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Pearls of Wisdom Ep. 7 – Sociologist Hans Joas on Max Weber, Disenchantment, Secularization, and the Sacred
Jan 14, 2022 • 00:53:45
In this interview, the German sociologist Hans Joas (Humboldt University of Berlin and University of Chicago) and I discuss his recent book, “The Power of the Sacred: An Alternative to […]
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Pearls of Wisdom – Ep. 5
Dec 3, 2021 • 01:02:05
In this interview, historian Prof. Alec Ryrie of Durham University discusses his recent book Unbelievers: An Emotional History of Doubt (Harvard University Press). In this volume, Prof. Ryrie offers an […]
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Pearls of Wisdom – Ep. 5
Apr 8, 2021 • 00:57:21
How might reason be used to advance and serve the cause of social justice? In this interview, my guest Dr. Jeffrey Nicholas (Providence College) and I discuss his book Reason, Tradition, […]
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Pearls of Wisdom – Ep. 4
Feb 11, 2021 • 00:30:42
David Hume (1711-1776) and Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) were Enlightenment philosophers who sought to place constraints upon human cognition, and are thought by many to have discredited traditional argument for theism […]
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Pearls of Wisdom – Ep. 3
Jan 14, 2021 • 00:50:21
Dr. Michael Moriarty is the Drapers Professor of French at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of the British Academy. He joins me today to discuss his latest book […]
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Pearls of Wisdom – Ep. 2
Nov 13, 2020 • 01:15:02
Pragmatic arguments seek to justify a belief or course of action on prudential grounds. Pascal’s Wager is perhaps the most well-known example of such an argument. In this episode, I interview […]
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Pearls of Wisdom Ep. 1: Akhenaten and Dr. James K. Hoffmeier
Oct 15, 2020 • 01:13:58
The Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten undoubtedly ranks among the most fascinating figures in the ancient civilization of Egypt. What prompted him to rid Egypt of all of its gods except Aten? […]
In this interview, the German sociologist Hans Joas (Humboldt University of Berlin and University of Chicago) and I discuss his recent book, “The Power of the Sacred: An Alternative to the Narrative of Disenchantment”. The book offers, amongst other things, a challenging and thought-provoking analysis and alternative to Weber’s disenchantment narrative in addition to insights into the question of whether the study of religious phenomena falls within the proper domain of social science. We also discuss the role religious convictions may legitimately play in modern academic discourse. As a renowned and noted sociologist of Roman Catholic faith, Prof. Joas has unique input to provide into these matters. I hope you will enjoy the interview.
