Prompt Cast
The Evolution of Language and Philosophical Terms
TLDR The hosts explore the changing definitions of words like "decimate," "hedonism," "epicurean," "cynic," and "cakewalk," as well as the origins of terms like "Kafka-esque," "Luddite," and "Nimrod." They also apologize for their previous episode mocking vapers while emphasizing the potential risks of vaping.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Discover wants to make everyone feel special by providing 24-7 live customer service and $0 fraud liability with their credit card.
04:37
The hosts of the podcast discuss their transition from Mental Floss to HowStuffWorks and their excitement about the intimate and connected nature of podcasting.
09:13
The hosts discuss the difference between descriptivists and prescriptivists when it comes to language and give an example of the word "decimate" and its changing definition.
14:25
Hedonism, originally stemming from the Greek word for pleasure, was an umbrella philosophy that focused on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, which could include intellectual pursuits and altruism, rather than just sexual debauchery.
20:05
Epicurean is often misused to refer to someone who enjoys fine food and drink, but it actually originated from the philosopher Epicurus and his philosophy of pursuing inner tranquility and contentment rather than excessive indulgence.
25:20
The word "cynic" originally referred to a philosophy in ancient Greece that advocated for a virtuous life through poverty and the avoidance of pleasure, but it evolved in the 18th century with Rousseau to mean someone who is suspicious and distrustful.
31:12
The term "cakewalk" originated from the antebellum south where white slave owners would have slaves dress up and mock them in a socially prescribed framework, reinforcing the social norms that kept slavery in place, and this practice was later further mocked in minstrel shows.
36:56
The term "cakewalk" was later perverted in minstrel shows, and while it may not be widely offensive today, its use could be considered agist, as cakewalks are typically found in nursing homes, and the phrase "piece of cake" does indeed come from cakewalk.
42:13
Kafka-esque is when you enter a surreal world and all your control patterns and plans begin to fall apart, and even though you struggle against it, you're doomed from the outset.
47:40
The term "Luddite" originally referred to 19th century weavers in England who were engaged in class warfare and destroying automated looms, not people who were afraid of technology.
53:00
The origin of the term "Nimrod" as an insult can be traced back to Bugs Bunny calling Elmer Fudd Nimrod in an episode, which was ironic because Nimrod was actually known as a great hunter.
58:13
The hosts apologize for mocking and belittling vapers in a previous episode, but stand by their research and argue that their intention was to highlight the potential risks of vaping compared to tobacco smoking.
Categories:
Society & Culture
