'On Bullsh*t' and the Pundit Industrial Complex
Added 2023-08-10 09:00:04 +0000 UTCMichael and Peter dissect Harry Frankfurt's seminal essay "On Bullsh*t" and discuss the types of nonsense that are perpetually cascading through our media and politics.
NOTE: If it sounds like we're being weirdly harsh to a guy who just died, that's because we recorded this in June, before it happened. RIP Harry. Nothing will ever make us respect an author more than refusing to use filler.
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Comments
god the last ten mins are so brutal - just utterly dehumanizing. get me outta here!!
Samantha Adioetomo
2024-09-08 09:51:39 +0000 UTCAhh Pelosi, the every-woman we can all root for.
John McFadin
2024-03-30 19:05:18 +0000 UTCSpeak 1984
Leah Wilts
2024-03-28 22:34:30 +0000 UTCMore episodes on the economic situation millenials are facing pls
Violence Zack
2024-02-26 16:35:08 +0000 UTCa book came out the same time called Your Call Is Important To Us with almost the same thesis. Might have been coattail riding but I found it more direct and clear in its thesis. Favorite line was [media/politicians/pr firms, i forget which exactly] make one thing and one thing only - shit up.
P.B.
2024-01-22 11:58:59 +0000 UTCOh my God, so true Michael. I feel like journalists are failing us normies with their “do your own research” cop outs. If a journalist cannot sort fact from fiction, my 60 year old father in law in no way is capable of verifying facts.
Chaitra Somasundar
2024-01-10 22:16:56 +0000 UTCThis also lets bullshit be true; Malcom Gladwell's 10000 hour claim gives you the impression that mastery is more connected to practice than inborn talent, which is probably true. But none of his data lines up, and the 10000 hour figure is completely meaningless. So he said something true-ish, but didn't provide meaningful insight into why it's true or what you should do with your life other than 'practice more'.
Sean Carter
2024-01-02 20:16:45 +0000 UTCI think I have a clearer articulation of bullshit; 'When a truth or a lie fails to provide any insight into the world'. You can lie about immigration and say that they're all criminals, and it's just a lie. If it were true, Republican policies would actually reduce crime. But if you make an opinion column mixing true and false claims about immigrants to imply that they're destroying our culture, it doesn't actually matter which of the statements are true or false. The conclusion doesn't follow from the premise, and it's just bullshit.
Sean Carter
2024-01-02 20:13:00 +0000 UTCI was an undergrad when this little books/essay came out & recall it was applied to George W. Bush & his Administration A LOT! That was basically why an obscure philosophy professor was able to have it published at all. But the comparison you guys made between W. vs Trump was a perfect example of what "bullshitting" really is, as opposed to just lying.
JCCTigris
2023-12-21 21:39:00 +0000 UTCYou too are so fucking delightful. I would like you to make a Patreon level for 1000 a month. Where you Just speak your inner monologue out loud all day and I can tune in to it.
Barbara McAdams
2023-12-11 19:47:29 +0000 UTCI want to hear about why Peter doesn’t like philosophers
Jess A
2023-11-10 02:03:17 +0000 UTCalso, i’d love to see a bonus episode on ‘moment of contact’ and other grifter UFO documentaries. it’s scary how easily people believe these films that show no evidence lol
tjp
2023-11-03 11:01:35 +0000 UTC
