Read This Today

Manchoon Samchoon
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BOOKS

Many great books hold wisdom that feels more relevant than ever, yet they can often be overlooked. "Read This Today" is dedicated to restoring these vital conversations. In each episode, we select a book that matters, unpack its crucial insights, and explore its urgent relevance in the 21st century. If you're seeking to understand the present through the lens of the past, find clarity amidst chaos, or simply engage with ideas that can reshape your perspective, this podcast is for you. Let's uncover the enduring power of literature and discover why you should Read This Today.

  1. 07/08/2025

    Euripides' Hippolytus

    Unravel the complex web of fate, passion, and divine vengeance in our in-depth exploration of Euripides' searing tragedy, Hippolytus. Journey to ancient Athens as we analyze this masterpiece of psychological drama, where the wrath of Aphrodite ignites a forbidden love, leading to a devastating clash between rigid piety and uncontrollable desire. We'll unpack the play's haunting themes of justice, reputation, and the crushing power of the gods, revealing Euripides' revolutionary insights into the human heart. Essential listening for students of Greek tragedy, enthusiasts of mythology, or anyone seeking to understand the timeless struggles within the human psyche. Works Cited Afroz, Shirin. "The role and function of the chorus in Electra and Hippolytus." Scribd.Bain, David. "The Loeb Euripides II - D. Kovacs (ed. & tr.): Euripides: Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, Andromache, Hecuba." Review of Euripides: Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, Andromache, Hecuba, by D. Kovacs. The Classical Review, vol. 47, no. 1, Apr. 1997, pp. 18-20.Blackstock, Joel. "Hippolytus: A Depth Psychological Perspective." Taproot Therapy Collective Blog.Cockburn, G. T. "John Ferguson: Euripides, Hippolytus (Edited with Introduction, Commentary and Vocabulary)." Review of Euripides, Hippolytus, by John Ferguson. The Classical Review, vol. 38, no. 2, Oct. 1988, p. 398.Damen, ©. "I. Euripides and the Background to Hippolytus." Ancient Literature and Language, Utah State University, 2004."The Eleusinian Mysteries." Panacas.Euripides. HIPPOLYTOS. Edited with Introduction and Commentary by W. S. Barrett. Edited by W. S. Barrett, Clarendon Press, 1964.Euripides. Hippolytus. Translated by Ian Johnston, johnstoniatexts, 2016.Falini, Eleonora. "The Nurse of Phaedra. A Study on Subordinate Characters in Tragic Plots."Gibert, John. "Euripides, Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, Andromache, Hecuba." Review of Euripides, Children of Heracles; Hippolytus; Andromache; Hecuba, by David Kovacs. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1996.12.02, 1996.Himmelhoch, Leah. "Nothing Is As It Seems: The Tragedy of the Implicit in Euripides' Hippolytus." Review of Nothing is as it seems: the tragedy of the implicit in Euripides' Hippolytus, by Hanna Roisman. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1999.09.16, 1999.Hollis, Adrian. "William Spencer Barrett 1914–2001." Proceedings of the British Academy, vol. 124, The British Academy, 2004, pp. 25-36.Horsley, G.H.R. "One hundred years of the Loeb Classical Library." Semantic Scholar, 2011."Hippolytus (play)." Wikipedia."Hippolytus had only himself to blame for his fate." Reddit."Hippolytus of Athens." Wikipedia.Ionescu, Carla. "THE ENDURING GODDESS: Artemis and Mary, Mother of Jesus." Dissertation, York U.Kerényi, Carl. Dionysos: Archetypal Image of Indestructible Life. Translated by Ralph Manheim, Princeton UP, 2020."Károly Kerényi." Wikipedia."LitCharts. "Aphrodite Character Analysis in Hippolytus." LitCharts.Lucas, D. W. "Albin Lesky: Greek Tragedy. Translated by H. A. Frankfort with Foreword by E. G. Turner." Review of Greek Tragedy, by Albin Lesky. The Classical Review, vol. 16, no. 3, Dec. 1966, p. 416.Mueller, Melissa. "Hippolytus." Brill's Companion to Euripides, vol. 6, Brill, 2020, pp. 121-38.Østermark-Johansen, Lene. "Pater's 'Hippolytus Veiled': A Study from Euripides?" Pater the Classicist: Classical Scholarship, Reception, and Aestheticism, edited by Charles Martindale et al., Oxford UP, 2017, pp. 183-200."UKEssays.com. "Euripides Hippolytus Essay." UKEssays.com, Business Bliss Consultants FZE, 20 Dec. 2017."12 Wiles Why did Greek actors wear Masks.pdf." n.d. PDF file."What Ancient Greece can teach us about toxic masculinity today." Jesus College, 7 Sept. 2018. Blog Post.

