The Philosophical Outlook

Salman Tahir
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The Philosophical Outlook is a long-form podcast focused on in-depth conversations in philosophy and religion. Through discussions with academics, researchers, and independent scholars, the podcast explores fundamental questions of existence, meaning, ethics, suffering, and belief. Each episode emphasizes careful reasoning, engagement with classical and contemporary thought, and serious intellectual inquiry rather than quick conclusions.

Episodes

  1. Oct 15

    Ibn Arabi, the Unity of Being and Religious Pluralism with Dr Faris Abdel-hadi

    In the fourth episode of Season Two of The Philosophical Outlook, we are joined by Dr Faris Abdel-hadi, independent scholar of Sufism and Islamic philosophy and author of Ibn ʿArabī's Religious Pluralism: Levels of Inclusivity (Routledge, 2025), for a long conversation on the life and thought of Ibn Arabi. The discussion examines who Ibn Arabi was and how he came to be controversial, considers the Fusus al-Hikam, sainthood and non-legislative prophecy, and explores Wahdat al-Wujud, the levels of being, and predestination through the immutable entities (a'yan al-thabita). It then turns to whether reason can bring a person to God, the balance of tanzih and tashbih, and Ibn Arabi's non-reductive inclusivism, from the jizya to his metaphor of the sun and the stars. The conversation also touches on kashf and the authentication of hadith, the Muhammadan light, the image of pure water in a dirty bowl, the Qur'an as qur'an and furqan, God's self-disclosure in the form of belief, and the identity of the Sabi'un. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:38 – Who was Ibn Arabi? 06:00 – How he became controversial 09:06 – Where to begin reading Ibn Arabi 14:18 – The Fusus al-Hikam 16:20 – Saints and the continuation of inspiration 26:16 – Kashf and the weak hadith 28:23 – Wahdat al-Wujud: no being but God 34:13 – The levels of being 40:55 – Is existence an illusion? 44:00 – Predestination and the immutable entities 50:05 – The Muhammadan light 54:10 – Pure water, dirty bowl 58:23 – Made to know God 01:00:13 – Can reason prove God? 01:04:02 – The court poet and the sultan: tanzih and tashbih 01:06:17 – Non-reductive inclusivism and the jizya 01:12:14 – Inclusivity today 01:15:19 – The sun and the stars 01:19:52 – The Qur'an as qur'an and furqan 01:26:05 – God in the form of belief 01:30:24 – Who were the Sabi'un? 01:36:20 – Ibn Arabi and his teacher 01:38:01 – Outro Dr Faris Abdel-hadi's book: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003484141 Dr Faris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farisabdelhadi86/ Substack: https://substack.com/@stofficials YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stofficials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stofficials/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stofficials Threads: https://www.threads.com/@stofficials X: https://x.com/stofficials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stofficials Podcast audio: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stofficials Website: https://stofficials.com

    Ibn Arabi, the Unity of Being and Religious Pluralism with Dr Faris Abdel-hadi

  2. Jan 19

    S2E3 | On Language and Culture with ‪Hamza Surbuland

    In this episode, I’m joined by Hamza Surbuland, an overseas Pakistani who spent much of his life in Australia before developing a deep connection with Urdu and Eastern intellectual traditions.What began as curiosity gradually became commitment. Hamza immersed himself in Urdu from the ground up, and later expanded into other Eastern languages such as Arabic and Persian. Today, he teaches these languages and encourages others to approach them not merely as tools of communication, but as gateways into culture, history, and meaning.Our conversation moves beyond language as a practical skill and into larger questions. What is the role of language in shaping identity and civilisation? Is language something objective, or is it fundamentally shaped by culture and worldview? How do religion, tradition, and collective memory influence the way languages develop and persist?This episode is a reflection on why language matters, not only for personal growth, but for understanding heritage, belonging, and the intellectual foundations of societies.

    S2E3 | On Language and Culture with ‪Hamza Surbuland

  3. Jan 11

    S2E2 | On Intellectual Harmony with Joshua Beneventi

    In Season Two, Episode Two of The Philosophical Outlook, we are joined by Mr. Joshua Beneventi, an academic specializing in cultural anthropology, Arabic language, philosophy, and theology. The discussion explores the intersection of Eastern and Western philosophical traditions and how their integration can foster intellectual harmony and deeper understanding of reality and truth. Through careful dialogue, the episode highlights key insights and practical reflections on bridging diverse philosophical perspectives.

    S2E2 | On Intellectual Harmony with Joshua Beneventi

  4. 08/04/2022

    S2E1 | On Nietzsche’s “God Is Dead”, Religious Doctrines, and the Necessity of Morality

    In the first episode of Season Two of The Philosophical Outlook, we are joined by philosophy YouTuber Trey from TelosBound for a dialogue spanning multiple perspectives. The discussion examines Nietzsche’s concept of the “Death of God” and its societal implications, considers nihilism through the lens of Nietzsche and Žižek, and explores how religious doctrines respond to the challenges of meaning and morality. The conversation also touches on Zarathustra, Plato’s theory of forms, free will, and the philosophical foundations for the necessity of morality. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 03:34 – On Nietzsche’s “God Is Dead” 12:34 – Nihilism, Nietzsche, and Žižek 13:58 – Religious doctrines and nihilism 17:55 – Zarathustra and the imperfection of man 28:00 – Plato’s theory of forms 30:38 – Meta-reality of truth, evil, and existence 39:13 – Free will and the interaction of God with existence 47:33 – On the necessity of morality 58:48 – Outro

    S2E1 | On Nietzsche’s “God Is Dead”, Religious Doctrines, and the Necessity of Morality

  5. 03/14/2022

    S1E6 | On Ethics and Morality

    In this episode of The Philosophical Outlook, we examine the enduring philosophical question of morality. The discussion explores: What is morality? Where does it originate? How do ethical systems guide human behavior, and can they be justified? Drawing on classical and contemporary perspectives, we reflect on the nature, purpose, and significance of moral thought in shaping both individual and societal conduct.

    S1E6 | On Ethics and Morality

  6. 01/11/2022

    S1E5 | On the Philosophy of Knowledge

    In this episode of The Philosophical Outlook, we explore epistemology—the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, scope, and limits of knowledge. The discussion addresses questions such as: What does it mean to know? How do we acquire and justify knowledge? How is knowledge related to belief? We also examine the historical separation of science from philosophical inquiry and consider how philosophy might guide a more reflective understanding of knowledge in the modern world.

    S1E5 | On the Philosophy of Knowledge

  7. 01/03/2022

    S1E4 | On the Philosophy of Aesthetics

    In this episode of The Philosophical Outlook, we explore the philosophy of aesthetics, examining questions such as: What qualifies as art? What distinguishes art from non-art? What is the role and significance of art in society? And how are art and human emotion connected? The discussion draws on classical and contemporary perspectives to provide a thoughtful reflection on the meaning and impact of artistic experience.

    S1E4 | On the Philosophy of Aesthetics

  8. 12/29/2021

    S1E3 | On Globalisation

    In this episode of The Philosophical Outlook, we are joined by Mr Adil Iqbal, a PhD candidate whose research focuses on the impact of globalisation. The discussion offers an overview of globalisation by examining its key drivers, social and economic effects, and broader philosophical implications. The episode concludes with a reflection on the role and significance of globalisation within an ideal global order.

  9. 12/20/2021

    S1E2 | On the Philosophy of Perception

    In this episode of The Philosophical Outlook, we examine foundational questions in the philosophy of perception, focusing on how human cognition interprets and shapes reality. The discussion explores classical problems of appearance and reality, including Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, and considers examples and analogies related to altered perception. The episode concludes with a transition into questions of consciousness and subjective experience.

    S1E2 | On the Philosophy of Perception

  10. 12/14/2021

    S1E1 | On the Purpose of Life

    In this first episode of The Philosophical Outlook, we explore the question of the purpose of life alongside broader reflections on human nature and meaning. The discussion examines the innateness of human beings, the relationship between pain and pleasure, Albert Camus’ Myth of Sisyphus, and concludes with an overview of hedonistic philosophies. The conversation is grounded in philosophical inquiry and aims to clarify key concepts rather than offer final answers.

    S1E1 | On the Purpose of Life
  • 10 Episodes

About

The Philosophical Outlook is a long-form podcast focused on in-depth conversations in philosophy and religion. Through discussions with academics, researchers, and independent scholars, the podcast explores fundamental questions of existence, meaning, ethics, suffering, and belief. Each episode emphasizes careful reasoning, engagement with classical and contemporary thought, and serious intellectual inquiry rather than quick conclusions.

Information

  • Creator
    Salman Tahir
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Salman Tahir
  • Show Website
    The Philosophical Outlook