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PODCAST

American Socrates

Charles M. Rupert

Think Deeper. Live Better. Tired of shallow takes and surface-level answers? American Socrates helps you cut through the noise and see the world more clearly. This is a podcast for anyone who wants to think for themselves, challenge assumptions, and live a more intentional, meaningful life. Host Charles M. Rupert brings the power of critical thinking and timeless philosophical insight into everyday questions—like how to find purpose, make good decisions, grow as a person, and navigate a world full

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

30:05

Why Are Americans So Divided?

American Socrates ·

2025/06/11

Send us a text America feels broken. Red vs. blue. Rural vs. urban. Rich vs. poor. But beneath all the noise, there’s a deeper story — one most politicians won’t touch. In this episode, we dig into how capitalism quietly shapes our political divides — and why it keeps getting a free pass. As democracy expands rights and inclusion, capitalism turns that promise into insecurity: higher costs, unstable jobs, and working-class exhaustion. The more equal we try to be, the more the system shifts to...

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28:45

Is Wonder the Key to Wisdom?

American Socrates ·

2025/06/04

Send us a text Philosophy didn’t start in a classroom. It started with a gasp. This episode is about Wonder — that sudden feeling that something familiar isn’t so familiar after all. We’ll talk about how this moment of awe, confusion, or deep curiosity isn’t just the spark of philosophy but the doorway to a more conscious, meaningful life. It’s what wakes us up — if we let it. We’ll draw on Plato, Buddhist insight, and everyday examples to show how wonder isn’t childish or naïve. It’s the exa...

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31:02

Are We Free or Just Fooling Ourselves?

American Socrates ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text What if everything you’ve ever done was inevitable — shaped by causes beyond your control? In this episode, we explore determinism not as a physics problem, but as a moral one. Why do we blame people? Why do we take credit? Nietzsche called it all a mistake — four great errors that have warped how we see the world and ourselves. But was he right? We also take a sharp turn with Sartre, who thinks even in a determined world, freedom can still mean something — if we’re willing to ...

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27:31

What If Your Job Was Killing People?

American Socrates ·

2025/05/21

Send us a text In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and her famous idea of the “banality of evil.” Arendt argued that great wrongs can be carried out not just by monsters, but by ordinary people who fail to think critically about their actions. What does this mean for the rest of us—especially in today’s political climate? From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America, this episode asks: What is our responsibility when our leaders do wrong? Can clear ...

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1:13

Philosophy in a Nutshell: Brain in a Vat

American Socrates ·

2025/05/16

Send us a text Explore the Brain in a Vat thought experiment. Support the show

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30:13

Are Grades Killing Education?

American Socrates ·

2025/05/14

Send us a text We’ve all been told that grades are how we measure success and learning in school. But what if that’s a lie we’ve all just accepted? In this episode, we take a hard look at the role of grades in education—not just how they work, but who they really serve. Grades are often treated like neutral indicators of learning, but they shape the way students think, what teachers prioritize, and how schools define success. They create pressure, foster competition, and punish mistakes, even...

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1:23

Philosophy in a Nutshell: Schrödinger's Cat

American Socrates ·

2025/05/09

Send us a text Explore Schrödigner's Cat with me in 90 seconds. Support the show

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28:29

Can Machines Think?

American Socrates ·

2025/05/07

Send us a text Can a machine really think—or just fake it well enough to fool us? In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Alan Turing’s famous test for machine intelligence. The idea is simple: if a machine can carry on a conversation indistinguishable from a human, maybe it counts as “thinking.” But is that a good standard—or just clever imitation? We explore why the Turing Test might be too generous, letting in machines that don’t really understand anything. And too strict—shuttin...

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1:09

Philosophy in a Nutshell: Hume's Guillotine

American Socrates ·

2025/05/02

Send us a text Let's explore the idea that facts don't give us right and wrong. Support the show

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29:54

Are Trans Women Really Women?

American Socrates ·

2025/04/30

Send us a text What does it really mean to say that sex is "biologically determined"? In this episode of American Socrates, we explore the science, philosophy, and politics behind one of the most heated debates of our time. We break down what biology can tell us about sex, what it can’t, and why that matters—not just in classrooms and courtrooms, but in everyday life. Whether you're curious, skeptical, or just trying to make sense of the noise, this episode invites you to think deeper about c...

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1:08

Philosophy in a Nutshell: Mary's Room

American Socrates ·

2025/04/28

Send us a text Explore Frank Jackson's thought experiment about a scientist who knows the world of color. Support the show

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1:21

Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Chinese Room

American Socrates ·

2025/04/25

Send us a text John Searle's thought experiment of the Chinese Room. Support the show

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29:12

Is Seeing Really Believing?

American Socrates ·

2025/04/23

Send us a text We trust our eyes, but should we? This episode dives into the philosophy of perception, exploring whether seeing really is believing—or if our senses deceive us more often than we think. We break down Descartes' Wax Argument and why he doubted the reliability of perception, examine Gettier's famous counterexamples that challenge what it means to know something, and explore Kant's Transcendental Idealism, which suggests that reality as we perceive it is shaped by the mind itself...

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1:42

Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Trolley Problem

American Socrates ·

2025/04/21

Send us a text In less than two minutes, we'll explore Phillipa Foot's famous thought experiment involving the trolley problem. Support the show

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1:33

Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Experience Machine

American Socrates ·

2025/04/18

Send us a text In less than two minutes, we'll examine Robert Nozick's famous thought experiment involving the experience machine. Support the show

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31:01

How Many Hands Does It Take to Make Sense of an...

American Socrates ·

2025/04/16

Send us a text Can we ever see the full picture, or are we all just grasping at different parts of the truth? This episode explores the ancient parable of the blind men and the elephant to tackle a big question in philosophy: How do perspective and experience shape what we believe to be true? We’ll break down the limits of individual knowledge, the value of diverse viewpoints, and why understanding the whole requires more than just one set of hands. Join us as we explore whether more voices b...

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1:17

Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Veil of Ignorance

American Socrates ·

2025/04/14

Send us a text In under two minutes, we'll examine John Rawls' thought experiment involving the veil of ignorance. Support the show

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1:28

Philosophy in a Nutshell: Ship of Theseus

American Socrates ·

2025/04/11

Send us a text Philosophy in a Nutshell offers big ideas in bite-sized portions. This episode covers the Ship of Theseus thought experiment. Be sure to listen to Full Episodes of American Socrates every Wednesday. Support the show

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26:00

Is that Just Like... Your Opinion, Man!?!

American Socrates ·

2025/04/09

Send us a text In a world of endless hot takes and internet debates, does truth even matter anymore? This episode dives into the difference between opinion and knowledge—how we justify beliefs, what counts as real understanding, and why not all opinions are created equal. From the Dude’s laid-back wisdom in The Big Lebowski to centuries of philosophical debate, we break down why some ideas hold more weight than others. Tune in and learn how to separate fact from feeling in a world flooded wit...

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26:00

Are the Humanities a Waste of Time & Money?

American Socrates ·

2025/04/02

Send us a text Are the humanities useless in today’s job-driven world, or do they offer something deeper? In this episode, we explore the real value of studying philosophy, history, and literature—not just for careers, but for life. While industries change, the ability to think critically, question power, and understand the human experience remains essential. Whether you're a student, a lifelong learner, or just curious, discover why the humanities still matter in a world that prioritizes pro...

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46 results

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