Philosophy in the Streets

These days, they seem locked away in ivory towers, writing inscrutable treatises for each other.

Filmmaker Astra Taylor has sprung them from the tower. Taken today’s big-name philosophers and put them in the street, in the backseat of a car, on foot, in public — turned the camera on, and given our wise ones ten minutes each to tell us what they’ve got.

It’s funny. It’s fascinating. And maybe we need it.

This hour, On Point: Our philosophers, on the hoof, on film.

You can join the conversation. Do you live the examined life? Do we need our philosophers to climb down with us, into the streets? What would you ask a big thinker in the backseat?Guests:

Joining us from San Francisco is Astra Taylor. A writer and documentary filmmaker, her latest film is called "Examined Life: Philosophy Is in the Streets."

And from Hanover, N.H., is Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic.