All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Meet Your Instructor

    • MasterClass

    Cornel West is an acclaimed academic and activist who believes philosophy is about raising questions where there are no clear answers. In this lesson, he establishes the fundamental ideas for the class that will open doors to new ideas and heighten meaning in your everyday life.

  • S01E02 How to Think Like a Philosopher

    • MasterClass

    Cornel walks you through his personal philosophy, explaining how applying critical thinking can help you navigate your everyday interactions and become a deeper thinker.

  • S01E03 What It Means to Be Human

    • MasterClass

    To understand humanity, you must first understand yourself. In this lesson, Cornel shares how to embark on a candid journey within and discover a better understanding of self.

  • S01E04 Cultivating Compassion

    • MasterClass

    In this lesson, Cornel explains how compassion is a form of love that is cultivated by ridding yourself of egoism.

  • S01E05 Living a Wise and Courageous Life

    • MasterClass

    Cornel provides techniques for connecting deeper with the human condition so you can move from being a spectator to a participant in your everyday interactions.

  • S01E06 How Philosophy Serves Humanity

    • MasterClass

    In this lesson, Cornel explains how philosophy is a counterweight against forms of dogma, and looking at humanity through a philosophical lens allows for members to better understand their own egotistical proclivities, resulting in becoming the best versions of themselves.

  • S01E07 A Philosophical Take on Love

    • MasterClass

    There are various forms of love that each of us is able to give and receive. In this lesson, Cornel explains what they are, how human beings are impacted by them, and the sacrifices required to achieve a love that allows you to become the best versions of yourself.

  • S01E08 Hope and Optimism, Love and Loss

    • MasterClass

    In this lesson, Cornel unsettles the mind and empowers the soul by illuminating the delicate interplay between hope, optimism, and despair.

  • S01E09 The Importance of Receiving Love

    • MasterClass

    Cornel shares a personal account of how the supernatural love he received from his mom and dad allowed him to define himself in spite of catastrophic circumstances.

  • S01E10 Case Study: John Coltrane and A Love Supreme

    • MasterClass

    In this lesson, Cornel explores how having a jazz-like conception of philosophy allows you to understand how music transfigures suffering, pain, and hurt into an expression that connects to humanity at large.

  • S01E11 The Impact of Music on Community

    • MasterClass

    Cornel expands on how the intersection of music and philosophy fosters relationships in a way that allows us to transcend all the pettiness that gets in the way of building healthy communities.

  • S01E12 The Impact of Music on Humanity

    • MasterClass

    In this lesson, Cornel explains how human beings can use music to process grief and how doing so can enable us to move forward.

  • S01E13 Fostering the Best of Your Communal Roots

    • MasterClass

    Cornel discusses the importance of communal practices, customs, and mores in providing us with the resources to understand and shape ourselves as distinct individuals.

  • S01E14 Honesty, Trust, and Individuality in Community

    • MasterClass

    Honesty is the key to living a wise and courageous life. In this lesson, Cornel unpacks how to own your sense of self and the key to understanding the difference between individuality within community and isolated individualism.

  • S01E15 Democratizing Philosophy

    • MasterClass

    Learn how to apply philosophy to everyday life as Cornel reminds us that the quest to be the best versions of ourselves is a continuous journey.