Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/philosophy-universe A podcast on science fiction, philosophy and fantasy! Short episodes, airs every two weeks. (c) 2022 by Alfredo Mac Laughlin 026182a9-bb4d-5ad7-b4eb-084195e5bdd5 no en Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:35:05 -0500 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:57:29 -0600 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/ https://img.transistor.fm/4QZ9-ogt6hWfPeanuhkTfZA2EJ4UHbDfNvKzF5anA-s/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM1ODM0LzE2NjY5/OTE2NzEtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg https://philosophyuniverse.blog/ serial Alfredo Mac Laughlin A podcast on science fiction, philosophy and fantasy! Short episodes, airs every two weeks. A podcast on science fiction, philosophy and fantasy. philosophy, fantasy, science fiction, SF, speculative fiction, thematic Alfredo Mac Laughlin No No 1 1 1. Captain Pike and the Evil Genius: Can Pike Escape the Cage? full b4c8ec79-3c3b-47e9-9505-5d9f3a010617 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2022/11/05/post-1-captain-pike-and-the-evil-genius/ Original music and artwork.
This episode contains sound effects from Star Trek, the original series.
Here's the link to Descartes' "Discourse on Method" (in Project Gutenberg).

]]> Original music and artwork.
This episode contains sound effects from Star Trek, the original series.
Here's the link to Descartes' "Discourse on Method" (in Project Gutenberg).

]]> Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:50:30 -0500 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1094 In our beginning episode we revisit the first episode of Star Trek, and find that Captain Pike's struggle with the big-brained Talosians is very much like the struggle of 17th century philosopher René Descartes. In our beginning episode we revisit the first episode of Star Trek, and find that Captain Pike's struggle with the big-brained Talosians is very much like the struggle of 17th century philosopher René Descartes. Descartes, Captain Pike, philosophy, science fiction, Star Trek, perception, illusions, methodical doubt, skepticism, cogito ergo sum, Talosians No 2 2 2. Can you escape the Cave? Plato and the first dystopian story full 3f1ff9ff-43b4-4611-8e2c-f076ddf4f8a5 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2022/11/15/2-plato-and-the-first-dystopian-story/ In this episode we explore how dystopian stories share the structure of Plato's famous "allegory of the Cave," and we look into various possible meanings and warnings to be learned from that story.
Original art and music.
Includes snippets of "Gestation" from the game "Cave Story" ("Doukutsu Monogatari"). It has no relation to Plato's cave, but it is a beautiful game released for free by its creator. This is our little homage.. Thanks to cavestory.org. (You can download the music and the game.)

]]> In this episode we explore how dystopian stories share the structure of Plato's famous "allegory of the Cave," and we look into various possible meanings and warnings to be learned from that story.
Original art and music.
Includes snippets of "Gestation" from the game "Cave Story" ("Doukutsu Monogatari"). It has no relation to Plato's cave, but it is a beautiful game released for free by its creator. This is our little homage.. Thanks to cavestory.org. (You can download the music and the game.)

]]> Tue, 15 Nov 2022 19:40:46 -0600 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1117 Who wrote the first dystopian short story? Plato, of course! Who wrote the first dystopian short story? Plato, of course! philosophy, Plato, Republic, myth of the cave, allegory of the cave, dystopian fiction, prisoner, puppeteers, chains No 3 3 3. A World Turned Upside Down: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 full 070396e3-f617-4b29-96cc-a0c9533bb4e0 https://philosophyuniverse.transistor.fm/3 This is the first of a three-episode series on Ray Bradbury's masterpiece, Fahrenheit 451. I highly recommend that you read the book before listening to this episode, as it contains major spoilers! (Also, as it is a great book totally worth your time...)

]]> This is the first of a three-episode series on Ray Bradbury's masterpiece, Fahrenheit 451. I highly recommend that you read the book before listening to this episode, as it contains major spoilers! (Also, as it is a great book totally worth your time...)

]]> Mon, 12 Dec 2022 19:56:50 -0600 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1160 Trying to get at the heart of Ray Bradbury's most celebrated novel, Alfredo finds it may have to do with the eternal battle of nihilism against wonder, and somehow ties this with Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" Trying to get at the heart of Ray Bradbury's most celebrated novel, Alfredo finds it may have to do with the eternal battle of nihilism against wonder, and somehow ties this with Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" philosophy, science fiction, Bradbury, Fahrenheit, Frankl, wonder, nihilism, Clarisse, Mildred, meaning of life No 4 4 4. Distracted to Death: The World of Fahrenheit 451 full 3dcd285b-0091-47d8-943a-f2a2dd7f978c https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2023/01/12/4-distracted-to-death/ Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:26:47 -0600 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1060 Sergeant Beatty spills the beans to Montag, and we learn about the dangers of going too fast through life. Sergeant Beatty spills the beans to Montag, and we learn about the dangers of going too fast through life. philosophy, science fiction, Bradbury, Montag, Beatty, distraction, entertainment, Fahrenheit 451 No 5 5 5. Book Burning in the 21st Century: Ray Bradbury and Cancel Culture full 64b39ec0-6c0f-4d6c-bfd7-d06dc28a4fa6 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2023/04/19/5-book-burning-and-cancel-culture/ We couldn't leave Fahrenheit without touching on some, sadly, burning topics of present times -- censorship, cancel culture and, yes, book burning. Is it true that extremes touch? And what does Bradbury have to say about this whole issue? Bear with us on this slightly longer episode, as we slog through dangerous territory trying to make some sense of it all.

]]> We couldn't leave Fahrenheit without touching on some, sadly, burning topics of present times -- censorship, cancel culture and, yes, book burning. Is it true that extremes touch? And what does Bradbury have to say about this whole issue? Bear with us on this slightly longer episode, as we slog through dangerous territory trying to make some sense of it all.

]]> Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:28:23 -0500 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1475 We couldn't leave Fahrenheit without touching on some, sadly, burning topics of present times -- censorship, cancel culture and, yes, book burning. Is it true that extremes touch? And what does Bradbury have to say about this whole issue? Bear with us on this slightly longer episode, as we slog through dangerous territory trying to make some sense of it all.

]]> philosophy, science fiction, Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury, book burning, censorship, paternalism cancel culture, No 6 6 6. Plato and the First Ring of Power full f77c020a-0801-4833-9280-f2d86134fa56 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2023/06/20/6-plato-and-the-first-ring-of-power/ What would you do if you could become invisible? Would you still play by the rules? Are we good only because others can see us?
This is the beginning episode in the "Ethics Tutorial" miniseries. With the story of Gyges and his magical ring, Plato introduces one of the fundamental questions of ethics. 

]]> What would you do if you could become invisible? Would you still play by the rules? Are we good only because others can see us?
This is the beginning episode in the "Ethics Tutorial" miniseries. With the story of Gyges and his magical ring, Plato introduces one of the fundamental questions of ethics. 

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 17:06:37 -0500 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 769 What would you do if you could become invisible? Would you still play by the rules? Are we good only because others can see us?
This is the beginning episode in the "Ethics Tutorial" miniseries. With the story of Gyges and his magical ring, Plato introduces one of the fundamental questions of ethics. 

]]> philosophy, Plato, ring of invisibility, Gyges, Republic, ethics, justice, Thrasymachus No 7 7 7. An Interview with Randy Richards, author of "The Unseen Hand of Peter Gyges" full 2940ac85-0b6d-4c3f-bcf8-9dc5d31e78e7 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2023/06/30/7-an-interview-with-randy-richards-author-of-the-unseen-hand-of-peter-gyges/ An interview with Randy Richards, author of "The Unseen Hand of Peter Gyges" (2015), a modern retelling of Plato's classic fable.

]]> An interview with Randy Richards, author of "The Unseen Hand of Peter Gyges" (2015), a modern retelling of Plato's classic fable.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 18:33:40 -0500 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1851 An interview with Randy Richards, author of "The Unseen Hand of Peter Gyges" (2015), a modern retelling of Plato's classic fable.

]]> philosophy, Plato, Gyges, Randy Richards, ethics, business ethics, Republic, invisibility No 8 8 8. The Ethics of Mr. Spock full d4af6d7f-35c2-486c-a901-b0c58b52ab41 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2024/01/25/8-the-ethics-of-mr-spock/ Continuing with our "ethics tutorial", we look at a figure that exemplifies a variety of ethical theories. What better way to get introduced to them than by the hand of Mr. Spock?

]]> Continuing with our "ethics tutorial", we look at a figure that exemplifies a variety of ethical theories. What better way to get introduced to them than by the hand of Mr. Spock?

]]> Tue, 23 Jan 2024 17:36:14 -0600 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1150 Continuing with our "ethics tutorial", we look at a figure that exemplifies a variety of ethical theories. What better way to get introduced to them than by the hand of Mr. Spock?

]]> philosophy; science fiction; Star Trek; Spock; Kirk; Stoics; reason; Kant; virtue ethics No 9 9 9. Discover Your Superpowers! Training Montages and Virtue Ethics full 3d5cf0cd-8c2c-4251-bbe6-b4fc3cad57a1 https://philosophyuniverse.blog/2024/03/01/9-discover-your-superpowers/ Part of the Ethics Tutorial, we explore the notion of "habit" in ethics and its importance in our lives.

]]> Part of the Ethics Tutorial, we explore the notion of "habit" in ethics and its importance in our lives.

]]> Fri, 01 Mar 2024 15:44:36 -0600 Alfredo Mac Laughlin Alfredo Mac Laughlin 1091 Part of the Ethics Tutorial, we explore the notion of "habit" in ethics and its importance in our lives.

]]> philosophy; ethics; Aristotle; virtue; habit; self-improvement; stats; character arc No