This week, the HBS hosts are joined by Dimitris Vardoulakis (Associate Professor of Philosophy at Western Sydney University) to discuss the phronetic tradition and its significance for ethics, politics, and democracy. Drawing on both Aristotle and Hannah Arendt’s understanding of agonism in The Human Condition, Vardoulakis connects what he calls the phronetic tradition to human interaction and instrumental thinking, emphasizing its foundation in uncertainty and disagreement.

Our conversation with Vardoulakis traces the historical development of the phronetic and so-called "ineffectual" traditions, examining their roots in ancient philosophy, their transformation through Judeo-Christian metaphysics, and their impact on contemporary political thought. Vardoulakis critiques current approaches to agonistic democracy and advocates for a renewed focus on phronesis as a way to approach ethical and political action without reliance on transcendence or the extremes of anarchism.

With references to Spinoza, Derrida, Jon Stewart, and others, this conversation invites listeners to reconsider how we structure collective life in the face of conflict and uncertainty.

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-161-phronesis-and-instrumentality-with-dimitris-vardoulakis

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If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

What are the limits of the "human"? And what comes after us?

This week, we’re taking on the big questions: What does it mean to be “human,” and is it possible we’re already moving beyond that? Starting with Foucault’s provocative claim that “the human is an invention… perhaps nearing its end,” we look at how history, culture, and technology have shaped—and continue to shape—our understanding of ourselves. Are we still the “rational, autonomous individuals” of the Enlightenment’s humanist legacy, or are we becoming something more complicated?

Our conversation tackles the key ideas of posthumanism and transhumanism: while transhumanists seek to enhance human abilities with technology, posthumanists want to question the very boundaries that define “the human” and its place at the center of everything. Drawing from feminist thinkers like Donna Haraway, we consider what it means to challenge traditional notions of the human, especially in a world where the line between humans, animals, and machines is increasingly blurred.

Finally, we get into the ethical and practical stakes. With gene-editing tools like CRISPR and advanced AI systems on the rise, how do we draw the line between human and machine—or should we? And if freedom is what makes the human worth preserving, does technology ultimately support that freedom or put it at risk?

Grab a drink and join us as we ask what “posthuman” could mean for our future—and whether we’re already there.

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-160-posthumanism

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If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

What do we mean when we say "Nature"? And what, if anything, is "natural"?

In this week’s episode, we’re pulling up a chair at the bar to ask: What do we really mean when we talk about “nature”? From the world outside us—plants, animals, and landscapes—to the idea of human nature itself, we’re questioning our often contradictory and complex ideas of what counts as “natural.” Are we referring to the non-human world or to something essential and intrinsic within us? And is either way of thinking about it as simple as it seems?

We look at how the concept of nature has been shaped by culture, philosophy, politics, and technology. Why, for instance, does a bird’s nest seem “natural” while our own homes do not? Does labeling something “natural” ever settle an argument, or does it just spark new ones? We also talk about the climate crisis, asking if we should see ourselves as part of nature or as caretakers of something separate. And should we trust that technology will resolve environmental issues, or do we need to challenge some of our own longstanding assumptions about nature itself?

Pour a drink and join us as we rethink what it means to be “natural” in a world where the line between nature and culture is more blurred than ever.

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-156-meat

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If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!