OVERTHINK

In episode 150 of Overthink, Ellie and David speak with philosopher Sebastian Purcell about the philosophy of the Aztecs, detailed in his new book The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs. They discuss Aztec pessimism, how the Aztecs take an “outside-in” approach to the self, and how their view of the mind as inherently chaotic shapes their moral outlook. How can the Aztec notion of ‘right speech’ help us gain control over the internal chaos of the mind? And why did they Aztecs reject the possibility of redemption?

In episode 149 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about all things surfing. They explore the long history of wave-riding across the globe, from Peru to West Africa, and consider how surfing helps us to reimagine social issues and what surfing reveals about the connection between flow and freedom. Is surfing the pinnacle of human life? How has the sportification of surfing directly contravened surfing’s anti-capitalist ethos? Why is the average surfer an image of white masculinity? And how is this image tied to indigenous erasure?

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?