Sound Philosophy

117-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 4, Chapter 6

Eric Taxier and I continue our discussion of the Nicomachean Ethics by discussing the social virtue of "friendliness."

116-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 4, Chapter 5

Eric Taxier and I discuss Aristotle on the emotion of anger.

115-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 4, Chapters 3-4

Eric Taxier and I discuss chapters 3-4 for Book 4 of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, which focus on the proper relationship to ambition.

114-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 4, Chapter 2

Eric Taxier and I discuss Book 4, Chapter 2 in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, his treatment of the virtue of magnificence (grand spending).

113-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 4, Chapter 1

Eric Taxier and I discuss chapter 1 of Book 4 of the Nicomachean Ethics, a chapter on the virtue of generosity.

112-J Dilla

This episode briefly examines two tracks produced by J Dilla: "Runnin'" by the Pharcyde and "Show Me What You Got" by Busta Rhymes. I discuss the stratification in Dilla'

111-Rhyme, Flow, Content: Eminem and Mac Miller

This episode explores the relationship among flow, content, and rhyme by looking at some excerpts from Eminem and Mac Miller.

110-Tool

This episode looks at "Sober" and "Vicarious" by Tool and discusses the release and impact of Fear Inoculum.

109-Math Rock

A brief look at Math Rock from a guitarist's point of view.

108-Funk Counterpoint and James Brown

A look at the shift from funky R&B to Funk as a standalone genre. I discuss the various elements of Funk, particularly what I'm calling "Funk Counterpoint" by examining T

107-The Bass and Larry Graham

This episode discusses the role of the bass in popular music, specifically in funk, and more specifically in the work of the bass player for Sly and the Family Stone (and

106-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 3, Chapters 10-12

Eric Taxier and I finish our discussion of Book 3 of the Nicomachean Ethics by examining Aristotle's analysis of temperance.

105-Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book 3, Chapters 8-9

Eric Taxier and I continue to discuss Aristotle's take on courage.

104-Minimalism and Popular Music

This episode discusses claims that Minimalism (and minimal music more widely understood) boils down to advertising and propaganda (riffing on interviews by Elliott Carter

103-Minimalism, Temporality, Repetition

This episode uses Minimalism (and specifically Terry Riley's In C) to examine the issues of temporality and repetition in music.

102-Flamenco, Compas, and the Siguiriyas

This episode briefly introduces flamenco music and then touches on the compas--the approach to meter within this music--by specifically looking at the genre of the siguir

101-Twos and Threes: Hemiola, Odd Meters, Tresillo

This episode looks at the rhythmic juxtaposition or superimposition of groupings of twos and threes. I discuss hemiola, odd meters, and various figures related to the tre

100-Thumb Like God--Ragtime Guitarist

An introduction to the Piedmont style with an emphasis on the influence of ragtime.

099-Meter and Time

A discussion of the nature of meter deriving from thoughts about time and its qualitative nature. I draw on the work of Aristotle, Bergson, and Viktor Zuckerkandl.

098-The Backbeat

This episode explores the nature of the backbeat,