Philosophy Bites
By Edmonds and Warburton
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Description
David Edmonds (Uehiro Centre, Oxford University) and Nigel Warburton (freelance philosopher/writer) interview top philosophers on a wide range of topics. Two books based on the series have been published by Oxford University Press. We are currently self-funding - donations very welcome via our website http://www.philosophybites.com
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CleanLarry Temkin on Obligations to the Needy | How can we best help other people? Peter Singer has argued that we should give aid. Despite a lifetime spent believing this, Larry Temkin has started to question whether the effects of aid are beneficial. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 4/2/2018 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSarah Fine on the Right to Exclude | Do states have a moral right to exclude people from their territory? It might seem obvious that states do have such a right, but Sarah Fine questions this in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode of Philosophy... | 2/14/2018 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEric Schwitzgebel on Scepticism | How do I know I'm not dreaming? This sort of question has puzzled philosophers for thousands of years. Eric Schwitzgebel discusses scepticism and its history with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode of... | 1/11/2018 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPhilip Pettit on Robustly Demanding Goods | What is a robustly demanding good, and what has that got to do with friendship and love? Find out in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast in which Nigel Warburton interviews Princeton Professor Philip Pettit about this topic. | 12/10/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKatalin Farkas on Knowing a Person | Philosophers talk about 'knowing how' and 'knowing what'. But what is involved in knowing a person? Katalin Farkas discusses this question with David Edmonds in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode was sponsored by the Examining... | 11/6/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRoger Scruton on Human Nature | Are human beings fundamentally different from the rest of the animal world? Can what we essentially are be captured in a biological or evolutionary description? Roger Scruton discusses the nature of human nature with Nigel Warburton in this... | 8/29/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnil Seth on the Real Problem of Consciousness | Anil Seth on the Real Problem of Consciousness | 7/19/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Puett on Ritual in Chinese Philosophy | Why does apparently trivial ritual play such an important part in some ancient Chinese philosophy? Michael Puett, co-author of The Path, explains in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode of Philosophy Bites was sponsored by the... | 6/26/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAaron Meskin on the Definition of Art | What is Art? That's not an easy question to answer. Some philosophers even think it can't be answered. Aaron Meskin discusses this question on this episode of Aesthetics Bites. Aesthetics Bites is a podcast series of interviews with top thinkers... | 5/30/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanShelly Kagan on Death and Deprivation | The process of dying can be horrible for many, but is there anything bad about death itself? The obvious answer is that deprives us of something that we might otherwise have experienced. But that leads to further philosophical issues...Shelly... | 4/18/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanElisabeth Schellekens Dammann on Disagreement About Taste | We certainly disagree about aesthetic judgments in a range of cases. But is anyone right? Is there no disputing about taste? Are all tastes equal? Elisabeth Schellekens Damman discusses disagreement about taste in this episode of Aesthetics... | 4/18/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAndy Clark on The Extended Mind | Andy Clark, who with David Chalmers proposed the theory of the extended mind, explains what he means by this idea in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 3/18/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanStephen Davies on Art and Evolution | Why do we have art at all? There must be some evolutionary explanation. In this episode of the Aesthetics Bites podcast series, Stephen Davies discusses some of the evolutionary theories about where art came from in conversation with Nigel... | 3/1/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEileen John on Art and Morality | In this episode of Aesthetics Bites, Eileen John discusses some of the ways that art explores moral questions. Nigel Warburton is the interviewer. Aesthetics Bites is a series of interviews with top thinkers in the philosophy of art. It is... | 3/1/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChris Frith on The Point of Consciousness | Why do we have consciousness at all? Neuroscientist Chris Frith discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Mind Bites which is part of a series made in association with Philosophy Bites for Nick Shea's AHRC-funded Meaning for the... | 2/3/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKeith Frankish on Conscious Thought | One distinctive feature of human beings is that we can represent aspects of the world to ourselves, and also counterfactual situations. We do this through our conscious thoughts. Keith Frankish discusses this phenomenon in this episode of Mind Bites,... | 1/14/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAmia Srinivasan on What is a Woman? | 'What is a woman?' may seem a straightforward question, but it isn't. Feminist philosophers from Simone de Beauvoir onwards have had a great deal to say on this topic. Amia Srinivasan gives a lucid introduction to some of the key positions in... | 1/1/2017 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKate Jeffery on Concepts and Representation | Neuroscientist Kate Jeffery discusses how the brain represents the world. This episode is is part of a short series Mind Bites made in association with Nicholas Shea's AHRC-funded Meaning for the Brain and Meaning for the Person project. That website... | 12/5/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnthony Gottlieb on Pierre Bayle | Pierre Bayle was one of the best-known philosophers in the Eighteenth Century, but his work is now rarely studied. Anthony Gottlieb, author of The Dream of Enlightenment, argues that he should be better known, particularly his work on toleration and... | 12/2/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKathleen Stock on Fiction and the Emotions | How should we understand the emotions that readers feel about fictional characters? Kathleen Stock discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this, the second episode of Aesthetics Bites, a collaboration between the London Aesthetics Forum and... | 11/12/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Miller on Immigration | Immigration is one of the major, and most contentious, political issues of our day. Can philosophy help here? David Miller thinks so. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he speaks to David Edmonds about border controls and their... | 11/12/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSophie Scott on the Meaning of Laughter | What is laughter? What roles does it serve? Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist, discusses this serious question with Nigel Warburton for this episode of Mind Bites, a series made in association with Philosophy Bites as part of Nicholas Shea's... | 10/11/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Godfrey-Smith on Mental Representations | Do we map the world in our minds? Does that imply that we have a little inner map-reader in our heads interpreting mental representations? Peter Godfrey-Smith discusses these issues with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 10/3/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNoel Carroll on Criticism | Noel Carroll argues that evaluation is a central element of criticism of art, drama, dance, music, and literature. Nigel Warburton is the interviewer for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This is the first of a series... | 10/2/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCecile Fabre on Remembrance | How should we remember and commemorate those who die in war? What about the enemy dead? Cecile Fabre discusses this issue with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 9/20/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJesse Prinz on Thinking with Pictures | Many philosophers deny the common sense view that we think with pictures. Are they right to do so? Jesse Prinz doesn't think so. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he explains to Nigel Warburton why we need to think again about thinking... | 8/1/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKieran Setiya on the Mid-Life Crisis | The mid-life crisis is a well-observed phenomenon. Is there a philosophical angle on this? MIT philosopher Kieran Setiya thinks there is. He discusses it in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 7/6/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCatherine Wilson on Epicureanism | Epicureanism has been caricatured as a philosophy of indulgence. But what did followers of the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus really believe? Catherine Wilson discusses Epicureanism with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy... | 5/30/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGregg Caruso on Freewill and Punishment | If determinism is true, can there be any justification for punishment? Gregg Caruso discusses this issue on Philosophy Bites. | 4/26/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGreg Currie on the Philosophy of Film | This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast focuses on several questions about representation and perception in the philosophy of film. Nigel Warburton talks to Greg Currie. | 3/26/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKatherine Morris on Merleau-Ponty on the Body | Maurice Merleau-Ponty was one of the most interesting of the French phenomenological thinkers, but his reputation has been eclipsed by those of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Katherine Morris discusses some of Merleau-Ponty's ideas about the.. | 3/2/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Devitt on Experimental Semantics | Does the word 'Gödel' straightforwardly refer to the person who came up with the incompleteness theory of arithmetic? Some think the best way to find out to ask people about their intuitions on the topic? This creates all kinds of problems,... | 2/14/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSteven Hyman on Categorising Mental Disorders | Steven E. Hyman discusses the philosophical issues that arise from attempting to categorise mental disorders with David Edmonds in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 1/29/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLeif Wenar on Trade and Tyranny | Where does our oil come from? Does it matter? Leif Wenar, author of the recent book Blood Oil, argues that Western democracies are compromising themselves by buying either directly or indirectly from vicious tyrants. | 1/10/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKatrin Flikschuh on Philosophy in Africa | In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Katrin Flikschuh addresses the question 'What sort of philosophy is going on in Africa?' | 12/16/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCarlo Rovelli on Philosophy and Physics | Some eminent physicists, including Stephen Hawking, have been sceptical of the value of philosophy to physics. Carlo Rovelli, a theoretical physicist with a strong interest in philosophy, disagrees. Here he discusses the relationship between... | 11/29/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Worrall