Ethics-Talk: The Greatest Good of Man is Daily to Converse About Virtue
By Ethics-Talk
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Podcast Description
Socrates said that talking about virtue and the good life is one of the most important things a human being can do. That's where "Ethics-Talk" fits in. Housed in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Central Michigan University (CMU), The Center for Professional and Personal Ethics brings you discussions about ethical issues, both pure and applied. For us at EthicsTalk -- "ethics" is broad and encompasses things that affect a human being's flourishing. To that end, students working with the Center discuss ethics-related topics such as academic integrity, intrinsic motivation, procrastination, and cultivating self-regulation and other powerful habits. Additionally, we discuss study and motivational strategies related to intimidating endeavors such as studying for the bar exam. We are also very interested in how technology can either promote or hinder flourishing and discuss "media ecology" issues including the thought of Walter Ong and the concept of "digital virtue". In addition to our student produced show, scholars, authors and practitioners (such as Michael Strong, Dave Cullen (author of 'Columbine'), Anya Kamenetz (author of 'Generation Debt'), Lindsay Hyde, Thomas Farrell, Michael Strong, Jeff Wirth, Ginger Campbell, Kirsten Lodal, and Jeffrey Wigand ("The Insider") discuss ethics related issues with the Center's Director. To learn more about the Center, visit us at http://ethics.cmich.edu and follow us on twitter at http://www.twitter.com
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1 |
The Human Right to Education & Development | Article 26(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". In this show, we discuss this article, focusing on the "development" clause. What might "full development of the human personality" look like?" and why is education aimed at "full development" so important as to be classified as a human right? | 2/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
An Introduction to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights | The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as both a response to World War 2 atrocities and a means to "reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person". In this show, we explore this document by focusing not only on some of its articles, but also by discussing how it connects to global justice and the rule of law. | 1/31/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
The Material of Happiness | In tonight's show, we focus on society’s search for happiness through material objects. To what extent (if any) are material objects relevant to happiness? If material objects are irrelevant to happiness, then what are the non-material components of happiness? Our discussion will incorporate some recent concepts found within the domain of positive psychology such as "the hedonic treadmill". | 11/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Reason's True Vocation: Kant's Inner Resources for Morality | In his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant famously claims that morality cannot be based on anything outside of the will. Rather, the source of morality is within the individual herself. In this show, we try to get clear on the inner resources that Kant believes are essential to moral action. To what extent is reason involved in moral action? To what extent are emotion, fear and desire involved? We will focus on these questions in this week's episode of Ethics Talk. | 11/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
The End of Moral Relativism? The Nuremberg Trials & Morality | The historic trials of high ranking Nazi officials after World War 2 introduced "crimes against humanity" to the list of international crimes. In this show, we focus on "crimes against humanity" and the debate surrounding this category of crime. At the heart of this debate is the philosophical question about the nature of morality, and its relationship to the law and state sovereignty. Do other countries have the duty and the right to hold leaders accountable if they commit atrocities against their own people ? Were the Nuremberg trials simply another instance of the claim that justice and morality are nothing but "the interest of the stronger"? By focusing on the Nuremberg trials and the charge of "crimes against humanity," we will show how this philosophical debate has unfolded and implicated the international justice system. | 11/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
An Introduction to The Nuremberg Trials | In November 1945 the victors of World War 2 commenced the historic "Nuremberg Trials" - in which a number of defendants from high ranking Nazi officials like Hermann Goering (commander of the German air force or "luftwaffe") and Rudolph Hess (the deputy fuhrer) were tried for crimes against the peace, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In 1948, the U.S. conducted a second set of trials ("the subsequent Nuremberg trials) in which judges, doctors and businessmen were tried. In this show, we will focus on the the trial of the judges - the "Alstotter trial" - on which the award winning film "Judgement at Nuremberg" is based. By focusing on the Alstotter trial, our aim is to have the listener appreciate the philosophical, moral and legal significance of the Nuremberg trials. | 10/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Reasons For Abstinence: Tolstoy's "On Why Men Stupefy Themselves" (Part 2) | In this week's show, we continue discussing Tolstoy’s views on alcohol, focusing on Tolstoy’s arguments for complete abstinence in his essay "Why do People Stupefy Themselves," Tolstoy claims that even moderate drinking is profoundly harmful. But why? Are there not occasions when having a drink is indeed the right thing to do? This week's episode of Ethics Talk focuses on this question, the applicability of Tolstoy’s argument to college life, and its relevance (if any) to today. | 10/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Tolstoy's "On Why People Stupefy Themselves" | In his "Why do People Stupefy Themselves," Leo Tolstoy writes "men drink and smoke, not to keep their spirits up, not for gayety's sake, not because it is pleasant, but in order to stifle conscience in themselves." Written at the time when the U.S. was awash in the temperance movement (but about 30 years before the passage of the 18th amendment), Tolstoy claims that even moderate drinking is profoundly harmful. This week's episode of Ethics Talk focuses on Tolstoy's 1890 essay, its applicability to college life, and its relevance (if any) today. | 10/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Violence, Humanitarian Efforts, and International Tools | This week we will continue our discussion of violence, focusing specifically on violence used for so called “humanitarian efforts”. We will consider whether or not there are circumstances in which violence is acceptable. We will also discuss a phenomenon known as the “silent majority” and its implications for international conflicts. Lastly, we will address current “tools” available to governments to enforce humanitarian standards on states. | 10/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Hannah Arendt: The Relationship Between Violence and Power | In this week's show, we discuss the relationship between violence and power. To do so, we will focus on Hannah Arendt's work "On Violence." What is the nature of power? And is violence ever a legitimate means to obtain power? When is the state justified in using violence? How is violence used in the domestic realm different than violence used in the international realm ? | 9/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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11 |
Andrew Carnegie: The Gospel of Wealth & Peace | In this week's show, we discuss Andrew Carnegie's work "The Gospel of Wealth". In our own day, billionaires such as Warren Buffet and Bill & Melinda Gates have not only pledged to donate the majority of their wealth to charity, but also encourage their billionaire colleagues to do the same. We will not only discuss the extent to which today's billionaire philanthropists are following the Carnegie gospel, but will also focus on how The Carnegie Gospel connects to Carnegie's peace activism at the end of his life. | 9/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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12 |
The Intellectual Criminal Court: Our Awakening | In this special show, broadcasted from both The Hague (Den Haag) Netherlands, as well as Leiden, Netherlands, five students from Central Michigan reflect on their experience with the International Criminal Court in Den Haag. These students are enrolled in a special course focused on the amazing and important work of the International Criminal Court, a young court which is empowered with prosecuting individuals for committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In fact, is was exactly a week ago today, when the students saw the Court for the first time. It was a Sunday, amd the Court was closed, but it was moving nonetheless. But the students have since visited the Court and seen it "in action". To learn about the court first hand is transformational, and to witness its work is transformational. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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13 |
Travaux Preparatories: Preparing for an Intense Focus on the International Criminal Court | "Travaux Prepartories" is a term used to refer to the "preparatory works", specifically the preliminary works leading up to a treaty. Sometimes the Travaux are used to determine the intent and purpose of a treaty. Don't worry, this is not a show on the law of treaties! Rather five students reflect on their first week of an intensive course on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which will soon be transported from our classroom in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to The Hague, Netherlands. While in the Hague, students will attend trial proceedings at the ICC and interact with scholars and personnel from the ICC, in the end learning about the court as a "human rights" operation. In this show, we will engage in a substantive discussion about what we have all learned about international criminal law. Additionally, we will discuss our expectations for the time that we will soon spend abroad. This show is entitled "travaux preparatories" because it is also functioning as a preparatory show for the shows that we will be broadcasting from The Hague in the weeks to come! | 5/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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14 |
Slaves to Passion: The Sequel | Two weeks ago, we attempted to discuss the extent to which liberty is, in fact, related to the body and one's physical confinement. The leading question was: can one still be a a slave although one is not subject to external constraints? We turned to some passages from Sartre, Hume, Aristotle and Plato (see the PDF in our 'show resources' page).We had a rich philosophical discussion about the role that consciousness, interpretation and culture are related to freedom. This week, we take a second pass at this topic and those passages. The guiding questions are these: 1) can one be enslaved by one's own body and bodily passions; and 2) to what extent does culture and society affect one's freedom? Big questions indeed, but, following Sartre, "nothing ventured, nothing gained". | 5/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 |
Slaves to Passion | Article 7 of the Rome Statute (the governing document of the International Criminal Court) identifies "severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law" as a crime against humanity. In last week's show, we explored the extent to which slavery may NOT involve a "severe deprivation of physical liberty." Can one to be a slave to one's passions? If so, does this imply that others have a duty to help us guard against such "affective slavery"? To focus our discussion, we will concentrate on some passages from Sartre, Hume, Plato and Aristotle that are available in the "show resources" section of our website. | 4/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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16 |
Slavery & The Soul in The Ancient World | What was it to be a slave in antiquity? How did ancient societies view their slaves, and how does this compare with antebellum slavers? What did Aristotle mean when he said some men were natural slaves? To discuss these and other questions, the ethicstalk team welcomes Dr. Greg Smith, professor in CMU's History Department, for this Human Rights Month special on Slavery. | 4/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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17 |
The Ethics of Eating: Part 2 | In this show, we continue our conversation about the Ethics of Eating with special guests Campus Grow. In last week's show, we focused on some facts about the U.S. food system. This week, we aim to discuss the ethical dimension of those facts, with a special emphasis on personal action and steps that the individual can take to become more ethical regarding food choices. | 4/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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18 |
The Ethics of Eating | Join us tonight on Ethics Talk as we sit down with our friends from Campus Grow. We will discuss the current state of our global food system. We will take a look at the impacts of subsidies, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), and the global dependence on imports/exports. Consider: Where did your dinner come from? Where should it come from? Who is impacted in what way when I eat? Are the ethical dimensions of food so grave as to implicate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? These are just a few of the questions that will be addressed on this week's episode of Ethics Talk. | 3/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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19 |
The NCAA: A Monolithic Cartel of Private Justice? | Ever wondered why Division 1 College Football has the Bowl Championship System instead of a true playoff series? Can you explain why some students athletes (Terrelle Pryor, Jeremy Bloom) seem to get the short end of the stick while others (Cam Newton, Tom Zbikowski) are treated like royalty? On this show, ethicstalk welcomes Dr. Adam Epstein live on 91.5 to discuss the NCAA as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation, it's role in collegiate America, and it's legislative history in U.S. courts. | 3/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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20 |
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines: Global Health as a Responsibility of Universities | In this show, special guests Pratik Chhetri and Samik Upadhaya will discuss mission of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) and most importantly, its core values. Our discussion will also revolve around some of UAEM's projects and their relevance and importance. We will talk about social justice regarding health equity globally. We will also discuss neglected diseases also known as "diseases of poverty" and UAEM's fight to promote access to essential medicines and health related technologies to help eliminate these diseases. Surrounding this premise, we will talk about a conference that UAEM Central Michigan University (CMU) chapter is organizing entitled "Improving Global and Local Healthcare Disparities: A Collaboration across Disciplines" and will be held on April 2nd and 3rd at CMU. The conference aims to raise awareness regarding global and some local healthcare disparities. We will also discuss about identifying and exploring resources available at CMU and beyond to tackle global issues such as healthcare. | 3/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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21 |
The International Criminal Court and The Situation in Libya | This special episode of Ethics Talk will be airing from The Hague, Netherlands, home to many international courts of law. The International Criminal Court (ICC), a relatively new court, has officially decided to investigate the situation in Libya. This show will have special guests from the ICCSN (The International Criminal Court Student Network) as well as Matthew Cannock from the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) and Judit Alguero from the Special Tribunal of Lebanon (STL). Please join us for a conversation about how the international legal community is grappling with the issue of Libya. Our aim in this show is to help our listeners understand the ICC's investigation of Libya and its significance. | 3/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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22 |
Alcohol & Drug Use: The Neuroscientific Perspective | We continue our Modern Rock 91.5 format with a show that is fitting for the debauchery in which college students engage during Spring Break. Dr. Michael Sandstrom, of the CMU neuroscience department, will join the discussion about the neuroscientific dimensions of partying. Among the questions to be addressed will be the neuroscientfic definition of "addiction", and the relationship between the "drunken self" and the "true self." Our objective is to arm you with enabling knowledge in order make your Spring Break memorable, rather than something that you cannot even remember. | 2/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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23 |
The Art of Partying | We begin this semester's Modern Rock 91.5 show with a show on the art of partying. We are all familiar with the term "binge drinking" but is there a happy medium between a quiet evening and a Dionysian keg party? If so, what would it look like? On this show, we'd like to discuss whether a "virtuous party" is possible, and how college students might achieve it. Please join us if you have some thoughts on the matter, or even if you'd like to discuss your brew of choice! | 2/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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24 |
