American Socrates
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 world full of misinformation and confusion.
From art to relationships, social justice to success at work, no topic is off-limits. This isn’t a lecture on famous philosophers. It’s a wake-up call for your mind.
New episodes every Wednesday. Ready to see what you've been missing?
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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Episodes
28 episodes
How is the Alt-Right the Legacy of American Slavery? (Part 2)
In part two, we fast-forward to today—where echoes of Fitzhugh’s vision have returned in surprising forms. From alt-right influencers to Silicon Valley billionaires and traditionalist politicians, a growing chorus claims that modern freedom has...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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31:34
How is the Alt-Right the Legacy of American Slavery? (Part 1)
In this episode, we dive into the writings of George Fitzhugh, a 19th-century American Lawyer and social critic who launched one of the earliest full-throated critiques of capitalism—not from the left, but from the slave plantations of the Sout...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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31:00
Why Are Americans So Divided?
America feels broken. Red vs. blue. Rural vs. urban. Rich vs. poor. But beneath all the noise, there’s a deeper story — one most politicians won’t touch.In this episode, we dig into how capitalism quietly shapes our political divides — a...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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30:05
Is Wonder the Key to Wisdom?
Philosophy didn’t start in a classroom. It started with a gasp.This episode is about Wonder — that sudden feeling that something familiar isn’t so familiar after all. We’ll talk about how this moment of awe, confusion, or deep curiosity ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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28:45
Are We Free or Just Fooling Ourselves?
What if everything you’ve ever done was inevitable — shaped by causes beyond your control? In this episode, we explore determinism not as a physics problem, but as a moral one. Why do we blame people? Why do we take credit? Nietzsche called it ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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31:02
What If Your Job Was Killing People?
In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and her famous idea of the “banality of evil.” Arendt argued that great wrongs can be carried out not just by monsters, but by ordinary pe...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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27:31
Are Grades Killing Education?
We’ve all been told that grades are how we measure success and learning in school. But what if that’s a lie we’ve all just accepted? In this episode, we take a hard look at the role of grades in education—not just how they work, but who they re...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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30:13
Can Machines Think?
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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28:29
Philosophy in a Nutshell: Hume's Guillotine
Let's explore the idea that facts don't give us right and wrong.
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1:09
Are Trans Women Really Women?
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 wha...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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29:54
Philosophy in a Nutshell: Mary's Room
Explore Frank Jackson's thought experiment about a scientist who knows the world of color.
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1:08
Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Chinese Room
John Searle's thought experiment of the Chinese Room.
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1:21
Is Seeing Really Believing?
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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29:12
Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Trolley Problem
In less than two minutes, we'll explore Phillipa Foot's famous thought experiment involving the trolley problem.
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1:42
Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Experience Machine
In less than two minutes, we'll examine Robert Nozick's famous thought experiment involving the experience machine.
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1:33
How Many Hands Does It Take to Make Sense of an Elephant?
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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31:01
Philosophy in a Nutshell: The Veil of Ignorance
In under two minutes, we'll examine John Rawls' thought experiment involving the veil of ignorance.
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1:17
Philosophy in a Nutshell: Ship of Theseus
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.
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1:28
Is that Just Like... Your Opinion, Man!?!
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 c...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:00
Are the Humanities a Waste of Time & Money?
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, t...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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26:00
Can Reading More Books Save Democracy?
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, speaker...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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26:33
How Much Should I Trust Experts?
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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27:19
Do Arguments Change Minds?
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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31:07