on Evidence-Based Medicine | What sort of conclusions can we legitimately draw from the experiments that support evidence-based medicine? John Worrall questions some of the received opinion on this topic in this interview with David Edmonds for Philosophy Bites. | 11/17/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJoshua Greene on the Construction of Thought | We take for granted the fact that we can combine concepts to give new thoughts, and understand the thoughts too. How do we do that? Joshua D. Greene discusses this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/31/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGraham Priest on Buddhism and Philosophy | What is the nature of the self? What is reality? How should we live? These are fundamental philosophical questions. Graham Priest discusses how such questions have been discussed in the Buddhist tradition for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast | 10/13/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJesse Prinz on Is Everything Socially Constructed? | To what degree is reality something created by us? Jesse Prinz explores this fascinating question in conversation with Nigel Warburton. | 9/27/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMassimo Pigliucci on the Demarcation Problem | How can you tell science from non-science? Karl Popper argued that the falsifiability of a hypothesis is the mark of science. Massimo Pigliucci is not so sure about that. | 9/12/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Owens on Duty | What is a duty and what sort of obligation does it put us on? David Owens explores the nature of duty in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. If you enjoy Philosophy Bites, please consider supporting us via Patreon. | 9/1/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKimberley Brownlee on Social Deprivation | We are a highly social species: we need human contact. But do we have a right to it? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Kimberley Brownlee suggests that this is an ingredient in a minimally decent human life... | 8/19/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanShelly Kagan on Speciesism | The philosopher Peter Singer is famous for his attack on speciesism, the alleged prejudice that many exhibit in favour of human interests when compared with the interests of other animals. Here Shelly Kagan outlines Singer's position and... | 7/31/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSusan James on Foucault and Knowledge | Michel Foucault's work explores a wide range of topics; it includes histories of both punishment and sex. He also wrote more abstractly about philosophical topics. One theme to which he kept returning, whatever the topic, was the nature of our... | 7/22/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLarry Temkin on Transitivity | How do you choose which course of action is best? It seems reasonable that if A is better than B, and B is better than C, A must be better than C. But is it? Larry Temkin challenges this idea, known as the axiom of transitivity. | 7/5/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWilliam B. Irvine on Living Stoically | How should we live? is a basic philosophical question. The Stoics had some answers. But are they relevant today? William B. Irvine thinks so. Listen to his conversation with Nigel Warburton on this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 6/21/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSteven Lukes on Power | What is power? Steven Lukes argues for a three-dimensional account of this concept in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 6/6/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTheodore Zeldin on Philosophy and History | The historian and writer Theodore Zeldin gives his personal take on the relation betwen philosophy and history in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 6/6/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJesse Prinz on Art and Emotion | What part do emotions play in our appreciation of art? Jesse Prinz explores the sense of wonder at artworks in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 5/22/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCassim Quassam on Conspiracy Theories | What is a conspiracy? Why do conspiracies - real or imagined - matter to philsophy? Cassim Quaassam explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton | 5/10/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Williamson on the Appeal of Relativism | Are all truths relative? That's an attractive idea for many people. Tim Williamson, Wykeham Professor of Logic at Oxford University discusses why and attempts to immunise us against sloppy thinking in this area. | 4/28/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanShaun Nichols on Death and the Self | How does your view of the self affect your attitude to your own death? Shaun Nichols discusses this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 4/14/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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ExplicitRebecca Roache on Swearing | Warning: this episode on the philosophy of swearing includes swearing. Rebecca Roache discusses swearing and whether there are good arguments for refraining from it. | 3/29/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLisa Bortolotti on Irrationality | We're all irrational some of the time, probably more of the time than we are ready to acknowledge. Lisa Bortolotti discusses the nature of irrationality with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 3/19/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Webber on Deceiving With Words | There are many ways to deceive with words, some of which don't involve lying. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Jonathan Webber considers whether it matters or not if you lie. | 3/1/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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ExplicitSimon Critchley on Suicide | Albert Camus described suicide as the 'one really serious philosophical problem'. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Simon Critchley discusses suicide with Nigel Warburton. | 2/16/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChristine Korsgaard on the Status of Animals | Many philosophers argue in favour of the welfare of animals because of their capacity for feeling pain. Harvard philosopher Christine Korsgaard is unusual in using Kantian arguments to defend the status of animals as ends in themselves. She... | 2/3/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMeira Levinson on the Aims of Education | What are the aims of education? Meira Levinson discusses this important question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosoph Bites podcast. | 1/18/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLucy Allais on Forgiveness | What is forgiveness? Whom does it benefit? Is it ever obligatory? Lucy Allais discusses these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 1/4/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWho is the most impressive philosopher you've met? A compilation. | We've collected a range of answers to the question 'Who's the most impressive philosopher you've met?' This includes the late Ronald Dworkin's response along with many others. Some of the answers are expected, but quite a few are suprising. | 12/20/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJulia Annas on What is Virtue Ethics For? | Julia Annas explains what Virtue Ethics is for and how it differs from other approaches to the question of how we should live in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 12/20/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHugh Mellor on Probability | What is probability? Not an easy question to answer. We thought our best chance of clarity on this question was from Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge University and author of a book on the subject, Hugh Mellor... | 12/7/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRebecca Newberger Goldstein on Progress in Philosophy | In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton interviews the philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein about whether Philosophy has made any progress since the time of Plato. If you enjoy Philosophy Bites, please... | 11/13/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAdam Swift on Parental Partiality | Most people think it is acceptable to advantage their children, but how far should this go? Adam Swift discusses the limits of parental partiality in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/27/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKeith Frankish on the Hard Problem and the Illusion of Qualia | Keith Frankish discusses consciousness, subjective experience and the brain in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/11/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTed Honderich on What It Is to be Conscious | In this episode Ted Honderich sketches his theory of the nature of consciousness. | 10/11/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Dupre on Genomics | Genomics is a new approach to understanding our biology, one with far-reaching consequences for our understanding of what we are and where are responsibilities lie. Philosopher of biology John Dupre explains in this episode of the Philosophy... | 9/29/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Lamarque on Literature and Truth | Many people have claimed that one of the benefits of reading writers like Dostoevsky and Shakespeare is that they convey important truths about the human condition. Peter Lamarque is sceptical about this way of speaking about literature. He... | 9/14/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJennifer Nagel on Intuitions about Knoweldge | Knowledge is part of our everyday lives. We know all kinds of things without even thinking about them. But what is going on here? Jennifer Nagel discusses our intutions about knowledge with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the Philosophy... | 8/30/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTamar Gendler on Why Philosophers Use Examples | Why do philosophers use examples? Tamar Gendler explores this question in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 8/17/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAmia Srinivasan on Genealogy | Does it matter where our ideas came from? Friedrich Nietzsche famously diagnosed the origin of Christian morality in what he thought of as a slave mentality. Amia Srninivasan discusses genealogical reasoning with Nigel Warburton in this... | 8/2/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSeth Lazar on Sparing Civilians in War | Why is it morally wrong to target civilians in war? Can civilians be distinguished clearly from combatants? Seth Lazar discusses these issues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 7/19/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChris Betram on Rousseau's Moral Psychology | Jean-Jacques Rousseau's insights into moral psychology and its impact on how we live are the subject of this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 7/6/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRoger Scruton on the Sacred | Is there any place for a notion of the sacred in contemporary life? Roger Scruton believes that there is. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses his understanding of the sacred and the part it plays in our... | 6/24/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRegina Rini on the Moral Self and Psychology | What can experimental psychology contribute to our self-development as moral agents? Philosopher Regina Rini explores this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 6/8/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSimon Blackburn on Narcissism | Vanity, smugness, narcissism - they're not good, but they're not all the same thing. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Simon Blackburn explores what's wrong with narcissism and how it differs from related concepts. | 5/24/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNorman Daniels on the Philosophy of Healthcare | Should we be striving to reduce health inequalities? If so, how? Harvard philosopher Norman Daniels discusses this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 5/13/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTom Stoneham on George Berkeley's Immaterialism | George Berkeley was famous for arguing that objects are really just ideas. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Tom Stoneham clarifies what he meant by this. | 4/27/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Ignatieff on Political Theory and Political Practice | Michael Ignatieff was an academic with a keen inerest in political theory before he learnt the hard way about politics in practice. He was an academic who became leader of the opposition in Canada then lost heavily in the 2011 Prime Ministerial... | 4/12/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanStephen Darwall on Moral Accountability | Moral accountability is at the heart of moral obligation and it reveals much about the attitudes we hold to each otehr. Yale professor Stephen Darwall explains what this means in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 3/30/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Papineau on Philosophy and Sport | David Papineau discusses a range of specific sporting incidents that are of philosophical interest in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. David Papineau has a weblog on philosophy and sport: 'More Important Than That' | 3/13/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRoberto Mangabeira Unger on Deep Freedom | Roberto Unger argues that contemporary political progressives have abandoned what 19th century liberals knew: that some ways of living are better than others. In this conversation with Nigel Warburton he argues that we need a different... | 3/4/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNicola Lacey on H.L.A.Hart and Legal Positivism | H.L.A. Hart made significant contributions to legal philosophy. Nicola Lacey discusses his legal positivism in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 2/24/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Skorupski on Normativity | Some statements are descriptive, such as 'Philosophy Bites is a podcast series'; others are normative, such as 'You ought to tell the truth'. But what exactly is normativity? John Skorupski explores this question in conversation with David Edmonds. | 2/9/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Scanlon on What's Wrong with Inequality? | Is a concern for inequality of wealth just a form of envy? Are there good reasons for objecting to inequality? Harvard philosopher Tim Scanlon discusses these questions in converation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 1/25/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEmma Borg on Language and Context | How much of the meaning of what we say depends on its context of utterance? Is there a role for literal meaning. Emma Borg discusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 1/7/2014 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPatricia Churchland on Self Control | Neurophilosopher Pat Churchland discusses the insights that neuroscience can give us into the nature of self control in this episode of the Philosophyh Bites podcast. | 12/22/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJennifer Saul on Implicit Bias | Implicit biases are tricky. We all have them, apparently, but we don't realise we have them. What are the implications of these biases? Does it, perhaps, go some way to explaining why there are so few women in academic philosophy? Jennifer Saul... | 12/7/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAdrian Moore on Bernard Williams on Ethics | Bernard Williams was one of the most brilliant philosophers of his generation. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Adrian Moore discusses his ideas about Ethics. | 11/23/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRom Harre on the Linguistic Turn in Philosophy | For this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Rom Harre discusses and illustrates the so-called Linguistic Turn in Philosophy, the focus on actual uses of language that was advocated by the later Wittgenstein, J.L. Austin, Gilbert Ryle and... | 11/10/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRobert Talisse on the Importance of Arguments in Politics | Why is argument so important in politics? Bob Talisse, co-author of Why We Argue (and how we should), explores this issue in conversation with David Edmonds for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/26/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Tasioulas on Human Rights | What are human rights? Are they simply legal rights? What is their relation to morality? John Tasioulas discusses the basis of human rights in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/12/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEric Schwitzgebel on the Ethical Behaviour of Ethics Professors | You might expect people who specialize in moral philosophy to behave better than other people. Eric Schwitzgebel has done some empirical investigation of whether this is the case, and it doesn't seem to be. What does that show about ethics? Philosophy.. | 9/28/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlison Gopnik on Hume and Buddhism | Many people have noticed similarities between what David Hume wrote about the self and Buddhist teaching on this subject. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites archive Alison Gopnik discusses the possibility that there was a direct route of influence. | 9/13/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Edmonds on Trolley Problems | Is it ever morally acceptable to kill one person to save many? Most people agree that in some extreme circumstances this, though psychologically difficult, can be the right action to take. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, Nigel... | 9/1/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJessica Moss on Weakness of Will | You think you know what's best but don't do it. We've all been there. For Plato and Aristotle this weakness of will presented a philosophical problem. Jessica Moss explains their contrasting approaches to this topic in this episode of the Philosophy... | 8/17/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Martin on Hume on Taste | David Hume's 'Of the Standard of Taste' focuses on judgements about beauty in writing. Can we say with any authority that one writer or work is better than another? Michael Martin gives a clear analysis of Hume's essay on this topic in this episode of.. | 8/3/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSamuel Scheffler on the Afterlife | What do we really care about? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Samuel Scheffler suggests that most of us care a lot about what happens after our deaths, and that affects what we feel about what is happening now and how we value it. | 7/20/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNoel Carroll on Humour and Morality | Must humour be moral? What about jokes that rely on immoral attitudes? Can they be funny? Are humour and morality simply separate spheres. Noel Carroll explores the relationship between humour and morality in this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 7/6/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDaniel Dennett on the Chinese Room | Can computers think? John Searle famously used the Chinese Room thought experiment to suggest that they can't. Daniel Dennett is suspicious about the way the thought experiment is set up. In this conversation with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy... | 6/23/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDale Jamieson on Green Virtues | 'How should we live?' is a basic philosophical question. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Dale Jamieson addresses the question in a period when human beings are having devastating effects on the environment. Which virtues should we... | 6/9/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSimon Glendinning on Philosophy's Two Cultures | Most philosophers today self-identify as within an Analytic or a Continental tradition. Where did these two cultures of philosophy come from? What role does Continental Philosophy play for Analytic Philosophy? Simon Glendinning investigates these... | 5/27/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLeslie Green on Same Sex Marriage | Is there any reasonable objection to same sex marriage? Les Green discusses this controversial issue from a philosphical perspective with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 5/11/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Mikhail on Battery and Morality | Hitting someone, throwing a ball hard at someone's head, spitting at someone: these are all examples of harmful acts, called 'battery' in Tort Law, and most of us judge those who do such things without the victim's implied or actual consent as morally.. | 4/27/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNoel Malcolm on Hobbes' Leviathan in Context | Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, published in 1651, remains one of the great works of political philosophy. Noel Malcolm has recently published a 3 volume scholarly edition of this book, based on decades of research. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 4/14/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMark Rowlands on Philosophy and Running | Is there any connection between philosophy and running. Mark Rowlands, who began running to exercise his pet wolf thinks there is. Find out why in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, which was recorded at the 2013 'Words... | 3/29/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Gardner on Constitutions | What are constitutions and how are we to interpret them? John Gardner addresses these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in assocation with the Institute of Philosophy | 3/17/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanFiona Macpherson on Hallucination | What is a hallucination? How does it differ from an illusion? Fiona Macpherson of Glasgow University discusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the... | 3/3/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJeff McMahan on Gun Control | Jeff McMahan argues against the private ownership of guns in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 2/17/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanColin McGinn on Descartes on Innate Knowledge | Descartes believed that we can have knowledge that was independent of experience. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Colin McGinn makes a case for there being some such knowledge. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute.. | 2/2/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTom Sorell on Surveillance | What, if anything, is wrong with surveillance? Why value privacy? Tom Sorrell answers these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in assocation with the Institute of... | 1/25/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Campbell on Schizophrenia | What can philosophers learn from schizophrenia? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast John Campbell discusses this intriguing question with David Edmonds. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 1/8/2013 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKendall Walton on Photography | Philosopher Kendall Walton argues that we can literally see through photographs in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 12/23/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlan Ryan on Freedom and Its History | Ancient and modern concepts of freedom differ. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast political philosopher Alan Ryan compares and contrasts ancient and modern concepts of freedom in conversation with Nigel Warburton. Philosophy Bites is made.. | 12/8/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWho's Your Favourite Philosopher? | To celebrate the launch of our second Philosophy Bites book Philosophy Bites Back, we've released this special episode of the podcast. We asked a wide range of philosophers the question 'Who's your favourite philosopher?' We got a wider range of... | 11/30/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Adamson on Avicenna's Flying Man | Are we purely physical beings? Is the mind or soul immaterial? These questions have vexed philosophers for millenia. Avicenna, born in the 10th Century, believed he had a thought experiment that showed that we are not purely physical beings, the... | 11/26/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Bayne on the Unity of Consicousness | Is conscious experience unified? A tricky question. Philosopher of mind Tim Bayne investigates it in conversation with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the... | 11/11/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLiane Young on Mind and Morality | An important aspect of understanding morality is accurate description of what happens when people make moral judgments. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton talks to psychologist and philosopher Liane Young about her... | 10/27/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGary Francione on Animal Abolitionism | How should we treat animals? Jeremy Bentham argued that we should weigh animal suffering in our moral decision making, and Peter Singer's concept of speciesism is a modern version of that utilitarian approach. Gary L. Francione argues that... | 10/13/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRichard Sorabji on Mahatma Gandhi as Philosopher | Richard Sorabji discusses Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence in this the 200th episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 9/28/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Crane on Non-Existence | How can we talk about things that don't exist? Tim Crane explores this question in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 9/15/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Tye on Pain | Consciousness of pain may seem straightforward, but as Michael Tye shows, in conversation with Nigel Warburton, a number of philosophical questions arise from the experience of pain. The Philosophy Bites podcast series is made in association with the... | 8/31/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDaniel Dennett on Free Will Worth Wanting | What is free will and why should we care about it? Daniel C. Dennett addresses these questions in a wide-ranging Philosophy Bites interview with Nigel Warburton. Philosophy Bites is made in association with The Institute of Philosophy. | 8/18/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPatricia Churchland on What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Morality (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Can science give us any insight into morality? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, originally released on Bioethics Bites, neurophilosopher Patricia Churcland argues that it can. Bioethics Bites is made in association with the Uehiro... | 8/3/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRae Langton on Hate Speech | Is it true that words can't harm you? What about hate speech? In the US the First Amendment protects a wide range of free expression, far wider than is tolerated, for instance, in the United Kingdom. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 7/28/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMolly Crockett on Brain Chemistry and Moral Decision-Making (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Can moral decision-making be affected by chemical means? And if so, should we use drugs for this purpose? Molly Crockett's research in this area is the basis of this Philosophy Bites interview which was originally released on Bioethics Bites and made... | 7/22/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHuw Price on Backward Causation | Effects can't precede their causes, can they? The direction of causation is forwards not backwards. But this common belief doesn't mesh with every aspect of contemporary physics. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Huw Price discusses the... | 7/15/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHanna Pickard on Responsibility and Personality Disorder (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Does a diagnosis of personality disorder exempt an individual from moral responsibility? Hanna Pickard discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode was originally released on Bioethics... | 7/7/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Dancy on Moral Particularism | Is morality a matter of applying general principles? Jonathan Dancy, a moral particularist, thinks not. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he defends moral particularism in conversation with Nigel Warburton. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 6/29/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Lewens on Selling Organs (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Can it ever be acceptable to sell human body parts. Tim Lewens discusses this increasingly pertinent moral question with Nigel Warburton. This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast was originally released on Bioethics Bites and made in... | 6/22/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Tomasi on Free Market Fairness | Is free market fairness an oxymoron? John Tomasi, author of Free Market Fairness, argues that economic freedom and social justice are compatible. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he explains his position in conversation with Nigel... | 6/16/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Wolff on Political Bioethics (originally on Bioethics Bites) | How should health resources be distributed? Jonathan Wolff discusses this and related questions in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode was originally released on Bioethics Bites in association with the Oxford Uehiro Centre for... | 6/10/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanFiery Cushman on Moral Luck | Should morality be immune from luck? It seems so. Yet outcomes beyond participants' control seem to affect our judgements of culpability. Fiery Cushman, a psychologist in the area of experimental philosophy (x-phi), has been investigating the... | 6/2/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanOnora O'Neill on Trust (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Trust is crucial in areas of medicine and health. But what sort of explicit consent should doctors obtain before medical treatment? Onora O'Neill discusses the place of trust in areas of bioethics with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy.. | 5/27/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAdina Roskies on Neuroscience and Free Will | Some recent research in neuroscience seems to point to the conclusion that free will is an illusion. That's certainly the conclusion that some have drawn. But Adina Roskies is sceptical. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast she explains to... | 5/20/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNIck Bostrom on the Status Quo Bias | Are we systematically biases against changing the status quo? It seems that we are. In this interview, originally released as part of the Bioethics Bites series, Nick Bostrom discusses this tendency and its implications when it comes to making... | 5/13/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGalen Strawson on Panpsychism | Could everything that exists have experiences? Is there something that it is like to be an electron? This sounds unlikey on first hearing, but in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Galen Strawson argues in conversation with Nigel Warburton,... | 5/5/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Singer on Life and Death Decision-Making (originally on Bioethics Bites) | How should doctors, patients and family make end of life decisions? Peter Singer explores questions about euthanasia, abortion and autonomy in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this bonus episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast (originally released.. | 4/29/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPhilip Pettit on Republicanism | What is republicanism? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Philip Pettit outlines the key features of this important strand in political philosophy, one which has a continuing relevance today. Philosophy Bites is made in association with... | 4/21/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJeff McMahan on Moral Status (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Disagreement about moral status is at the heart of many issues in practical ethics. In this bonus episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast (originally released on Bioethics Bites) Jeff McMahan, in conversation with Nigel Warburton, explores some of the.. | 4/15/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAdrian Moore on Philosophy and Its History | What is the point of studying philosophy's past? Is it just to learn about the history of ideas? Is there something special about the history of philosophy that makes it different from the history of other subjects? Adrian Moore, author of a new... | 4/6/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJulian Savulescu on Designer Babies (originally on Bioethics Bites) | Is it ethical to select advantageous genes and select against disadvantageous genes when having babies? Julian Savulescu, Director of the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics in Oxford, discusses this question with Nigel Warburton.... | 4/2/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNeil Levy on Moral Responsibility and Consciousness | Do recent discoveries in neuroscience threaten the notion of moral responsibility? Could we have moral responsibility without full consciousness of the significance of our actions? Neil Levy discusses these questions in conversation with Nigel... | 3/23/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRonald Dworkin on the Unity of Value | Is liberty compatible with equality? Many philosophers think it can't be, and that pluralism is the correct response. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Ronald Dworkin argues that there is a fundamental unity of value. Philosophy Bites is.. | 3/9/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGuy Longworth on J.L. Austin and Ordinary Language | J. L. Austin, who died in 1960, was an immensely influential philosopher whose method involved precise scrutiny of ordinary language: the precise words, the contexts in which they were uttered, and what people were doing by uttering them.... | 2/25/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPhilip Schofield on Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism | Jeremy Bentham, legal reformer and philosopher, was an early Utilitarian. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton interviews Bentham scholar and head of the Bentham Project, Philip Schofield about Bentham's contribution to... | 2/11/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNicola Lacey on Criminal Responsibilityhttp | What is criminal responsibility? Is it a timeless concept, or does it have a historical aspect? Nicola Lacey addresses these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made... | 1/27/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlain de Botton on Atheism 2.0 | Some atheists despise religion and ridicule it as absurd. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Alain de Botton, author of Religion for Atheists, takes a more pragmatic line, arguing that atheists can learn a great deal from religion.... | 1/15/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKit Fine on What is Metaphysics?http | Metaphysics is the philosophical study of reality. But what does that mean in pratice, and what are the limits of what it can reveal? Kit Fine addresses the question 'What is Metaphysics?' in discussion with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the... | 1/1/2012 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBrian Leiter on the Analytic/Continental Distinction | Is there a useful distinction to be made between analytic and continental philosophy? Brian Leiter thinks not. Listen to him in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 12/18/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMelissa Lane on Plato and Sustainability | What can Plato teach us about sustainability? According to Princeton's Melissa Lane, author of Eco-Republic, quite a lot. Melissa discusses this topic with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 12/3/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Crane on Animal Minds | What sort of minds do other animals have? Tim Crane discusses this intriguing question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 11/20/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSean Kelly on Homer and Philosophy | Homer is a great poet, but is he relevant to philosopy? Harvard University's Sean Kelly believes that he is and that we can glean important insights from studying Homer's work, insights about what it is to be human that might otherwise be overlooked.... | 11/5/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPaul Boghossian on Moral Relativism | Are moral judgements simply relative to culture? Are moral relativists in the grip of a fundamental confusion, or is that just the view of a philosophical subculture? Paul Boghossian suggests that moral relativism is an untenable position in this... | 10/23/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Glover on Systems of Belief | Beliefs are important. Wars are fought over conflicting belief systems. Philosophers ask 'What is it reasonable to believe?' Can philosophers, then, give us any insights into what is going on when belief systems clash? Jonathan Glover discusses this... | 10/9/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDan Sperber on the Enigma of Reasonhthttp://www.dan.sperber.fr/ | Our reasoning capacity sets us apart from other animals. But reason is frequently prone to error. Why then did we evolve with a capacity for reason at all? This is a question that has vexed Dan Sperber - with Hugo Mercier he has been... | 9/25/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPhilip Pettit on Consequentialism | Philip Pettit discusses some common criticisms of consequentialism and how they might be met in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 9/11/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanFrank Jackson on What Mary Knew | Frank Jackson is responsible for one of the most famous thought experiments in the philosophy of mind, one designed to show that physicalism is false. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he talks to Nigel Warburton about this thought... | 8/26/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNick Bostrom on the Simulation Argument | Could you be part of a computer simulation of reality? Sounds unlikely, doesn't it. But Nick Bostrom might make you think again about this. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses the Simulation Argument. Philosophy Bites is made... | 8/14/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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ExplicitLuc Bovens on Catholicism and HIV | Luc Bovens, a philosopher at the London School of Economics argues that Catholic sexual morality should, on grounds of consistency within its doctrine, permit condom use for HIV discordant couples (in which one member has HIV and the other... | 7/31/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Singer on Henry Sidgwick's Ethics | Henry Sidgwick, who died in 1900, is something of a philosophers' philosopher. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Peter Singer explains why he thinks this late Victorian Englishman is so important for the utilitarian tradition and... | 7/17/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanVictor Tadros on Punishment | How can state punishment of criminals be justified? Is it right that wrongdoers suffer? Victor Tadros investigates these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 7/3/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlison Gopnik on the Imagination | What role does imagination play in our lives? Why do we have an imagination at all? Alison Gopnik investigates these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 6/17/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Mikhail on Universal Moral Grammar | Do we have an innate predisposition to form certain sorts of moral judgements? John Mikhail thinks we do. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, in an interview with David Edmonds, he explains why. | 6/3/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Eagleman on Morality and the Brain | Neuroscientist David Eagleman explores questions about responsibility and culpability in the light of recent brain research in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 5/22/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSimon May on Love | Can love be defined? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Simon May, author of a recent book on the topic, argues that there's more in common between different kinds of love than many people realise. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 5/7/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPaul Russell on David Hume's Treatise | The standard reading of David Hume's Treatise is that it reveals him as a sceptic and also as an advocate of a science of man. These two aspects seem to be in tension. The sceptical Hume seems opposed to the more positive contribution he makes about... | 4/25/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPascal Bruckner on the Pursuit of Happiness | Is the attempt to find happiness self-defeating? Have people always been so obsessed with the pursuit of happiness? Pascal Bruckner dis cusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is... | 4/22/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNoel Carroll on Humour | What is humour? Why do we have a sense of humour? Philosophers have been asking this sort of question for a while. Noel Carroll gives some answers, and tells some jokes, in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 4/9/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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ExplicitCatharine MacKinnon on Gender Crime | In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Catharine MacKinnon talks to Nigel Warburton about the concept of Gender Crime. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 3/26/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSarah Bakewell on Montaigne | Michel de Montaigne is an unusual and likeable figure. His essays are quirky, honest, and strangely modern. Sarah Bakewell, author of a recent prize-winning book about Montaigne, How to Live, discusses Montaigne's life and work for this episode... | 3/12/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHugh Mellor on Frank Ramsey on Truth | Frank Ramsey was a remarkable philosopher and mathematician who made substantial original contributions to philosophy, economics and mathematics despite dying before he was 30 years old. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Hugh Mellor... | 2/26/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Glover on Personality Disorder and Morality | The moral philosopher Jonathan Glover discusses questions about personality disorder, conscience, and responsibility in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy | 2/13/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCécile Fabre on Cosmopolitanism and War | There is a long tradition of just war theory, but how does it square with moral cosmopolitanism, the idea that individuals, not nations, should be our prime concern? Cécile Fabre discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of... | 1/31/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Sandel on Justice | Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel discusses 3 different theories of Justice in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast: Bentham's, Kant's and Aristotle's. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 1/14/2011 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPaul Russell on Fate | Must it be? Do I really have a choice about what I do? I seem to be able to reason about what I will do, but do I have a choice about how I weight the different choices available? And where does luck come in? Paul Russell discusses the thorny... | 12/30/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMartha Nussbaum on the Value of the Humanities | Why bother studying the Humanities? Surely when resources are limited we should be concentrating on subjects that have clear economic benefits, shouldn't we? Not necessarily. Martha Nussbaum, author of Not For Profit, argues for the continuing... | 12/24/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPhilip Pettit on Group Agency | When a group of people acts together we can hold that group morally and legally responsible. But how does the group decide to act? Is a decision of the group simply the majoritarian sum of individual group members' views? Princeton philosopher Philip... | 12/18/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHelen Beebee on Laws of Nature | What is a law of nature? Is it merely a generalisation about how things behave? Or does it have a different status? Helen Beebee investigates these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.... | 12/5/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNick Phillipson on Adam Smith on What Human Beings Are Like | Adam Smith, the great thinker of the Scottish Enlightenment, is best known as an economist. But much of his work was philosophical, and even his economic thinking is probably best understood as part of a larger project of attempting a science of... | 11/20/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWhat is Philosophy? | What is Philosophy? We asked some of our contributors this question for this bonus episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 11/14/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGideon Rosen on Moral Responsibility | What is moral responsibility? Are there ever grounds for saying that we have diminished responsibility? Gideon Rosen addresses these questions in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute... | 11/7/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlex Voorhoeve on Inequality | Does inequality really matter? Or should we be more concerned with raising the standards of the least well off than any disparity between those who have and those who have not? Alex Voorhoeve of the London School of Economics discusses these questions.. | 10/25/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Dummett on Frege | Gottlob Frege was one of the founders of the movement known as analytic philosophy. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Michael Dummett explains why his ideas about how language relates to the world have been so important. Philosophy Bites.. | 10/7/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDaniel Everett on the Nature of Languag | Since John Locke declared the child's mind a blank slate, philosophers have long debated the degree to which language-learning is innate. Are there are universal grammatical features that all languages share? Daniel Everett, who has spent many years... | 9/25/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCynthia Freeland on Portraits | What is a portrait? What can it reveal? Cynthia Freeland explores the nature of portraits in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. A book,... | 9/11/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJoshua Knobe on Experimental Philosophy | Many people think that the idea of experiments in philosophy is a contradiction. Joshua Knobe disagrees. He is at the forefront of a new movement known as Experimental Philosophy. David Edmonds interviews him in this episode of the Philosophy Bites... | 8/28/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Singer on the Life You Can Save | If you saw a child drowning in a shallow pond would you save that child? If you would, why don't you give the small amount of money necessary to save a child from starvation or disease in parts of Africa? Peter Singer argues that the differences... | 8/15/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHillel Steiner on Exploitation | What is exploitation? Hillel Steiner discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with The Institute of Philosophy www.philosophy.sas.ac.uk | 8/8/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanStephen Neale on Meaning and Interpretation | We interpret each others' words all the time. How do we do this? What part do intentions play? Does this have any implications for interpreting laws? Stephen Neale discusses these issues in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the... | 7/18/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSusan Wolf on Meaning in Life | What gives meaning to a life? Susan Wolf discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy. | 7/4/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPat Churchland on Eliminative Materialism | Pat Churchland argues that we may need to modify our concepts in the light of recent brain research in this episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy (www.sas.philosophy.ac.uk). | 6/19/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJeff McMahan on Vegetarianism | Why shouldn't you eat meat? Jeff McMahan argues that there are no good reasons not to be a vegetarianism (and many good reasons for being one) in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 6/4/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Chalmers on the Singularity | In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast David Chalmers discusses the philosophical implications of the artificial intelligence of the future - an imaginable time when machines are more intelligent and more powerful than humans. | 5/22/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRaymond Geuss on Realism in Political Philosophy | Is it possible to be both utopian and realistic in political philosophy? In his second interview for the Philosophy Bites podcast Raymond Geuss argues that utopianism and realism need not be incompatible. | 5/8/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRobert Stern on Hegel on Dialectic | Hegel's philosophy is notoriously difficult to grasp. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Robert Stern gives a lucid account of Hegel's notion of dialectic, the fundamental methodology in his philosophy. Philosophy Bites is made in... | 4/25/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanNed Block on Consciousness | Ned Block talks to Nigel Warburton about some phenomena of consciousness in the latest episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy (www.philosophy.sas.ac.uk). | 4/10/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSusan Neiman on Morality in the 21st Century | How should we live now? This is the basic question that Susan Neiman addresses in conversation with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites. Her answer draws on Enlightenment thinking. If you enjoy Philosophy Bites, you might... | 3/27/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGalen Strawson on the Sense of Self | Does everyone have a sense of self? What is it? Galen Strawson grapples with these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in the latest episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 3/13/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Wolff on John Rawls' A Theory of Justice | John Rawls' A Theory of Justice is probably the most important work of political philosophy of the 20th Century. In this Philosophy Bites podcast Jonathan Wolff outlines the key features of that book and explores some of its limitations. | 2/28/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJerrold Levinson on Music and Eros | Jerrold Levinson examines analogies between music an eros in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 2/14/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRobert B. Talisse on Pragmatism | In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Robert B. Talisse in discussion with Nigel Warburton explains what the philosphical movement of Pragmatism was, and some of the differences between the ideas of its founders Pierce, Dewey and James. | 2/7/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThomas Pogge on Global Justice and Health | In this interview for the Philosophy Bites podcast Thomas Pogge, Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, explores the difficult issue of how we can achieve greater justice in the distribution of pharmaceutical products to countries which can't... | 1/23/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTzvetan Todorov on the Englightenment Today | Tzvetan Todorov defends Englightenment values as important for us today in this episode of the philosophy podcast Philosophy Bites. | 1/10/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDon Cupitt on Jesus as Philosopher | Don Cupitt, controversial theologian and philosopher, argues that Jesus is best seen as a moralist and a radical secular humanist in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. The podcast is introduced by David Edmonds. Nigel Warburton is the... | 12/24/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanA.C. Grayling on Bertrand Russell on Descriptions | How our words relate to objects is a thorny philosophical conundrum. In this episode of the philosophy podcast Philosophy Bites A.C. Grayling explains Bertrand Russell's Theory of Descriptions, an attempt to elucidate that relationship. | 12/20/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanCatalin Avramescu on the Idea of Cannibalism | Catalin Avramescu discusses the fascinating topic of the part played by the idea of cannibalism in the history of philosophy in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 12/6/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJeff McMahan on Killing in War | Jeff McMahan of Rutgers University discusses the morality of killing in war with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 11/21/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRichard Bradley on Understanding Decisions | What is involved in understanding a decision? Richard Bradley of the LSE addresses this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. As a decision theorist, he views decisions as gambles involving weightings of beliefs and desires. | 11/8/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTony Coady on Dirty Hands in Politics | This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast focuses on the question of whether politicians need ever act immorally. Tony Coady (aka C.A.J. Coady), author of Messy Morality is in conversation with Nigel Warburton. | 10/25/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Campbell on Berkeley's Puzzle | John Campbell explores Bishop Berkeley's puzzle about what our experience is of in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/11/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBrian Leiter on Nietzsche Myths | Friedrich Nietzsche has been seen as the philosopher of the Overman, an anti-semite, and a precursor of postmodernist views about truth. But was he any of these? Brian Leiter explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this... | 9/25/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Armstrong on What You Can Do With Philosophy | What can you do with Philosophy? Not very much, according to some people. John Armstrong disagrees. Find out why in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast | 9/13/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWalter Sinnott-Armstrong on Morality Without God | Walter Sinnott-Armstrong argues that God isn't necessary for morality in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 8/28/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSabine Doring on Emotion | What is an emotion? How do emotions differ from moods? What part should the emotions play in our lives and in our understanding of what it is to be human? Sabine Döring addresses these questions in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 8/14/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBen Rogers on Pascal's Pensées | Blaise Pascal's Pensées is the subject of this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Few philosophers know the Pensées well, apart from the passage in which Pascal set forth his famous 'wager' - the idea that agnostics should gamble on God... | 7/29/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMarilyn McCord Adams on Evil | The Problem of Evil is usually presented as a problem for believers. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Marilyn McCord Adams suggests that it is a problem for optimistic non-believers. | 7/12/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanLuciano Floridi on the Fourth Revolution | New technology is changing our relationship to reality and in the process what we are, argues Luciano Floridi, in this episode of the philosophy podcast Philosophy Bites. This is the fourth revolution. | 6/28/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPaul Snowdon on Persons and Animals | What is a person and what makes me the same person over time despite change? John Locke emphasized that continuity of memory makes us the same person over time. In contrast Paul Snowdon argues that we should see persons as animals. | 6/14/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Sandel on What Shouldn't Be Sold | Follow discussion on www.twitter.com/philosophybites | 5/28/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAllen Buchanan on Enhancement | Philosophy Bites looks at ethical questions raised by enhancement. Technological developments have opened up many new opportunities for intervening in biological processes to improve ourselves. Allen Buchanan of Duke University discusses some of these.. | 5/16/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWalter Sinnott-Armstrong on Moral Psychology | Moral psychology is the empirical study of how people make moral judgements. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Walter Sinnott-Armstrong discusses the relevance of psychological research to moral philosophy. | 5/2/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThomas Hurka on Pleasure | Pleasure is something we all want. But is it, and should it be the only thing that we want? Is pleasure all the same kind of thing? Philosopher Thomas Hurka explores the concept of pleasure in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of... | 4/18/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTerence Irwin on Aristotle's Ethics | This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast focuses on Aristotle's Ethics. In conversation with Nigel Warburton, Terence Irwin of Oxford University explains the key features of this influential work. | 4/4/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRaymond Tallis on Assisted Dying | Assisted dying, providing a patient with the means to kill themselves, is a highly controversial issue. For this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Raymond Tallis, who is both an eminent gerontologist and philosopher, discusses this topic and... | 3/21/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJulian Savulescu on the 'Yuk' Factor | Should we base our morality on our emotional reactions of disgust? We all have a sense of 'yuk' at some activities or situations. Julian Savulescu of Oxford University discusses the relevance of revulsion to our moral judgements in this episode of the.. | 3/8/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSebastian Gardner on Sartre on Bad Faith | Jean-Paul Sartre's notion of Bad Faith lies at the core of his existentialist classic Being and Nothingness. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Sebastian Gardner explains what Sartre meant by Bad Faith. | 2/20/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKeith Ward on Idealism in Eastern and Western Philosophy | Questions about the nature of reality are at the heart of all philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions. Keith Ward gives an overview of the idealist tradition in some Indian philosophy and draws parallels between this tradition and some... | 2/6/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Papineau on Scientific Realism | Scientists talk about sub-atomic particles which are invisible to the eye. Do such particles really exist? Or are they simply convenient fictions that, for the moment at least, explain the observable phenomena? David Papineau discusses and defends... | 1/22/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanKate Soper on Alternative Hedonism | Kate Soper believes that we need to rethink how we live in the light of impending environmental catastrophe. She maintains that alternative ways of living can be more enjoyable than consumerism. | 1/11/2009 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChandran Kukathas on Genocide | Genocide is, at first glance, a straightforward term. We understand what it is and why it is such an evil. But, as Chandran Kukathas of the London School of Economics argues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, perhaps the received... | 12/29/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanM.M. McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry | How do we learn anything? This isn't a puzzle until you start thinking hard about it. In his dialogue The Meno, Plato presented an apparent paradox about inquiry. M.M. McCabe discusses this paradox and its continuing relevance. | 12/14/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRaymond Tallis on Parmenides | Parmenides was one of the most important pre-Socratic philosophers. Raymond Tallis discusses his ideas and influence in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 12/7/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDon Cupitt on Non-Realism about God | Don Cupitt, a controversial theologian and philosopher, whose BBC television series and book The Sea of Faith was extremely influential, giving birth to a theological movement, believes that most religion is too anthropomorphic. In this interview for... | 11/30/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWendy Brown on Tolerance | Tolerance is usually thought of as the great virtue of democratic societies. Wendy Brown of UC Berkeley asks some sceptical questions about the concept of tolerance and how it can be used to express power relationships in this interview for Philosophy.. | 11/23/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnne Phillips on Political Representation | Political representation in a democracy doesn't necessarily reflect the variety of people within a society. Most noticeably, there is a much lower percentage of women acting as representatives than there is in the wider population. Does this matter?... | 11/16/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnthony Grayling on Bombing Civilians in Wartime | Anthony Grayling argues that bombing civilians in Dresden and other German cities in the Second World War was morally wrong. | 11/9/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChristopher Shields on Personal Identity | What makes anyone the same person over time? In this interview for Philosophy Bites Christopher Shields addresses this question of personal identity, one which, as he points out, has perplexed philosophers since antiquity. | 11/2/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlexander Nehamas on Friendship | Alexander Nehamas explores the value of friendship in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/26/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRaymond Geuss on Real Politics | Raymond Geuss wants political philosophers to focus on real politics rather than abstract notions. In this interview with Nigel Warburton for Philosophy Bites he explains why he believes philosophers such as Robert Nozick and John Rawls were... | 10/19/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRoger Crisp on Virtue | Roger Crisp discusses the nature of virtue in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/12/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnthony Appiah on Experiments in Ethics | Anthony Appiah makes the case for the relevance of psychological experiments to our ethical reasoning in this interview for the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 10/5/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChristopher Janaway on Nietzsche on Morality | Friedrich Nietzsche's The Genealogy of Morality provides a radical view of the origins of our values. Nigel Warburton interviews Christopher Janaway about this important book in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. | 9/28/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Cave on Paradoxes | Philosophers have been fascinated by paradoxes since ancient times. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton interviews Peter Cave about paradoxes and their relevance to philosophy. | 9/21/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAdrian Moore on Kant's Metaphysics | Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is a notoriously difficult work. In this interview for Philosophy Bites A.W. Moore of Oxford University gives a succinct account of this complex and influential attempt to clarify the limits of human understanding | 9/14/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBarry C. Smith on Neuroscience | Philosophers of mind have traditionally introspected sitting alone in their rooms. Now new developments in neuroscience are producing surprising results, some of which are relevant to philosophy. Phenomena such as blind sight and mirror neurones... | 9/7/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRay Monk on Philosophy and Biography | Ray Monk discusses the relationship between philosophy and biography in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast. Can an understanding the life of a philosopher help us understand that philosopher's work? Is there anything... | 8/31/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanM.M. McCabe on Socratic Method | Philosophy began in earnest with Socrates. He asked impertinent questions. In this interview with M.M. McCabe, Philosophy Bites explores the nature of Socratic Method and Socrates' claim that the unexamined life is not worth living. | 8/24/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAaron Ridley on Nietzsche on Art and Truth | Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas about art and truth run through much of his philosophical writing, but are most apparent in his first book, The Birth of Tragedy. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Nigel Warburton interviews Aaron Ridley about this topic. | 8/16/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanClare Carlisle on Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling | Soren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling retells and interprets the story of Abraham and Isaac. In Kierkegaard's hands the story becomes a model for the human predicament. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Clare Carlisle provides an... | 8/10/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlex Neill - the Paradox of Tragedy | How can we enjoy watching tragedy when it is a genre that deals with suffering and pain? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Alex Neill explains what the paradox of tragedy is, and shows how he thinks it can be dissolved. He also... | 8/3/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanQuentin Skinner on Machiavelli's The Prince | Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince is one of the most notorious works of political philosophy ever written. Quentin Skinner sets it in its historical context and explains its key themes in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 7/27/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Adamson on Plotinus on Evil | Plotinus, who lived in the 3rd Century A.D., was the founder of neo-platonism. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Peter Adamson explains what Plotinus had to say about evil. | 7/20/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMatthew Kramer on Legal Rights | What precisely is a legal right? Matthew Kramer discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 7/13/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMelissa Lane on Rousseau on Modern Society | Modern society is for most people synonymous with progress. Not for the eighteenth century thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau believed that civilization corrupts us in certain ways. Melissa Lane explains Rousseau's views on progress in this... | 7/6/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Broome on Weighing Lives | How do we weigh lives one against another? Governments frequently have to make life and death decisions that take in to account such issues as the quality of life compared to the length of a life. In this episode of Philosophy Bites John Broome... | 6/29/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRobert Rowland Smith on Derrida on Forgiveness | Jacques Derrida, father of deconstructionism, divided philosophers. For some he was a genius; for others a charlatan. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites Robert Rowland Smith defends Derrida's views about the concept of forgiveness. | 6/22/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJohn Dunn on Locke on Toleration | John Locke, writing in the Seventeenth Century, argued for religious toleration, though stopped short of toleration of atheists. In this episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites, Nigel Warburton interviews Locke expert John Dunn on this topic. | 6/15/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanWill Kymlicka on Minority Rights | Should minority groups such as recent immigrants or those who have suffered historic injustice be given rights that other citizens don't have? Will Kymlicka believes they should. Listen to his arguments in defence of this position in this episode of... | 6/8/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJennifer Hornsby on Human Agency | What goes on when someone does something deliberately? Jennifer Hornsby discusses this difficult philosophical question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 6/1/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Scanlon on Free Speech | In this bonus episode produced in association with the Open University, Tim Scanlon discusses the limits of free speech with Nigel Warburton. A transcript of this episode is available from www.open2.net/ethicsbites/ | 5/30/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDonna Dickenson on Body Shopping | Do you own your body? If not, who does? These are important questions in an age in which there is extensive trade in body parts. Donna Dickenson, author of Body Shopping, discusses this issue with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 5/25/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMary Warnock on the Right to Have a Baby | In this bonus episode produced in association with The Open University, Mary Warnock, a philosopher who also sits in the House of Lords, addresses the question 'Do we have a right to have babies?' A transcript of this episode is available at... | 5/22/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnthony Kenny on Aquinas' Ethics | Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth century Dominican is the subject of this episode of Philosophy Bites. Anthony Kenny explains the key features of Aquinas' ethics in conversation with Nigel Warburton. | 5/18/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMichael Sandel on Genetic Enhancement in Sport | In this bonus episode of Philosophy Bites made in association with the Open University, Michael Sandel addresses the question of whether we should allow genetic enhancement of athletes. Drawing on themes from his recent book, The Case Against... | 