Trust Thyself: Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" | At a time in which Lady Gaga is seen as an agent who awakens the "True Self" of her fans, we go back in time to 1841, when Ralph Waldo Emerson penned "Imitation is Suicide" and "Trust Thyself," and "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself" in his essay "Self-Reliance". In this week's episode, we will make an attempt to discuss Emerson's important essay and, in the spirit of Emerson, will leave it to the listener to decide whether Emerson or Lady Gaga better delivers the message that the true human being is a non-comformist. | 2/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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25 |
Emerson's: The American Scholar: Part 2 | In this show, we continue discussing Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1837 essay "The American Scholar." Last week, members of Ethics Talk decided to all read "The American Scholar" and we began to discuss the lessons we learned from this essay. One hour was not long enough, so we continue the discussion today. Although this show is a continuation of last week's show, it will be "self-sustaining" and comprehensible on its own. | 2/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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26 |
Ralph Waldo Emerson's: The American Scholar | In 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson gave a famous lecture entitled "The American Scholar". In the essay, Emerson notes (among many other things) that there is "creative reading" as well as "creative reading". To that end, the members of Ethics Talk decided to all read "The American Scholar" - an essay which no one of us has yet read. Nor are any of us "experts" on Emerson. We think, though, that Emerson may approve of our effort to come together and discuss the ideas within the essay. So, in this show, we discuss what lessons we learned from "The American Scholar" not just for "Americans" but for all human beings yearning for the True, the Good and The Beautiful. | 2/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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27 |
Philosophy, Psychology & Religion | Philosophers have developed a number of arguments which pertain not only to the existence of God, but also to the question of whether, even if God's existence cannot be proven with logical methods, we should believe in God nonetheless. In this show, we will not only explore the so called 'analytical approach' to the existence of God, but will also discuss pragmatic and psychological considerations in believing that there is a 'higher power'. | 1/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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28 |
The Role of the State in Perfecting Human Nature | Can every citizen of a free society community have access to health care, education, or capital for investment? How much can truth and knowledge offer to political theory? Can certain positive freedoms be considered inalienable human rights? On tonight’s show we discuss the alternative views on the duties of the government and how these alternatives are rooted in different views of human nature and the needs and wants of human beings. Founded in the idea that truth is a rare ideal outside of mathematics, this conversation is meant to explore some idealizations people might share or disagree about. Let us know your thoughts tonight on Ethics Talk. | 1/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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29 |
Human Nature & Political Theory | In this show, we discuss the connection between human nature and the "political ecosystem" in which a human being finds itself. Views of human nature have political consequences. In addition to exploring the political consequences of some rival theories of human nature, we will also explore the question of whether the political system in the United States rests on an adequate view of human nature. | 1/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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30 |
Postmodernism & The Critique of the Enlightenment | In this show, we discuss the postmodern critique of the enlightenment and western reason. Postmoderns eschew notions like 'absolute truth' and certainty. We discuss the merits of the postmodern position. | 1/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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31 |
All About the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) | Thinking about going to law school and taking the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)? Wondering when, what, and how hard to study? In this show, some of the Ethics Talk hosts discuss the LSAT and their recent experiences preparing and taking it. | 12/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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32 |
Financial Literacy 101: Wisdom from an "Are You Credit Wise?" Student Intern | Join us for a conversation with Krystal Penrose, who is a 2010/2011 "Are You Credit Wise" intern and a student at Central Michigan University. With the support of national student leaders, MasterCard Worldwide developed "Are You Credit Wise?" (AYCW), a campus-based, peer-to-peer education program that provides money management information to college students. There are 10 AYCW interns throughout the country who are trained to lead campus-wide education campaigns focused on the fundamentals of good credit habits. Join us for a conversation with a student expert who will provide us information on the alarming financial status of college students, the recently enacted "Card Act", and why it is important for young people to be "Credit Wise". | 12/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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33 |
