Aired Sep 9, 2026

When faced with a hyper-complex, fast-moving world, outrage can feel like an alluring shortcut. It gives us an instant—if illusory—sense of certainty, grounding, and moral superiority. But what if our explosive reaction to political and social differences isn’t just about the issues themselves, but about how we orient ourselves amid uncertainty?

In this episode, we sit down with philosopher and author Dr. Douglas Giles to explore the philosophy of orientation—a practical diagnostic lens for understanding how human beings make sense of their environment, construct identity, and navigate interpersonal conflict.

“Orientation is the finding of one’s way amid uncertainty so that we can master a situation… Everything that we’re doing continually is orienting and reorienting ourselves to what’s going on around us.”

— Dr. Douglas Giles

Dr. Douglas Giles is a philosopher, author, and university professor with over 21 years of teaching experience. Author of How We Are and How We Got Here, he uses social philosophy to unpack culture, identity, and injustice—bringing big ideas into everyday life.

Links

Douglas Giles (PhilPeople)

Douglas Giles (dgilesauthor.com)