Two Philosophers Drink Beer & Discuss Film Two Philosophers Podcast

This is the final episode of 'Two Philosophers Drink Beer & Discuss Film'. In it, we talk about our experience of doing the podcast and why we have decided to end it. We also make one final film recommendation before having a farewell toast courtesy of some delicious beers from Mescan Brewery and Whiplash Beer. Thank you so much for listening to our podcast over the last couple of years. All of the episodes will remain online for another year, if you would like to listen to them again.

In this episode, we examine the 2013 film 'Her', directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix with Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde. Our conversation highlights a mood of loneliness as central to the film and explores Hannah Arendt's view that loneliness constitutes one of the main characteristics of modern life. We then consider the manner in which, what Shoshana Zuboff labels, 'surveillance capitalism' functions as an central aspect of the operating system that Theodore becomes romantically involved with in the film. Our discussion concludes by referencing, friend of the show, Isabel Millar to demonstrate how the concept of 'intelligence' has been largely misunderstood by much of the current thinking on the issue of artificial intelligence, before offering some final reflections on what Samantha's sexuality intimates about her as an individual subject. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 1996 cult classic 'Trainspotting', directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor. Our discussion consults the early writings of Emmanuel Levinas to offer an existential phenomenological analysis of addiction, before considering some of the more totalitarian aspects of the society depicted in the film with reference to Francis Fukuyama, Ayn Rand, and Herbert Marcuse. Greg also makes a surprising revelation that may threaten the very premise of our show! Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.