Microphilosophy with Julian Baggini

Julian Baggini and guests Simon Kirchin and Anil Seth explore how the exemplary habits and principles of the best philosophers can help us to think better. Their focus today is on the problems of "reification" – thinking of concepts as though they were things – and anthropomorphism, and finding the balance between confidence and humility in your own ideas, practices and arguments. They take as their cue Baggini’s new book How to Think Like a Philosopher, in which he offers 12 key principles for a more humane, balanced and rational approach to thinking.

Julian Baggini and guests Nilanjan Das and Leah Kalmanson explore how the exemplary habits and principles of the best philosophers can help us to think better. Their focus today is on the value of contemplative practices, and shifting the burden of proof. They take as their cue Baggini’s new book How to Think Like a Philosopher, in which he offers 12 key principles for a more humane, balanced and rational approach to thinking.

We’re at the midpoint of series five of Microphilosophy, in which I’ve been discussing the habits and virtues of highly effective thinkers with guest philosophers. We’ll be resuming these episodes after the easter break. For now, here’s a recording of an experimental live stand up philosophy performance that has been sitting in my archive for several years. Whereas the series so far has been about how to think like a good philosopher, this one explores what happens if you apply philosophical methods in wildly inappropriate and opportunistic ways..