Episodes 16
Avg. Duration 8m
Activity Dormant
Since Jul 2025
Latest Episode Dec 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every Few Days
Format
Episodic
Consistency
68%
Hosting
api.substack.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Negative Philosophy examines what you can't think your way to — the part of how you function that runs below the level of reading, understanding, or deciding. Each episode works with the philosophical lineage of Spinoza, Gurdjieff, Zen, and the Stoics, alongside Martin Butler's framework for psychological realism. A different quality of attention to what is actually happening — not self-improvement, not optimism. Debbie Butler is a psychologist and practitioner of Negative Philosophy.

deborahbutler.substack.com

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

My Trauma Christmas List

Dec 12, 2025 14m

1. Scary Santa at the Grotty Grotto - creepy old man with beard fed to small children who are into monsters in stories and nursery rhymes.2. Shopping - really? Who needs yet another ornament. …

The Inner Battle - Appetite vs. Desire

Dec 09, 2025 16m

Today I want to tell you a secret:Most of the things you chase… aren’t actually yours.And I’m not talking metaphors, I’m talking Spinoza, biology and the architecture of your mind. Let’s break down…

The Ethics Part 3 Proposition 4

Dec 05, 2025 8m

PropositionNo thing can be destroyed except through an external cause.DemonstrationThis proposition is self-evident. For the definition of any thing affirms the essence of the thing and does not deny…

Actions Or Just Words?

Dec 02, 2025 13m

I break down a brutal truth most people avoid: words are cheap and so are your ideas.We explore why so many intelligent, insightful people stay stuck in fantasy while convincing themselves they’re…

The Heart of Practice

Nov 27, 2025 5m

In this episode, I (Debbie) read and reflect on “The Heart of Practice,” a foundational piece of Negative Philosophy written by Martin Butler. Rather than chasing knowledge or spiritual fantasies,…

Truth, Lies & The Mind's Need To Survive

Nov 25, 2025 11m

This episode continues the exploration of how the mind creates its own version of truth. We discuss the psychology and neuroscience of traumatic memory, the role of the conatus in protecting the…

A Man Not of His Time

Oct 04, 2025 9m

If the first part of my video was about how Spinoza broke free from the world he was born into, this part is about what he built in its place. After his excommunication, he walked away from status,…

A Man Not of His Time, Born Centuries Too Soon

Oct 02, 2025 10m

We throw the name Spinoza around as if we know who he was. Baruch, or Benedictus if you prefer the Latinised version, was a philosopher born too soon. But most people only know the myth, not the man.…

Reading from Martin Butler's 'A Minority Interest'

Sep 26, 2025 2m

Most people live as grateful fools or frightened mice — forever thankful for scraps from life’s table, or forever terrified of losing what little they have. In A Minority Interest, Martin Butler…

Today I thought I'd read a short extract from 'Conversations With Jelly' by Martin Butler

Sep 10, 2025 4m

Conversations With Jelly by Martin Butler is no ordinary book—it tears the mask off polite illusions and drags the reader face-to-face with the raw, unsettling truth of existence. Through the eyes of…

Trauma Bonding

Aug 06, 2025 6m

Trauma BondingTrauma bonding is one of those psychological concepts that sounds dramatic but is actually quite subtle and insidious in real life.At its core, trauma bonding is a strong emotional…

Overcoming Camera Shyness and Sharing Philosophical Insights

Aug 05, 2025 3m

In this candid video, I share my struggles with speaking on camera, explaining why I prefer writing to express my thoughts clearly. Despite teaching students daily, I get nervous and tongue-tied in…

Embracing the Beast

Aug 03, 2025 4m

Martin Butler’s book Corporeal Fantasy (available on Amazon) is a daring and unflinching exploration of human nature, desire, and the wild contradictions that live within us. It challenges the reader…

AI Tells us about Martin Butler's novel EASy

Jul 25, 2025 3m

Find the book on AmazonHere is the video transcription:I'm now going to ask Chat GPT to tell me about easythe novel by Martin Butlercan you tell me about the novel EASy by Martin Butlerthe novel EASy…

What does AI make of 'Conversations With Jelly?'

Jul 25, 2025 0m

“What if everything you believe about life, success, and happiness is a distraction from reality? Conversations with Jelly is not for the faint-hearted—but for those ready to face the truth.”What…

Grumpiness and Truth

Jul 23, 2025 9m

Martin Butler on Grumpiness and Truth | A Rant on Reality, Limits, and the Illusion of KnowingIn his usual style of raw and honesty, Martin start off in a self-declared grumpy mood — and for good…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Negative Philosophy have?

Negative Philosophy has published 16 episodes since July 2025, covering topics in Education, Philosophy.

Is Negative Philosophy still active?

Negative Philosophy is currently dormant with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 8m.

How do I contact Negative Philosophy for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Negative Philosophy, including email and social media links.

Similar Podcasts