Rationally Speaking #148 - David Kyle Johnson on "The Myths that Stole Christmas"

Rationally Speaking Podcast

New York City Skeptics

Society & Culture, Skepticism, Science, Philosophy

4.6 • 787 Ratings

🗓️ 29 November 2015

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We're all familiar with Santa Claus -- but how much do you *really* know about that jolly old elf? In this episode, Julia interviews philosophy professor David Kyle Johnson, the author of "The Myths that Stole Christmas." Kyle explains the little-known, and somewhat sinister, origin story of Santa Claus -- and then Kyle and Julia debate whether it's ethical to lie to your children about the reality of Santa Claus (and possible alternatives to explore).

Transcript

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0:00.0	Rationally speaking is a presentation of New York City skeptics dedicated to promoting critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and science education.
0:22.5	For more information, please visit us at NYCCEceptics.org.
0:35.3	Welcome to Rationally Speaking, the podcast where we explore the borderlands between reason and
0:40.4	nonsense. I'm your host, Julia Galeff, and with me is today's guest, Professor David Kyle
0:46.2	Johnson. Kyle is an associate professor of philosophy at King's College, and he's the editor of several volumes on philosophy and philosophy and pop culture.
0:57.7	He also writes about philosophy for popular publications, such as Psychology Today, and he's appeared on Huffington Post Live.
1:06.7	His most recent book, Hot Off the Presses, is The Myths That Stole Christmas, Seven Misconceptions
1:13.5	that hijacked the holiday and how we can take it back.
1:16.8	So that is going to be the topic of today's episode.
1:19.8	Kyle, welcome to the show.
1:21.2	Thank you, Julia.
1:22.1	Yes, it actually is right hot off the presses.
1:24.3	I literally got my box of books in the mail today. So exciting. What great timing.
1:30.7	Oh, and actually, I should have said welcome back to the show, because in fact, you are a returning guest.
1:35.5	You were our guest several years ago at the North East Conference on Science and Skepticism for a live show that we taped about the simulation hypothesis, which was a very popular episode.
1:45.4	So welcome back to the show.
1:47.0	Yes, thank you.
1:47.6	Thank you very much.
1:48.3	Yes, I definitely remember that day very well.
1:50.8	That was a great time.
1:51.6	And actually, that appearance on the cast helped kind of launch me in a bunch of different directions.
1:57.7	People at the great courses listened to that cast and eventually cold contacted me.
	...

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