They think, therefore they air

These days, he's a fervent believer that "philosophy is deeply, culturally, socially important. . . . Philosophy and the clarification of ideas and the firming up of ideas and the criticizing of ideas is an important thing."

On this Sunday morning, after nearly an hour spent hashing out the problem of evil, he and his co-host end up diametrically opposed. Perry is on nature's side: God doesn't need our worship; the earth does. Taylor is on God's (that is, if God exists): Worship because the universe -- and its creator -- inspires awe.

With a little luck, and a few more program directors willing to take a leap of faith, Taylor envisions "Philosophy Talk" in the big leagues: a slot on 600 public radio stations across the country.

But for today, it's a wrap at tiny KALW, on "the program that questions everything . . . except your intelligence."

Taylor: "Thank you for listening."

Perry: "And thank you for thinking."

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maria.laganga@latimes.com