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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 worl ...
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Send us a text Explore Schrödigner's Cat with me in 90 seconds. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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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…
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Send us a text Let's explore the idea that facts don't give us right and wrong. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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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, b…
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Send us a text Explore Frank Jackson's thought experiment about a scientist who knows the world of color. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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Send us a text John Searle's thought experiment of the Chinese Room. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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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…
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Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Trolley Problem
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Send us a text In less than two minutes, we'll explore Phillipa Foot's famous thought experiment involving the trolley problem. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Experience Machine
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Send us a text In less than two minutes, we'll examine Robert Nozick's famous thought experiment involving the experience machine. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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How Many Hands Does It Take to Make Sense of an Elephant?
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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…
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Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Veil of Ignorance
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Send us a text In under two minutes, we'll examine John Rawls' thought experiment involving the veil of ignorance. Support the showBy Charles M. Rupert
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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 showBy Charles M. Rupert
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Is that Just Like... Your Opinion, Man!?!
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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 philosop…
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Are the Humanities a Waste of Time & Money?
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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…
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Send us a text In an age of endless scrolling and bite-sized content, does reading still matter? This episode explores Neil Postman’s argument that different forms of media shape the way we think—and why reading is unique in making us better thinkers, speakers, and decision-makers. We’ll break down how books train the mind for deeper reasoning, cha…
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Send us a text In a world flooded with conflicting advice and so-called "experts," how do we know who to trust? This episode dives into the philosophy of expertise, exploring the ancient Greek concept of techne, the role of democracy, and the dangers of technocracy. We’ll break down when deference to experts is wise, when skepticism is warranted, a…
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Send us a text Arguments aren’t just for debates and courtrooms—they shape how we think, persuade, and make decisions every day. In this episode, we break down the basics of constructing and evaluating arguments, revealing why good reasoning is essential for cutting through misinformation and bad logic. Whether you're making a case at work, debatin…
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Send us a text Philosophy matters more now than ever. It isn’t just abstract debates and old books—it’s about asking the right questions to make sense of the world and our place in it. In this first episode, we break down what philosophy is, why it matters, and how it shows up in everyday life. From decision-making to morality to the meaning of lif…
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Send us a text What is the difference between academic philosophy and denim philosophy? Philosophy isn’t just a subject—it’s a toolkit for thinking, questioning, and making sense of the world. In this episode, we break down the biggest lessons philosophy has to offer, from logic and ethics to the meaning of life itself. Whether you’re dealing with …
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Send us a text Reason is a powerful tool for understanding the world and finding truth, but it's not without its flaws. In this episode, we'll look at the importance of critical thinking in daily life and how it applies to philosophical inquiry. What happens when reason alone isn’t enough? Join us as we explore the edges of rational thought and the…
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