The dichotomy between good and evil was popular long before Zoroaster was born, and it will probably continue to be long after Manichaeism’s last influences subside. But is evil a useful concept? Or an obfuscating one? The big solution to this big problem in understanding reality comes from comparing the concepts of good and evil to the less emotionally fraught concepts of hot and cold. They appear to be opposites at first, but are actually relative labels we apply to our experiences that depend both on an objective reality and on the relative perspective of the perceiver. Understanding evil this way vastly reduces the fears that have scared us silly for centuries, and provides a tremendous boost to the effectiveness of our pursuit of happiness—a big solution indeed.

Monday Night Philosophy contributes to our special August series with a close look at the resilience of slavery in the 21st century. Ending slavery was a 19th century obsession that appeared quite successful, as did the attempt to end intemperance. But was slavery, like drunkenness, just pushed underground when it was criminalized? The intense psychological desire for hierarchical status, and the economic desires that reinforce that, explain why slavery is as hard to eliminate as other social ills, as is evidenced by the continuing mass incarceration of African-Americans and the endurance of various forms of female slavery. The big solution to this big problem is an easily understood and almost as easily adopted perspective that effectively undermines the psychological need for hierarchy. There are also legal incentives, and technical half-solutions, which could help minimize the demand for enslaving each other in the meantime.

Monday Night Philosophy erases 500 years and takes you back to Antwerp in 1516, where a young British diplomat, Thomas More, cools his heels during a diplomatic mission to Bruges by entertaining his friends Erasmus and Pieter Gillis with fanciful tales of the discovery of the island of Utopia (“no place”). The traveler, Raphael Hythlodaeus (“archangel nonsense”), narrates his tale of discovery just 24 years after Columbus sailed to the Caribbean. But philosophical and ironical gold are the treasures of Utopia. The gold Columbus sought is dismissed so thoroughly that Utopians use it to make chamber pots. Enjoy a glimpse of late medieval humanist humor, before Henry VIII ruined all the fun.

Monday Night Philosophy understands thoroughly that music matters. Pythagoras (whom we all know from basic geometry) thought so, too – he is well known for having uncovered the mathematical ratios underlying musical harmonies. He was so taken with his discovery that he proclaimed “all is number,” and that there is a divine harmony, a music of the spheres, caused by the planets racing around a central fire in perfectly circular orbits. This first idea led directly to the development of the lush harmonies that came to define European classical music. The second, while partially obfuscating the realities of our solar system, nevertheless inspired Ptolemy, Copernicus and Newton in their search for the physical truth of our universe. Join us for a conversation of where the excitement with sound all began.

Monday Night Philosophy explains the sources of cruelty and how deeply embedded they are in our personal pursuit of happiness. This starkly clear understanding of how and why we have an unnecessary and counter-productive fondness for inflicting pain on others also demonstrates that it is in your own self-interest to transcend this destructive (and self-destructive) desire and to learn how to disarm and dissuade others from being cruel to you.

Monday Night Philosophy explores the competing explanations of life, narrows them down to four prime contenders, analyzes each version’s strengths and weaknesses, and concludes by revisiting Pascal’s wager and moving his bet from black to red.

Monday Night Philosophy steps into the debate about whether love is irrational. The apparently inexplicable ways we fall into and out of it are the grist of the entertainment industry, but is there a clear pattern to it all after all? You be the judge after Hammond describes the elements of the emotion we all love to experience.

Monday Night Philosophy focuses on the very unfocused ideas we have about time and eternity. Alluring, yet confusing, even their scientific versions allow for responsibility-escaping backward movement in time. Clarity is achieved by using the underlying, and more coherent, concept of the continuum of change. But clarity has its price. Several of our fondest assumptions dissolve in its wake.

Monday Night Philosophy dives deep into dharma, as detailed in the divine conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. Hear as they discuss the byways of yogic philosophy, and delight in Krishna’s failure to convince the warrior Arjuna to do battle with his relatives until Krishna realizes he must forego reasoning and rely on the usual divine persuasiveness of overwhelming power.

Monday Night Philosophy explores our emotions, desires and attitudes, which are littered with illusions but have a substantial base in reality as well. Hammond cuts through the complications to the core principles that drive our personalities in their (more successful than usually noticed) pursuit of happiness and avoidance of pain.