The Permanent Questions

Conversations from the deep end

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About The Permanent Questions

What makes us human? How can I find purpose in life? How can my relationship survive a rough patch? What do I say to a friend who’s suffering? Does any of this mean anything at all? 

It’s easy to lose sight of fundamental human concerns amid the churn of the news cycle and the demands of every day. Each week on The Permanent Questions, host David Brooks seeks to return them to our attention through thoughtful conversation with the world’s deepest thinkers.

Season 1, Episode 7

Do Miracles Really Happen?

People throughout history have claimed to witness impossible occurrences. Historian Carlos Eire asks: What if they’re telling the truth?

David Brooks and Carlos Eire
Season 1, Episode 5

Do Human Beings Have Souls?

The philosopher Shelly Kagan has gained millions of fans online while arguing that we can embrace physicalism without giving up meaning, morality, or human exceptionalism.

Shelly Kagan and David Brooks
Episode 2

What Is Humanity’s Place in the Cosmos?

A lifelong fascination with terra incognita led the astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan to map out the universe’s most enigmatic phenomena.

Headshot of Priyamvada Natarajan
Episode 1

What Is the Good Life?

The philosophy professor Meghan Sullivan doesn’t just want to teach her students about virtue; she wants to make them better human beings.

Headshot of Meghan Sullivan surrounded by colorful blocks

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