5/14/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJonathan Wolff on Marx on Alienation | Karl Marx's theory of alienated labour is the topic of this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Jonathan Wolff, author of Why Read Marx Today? explains what Marx meant by alienation. He also sheds light on Marx's controversial description of what.. | 5/11/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Singer on Human Use of Animals | In this bonus episode produced in association with the Open University as part of the Ethics Bites series, Peter Singer, perhaps the world's best known living philosopher, discusses how we treat animals. A transcript of this episode is available from.. | 5/8/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanChandran Kukathas on Hayek's Liberalism | Friedrich Hayek was a major figure in Twentieth Century economics and political philosophy, but his ideas are sometimes caricatured, not least because Margaret Thatcher approved of his work. Chandran Kukathas explains the key features of his... | 5/4/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRichard Reeves on Mill's On Liberty | In this episode of Philosophy Bites Richard Reeves, author of a recent biography of John Stuart Mill sheds light on Mill's classic defence of individual freedom, On Liberty. | 4/27/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDavid Miller on National Responsibility | Can a nation be collectively responsible for actions? And how should apologies and reparations be handled when the perpetrators of injustice may be dead? David Miller, author of a recent book on this topic, explores the kinds of responsibility that... | 4/20/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanPeter Millican on Hume's Significance | David Hume is probably the greatest English-speaking philosopher to date. In this interview for Philosophy Bites. Peter Millican, a Hume specialist, explains why his philosophy was so important. | 4/13/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJanet Radcliffe Richards on Men and Women's Natures | Are men and women different by nature? And if so, what follows? Janet Radcliffe Richards, author of The Sceptical Feminist and Human Nature After Darwin, examines questions about human nature, focusing on John Stuart Mill's important book The... | 4/6/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRaimond Gaita on Torture | Is it immoral even to consider the use of torture in some circumstances? If the State is threatened, should we be prepared to shelve human rights for an end we consider worthwhile? Raimond Gaita discusses a range of arguments about torture in this... | 3/30/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanDerek Matravers on the Definition of Art | What is art? Can anything be a work of art? Derek Matravers, author of Art and Emotion, explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites (www.philosophybites.com). | 3/22/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMelissa Lane on Plato and Totalitarianism | Was Plato's ideal state a totalitarian one? Karl Popper, thought so, and made his case in The Open Society and Its Enemies. Melissa Lane, author of Plato's Progeny, reassesses Popper's critique of Plato in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 3/16/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThomas Pink on Free Will | We often blame people for what they do or fail to do. But that implies that they were free to choose whether or not to act in the way they did. At the same time science seems to reveal prior causes of all our actions. There seems little or no room for.. | 3/9/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnthony Appiah on Cosmopolitanism | Is it possible to be a citizen of the world while maintaining your own distinctive identity? Anthony Appiah defends the ethical position he dubs cosmopolitanism (which for him is universalism combined with a recognition and celebration of diversity)... | 3/2/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanA.C. Grayling on Descartes' Cogito | A.C. Grayling, author of a recent biography of René Descartes, explores Descartes' Cogito argument, the pivotal argument of the Meditations, in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 2/23/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHugh Mellor on Time | Events happen in time. And time is essentially tensed: there is past, present, future. D.H. Mellor, author of Real Time (and Real Time 2) suggests otherwise. In this podcast for Philosophy Bites he explains why time isn't tensed. | 2/15/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRichard Tuck on Free Riding | If what I do has only a negligible impact on events, why should I bother doing it at all? Why not 'free ride' on other people's contributions? Richard Tuck explores these questions in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 2/10/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanStephen Mulhall on Film as Philosophy | Most philosophers who consider the movies focus on the nature of the cinematic medium. Stephen Mulhall argues for a different approach. He thinks that a film such as Bladerunner can actually be philosophy. | 2/3/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRichard Norman on Humanism | How can non-believers make sense of the world? How can there be morality without God? In this episode of Philosophy Bites philosopher Richard Norman explains how it is possible to lead a good life without religion. | 1/27/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRichard Bourke on Edmund Burke on Politics | The eighteenth century thinker and politician Edmund Burke was one of the founders of modern conservativism. In his Reflections on the Revolution in France he attacked the revolution. For this episode of Philosophy Bites Richard Bourke of Queen Mary,... | 1/20/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAngie Hobbs on Plato on War | What causes human agression? For Plato's Socrates it comes from innate tendencies nurtured in the wrong way. And that's where war comes from. Angie Hobbs gives a fascinating introduction to this aspect of Plato's Republic in this episode of Philosophy.. | 1/13/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBarry Smith on Wittgenstein's Conception of Philosophy | made in association with the Institute of Philosophy | 1/6/2008 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMark Vernon on Friendship | What is friendship? Is it a suitable subject for Philosophy? Mark Vernon, author of The Philosophy of Friendship, explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 12/30/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanG.A. Cohen on Inequality of Wealth | Can differences in income be morally justified? Should we expect rich people to give their money to the poor? G.A. Cohen, author of a book with the provocative title If You're An Egalitarian, How Come You're So Rich? addresses these questions in this... | 12/23/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBarry Stroud on Scepticism | Can I trust my senses? Can I tell that I'm not now dreaming? Some philosophical sceptics have maintained that we can't know anything for certain. Barry Stroud discusses the challenge posed by such sceptics in this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 12/16/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanJulian Baggini on Thought Experiments | Philosophers often use elaborate thought experiments in their writing. Are these anything more than rhetorical flourishes? Or do they reveal important aspects of the questions under discussion. Julian Baggini, editor of The Philosophers' Magazine and... | 12/9/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanSusan James on Spinoza on the Passions | What are the passions and what role do they play in human life? These fundamental questions fascinated Baruch de Spinoza who in his book Ethics gave a highly original account of what it is to be human. In this episode of Philosophy Bites, Susan James... | 12/2/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHenry Hardy on Isaiah Berlin's Pluralism | Is there a common currency in which we can compare the various ways in which people choose to live? Isaiah Berlin thought not. He argued that fundamental values may be incommensurable. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Henry Hardy in conversation... | 11/25/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanMyles Burnyeat on Aristotle on Happiness | What is happiness? Is it a matter of blissful mental states subjectively experienced, or is it, as Aristotle believed, more about a successful life? In this episode of Philosophy Bites Myles Burnyeat in conversation with Nigel Warburton gives a lucid... | 11/18/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAlain de Botton on Philosophy Within and Outside the Academy | What is philosophy? Does academic philosophy squeeze the life out of some of the most important questions we can ask? Alain de Botton, author of the bestseller The Consolations of Philosophy, discusses his conception of philosophy and the importance... | 11/11/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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ExplicitAngie Hobbs on Plato on Erotic Love | Plato's Symposium is the most famous philosophical discussion of love, its joys, risks and pleasures. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Angie Hobbs gives a lively account of what Plato thought about erotic love. | 11/4/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanStewart Sutherland on Hume on Design | Is there evidence of intelligent design in the Universe? In the Eighteenth Century David Hume presented a series of powerful arguments against the Argument from Design. In this interview for Philosophy Bites Stewart Sutherland outlines these arguments.. | 10/28/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanOnora O'Neill on Medical Consent | What do we mean by 'consent' in a medical context? Is it reasonable to ask for informed consent before performing medical procedures? Is consent even the most important issue. Onora O'Neill challenges some widely-held assumptions in this area in this... | 10/21/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanQuentin Skinner on Hobbes on the State | What is the state? How do individuals combine to lend legitimate authority to those who act on the state's behalf? These are fundamental questions in political philosophy that Thomas Hobbes addressed in the seventeenth century. In this interview... | 10/14/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanAnthony Kenny on his New History of Philosophy | Anthony Kenny has recently published a major new four-volume history of philosophy. Nigel Warburton interviews him about this project for this episode of Philosophy Bites. | 10/8/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanTim Crane on Mind and Body | What is the mind and how does it relate to our bodies? How can something physical think? These are fundamental questions in the philosophy of mind. Tim Crane addresses these difficult issues in this interview for Philosophy Bites. | 9/30/2007 | Free | View in iTunes |
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Customer Reviews
best philosophy podcast
They are not that many Philosophy podcast but this one is probably the best around. I really enjoyed one about Plato's Cave..
Disappointing
I listened to three of these podcasts. Only one (architecture) had anything new to offer. One in particular (problem of evil) was not only pompous, but remarkably, full of holes. Evil is equated with suffering (they are not the same thing), then immediately used as conclusive evidence that God does not exist. The title is misleading and should be changed, more accurately, to "Why I don't believe in God based on a simplistic argument." Voila, a one-sided conclusion that life has no meaning in only minutes! Microwave results!
Love it
While I don't agree with the conclusion of every guest. I love the hosts and how they don't debate their guests even when you can tell they don't agree. It's a sliver of a world view. Presented nicely every time.