    38 min

  2. 07/08/2025

    Aristophanes' Clouds

    Step into the zany world of ancient Athens with a deep dive into Aristophanes' uproarious comedy, Clouds. Join us as we dissect this foundational work of satire, exploring its hilarious jabs at Socrates, the "new education," and the generational divides of 5th-century BCE Athens. Discover the genius of Old Comedy, unpack the play's enduring themes of intellectual hubris and societal change, and understand why its sharp wit and timeless commentary on "making the worse appear the better reason" still resonate with surprising relevance today. Perfect for students of Greek drama, lovers of satire, or anyone curious about the comedic origins of Western thought. Works Cited: "Ancient Greek Comedy." Writing Across Contexts - College of Charleston Blogs, Accessed 8 July 2024, https://blogs.cofc.edu/writingacrosscontexts/ancient-greek-comedy/."Apology (Plato)." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Apology_(Plato)&oldid=1297145156.Aristophanes. Clouds. Edited with introduction and commentary by K.J. Dover, Clarendon Press, 1968.Aristophanes. Clouds. Translated by Jeffrey Henderson, Focus Classical Library, 1992.Aristophanes. Clouds: A Dual Language Edition. Translated by Ian Johnston, Faenum Publishing, 2017.Aristophanes. Clouds. Edited and translated by Alan H. Sommerstein, Aris & Phillips Ltd, 1982.Bowie, Ewen. "Aristophanes’ Clouds: An Agonistic Note." Essays on Ancient Greek Literature and Culture, Cambridge University Press, 2023, pp. 95-104. Cambridge Core, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107415430.008.Bowles, David. "Wrongfully Accused: The Political Motivations behind Socrates’ Execution." Hirundo, vol. 2, 2007, pp. 27-30. McGill University, https://www.mcgill.ca/lacs/files/lacs/hirundo_2007_bowles.pdf."Crito." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 May 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crito&oldid=1289991017.Duke, George. "The Sophists (Ancient Greek)." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Accessed 8 July 2024, https://iep.utm.edu/sophists/.Gillooly, Eileen. "Aaron Matz. Satire in an Age of Realism . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-521-19738-0. Price: US$85.00/£50.00." Romanticism and Victorianism on the Net, no. 59-60, Apr.-Oct. 2011, https://doi.org/10.7202/1013288ar.Konstan, David. Greek Comedy and Ideology. Oxford University Press, 1995.Munn, Mark. "The Sophists between Aristocracy and Democracy." Edited by Joshua Billings and Christopher Moore, The Cambridge Companion to the Sophists, Cambridge University Press, 2023, pp. 69-97. Cambridge Core, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108859639.003.Nails, Debra. "Socrates." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Fall 2009 ed., Stanford University, 16 Sep. 2005.Regier, James. "The March of the Muses: The Development of Higher Education in Athens from Pericles to the Paripatos."Ruffell, I. A. "Conservative and Radical: Aristophanic Comedy and Populist Debate in Democratic Athens." Aristophanes and Politics, Brill, 2023, pp. 60-89. Brill.Saxonhouse, Arlene W. "The Socratic Narrative: A Democratic Reading of Plato's Dialogues." Ancient Philosophy, vol. 37, no. 3, 2017, pp. 729-748. University of Michigan.Simon, Alissa. "Socrates: A Sophist?" HMU - Harrison Middleton University Blog, 26 Oct. 2018, https://www.hmu.edu/socrates-a-sophist/."The Clouds." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2024."Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War." Reddit, r/ClassicalEducation."Trial of Socrates." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2024.Vaughn, Vanessa E. "Analysis: Pericles' Funeral Oration." EBSCO Research Starters, 2021.Zuckerberg, Donna. "The Clothes Make the Man: Aristophanes and the Ragged Hero in Euripides’ Helen." Classical Philology, vol. 111, no. 3, July 2016, pp. 21-34. The University of Chicago Press: Journals, https://doi.org/10.1086/687244.

    45 min

  3. 07/08/2025

    Hendrik Willem Van Loon's The Story of Mankind

    Embark on an epic adventure through time with a captivating audio overview of Hendrik Willem Van Loon's groundbreaking book, The Story of Mankind. Discover why this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic redefined popular history, weaving a vibrant, narrative tapestry of human civilization from prehistoric times to the modern age. We'll explore Van Loon's unique storytelling approach, his insightful (and sometimes provocative) interpretations of major historical figures and movements, and how his engaging style made history accessible to generations. Uncover the enduring charm and significance of a book that inspired countless readers to see the grand sweep of our collective past. Ideal for history enthusiasts, aspiring scholars, or anyone who loves a good story about humanity's incredible journey. Works Cited "3 tips for writing narrative non-fiction books for kids." By Allison Tait, Allison Tait Author, 28 Sep. 2023."5 Classy Elements of “The Story of Mankind” (1921)." By Matt Weimann, The Captain of Class."57 Historical Fiction Picture Books: The Tensions Between Genre and Format." By Rachel L. Wadham, Andrew P. Garrett, & Emily N. Garrett, Journal of Culture and Values in Education, vol. 2, no. 2, 2019, pp. 57-72.A Brief Guide to Writing the History Paper. Harvard College Writing Center, Harvard College Writing Program Faculty of Arts and Sciences.A Child’s History of the World. By V. M. Hillyer."A Century of Distinguished Books for Young Readers - the John Newbery Medal Challenge." By Sara Beth West, 31 Mar. 2021.Ansco Company. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 44."Book Review: The Story of Mankind." By Cheryl Mahoney, Tales of the Marvelous, 4 Mar. 2018.Duffy, Cathy. "The Story of Mankind." Cathy Duffy Reviews, 1 Mar. 2016.Dearstyne, Bruce W. "Lessons from the History Textbook Wars of the 1920s." History News Network, 20 Feb. 2022.Domanska, Ewa. "Universal History and Postmodernism." Culturahistorica.org.Doubleday, Page & Co. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, pp. 46, 53, 56.Dunn, Ross Edmunds. "World History Education around the World.""From Didacticism to Entertainment: The Evolution of Children's Literature." COVE.Funk & Wagnalls Company. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 48.G.L. Miller Bond & Mortgage Company. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 57.Goodreads. "The Story of Mankind (1921), By Hendrik Willem van Loon (illustrated): World history." Goodreads."Hendrik Willem van Loon Collection." Roosevelt Institute for American Studies."Hendrik Willem van Loon: An Imaginative Look at History." By Kristin Wood, Books Tell You Why, 12 Jan. 2014."History of Children's Literature." Steps to Success: Crossing the Bridge Between Literacy Research and Practice."History Students Create Children’s Books." By Aaron Brock, MiddleWeb, 21 June 2015.Kidd, Kenneth B. "LIT 4930: The Newbery Medal Books." Course Syllabus, Fall 2003.Lyon & Healy. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 59.Minen, Cornelis A. van. Van Loon: Popular Historian, Journalist, and FDR Confidant. Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.The Mentor Association. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 14.The Ohio State University Libraries. "Hendrik Willem van Loon: Illustrations from The Story of Mankind." University Libraries' Archived Web Exhibits, 2005.The Ohio State University Libraries. "The Ohio State University." Archive-It, Feb. 2016."The Role of Storytelling in Teaching History: Engaging Narratives for Kids." DKM Homeschool Resource.Simmons. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 47."The Story of Mankind (1922)." By Barton, Barton Ranks 'Em.UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD. Advertisement. The Mentor, June 1923, p. 45.Van Loon, Hendrik Willem. "Witches and Witch-Finders: The Story of a Monster Superstition." The Mentor, vol. 11, no. 5, June 1923, pp. 405-412.Witkoski, Michael. "The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem Van Loon." EBSCO Research Starters, 2022.

    29 min

  4. 07/07/2025

    Søren Kierkegaard's Either/Or: Aesthetics, Ethics, and the Search for Meaning

    Uncover the life and thought of Søren Kierkegaard, a pivotal figure often called the "father of existentialism". This episode delves into Kierkegaard's unique "Indirect Communication", where he used pseudonyms like Victor Eremita for works such as Either/Or (1843), exploring the tension between aesthetic and ethical modes of life. We'll trace his journey from his early prolific output, including Fear and Trembling (1843) and The Concept of Anxiety (1844), to his later, signed religious works and his "Attack upon Official Christianity" (1854-1855), particularly against Bishop Martensen. Discover his profound insights into subjectivity, faith, and despair, concepts that underpin his challenge to societal conformity and his pursuit of the "single individual". Learn how Kierkegaard became a laughingstock during "The Corsair Affair" (beginning December 1845) yet continued to write, shaping existentialist thought and influencing figures like Sartre and Heidegger. Works Cited Carreira, Jeff. "Romanticism and Existential Philosophy." Philosophy is Not a Luxury, 12 Aug. 2010.Cross, Andrew. "Neither either nor or." The Cambridge Companion to Kierkegaard, edited by Alastair Hannay and Gordon Daniel Marino, Cambridge UP, 1997, pp. 125-53.Davenport, John. "The Meaning of Kierkegaard's Choice Between the Aesthetic and the Ethical." Southwest Philosophy Review, vol. 13, 1997, pp. 69-91.Evans, C. Stephen. "Kierkegaard on Human Spirituality." The Table, Biola University Center for Christian Thought, 10 May 2014.Goodman, Daniel. "Kierkegaard's Attack on Cultural Christianity." Plough Quarterly.Goodman, Daniel. "Beyond Romanticism: Kierkegaard, Irony, and the Modern Self." Ad Fontes Journal, 10 July 2024.Gosetti-Ferencei, Jennifer Anna. On Being and Becoming: An Existentialist Approach to Life. Oxford UP, 2021.Kierkegaard, Søren. Either/Or. Translated by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong, Princeton UP, 1987-88.Kierkegaard, Søren. Fear and Trembling and The Sickness Unto Death. Translated by Walter Lowrie, Princeton UP, 1941.Kierkegaard, Søren. Søren Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers. Edited by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong, Indiana UP, 1967-78.Krishek, Sharon. "Kierkegaard's Existential Lover." IAI News, 12 Feb. 2018.Lowrie, Walter. A Short Life of Kierkegaard. Princeton UP, 1942.Perkins, Robert L., editor. International Kierkegaard Commentary. Mercer UP."Soren Kierkegaard — The Father of Existentialism." The Living Philosophy.Storm, D. Anthony. "Journals and Papers." D. Anthony Storm's Commentary on Kierkegaard.Stewart, Jon, editor. Kierkegaard and Existentialism. Ashgate Publishing, 2011.Reddit."Søren Kierkegaard." Wikipedia."Either/Or (Kierkegaard book)." Wikipedia.

    42 min

  5. 07/07/2025

    Arthur Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation: Life as Suffering

    Delve into the mind of Arthur Schopenhauer, the "philosopher of pessimism". This episode explores his influential thought, which challenged the value of existence and greatly impacted figures like Nietzsche and Wittgenstein. Discover his uniquely clear and elegant prose, a stark contrast to his German idealist contemporaries like Fichte and Hegel, whom he often accused of deliberate obfuscation. Learn about his foundational work, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which simplified Kant's cognitive framework, and his magnum opus, The World as Will and Representation, which he meticulously refined throughout his life. We'll also examine his profound engagement with Eastern thought, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism, which he considered the most truthful religions for acknowledging suffering and the vanity of earthly existence. Despite his philosophical outlook, Schopenhauer also explored practical wisdom, offering a "eudaimonology" on living a good life. Works Cited App, Urs. "Schopenhauer's Initial Encounter with Indian Thought."Baptista, Trino. "Psychotherapists: Should we meet Arthur Schopenhauer?" Redalyc.Collinson, Diané. "Book Reviews." Rev. of The Philosophy of Schopenhauer, by Bryan Magee. The Philosophical Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 137, Oct. 1984, p. 510. Oxford Academic. Oxford University Press.Cross, Stephen. Schopenhauer's Encounter with Indian Thought (Representation and Will and Their Indian Parallels). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2014.Dhoot, Randeep. "Hegelian Idealism: An Overview." International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations, vol. 6, no. 4, Oct.-Dec. 2018, pp. 596-99. Research Publish Journals.Foa Dienstag, Joshua. "Schopenhauer and Hegel's feud was metaphysical: a pessimist who recognised the unchangeable essence of the world and an optimist who saw human history as perpetual growth could never get along." Reddit, 2023.Hutton, Kenneth. "Ethics in Schopenhauer and Buddhism." PhD thesis, University of Glasgow, 30 Sep. 2008. Enlighten Theses.Inductivo, Ivan Brian L. "Schopenhauer's Ethics: A Metaphysics in Action." Scientia - The International Journal on the Liberal Arts.James, Peter. "Schopenhauer’s Nagging Mother." Diary Of A Failed Comedian, 30 Apr. 2024.Janaway, Christopher. "Introduction." The Cambridge Companion to Schopenhauer, edited by Christopher Janaway, Cambridge University Press, 28 May 2006, pp. 1-17.Ketcham, Christopher. "Schopenhauer and Buddhism: Soulless Continuity." Journal of Animal Ethics, vol. 8, no. 1, 1 Apr. 2018, pp. 12-25.Koßler, Matthias, and Arati Barua, editors. Understanding Schopenhauer through the Prism of Indian Culture: Philosophy, Religion and Sanskrit Literature. De Gruyter, 2013."'Life Without Pain Has No Meaning': Arthur Schopenhauer." Yale Books Blog. Yale University Press London, 10 Apr. 2025.Mammadova, Chinara. "Arthur Schopenhauer and East: Compassion as the Basis of Ethics." The Asian Conference on Ethics, Religion and Philosophy 2015 Official Conference Proceedings. Baku State University, Azerbaijan."Nietzsche and Eastern Philosophy (Buddhism)." Eternalised. Eternalised - Philosophy."On the Buddha Posture in Heart of Darkness." Atlantis Press."Schopenhauer's Concept of Suffering and Aesthetics." Talisik, vol. 4, no. 1.Singer, Adam. "Exploring Schopenhauer's contempt for Hegel." Hot Takes. 2025.Stangroom, Jeremy. "The Genesis of a Philosophical Myth." Heristical, 2025.Troxell, Mary. "Arthur Schopenhauer (1788—1860)." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy."Understanding Schopenhauer through the Prism of Indian Culture." University of Hawaiʻi Press.Woods, David Bather. "The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer." Interview by Nigel Warburton. Five Books, 17 July 2020.Wicks, Robert. "Arthur Schopenhauer." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2015."'When relationships tire you out, try Schopenhauer.'" The Korea Herald.Young, Julian. Schopenhauer. Routledge, 2005.

    29 min

  6. 07/07/2025

    G.W.F. Hegel's monumental Elements of the Philosophy of Right

    This episode delves into G.W.F. Hegel's monumental Elements of the Philosophy of Right, exploring his distinct and often challenging conception of freedom. We examine how Hegel’s communitarian perspective, which emphasizes the state over the individual, contrasts sharply with the classic social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Discover how Hegel’s philosophy shapes understanding of persons, property, punishment, civil society, and the state. Works Cited Ameriks, Karl, editor. The Cambridge Companion to German Idealism. Cambridge University Press, 2000.Azike, Gerald Chibueze. "BETWEEN CLASSIC SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY AND HEGELIAN STATE: A CASE FOR FREEDOM’S BROADER CONCEPTION." University of Memphis Digital Commons, 2025, digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3805.Beiser, Frederick C., editor. The Cambridge Companion to Hegel and Nineteenth-Century Philosophy. Cambridge University Press, 2008.Beiser, Frederick C. Hegel. Routledge, 2005."Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critique_of_Hegel%27s_Philosophy_of_Right.Dudley, Will. Understanding German Idealism. Acumen, 2007."Epistemic difference between Kant and Hegel." Reddit, reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1dl5671/epistemic_difference_between_kant_and_hegel/.Fox-Williams, Jack. "Hegel’s Understanding of History." Philosophy Now, no. 140, 2020.Fulford, Robert. "Robert Fulford's review of Hegel: A Biography, by Terry Pinkard." robertfulford.com, robertfulford.com/PinkardHegel.html.Gelžinytė, Brigita. "Fichte’s Critique in Early Schelling and Hegel, or a Moment of Dead and Lost God that has to Remain but a Moment." Lo Sguardo - rivista di filosofia, no. 30, 2020."German idealism." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_idealism.Gordon, David. "Hegel’s Very Odd Definition of Freedom." Mises Wire, 24 Jan. 2020, mises.org/wire/hegels-very-odd-definition-freedom.Gros, Simon. "Between Kant & Hegel: Texts in the Development of Post-Kantian Idealism." 29 Mar. 2025, simongros.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/between-kant-hegel-texts-in-the-development-of-post-kantian-idealism/.Harris, H.S. "Hegel's intellectual development to 1807." The Cambridge Companion to Hegel, edited by Frederick C. Beiser, Cambridge University Press, 1993, pp. 25-51."Hegel's Fact of Reason: Life and Death in the Experience of Freedom [Special Issue]." Argumenta, argumenta.arg.unito.it/issue/2/.Hegel, G.W.F. Elements of the Philosophy of Right. Edited by Allen W. Wood, Translated by H. B. Nisbet, Cambridge University Press, 1991.---. Philosophy of Right. Translated by S.W. Dyde, Queen’s University, 1896."Hegel's Life and Historical Context." By Outis. LICENTIA POETICA, 24 Nov. 2024, medium.com/@licentiapoetica/hegels-life-and-historical-context-21e1a53c613e."Hegel's Philosophy of Right." Reddit, reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1dl70p3/hegels_philosophy_of_right/."Hegel: Social and Political Thought." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, iep.utm.edu/hegel-pol/.Knowles, Dudley. Hegel and the Philosophy of Right. Routledge, 2002.O'Connor, Patricia, and Jonathan Mohr. German Idealism: An Anthology and Guide. University of Chicago Press, 2007.Pinkard, Terry. Hegel: A Biography. Cambridge University Press, 2000.Ritter, Joachim. "Person and Property in Hegel's Philosophy of Right (§§34–81)." Hegel on Ethics and Politics, edited by Robert B. Pippin and Otfried Höffe, translated by Nicholas Walker, Cambridge University Press, 2004, pp. 101-123.Siep, Ludwig. "The contemporary relevance of Hegel's practical philosophy." Hegel, edited by Katerina Deligiorgi, Cambridge University Press, 2013."The Impact of Idealism." University of Cambridge, 6 Sep. 2012, cam.ac.uk/stories/the-impact-of-idealism.Vieweg, Klaus. "Hegel’s Sicilian Defence: Beyond Realism and Constructivism." The Idealism of Freedom. Brill, pp. 13–22.reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1dli5i2/why_did_19th_century_germans_read_hegel_what_were/.

    29 min

  7. 07/07/2025

    Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit: The Odyssey of Consciousness

    Dive into the profound world of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a pivotal figure in German Idealism whose philosophy continues to illuminate modern dilemmas. Explore his ambitious goal to comprehend all reality philosophically, investigating areas like art, religion, history, morality, politics, and science. Discover Hegel's core method: the dialectic, a dynamic process of thought and development involving the interplay of opposing ideas leading to a richer understanding. Works Cited "Analysis of Hegel's Philosophy in the Light of German Idealism." International Journal of Research in Academic World.Ameriks, Karl, editor. The Cambridge Companion to German Idealism. Cambridge University Press, 2000.Barlas, Baran. "Hegel’s Master-Slave Dialectic Explained." TheCollector, 20 June 2025.———. "What Is Dialectic? From Heraclitus to Marx." TheCollector.Brandstetter, Sophia. "How Dialectical Thinking Can Enhance Your Perspective?" Growth thru Change, 15 Apr. 2025."Can Someone Explain Hegel's Dialectics, Like I Am 5-Years-Old?" Reddit, u/foranoldbitchgone, c. 2022.Christensen, Chris. "The Trouble with Hegel." Philosophy Now, no. 129, 2018."Chronology of Hegel’s Life." The Oxford Handbook of Hegel, edited by Dean Moyar, Oxford University Press, 2017. Oxford Academic, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199355228.002.0008."Critical Perspectives on the Dialectical Method." Philosophy Institute, 28 Sept. 2023."Dialectic." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation."Dialectical Materialism." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation.Duquette, David A. "Hegel: Social and Political Thought." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Dudley, Will. Understanding German Idealism. Acumen, 2007."ELI5: What Is the Difference between the Socratic and the Hegelian Dialectic?" Reddit, u/[deleted], c. 2022."Explain Germán Idealism to Me, Please." Reddit, u/RaritySparkle, c. 2019.Fox-Williams, Jack. "Hegel’s Understanding of History." Philosophy Now, no. 140, 2020."Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)." Philosophy Now, no. 159.Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich. The Phenomenology of Mind. Translated by J. B. Baillie.———. Phenomenology of Spirit. Translated by A. V. Miller, with analysis of the text and foreword by J. N. Findlay, Oxford University Press, 1977.———. The Phenomenology of Spirit. Translated and edited by Terry Pinkard, Cambridge University Press, 2018.Henrich, Dieter. Between Kant and Hegel: Lectures on German Idealism. Edited by David S. Pacini, Harvard University Press, 2008.Lee, Sarah. "The Art of Dialectics: A Guide to Informal Logic." Number Analytics, 15 June 2025. Accessed 7 July 2025.Miller, Mitchell H., Jr. "The Attainment of the Absolute Standpoint in Hegel's Phenomenology." Graduate Philosophy Journal, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 427-49."Moral Philosophy as an Object of Hegel's Debate with Kant in The Phenomenology of Spirit." SHS Web of Conferences,.u/godloves-saggytits. "Can Anyone Give Me a Summary in Simple Language That What Hegel's Philosophy Are Actually About?" Reddit, c. 2023.Outis. "Hegel’s Life and Historical Context." LICENTIA POETICA, Medium, 24 Nov. 2024. Accessed 7 July 2025.———. "Kant’s Influence on Later Philosophical Movements." LICENTIA POETICA, Medium, 5 Oct. 2024.Redding, Paul. "Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Winter 2020 ed., Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University.Stern, Robert. Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Hegel and the Phenomenology of Spirit. Routledge, 2001."Socratic Dialogue." MSP Guide, 18 Mar. 2022.Stewart, Jon. "Hegel’s Long Shadow in the History of Nineteenth-Century Philosophy." Hegel's Century: Alienation and Recognition in a Time of Revolution, Cambridge University Press, 2021, doi:10.1017/9781009019828.013.Taylor, Charles. "VI. The Opening Arguments of The Phenomenology.".u/Educational-Show-113. "What Makes Schelling the Connecting Link between Hegel and Fichte?" Reddit, c. 2023.

    53 min

  8. 07/07/2025

    Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling

    Join us for an exploration of Søren Kierkegaard’s profound work, Fear and Trembling. Penned under the pseudonym Johannes de Silentio, this "dialectical lyric" delves into Abraham's terrifying trial of faith—the Akedah, or Binding of Isaac. We examine how Kierkegaard, often considered a father of existentialism, used pseudonyms as a method of indirect communication to help readers grapple with complex truths, rather than merely presenting facts. The text challenges conventional ethical understanding, exploring the anguish and incomprehensibility of Abraham's absolute duty to God. Discover why Silentio's struggle to "understand Abraham" beyond human reason leads to the concept of the absurd. This episode unpacks the intense, personal journey Kierkegaard designed to inspire faith by making us appreciate the radical nature of Abraham's achievement. Works Cited "Abraham as Ritual Model in Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling." Imitating Abraham, by George Pattison, Brill, 2021. "Akedah: How Jews and Christians Explained Abraham’s Faith." By Devorah Schoenfeld, TheTorah.com, 30 Oct. 2017, thetorah.com/article/akedah-how-jews-and-christians-explained-abrahams-faith. Accessed 18 June 2024. "Binding of Isaac." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binding_of_Isaac. Accessed 18 June 2024. Existentialism. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism. Accessed 18 June 2024. Kierkegaard, Søren. Fear and Trembling: Dialectical Lyric. Translated by Alastair Hannay, Penguin Books, 2006. ---. Fear and Trembling / Repetition. Translated and edited by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong, Princeton UP, 1983. Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling: A Critical Guide. Edited by Daniel Conway, Cambridge UP, 2015. Pulliam, David. "Søren Kierkegaard’s View of Faith Found in Fear and Trembling and Practice in Christianity." MA thesis, Indiana U, 2016. "Sören Kierkegaard and Existentialism." [No publication details provided in the source excerpt]. "Søren Kierkegaard." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard. Accessed 18 June 2024.

    42 min
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2 Ratings

About

Many great books hold wisdom that feels more relevant than ever, yet they can often be overlooked. "Read This Today" is dedicated to restoring these vital conversations. In each episode, we select a book that matters, unpack its crucial insights, and explore its urgent relevance in the 21st century. If you're seeking to understand the present through the lens of the past, find clarity amidst chaos, or simply engage with ideas that can reshape your perspective, this podcast is for you. Let's uncover the enduring power of literature and discover why you should Read This Today.

Information

  • Creator
    Manchoon Samchoon
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Manchoon Samchoon
  • Show Website
    Read This Today