Otium and The Moral Philosopher

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Literary Nomads

Steve Chisnell

60 episodes

2 days ago

Join us as we find and lose meaning across modern and classic tales, through ancient and distant verse, atop everything in our many cultures which might be read. Explore familiar and unfamiliar reads, discovering ways to read, ways to know, and ways to make meaning. For teachers, students, and lovers of literature, Waywords can be listened to on its own but also comes with a host of bonus materials on its website for those who wish to go further.
I can’t promise what we’ll find along our paths each time, only that we will meet it together.

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Otium and The Moral Philosopher – William James

Literary Nomads

33 minutes 53 seconds

4 months ago

Otium and The Moral Philosopher – William James

4 July 2025
Episode 6.03 - Otium and The Moral Philosopher - William James
Le Guin leans on an essay by William James, but what does that have to do with all our garden talk? It's about our blind spots and our privilege. Here's James's argument and how it sets up a pragmatic popular ethic that may be worrisome.

William James: "The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life" - https://archive.org/details/jstor-2375309/page/n1/mode/2up

New to Literary Nomads? Check out episode 5.00 to find out what we're all about: https://waywordsstudio.com/podcasts/waywords_podcast/an-introduction-and-irony/

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Reading Ahead, Journey 6:

* Ursula K. Le Guin: "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas": https://archive.org/download/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-omelas-ursula-k-leguin/The%20Ones%20Who%20Walk%20Away%20from%20Omelas%20-%20Ursula%20K%20LeGuin.pdf

Complete Resources: https://waywordsstudio.com/project/le-guin-omelas/

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Cranky Professor
05:25 Opening Theme
05:59 Oppositions to Work
12:51 Otium as Privilege
23:22 Hideous Bargains: William James
29:40 Back to Our Garden
32:37 Closing Theme and Credits

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Transcript: https://waywordsstudio.com/podcasts/transcript-6-00-trailer

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Literary Nomads is the primary program of Waywords Studio (https://waywordsstudio.com). The podcast posts new material each week, with thought-provoking examinations of literature around selected questions or themes and several smaller supplemental episodes in between the larger programs: history, writing, and contemporary applications of ideas.

Visit us for expanded resources for guests and the Waywords community, for other programs and writing, and for opportunities to support our goal to expand reading. Resources available can include full bibliographies of material referenced, full and partial texts, annotated editions, supplemental and expanded episodes, fictional explorations, teaching and learning resources, additional essays, and online courses.

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