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PvI#105: Friendtor Debate Club w/ Scott Gelfand

November 14, 2025 by Mark Leave a Comment

https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/partiallyexaminedlife/PvI_105_10-23-25.mp3

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Scott, until lately a philosophy professor at Oklahoma State University, joins Mark and Mary to tout his new book, Thinking Ethically: A Handbook for Making Moral Choices. The point is to provide some helpful tips in our age of non-communication for how we can explore and debate varying positions on hot button social issues. So how does debate role-playing jibe with improv comedy? Scott is also a “philosophical counselor,” so what’s that all about, and can we play with that? Should you discuss controversial ideas with people sitting next to you on an airplane?

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You can choose to watch this unedited on YouTube:

Image note: MidJourney does a less terrible job this time, in response to the prompt “A drawing by a six-year old of a debate club.” Seems like a bit too much detail for six, but at least it looks crayon-produced, and I can nearly guarantee that no actual six year old would choose this topic.

Filed Under: Philosopher (Solo) Guest, PvI episode, Rhetoric

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What is Philosophy Vs. Improv?

Mark Linsenmayer (host of The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast) and Mary Hynes (Second City instructor) — often along with guests — try to teach each other their crafts via conversation and improv scenes.

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Mark & Bill are well-matched in being able to so easily articulate the mental processes around their respective pursuits. Whatever sound range both their voices fall within, it's really pleasant on the ears, like listening to two small yet efficient air conditioners placed side by side.

Tim Sniffen (from Jackbox, NPR, The New Yorker, Improvised Shakespeare, Hello from the Magic Tavern)

Philosophy vs. Improv
2021-07-26T04:29:39+00:00

Tim Sniffen (from Jackbox, NPR, The New Yorker, Improvised Shakespeare, Hello from the Magic Tavern)

Mark & Bill are well-matched in being able to so easily articulate the mental processes around their respective pursuits. Whatever sound range both their voices fall within, it's really pleasant on the ears, like listening to two small yet efficient air conditioners placed side by side.
https://philosophyimprov.com/testimonials/149/
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