Episode 148: Loneliness
Released November 18th, 2025
How can we explain the rise of loneliness in our world? In episode 148 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the difference between loneliness and solitude, how loneliness could help explain the rise of fascism in the US, and the public health implications of loneliness. What is the male loneliness epidemic, and does it truly exist? Does the state have a moral obligation to address the loneliness of its citizens? And do we have a fundamental human right to connection? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts get into the etymology of loneliness and discuss the type of companionship that animals offer humans.
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Works Discussed
Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Kimberley Brownlee, Being Sure of Each Other: An Essay on Social Rights and Freedoms
Bouke de Vries and Sarah A. Rezaieh. “Political Philosophy and Loneliness”
Bouke de Vries, “State Responsibilities to Protect us from Loneliness During Lockdown”
Samantha Rose Hill, "Where loneliness can lead"
Zohar Lederman, “Loneliness as Lack of Solidarity: The Case of Palestinians Standing Alone”
Emmanuel Levinas, Otherwise than Being
David M. Peña-Guzmán and Rebekah Spera, Professional Philosophy and Its Myths
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science
Jill Stauffer, Ethical Loneliness: The Injustice of Not Being Heard
Lars Svendsen, A Philosophy of Loneliness