The Middle Class and The Health of our Constitutional Democracy | Join us for a conversation with Dr. Nolan Kaiser, an expert on political philosophy and constitutional jurisprudence who taught at Central Michigan University for over 40 years. Dr. Kaiser lost his sight and left hand in a tragic accident when he was 14 years old, but was nevertheless able to obtain a doctorate in philosophy and become an important figure in protecting the rights of the disabled. In this show, we discuss the United States' Constitutional Democracy and its relationship to the middle class. The show will provide the listener with a brief overview of the history of our constitutional democracy, including important judicial and legislative acts aimed at the promotion of individual autonomy. Dr. Kaiser will argue that the health of the middle class is evidence that our constitutional democracy is working. And given that the middle class continues to suffer, Dr. Kaiser will argue that the values that allowed this country to flourish are no longer respect | 12/7/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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34 |
Stories from the National Day of Listening | This week's episode is a special episode of Ethics Talk. The Center for Professional and Personal Ethics at Central Michigan University was a participating organization in Story Corps' 'National Day of Listening'. As such, Hope May, Director of the Center interviewed 5 important individuals within her community about defining moments in their lives. Among the interviewed are: 1) Dr. Nolan Kaiser, who lost his sight and his left hand at age 14 whilst replicating one of Thomas Edison's experiments. Nevertheless, Nolan earned a doctorate in philosophy and taught at CMU for over 40 years. Nolan explains how losing his accident actually helped him to see more clearly. 2) Deanna Heath, a remarkable woman who was formidable in raising the funds for Mt. Pleasant's Woodland Hospice, where she served for its Director for several years. Despite her success in this role, she left to return to earn Masters in Social Work. In the interview, she explains why. 3) Dr. Bruce Roscoe, who has served as the Dean of Students of CMU since 1997. In this interview, we learn that although there is a dark side to Bruce's work, specifically dealing with the deaths of students, this part of his job has given him both professional and personal insights, and a deepened appreciation for the lives of young people. 4) Sally Goodrow, whose husband, John, was rector at St. John's Episcopal parish. Father Goodrow's mission included helping those in the community. Sally discusses the unexpected death of her husband in 1987 and how she decided to preserve his legacy by forming the "Goodrow Fund" which continues to provide critical services to the community. 5) Dr. Jeffrey Wigand subject of the academy award nominated film 'The Insider', discusses how the lessons learned in childhood played a role in his decision to tackle the tobacco industry and his commitment to education. Wigand now serves on the Board of Education of Mt. Pleasant, MI. | 11/30/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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35 |
The Darfur Stoves Project: Why a stove plays a powerful role in protecting the women affected by the Darfur Tragedy. | The mission of the Darfur Stoves Project is to improve the safety and wellbeing of internally displaced persons in Darfur by providing fuel-efficient cookstoves. The Berkeley-Darfur Stove reduces the quantity of firewood women need to cook for their families by at least 50 percent. This allows Darfuri women to dramatically reduce the amount of time spent outside the camps collecting firewood. Executive Director of the Darfur Stoves Project, Andree Sosler, discusses her recent 3 week visit to Darfur, as well as the impact that her organization is having is mitigating the atrocities caused by the Darfur tragedy. Julia Fertel, who is 14 and has raised thousands of dollars for The Darfur Stoves Project, by selling her own jewelry creations, also joins us and speaks with Andree for the first time. Very special show with little surprises in its nooks and crannies. | 11/23/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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36 |
Norm Entrepreneurs: The Journey of the Creative Minds Behind Skylight Pictures | Philosopher Cass Sunstein describes a "norm entrepreneur" as an individual who recognizes that the commitment to existing norms is a fragile thing. Further, norm entrepreneurs harness this fragility to move society to express a different set of norms. Mohandas Ghandi, for example, was a norm entrepreneur, a change agent. In ths show, we are joined by special guests and norm entrepreneurs: Director Pamela Yates, Producer, Paco de Onis, and social media guru, Alejandro de Onis, all of Skylight Pictures. Collectively, these three talented individuals are spearheading a formidable movement to raise awareness about human rights abuses and International Justice. Their latest film, "The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court," tells the incredible story of how the international community came to together to form the first "Court of Humanity". International Justice Central (ijcentral.org), an outgrowth of Skylight Pictures, harnesses the power of social media to build a community that supports the Rule of Law. Join us as we discuss how the lives of Pam, Paco and Alejandro led them to use their creativity and innovation to raise consciousness about International Justice and Human Rights. | 11/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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37 |
Invisible Children: The Movement to End the use of Child Soldiers in Uganda | Lauren Henke, movement coordinator of Invisible Children joins us for a special episode of Ethics Talk. Invisible Children is a movement that uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore Northern Uganda to peace and prosperity. In this show, Lauren will tell us about the latest developments regarding the powerfully inspiring actions of Invisible Children. | 11/3/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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38 |
