The Ideal Tue, 12 May 2026 22:57:32 -0400 en-us © 2026 The Ideal yes b731830c-54cd-5fd0-ae2e-a417373e930e shawn@theidealpod.org Shawn Edwards episodic true What does it mean to live, think, and build toward the ideal? Join host Shawn Edwards for The Ideal, a philosophy podcast dedicated to deep-dive conversations with the world’s leading thinkers. From the rigorous ethics of modern justice to the "horrifying heresies" of historical philosophy, we sit down with acclaimed authors and academics to bridge the gap between complex scholarship and the search for understanding. New episodes feature immersive dialogues that challenge our assumptions and explore the ideas shaping our world.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Shawn Edwards shawn@theidealpod.org https://storage.buzzsprout.com/8fg48atbbmmlmbsslsf43hkdu6ff?.jpg The Ideal The Ideal - Truth and Personhood | Dr. Ladelle McWhorter The Ideal - Truth and Personhood | Dr. Ladelle McWhorter This week on The Ideal, we are joined by Professor Ladelle McWhorter for a deep dive into the intersections of power, identity, and freedom. We walk through the core arguments of McWhorter’s work, particularly Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self. We focus on how institutions and social norms define our modern identity. 

Professor Ladelle McWhorter is a distinguished scholar whose work bridges the gap between early modern philosophy and contemporary social issues. She currently holds the Stephanie Bennett-Smith Chair in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Richmond, where she is also a Professor of Philosophy.

Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self: 

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo253760523.html



]]> This week on The Ideal, we are joined by Professor Ladelle McWhorter for a deep dive into the intersections of power, identity, and freedom. We walk through the core arguments of McWhorter’s work, particularly Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self. We focus on how institutions and social norms define our modern identity. 

Professor Ladelle McWhorter is a distinguished scholar whose work bridges the gap between early modern philosophy and contemporary social issues. She currently holds the Stephanie Bennett-Smith Chair in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Richmond, where she is also a Professor of Philosophy.

Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self: 

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo253760523.html



]]> Shawn Edwards Buzzsprout-19168626 Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:00 -0400 4208 1 2 full false The Ideal - Spinoza and Unbelief | Dr. Steven Nadler The Ideal - Spinoza and Unbelief | Dr. Steven Nadler Host Shawn Edwards sits down with world-renowned scholar and Pulitzer Prize finalist Professor Steven Nadler to unravel the enduring mystery of Spinoza’s true beliefs. We dive headfirst into the debate of whether Spinoza's "God or Nature" implies a deeply spiritual pantheism or a radical, materialistic atheism.

Plus, we get an exclusive look into Professor Nadler's upcoming book, Spinoza, Atheist, where he settles the score on just how radical the 17th-century philosopher actually was.

Dr. Steven Nadler is the Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Director of the Institute for Research in the Humanities at UW-Madison.

]]> Host Shawn Edwards sits down with world-renowned scholar and Pulitzer Prize finalist Professor Steven Nadler to unravel the enduring mystery of Spinoza’s true beliefs. We dive headfirst into the debate of whether Spinoza's "God or Nature" implies a deeply spiritual pantheism or a radical, materialistic atheism.

Plus, we get an exclusive look into Professor Nadler's upcoming book, Spinoza, Atheist, where he settles the score on just how radical the 17th-century philosopher actually was.

Dr. Steven Nadler is the Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Director of the Institute for Research in the Humanities at UW-Madison.

]]> Shawn Edwards Buzzsprout-18960368 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400 1812 1 1 full false