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



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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



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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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