First Philosophy

Exploring the timeless ideas of history’s greatest thinkers, one lecture at a time.

Philosophers must be eternal beginners, according to Edmund Husserl. In this podcast, we invite you to begin with us, accompanied by great lectures.

Every episode dives into the rich world of phenomenology, existentialism and hermeneutics, posing and answering profound questions concerning human existence. Through these episodes, you'll get familiar with Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, Levinas, and many others.

Our first season centers around Awee Prins and his lecture series Human Conditions. To accompany you through this journey, Sonia Shvets and Kas Molenaar will provide brief interludes, insights, and introductions.

Let's begin, finally!

P.S. If you could do us a kindness, please press the follow button; we are very obliged! You know, for the algorithms and such. Or, if you liked our podcast, you could rate it with a few—let's, for argument's sake, say five—stars.

Read more on www.StilleGeluiden.nl

Last refreshed: August 22nd, 2025 at 6:20 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

E08 Heidegger: Being and Time

Dasein – Jemeinigkeit - “The essence of Dasein lies in its Existence” In this episode, Awee embarks on a slow and thoughtful exploration of Martin Heidegger's Being and Time [Sein und Seit] , one of the most complex and influential works in Western philosophy. Awee addresses the importance and complexity of what Heidegger endeavours in this project; showing the structures of everyday existence, which he terms Dasein. Kas and Sonia assist the listeners in grappling with the contents of the book, ...

Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 8

E07 Heidegger

The question of Being - Being as a noun - Being as an event - “You can't bracket a bullit” In this episode, Awee introduces us to Martin Heidegger, one of the most influential—and controversial—philosophers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Breaking sharply from his mentor, Edmund Husserl, Heidegger challenges over 2000 years of Western philosophy. After the ancient Greeks before him, Heidegger turned to the question of being. According to Heidegger, philosophy should not be a 'rigorous science' b...

Dec 25, 2024•47 min•Ep. 7

E06 Husserl

Intentionality – Bracketing – Dingbewusstsein – Rain or urine? Awee delves into reading the works of Edmund Husserl, guiding the listener through the first steps into transcendental phenomenology. Through key fragments, as well as contextualizing Husserl through his early influences and the thinkers he influenced, this episode will give you a firm starting ground to understanding the father of phenomenology. Sonia and Kas disagree whether Husserl is thinking warmly or falls to his math-envy, and...

Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 6

E05 Towards Husserl

Edmund Husserl - Crisis of the Sciences - First Philosophy In order to understand Edmund Husserl's famous dictum to go "zu dem sachen selbst" we need to first understand the reasons for which it makes sense to do so. Awee expertly guides us through the crises of sciences, which brings us to Husserl's doorstep. Kas and Sonia discuss whether anything Jean — Paul Sartre ever wrote is worth wile, or if he should have at least written something better than the sources he used? And, without missing a ...

Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 5

E04 Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard · DOSTOEVSKY · Pseudonymous production · Boredom and Dread In this episode, Awee discusses Kierkegaard's most important works and concepts. Meanwhile, Kas and Sonia give a mandatory Dostoevsky PSA and help us understand the work of Kierkegaard through the song Is That All There Is by Peggy Lee. Let's begin finally! PS As everyone knows, Philosophy is the friends you make along the way, so in the spirit of friendship, could you press the follow button and or/and give the podcast five ...

Nov 06, 2024•52 min•Ep. 4

E03 Towards Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard · Slandering Descartes· First-person perspective· The Birth of Phenomenology · Irony In this episode “Towards Kierkegaard” Awee introduces the key concepts needed to begin understanding Kierkegaard's profound ideas. Meanwhile, Kas and Sonia shed nuanced light on the often-misunderstood Descartes, while Dostoevsky makes a welcome return. Let's begin finally! PS As everyone knows, Philosophy is the friends you make along the way, so in the spirit of friendship, could you press the foll...

Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 4

Trailer

First philosophy invites you to begin philosophy with us anew. Edmund Husserl says philosophers must be eternal beginners, so in in this podcast we return to our beginnings: great lectures! Our first season centers around Dr. Awee Prins and the lecture series Human Conditions. Each episode is a dive into various philosophical themes, blending insights form great thinkers with contemporary issues and encouraging contemplative conversations on what it means to be human in an ever-changing world. S...

Sep 26, 2024•1 min•Ep. 3

E02 What is your Philosophy?

The History of Philosophy · permanent Netflix · Plato · The Masters of Suspicion · · The world of ideas “Philosophy is a strange zigzag, and with a lot of zigzags to come that we don't even know about.” In the second episode, Awee continues exploring the phenomenological approach while questioning what it means to practice philosophy. Sonia and Kas take a moment to examine the nature of stories, specifically Awee's stories but also in the realm of literature. And also the first of many Dostoevsk...

Sep 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 2

E01 What is the Human?

Introduction to Philosophy · What does it mean to be human? · Seeing-eye-dogs · Phenomenology · Edmund Husserl “What is man? There are no definite answers to this question.” In this first episode, Awee Prins explores the phenomenological approach, which tries to understand the world—not as a sum of objects or a totality of things but as a crossroads, a patchwork of different perspectives. Sonia and Kas introduce themselves and the First Philosophy podcast. Let's begin, finally! P.S. If you could...

Sep 25, 2024•55 min•Ep. 1

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