Travel

In this episode of Overthink, philosophy professors David Peña-Guzman and Ellie Anderson delve into the philosophy of travel, challenging the misconception that philosophers are reclusive and exploring the meaning, benefits, and drawbacks of travel throughout history. They discuss Emily Thomas's "Philosophers Abroad," examining figures like Confucius and Quine who traveled extensively, contrasting them with Kant and Socrates. The hosts explore the evolution of travel from basic locomotion to tourism, touching on the Grand Tour, Erasmus programs, and the modern phenomenon of tourism, and critique Agnes Callard's essay "Against Travel," debating whether travel truly expands the mind or merely reinforces existing biases. They also discuss the psychological aspects of travel, including culture shock and strategies for managing the cognitive overload it can cause, drawing on Joseph Scholz's "The Intercultural Mind" and Kahneman's dual system theory.