EPISODE · Jan 24, 2010 · 49 MIN
Nihilism and Meaning
from Philosophy Talk · host Philosophy Talk
The ancients believed in an enchanted universe – a universe suffused with meaning and purpose. But with the dawn of modernity, philosophy and science conspired together to disenchant the universe, to reveal it as entirely devoid of meaning and purpose. Must any rational and reflective person living in the 21st century accept such nihilism? Or is there a way to re-infuse the disenchanted universe with meaning and purpose? Join John and Ken for a thought-provoking discussion of nihilism and meaning with Hubert Dreyfus, co-author of All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age.
What this episode covers
The ancients believed in an enchanted universe – a universe suffused with meaning and purpose. But with the dawn of modernity, philosophy and science conspired together to disenchant the universe, to reveal it as entirely devoid of meaning and purpose. Must any rational and reflective person living in the 21st century accept such nihilism? Or is there a way to re-infuse the disenchanted universe with meaning and purpose? Join John and Ken for a thought-provoking discussion of nihilism and meaning with Hubert Dreyfus, co-author of All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age.
NOW PLAYING
Nihilism and Meaning
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Feb 8, 2026 ·4m
Jan 30, 2026 ·6m
Dec 15, 2025 ·2m
Nov 30, 2025 ·5m
Oct 26, 2025 ·14m
Oct 26, 2025 ·61m