The TV show “The Good Place” recently wrapped up after four seasons on NBC. “The Good Place” was a unicorn of a TV show – a comedy that explored deep philosophical issues of life and death and what it means to be human.
It’s probably the only show in history to hire philosophy advisers. And one of them is today’s guest: Todd May, a philosophy professor at Clemson University. If you watched the show, you might’ve seen him in a brief scene in the final episode.
We talk about “The Good Place,” but we start with a discussion of philosophy and ethics as it relates to the coronavirus. How should we live our lives in these times? Todd May has some thoughts about that.
Let's keep the conversation going. Who do you want to hear from next on the SouthBound podcast?
Submit your idea in the box below. You can also send a tweet to @tommytomlinson or @wfae, and email me at ttomlinson@wfae.org.
Show notes:
- A series of video essays May made on the philosophy behind "The Good Place" (under the title "Mother Forkin' Morals," which will make sense if you've seen the show)
- May and the show's other philosophy adviser discuss the show's ending (spoiler alert, obviously)
- An essay for The New York Times on human extinction, and whether it might not be the worst thing for the planet
- May's faculty page at Clemson
Other music in this episode:
Cahill Locksmith, "Pocket Knife Morals"
New episodes of SouthBound come out every other Wednesday. Subscribe:
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SouthBound is a production of WFAE. Our host is Tommy Tomlinson. Our audience engagement manager is Joni Deutsch, and our main theme comes from Josh Turner.
