Episode #16: Rob Koons on Philosophy and the Good Life

National Association of Scholars

Dear Listener, 

Philosophy books are rarely stolen from university libraries, says Rob Koons, this week’s podcast guest. Does that mean virtue can be taught? Or just that no one wants philosophy textbooks?

But there is one subsection of philosophy that does get stolen. Can you guess? Midway through our conversation, Rob reveals which one. 

Rob is a professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin and a former board member of the National Association of Scholars. In this conversation, we take on some of the big timeless philosophical questions, such as “what is the nature of truth?” And we also discuss how higher education today fosters each of the seven deadly sins.

Late in our conversation, Rob also weighs in on what is the best great books program in the country. And we talk about whether the US should adopt the Oxford grading model, in which one professor teaches and another evaluates students’ performance.

Best,
Peter W. Wood

  • Share

Most Commented

October 29, 2024

1.

The Looming Irrelevance of Middle East Study Centers

Today’s Middle Eastern Studies Centers are facing a crisis due to the winds of change in the Middle East and their own ideological echo chamber....

November 19, 2024

2.

Lee Zeldin Should Reform EPA Science Policy

NAS welcomes the nomination of Congressmen Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency....

November 20, 2024

3.

NAS Welcomes Administrator McMahon's Nomination to Serve as Education Secretary

With McMahon, the new administration has a chance to drastically slim down and depoliticize the Education Department....

Most Read

May 15, 2015

1.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

October 12, 2010

2.

Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?

What does it mean to be Latino? Are only Latin American people Latino, or does the term apply to anyone whose language derived from Latin?...

May 26, 2010

3.

10 Reasons Not to Go to College

A sampling of arguments for the idea that college may not be for everyone....