In Honor and Respect: Returning the Remains of Native Americans to their Ancestors | On November 4th and 5th, 2010, Central Michigan University will return the remains of 144 Saginaw Chippewa tribal ancestors and associated funerary objects to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, for proper burial. This historical event has been years in the making, mainly due to the Federal Guidelines that govern the return of ancestral remains under the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In this special show, we are joined by special guests Dr. Pamela Gates, interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Central Michigan University and Shannon Martin, Director of the Ziibiwing Center. Both individuals were instrumental in the organization of this historic event. Prepared to be moved as we will discuss how this poignant event came to pass, and what it means for CMU and the Native American Community. | 10/31/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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39 |
Ethics & Alcohol | How should we think about alcohol? Can consumption of alcohol be a good thing, from an ethical perspective? Is there a ‘best’ alcohol? What interests are served by our minimum drinking age, and how should we think about exceptions? (i.e, Wisconsin) Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to beer than getting drunk, and we eve plan to consult Aristotle on the topic. Join special guests Dr. John Meixner. | 10/24/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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40 |
A History of The Soul | Today, the average understanding of the soul can generally be categorized one of two ways: either we see the soul as some mystical or metaphysical entity which is separate from the body (dualism), or we deny the existence of a soul altogether. Historical views of the soul, as it turns out, are not so neatly categorized. On this week’s show, the Ethicstalk team is joined by special guest Dr. Gregory Smith and Dr. Michael Russo on a tour of ancient views of the soul from a variety of periods and cultures. Before tuning in, ask yourself a simple question: “How much does a soul weigh?” | 10/19/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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41 |
The Ethics of Sports | Where do the rules for our favorite sports come from? What is really going on when referees get the call 'wrong' (think Armando Galaragga, Calvin Johnson, and Frank Lampard.) How should we think about the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports? How do the rules of a game, the referee, and instant replay interact? If you're interested in seeking the answers to these questions, please join guest hosts Dr. Joshua Smith and Dr. Adam Epstein for our first Modern Rock 91.5 show of the season. | 10/10/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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42 |
Neuroscience & Morality: Part II | Tonight's show will focus on how neuroscience is helping us to appreciate the role that reasons and emotions play in moral behavior. Once again, we will be joined by Dr. Michael Sandstrom, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Central Michigan University. | 10/5/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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43 |
Freedom & Responsibility: The Neuroscientific Perspective | Ethics Talk welcomes Dr. Michael Sandstrom, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Central Michigan University. Dr. Sandstrom will discuss how, if at all, findings in neuroscience shed light on the debate about free will and responsibility. Dr. Sandstrom earned his doctorate in Neuroscience from Ohio State University in 1998. He has focused his career on understanding the mechanisms of plasticity and compensation in the brain, and how brain function modifies itself to continue to support important goals even in circumstances of disease and damage. | 9/28/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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44 |
Darfur, The United Nations and The International Criminal Court | Special guest Jennifer Schense, joins us in a conversation about the Darfur Tragedy. Ms. Schense is International Cooperation Adviser and specialist on Darfur at the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been investigating the tragedy for a number of years. In addition to discussing the status of the ICC investigation, Ms. Schense will discuss a momentous meeting on September 24, 2010 of the UN General Assembly. At that meeting, members of the U.N. Security Council and other parties interested in Sudan will focus on the current state of Darfur. President Obama will attend this meeting in an effort to focus international attention on Darfur. Ms. Schense will discuss the importance of the 9/24 meeting and the efforts of both state and non-state actors in attempting to address the human tragedy that continues to happen "on our watch". | 9/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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45 |
Darfur & Genocide: An Introduction | In this show, we provide an introduction to Darfur and focus on the claim that a genocide is happening "on our watch." We discuss the definition of genocide as well as the complex issues involved in prosecuting the President of Sudan for genocide and other international crimes. | 9/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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46 |
Justice: Ancient and Modern Perspectives | One of the perennial questions that vexes moral philosophers is "why be moral?" Thinkers from Ancient Greece (at least some of them), equated this question with "why be just"? In this show, we will address the answer to this question that is offered by Plato and Aristotle. Throughout the show, we will highlight similarities and differences between ancient greek conceptions of justice and morality, on the one hand, and our modern conceptions of justice and morality, on the other. Specifically, we will explore the ancient conception that Justice is a virtue of the soul, something internal -- and contrast that with the modern view that to "seek justice" is to involve the judicial machinery of a society. | 8/31/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 46 Episodes |
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- Category: Philosophy
- Language: English
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