PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance

FromPhilosophy vs. Improv

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PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance

FromPhilosophy vs. Improv

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Length:

49 minutes

Released:

Jul 19, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

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Our first improvised scene! We get real high on self-esteem.
Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com.
Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.Hear more PvI. Support the podcast to get bonus stuff and good karma!

Released:

Jul 19, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (74)

Philosophy vs. Improv

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Philosophy vs. Improv: An Introductory Trailer: What is Philosophy vs. Improv? Hear about the new podcast by Mark Linsenmayer (The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast) and Bill Arnett (Chicago Improv Studio, The Complete Improviser author). Thanks to our announcer, Erica Spyres. by Philosophy vs. Improv
2 min listen
PvI#14: Action Idealism!: Are so-called "material objects" really just a scam? These two cut-ups (Bill and Mark) cut up the world in various ways, showing you how to teach, how to act, and how to haggle. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
43 min listen
PvI#10: Reasonable Beasts: Turkeys speculate in a game scene. Are they reasonable and/or jive turkeys? Then, geometry is subject to ad hominem attack in an instructive relationship scene. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
31 min listen
PvI#2: Real Lava Accommodation: Mark Linsenmayer asks what is real? Bill Arnett accommodates and highlights as appropriate. A flawless performance by all, despite the judges' feedback. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstud... by Philosophy vs. Improv
39 min listen
PvI#1: We Have Always Already Been Improvising: An epic journey begins. Which path will produce the most profound profundity? The wisest wisdom? Bill Arnett eases us into first gear, but Mark Linsenmayer pulls the wheel toward murder. For more about Mark and Bill, by Philosophy vs. Improv
40 min listen
PvI#5: What Is Bread? Are You Bread?: Two scenes reveal our underlying definitions. How will we overcome the lag between our words? How many beats in an heirloom beet if an heirloom hair-looms beets? Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
45 min listen
PvI#12: Stand by Me II: Bill gets really real, with his unlogical emotions. When we feel things, do we know why? Is there a why? Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more PvI. by Philosophy vs. Improv
34 min listen
PvI#20: The “Other” Story w/ Jenny Hansen: What is "othering"? Why did Bill get such a bad grade? Is it because of his feather quill pen? Our first real philosophy professor guest joins us for some office hours and anti-vaxxer drama. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
50 min listen
PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance: Our first improvised scene! We get real high on self-esteem. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.Hear more PvI. Support the podcast to get bonus stuff and good karma! by Philosophy vs. Improv
49 min listen
PvI#6: Let’s Have Made a Deal!: We try to be boring. Bill tries to make a discovery amidst the canards. Mark tries to be a good meta-dupe. With our first celebrity guest, the final judge is unveiled! Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
52 min listen
PvI#11: The Trolley Opportunity: Bill gets to have the power of live and death, with a bit of moral luck. Is he enthused? Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more PvI. by Philosophy vs. Improv
36 min listen
PvI#15: There is no “I” in “Dahyulectecs”: Who stole Carmine's lunch? I think you know. Are there only a certain number of "logical" directions from one idea to another? Are there no mistakes, or are there mistakes that know? Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
47 min listen
PvI#4: Death at Not a Doctor’s Office: Is death something to be feared? What's next? What are the DETAILS? Do not adjust your listening device; that sound you hear is improvisation. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
48 min listen
PvI#25: Questionable Causal Practices: Guest free, we discuss topics from hairballs to boogers to color vision among inanimate objects and rules for unicorn play. When the bad-ass, smelly, screaming white ball hits the 5 ball, how does the causality work? by Philosophy vs. Improv
38 min listen
PvI#7: Meritocracy Now!: Does it make sense to try to have everyone get what they "deserve"? We act out the desert machine but yet get no predictable cake. Judgebot 5000 enters our lives. Is this our first really good episode? Maybe. Hear more PvI. by Philosophy vs. Improv
38 min listen
PvI#21: Sentient Garage: The scene is its own entity. What else might be its own entity? Can a machine that passes the Turing test know what it's like to be a bat? We bring in emotions from irrelevant contexts, and we keep hearing them long after they're gone. by Philosophy vs. Improv
54 min listen
PvI#13: F*** Your Grapes: Beauty is cool, but is art always aiming at beauty? Generations disagree about their music. Snakes disagree about how much they should worry. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
41 min listen
PvI#24: Game Time w/ C. Thi Nguyen: The philosopher of games joins us for a frustration game. What is a game, anyway? We ask dumb questions on a museum tour. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
72 min listen
PvI#18: Utopias w/ Jill Bernard and Michelle Gilliam: Featuring TWO guest improvisers, Jill, co-founder of HUGE Theater and her friend Michelle, owner of Improv MKE. Bill and our guests each start a scene to explore something of what utopia might amount to, and of course how it will inevitably go bad. by Philosophy vs. Improv
50 min listen
PvI#23: Things Mean Things w/ Tommy Maranges (aka Philosophy Bro): Can we have an entertaining discussion inspired by Aristotle's most boring book? Bill leads Mark and our guest Tommy through some let's-describe-what's-in-an-imaginary-room exercises. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
47 min listen
PvI#26: Monetize Your Syphilitic Storytelling w/ Linda Orr: Is money the root of all evil, or does it save us from needless cabaret bartering? What is money qua social construction? Should we retain the chocolate fountain? Are you ready to run? Did you bring your NFTs to trade for blue powder? by Philosophy vs. Improv
48 min listen
PvI#8: Here Ought to Be Dragons: Mark and Bill do impressions of people you don't know. The is-ought distinction is bravely explored. Does pretending to be cavemen help? Magic business is afoot. Childhood speaks. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
41 min listen
PvI#34: Possible Diners w/ Barry Lam: Barry hosts Hi-Phi Nation, and his most recent season had a run on David Lewis, America's foremost philosopher of possible worlds. So we talk about that notion that Hollywood has had so much fun with lately, by Philosophy vs. Improv
50 min listen
PvI#17: The Imitation Game (with Toaster): Riffing on resemblance. Eventually invoking the spirit of a toaster. Mark is wrong: the God Emperor of Dune can't drink water at all, just dried food. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio... by Philosophy vs. Improv
47 min listen
PvI#33: Virtuous Garbage Director w/ Jack Newell: Bill is a sad but steadfast street sweeper. Mark has secret character traits. Filmmaker Jack C. Newell is our inaugural non-philosopher, non-improviser guest, and his film knowledge leads to us talking about ethics in terms of film tropes plus some met... by Philosophy vs. Improv
59 min listen
PvI#19: Broken Atomic Dogs: Let's all lose our jobs and talk instead about fundamental ontology and social dynamics. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more Philosophy vs. Improv. by Philosophy vs. Improv
42 min listen
PvI#22: Punishment w/ Noah Gregoropoulos: There's trouble at the work site! There are secret shifts of emotion going on. Do they make sense? Later, a guy's car is blocking a driveway. Does he deserve the electric chair, or a beer? It depends on your theory of punishment. by Philosophy vs. Improv
48 min listen
PvI#16: The Legend of Kermit’s Gold w/ Tim Sniffen: Do you believe in miracles? If doctors believed in miracles, would they just let surgeries finish themselves? Do assumptions of a logical universe make it not just unjustified by psychologically impossible for us to really believe in miracles? by Philosophy vs. Improv
50 min listen
PvI#35: Submarine Observations w/ Chris Rathjen: We talk about observations and how they relate to theories and other types of preconception. Is there such a thing as pure observation? We tour a submarine and plan a party. There is no Chumbawamba in either case. by Philosophy vs. Improv
56 min listen
PvI#28: Enhanced Interrogation w/ Adal Rifai: Today's episode is about questioning: how one might question, what sets the parameters for a proper answer, and how to give those answers in an informative and/or dramatically effective way. Watch out for dream pigs! Also, by Philosophy vs. Improv
72 min listen

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PvI#75: The Alien Literally Has Two Faces w/ Bran Peacock: The Hitchhikers and Appetizers co-host joins Mark and Bill to talk about cultural relativism. We talk about foreign-ness, what parts of ethics seem to apply to all cultures, the Museum of Soup, pushing back tactfully in a scene, and more. by Philosophy vs. Improv
67 min listen
PvI#74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink): David is co-host of the excellent Overthink podcast, popular among the young people today, and so we have him monologue to children as an anti (?) drug speaker. How can drugs change us, our sense of self, and the ways we see the world? by Philosophy vs. Improv
66 min listen
PvI#73: Family Whêtspät w/ Colleen Doyle: The co-host of the Those Who Aunt podcast joins Mark and Bill to joke about the family as the fundamental political unit and its special place in ethics. On the flip side, what questions should you ask yourself about your character at the start of a sc... by Philosophy vs. Improv
57 min listen
PvI#72: Spock Fever w/ Cole Nasrallah and Chris Rathjen: It's another TEAM PLAY episode, with our returning champions, star of improv stages and podcasts Chris and College of Southern Nevada philosophy prof Cole receiving NOT THE INFORMATION THEY EXPECT and gettin' all rational and such when consoling a frie... by Philosophy vs. Improv
68 min listen
PvI#71: The Cranio-Fascism Exchange: If people would be uniquely healed by your blood, how much would you charge for it? Would it make a difference if they were wealthy vampires? Bill entices Mark to join a cult. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
52 min listen
PvI#70: Paramilitary Existentialism w/ Jonny Thomson: Jonny taught philosophy at Oxford, wrote the international bestseller Mini Philosophy, and now writes for Big Think. We talk Kierkegaard and act out some scenes about scouting and military recruitment. Do we have to live within labels? by Philosophy vs. Improv
58 min listen
PvI#69: Alternative Religious Practices w/ Katie Caussin: Katie is the co-artistic director of Chicago's IO theater and used to do Comedy Sports improv with Bill. She also took a lot of classes in philosophy and religion, so we talk some about cults, Kierkegaard, tolerance, and more. In our scenes, by Philosophy vs. Improv
65 min listen
PvI#68: Mark and Bill Oozing at Christmastime: It’s our office holiday party, where we engage in chit-chat then enter into a few holiday scenes. Is there any philosophy content in this one at all? We do talk a bit about status and authority. Was there any particular improv lesson? by Philosophy vs. Improv
62 min listen
PvI#67: Consent to Improv w/ Sukaina Hirji: Sukaina teaches philosophy at U. of Pennsylvania, combining work from ancient Greek, contemporary moral, and feminist philosophy. She lets Mark and Bill know about critiques by feminist philosophers of the idea of consent. by Philosophy vs. Improv
65 min listen
PvI#66: Legacy Mops w/ Kevin Allison: Kevin is the creator and host of the storytelling podcast RISK! and is the alphabetically foremost member of the MTV-televised, newly reformed, celebrity-infested sketch comedy troupe The State. But can he improvise? by Philosophy vs. Improv
61 min listen
PvI#65: Pop Spice: Recorded on 9/11 (a date not known primarily for its improv activities), only now making its way to you, this discussion between Mark and Bill talk child deification, pop philosophy vs. pop improv, foreign accents, by Philosophy vs. Improv
53 min listen
PvI#64: TEAM PLAY GENERALS with Linda Orr and Andrew Lavin: Returning freedom fighters Andrew and Linda and join Bill and Mark to talk about philosophical liberalism: Its rationales and varieties. Plus, preschool orientation, and Greek gods creating a new world. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
76 min listen
PvI#63: Virtual Socrates w/ David Chalmers: The New York University Prof and author of many influential books including the new Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy joins Mark and Bill to simulate debates about AI, cybersex, actor vs. character, by Philosophy vs. Improv
58 min listen
PvI#62: Cutting Every Edge w/ Jeremy Richards: The author of The Accomplished Creative, a sort of anti-self-help book based around Jeremy's improv experience and what he learned as a philosophy major, joins Mark and Bill to talk impostor syndrome and benign violations, by Philosophy vs. Improv
57 min listen
PvI#61: TEAM PLAY CIRCUS with Adal Rifai and Jenny Hansen: It's St. Lawrence University philosophy prof Jenny in the ring with iO Theater instructor/Podcaster with Hey Riddle Riddle and Hello From the Magic Tavern Adal, along with Mark and Bill, of course. And the Bullshot is flying! Who will be hit? by Philosophy vs. Improv
70 min listen
PvI#60: Elu-Sedations w/ Matt Teichman: Philosopher Matt, host of the Elucidations podcast and frequent PEL guest, finally gets in on Philosophy vs. Improv in this, our Season Two Finale. And many is he a de dicto. Or is he a de re? Slowly learn the difference as we make things personal thro... by Philosophy vs. Improv
55 min listen
PvI#59: Yes, and Technological Dystopia w/ Anthony LeBlanc: How does new technology affect ethics? Anthony (who is on strike, but that doesn't apply to improv) is an improviser with a computer science degree who now coaches kid TV actors. We talk personal identity, transhumanism, genetic engineering, AI, by Philosophy vs. Improv
64 min listen
PvI#58: Avant Garde Accounting: The guests are away, and so Billy and Markaroony will play. This fast-paced, sweet-moving discussion covers the genius individual artist and how that might or might not allow collaboration, genres and definitions, strife, and more. by Philosophy vs. Improv
51 min listen
PvI#57: Happier Cancer w/ Monica McCarthy: Monica is an actor and writer who ran a live-on-stage philosophy podcast called The Happier Hour, and so naturally we talk about happiness, or flourishing (eudaimonia). You can watch this episode in its unedited video form. by Philosophy vs. Improv
61 min listen
PvI#56: Interpreting the Monkey Man w/ Chris George: Chris has an act called "I Am the Show" where he improvises to a film that he hasn't seen that's playing silently, making up all the dialogue and sound effects. Mark and Bill talk to Chris about being a spectator or critic of art: To understand a work,... by Philosophy vs. Improv
57 min listen
PvI#55: Oversouled Behavior w/ Genevieve Joy: Genevieve is a comedian, podcaster, and she was a philosophy major who's studying for her doctorate in Divinity. We talk about the idea that "we are all one" (and thus we are all God, if you want to call the sum of all things by that name) that's in va... by Philosophy vs. Improv
55 min listen
PvI#54: Do You Want to Be Here? w/ Brain in a Vat: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff of the Brain in a Vat podcast join Bill and Mark L. (aka Alf) to talk about rationality, broadly construed, while not moving a couch and not giving each other Christmas presents. by Philosophy vs. Improv
56 min listen
PvI#53: XTREME BEEF Quicheticles w/ Zach Thompson: Zach is an improvisor who's written for MST3K, been a commentator for Resistance Pro Wrestling, and has been a recurring guest on Hello From the Magic Tavern. He joins Mark and Bill to discuss competitiveness in all its forms. by Philosophy vs. Improv
52 min listen
PvI#52: Elegant Stoicism w/ Tanner Campbell by Philosophy vs. Improv
78 min listen
PvI#51: All Croutons: Mark and Bill engage in a wide-ranging discussion (with scenes, of course) covering the categorization of things, paradigm components and essences of things, historical advertisements, what goes in a museum, irresponsible loans, by Philosophy vs. Improv
49 min listen
PvI#50: Pro Tips w/ Marla Cáceres: Marla is an improviser from the Whirled News Tonight iO Theater show. We talk about obeying proper forms of behavior and drawing improv inspiration from outside sources. Plus, a thruple blind date and BBQ chain of custody. by Philosophy vs. Improv
54 min listen
PvI#49: Ferrets in Uniform with Cole Nasrallah: We talk transcendental idealism and Schopenhauer with Cole, who teaches philosophy at the College of Southern Nevada. Also, the least effective confidential informant! Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
48 min listen
PvI#48: Debates in the Orthaganon: Mark and Bill act out a couple of scenes of a person trying to convince a stubborn person of something. But there's a twist in the characterization! Also, before you were born, the world did not exist. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. by Philosophy vs. Improv
50 min listen
PvI#47: What’s in the Chili? w/ Rachael Mason: Rachael was a mentor of Bill's and works with him at the newly reopened iO Theater. So it's like we have TWO improv instructors here. We run some scenes, talk a bit too much about chili, and touch on functionalism, idealism, napism, and other isms. by Philosophy vs. Improv
52 min listen
PvI#46: Seize the Day How Exactly? w/ Nick Riggle: What does the shortness of our lives and the beauty of the world actually entail in terms of behavior and philosophy? Nick is a former pro skater who teaches philosophy at U. of San Diego and has written This Beauty about this question. by Philosophy vs. Improv
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PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance

PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance

Description

Titles in the series (74)

More Episodes from Philosophy vs. Improv