideas41:15 Your morals aren't self-evident50:30 History, Epistemology, and Storytelling55:35 What are some good arguments for cultural Christianity?1:03:15 When are historical arguments persuasive?1:12:46 Secular Ethics and Self-Help Bros1:22:30 What I envy about religious people1:27:40 Can everyone go to Heaven?1:39:07 What was the greatest idea you came across in the past year and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Biggest Problem with Social Media Nobody Talks About 26.09.2026 34min

  Social Media. It is something everyone seems to agree has some pretty negative consequences, along with some positives. But we rarely stop and ask what it is about this simple collection of words and images that seems to cause so much distress. And in The Transparency Society, Byung-Chul Han aims to answer this very thing. So, let's learn how we killed privacy, and why you hate social media.Support me on Patreon here (you absolutely wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 The Transparency Society01:39 The Society of Exhibition07:47 Forced Intimacy and No Intimacy14:15 The Uninformative Deluge20:14 Transparency and Control Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Secret Behind Dostoevsky’s Genius 26.09.2026 57min

  Head to https://squarespace.com/unsolicitedadvice to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code UNSOLICITEDADVICEFyodor Dostoevsky is one of my favourite authors, and almost universally recognised as one of the greatest writers of all time. He left behind not only his novels and published works, but a plethora of journals and notes that some very interesting scholars have used to investigate his writing process. We are going to look at just some of their work now.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 A Timely Timeless Man16:54 Breaking News25:25 A Prisoner and a Prophet37:01 The Process of Creation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Crushes are So Painful 26.09.2026 34min

  Crushes are a fascinating aspect of human life. They have a tendency to reduce even the most rational person to a neurotic mess. But what exactly is it that makes a crush so powerful and so painful, and why do we get them? Well, this question is explored in detail in Stendhal's magnificent book On Love. And we will explore this very topic in this video.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 A Touch of Irrationalism01:43 Crystallisation and Fantasy08:24 Love's Labour's Lost (and Won)15:09 Identity, Vanity, and Ego21:26 Dignifying the Crush Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Everything Today Is Bulls*** 25.09.2026 34min

  The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare https://skl.sh/unsolicitedadvice07241Why does it seem like BS is around every corner in the modern age? Wherever we go there is usually someone trying to fool us, hoodwink us, or manipulate the truth to serve their own ends. But what exactly is Bulls****, and why should we care about it? Well, today we will look at Harry Frankfurt's essay on that very topic, and dive into the surprising philosophy of Bulls****Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 A Philosopher's Guide to BS02:32 A Theory of BS08:43 Honest and Dishonest15:17 The Tenacity of BS20:48 The Smell of BS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Analyzing Unhinged Am I The A**hole posts with Philosophy 24.09.2026 48min

  People from all over the internet flock to ask a very important question: Am I The A**hole? Today we are going to look at some of the most interesting finds from that subreddit, and see where philosophy is eminently applicable.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Honouring Dead Brother's Wishes12:25 Fake Memories of a Tragedy21:23 Telling a Friend She is Awful30:57 Not Caring About a Baby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Dostoevsky's Warning to the Self-Destructive 24.09.2026 35min

  Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of the most brilliant and eclectic writers in history. And here we will examine one of his most personal books - The Gambler. It is a masterclass in how to ruin your own life through self-destructive acts, and we will look at it in detail today. Get ready to learn how noble intentions can set us on the path to misery, and how we keep ourselves there. Let's dive into Dostoevsky's Guide to Self-Destruction.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 How to self-destruct01:29 Money, Self-ignorance, and self-sabotage08:52 The Hedonic Roulette Wheel13:51 The Existential Threat of Compulsion22:55 The Eternal Hope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The 7 Levels of Logical Thinking 23.09.2026 54min

  Try Brilliant's tutor for free: https://brilliant.org/Unsolicitedadvice/ . You’ll also get 20% off an annual Premium subscription.Logic and Logical thinking is one of my favourite topics, and also one of the most interesting and important fields of study out there. But it is quite difficult to give a broad view of what the field is or what it is all about. So today we are going to look at the seven levels of logic, taking us all the way from little-to-no logic at all, all the way to more advanced logical areas.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Pre-logic01:32 Fallacy-Mongering08:16 Basic Formal Logic14:50 First-Order Logic and Friends20:49 Specialized Logical Systems29:00 Using Maths to Study Maths41:54 Modern Logic ResearchSponsored by Brilliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Kafka Hated People 22.09.2026 35min

  Franz Kafka is one of the most brilliant yet anxious writers of the 20th century. And in his "Letter to my father" he outlines exactly where his fear of other people comes from. Here he outlines both his troubling relationship with his father Hermann, and gives a masterclass on the origins of his social anxiety, and social anxiety in general. So here is why Kafka hated people.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 A Letter to His Father01:39 Judge, Jury, and Executioner09:27 A Crumpled Map16:18 Permanent Scars22:31 Gratitude, Fear, and Guilt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Internet is All Ragebait Now. Here's Why 21.09.2026 58min

  It has become almost cliche to observe that the internet often seems to bring out the worst in us. Yet the question of why remains elusive. So today we are going to check out a number of philosophers who, in my view, can help us understand our current internet predicament, and hopefully try to solve it.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 The Dehumanizing Human15:04 Echo Chambers and Rationality29:06 Anonymity and Manners40:18 The Task of Love and the Future of The Internet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  How Nihilism Destroys You | Tolstoy's Confession 20.09.2026 33min

  An Existential Crisis is a uniquely painful experience. It robs all the joy out of life and leaves us a heaping mess on the floor. But luckily, we can turn to some of the greatest minds in history to guide us through. And foremost among these is Tolstoy's Confession, where he outlines how he fell into existential despair, and how he eventually started to dig himself out of it.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more (occasional) philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 Tolstoy's Existential Crisis01:34 The Brutality of Nihilism08:13 Four Futile Paths14:27 Faith, Reason, and Conflict20:57 Finding Normativity: An Open Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices