The Partially Examined Life
by Mark Linsenmayer, Seth Paskin, Wes Alwan & Dylan Casey
A philosophy podcast and philosophy blog. The Partially Examined Life delivers regular briefings with deep-dives into specific philosophical texts, featuring transcripts, reading guides, and expert commentary.
About The Partially Examined Life
The Partially Examined Life is the 'Graduate Seminar' you actually want to attend. Its updates are famous for their 'Familiar Rigor'—they treat the great works of philosophy with serious respect but also with the humor and skepticism of friends talking in a pub. It's unique for its 'Text-First Approach'; instead of just talking about general ideas, they usually deep-dive into a specific primary text, helping you learn how to *read* philosophy. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to move beyond summaries and actually engage with the source material of human thought.
What Makes This Newsletter Unique
Textual Engagement. They provide the most respected and relatable guides to reading and understanding primary philosophical texts for a general audience.
Who Should Subscribe?
People who want to go deep into specific books and thinkers and enjoy a more conversational, 'unpolished' intellectual vibe.
Content Format
A dense, link-rich email featuring 'Episode Transcripts', 'Reading Lists', and 'Blog Reflections'.
Pricing & Subscription Options
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- Monthly (with frequent blog updates) emails
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Our Take: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredible depth on primary sources and texts
- Very high-quality community and discussion forums
- Bridges the gap between 'fun' and 'academic' perfectly
Cons
- Can be very long-winded (some podcasts are 2+ hours)
- Requires a significant time investment to truly benefit
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it only for experts?
No, they aim for a 'layman's' level of clarity, though they do expect you to be willing to engage with some difficult texts.
How often is The Partially Examined Life published?
The Partially Examined Life is published monthly (with frequent blog updates).
Who writes The Partially Examined Life?
The Partially Examined Life is written by Mark Linsenmayer, Seth Paskin, Wes Alwan & Dylan Casey. Founded by four guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it.
About the Author: Mark Linsenmayer, Seth Paskin, Wes Alwan & Dylan Casey
Mark Linsenmayer, Seth Paskin, Wes Alwan & Dylan Casey
Founded by four guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. They provide a 'not-too-academic' but very rigorous look at the history of ideas.
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