Philosophy For Our Times
Philosophy For Our Times is a free philosophy podcast produced by the Institute of Art and Ideas, featuring talks and debates with leading thinkers. Weekly episodes explore major ideas in news, society, culture, politics, science and the arts. The show brings philosophers and other experts together to argue through contested questions of the day, offering accessible but serious discussion rather than academic lectures.
Episodes
Blue Labour | Maurice Glasman
DescriptionDoes the left really need to be more conservative? What is the difference between capital C and lowercase c conservatism? Is the Blue Labour movement the best tool against the MAGA agenda and right wing nationalism?Maurice Glasman is the founder of the Blue Labour movement, a conservative strand of socialism that champions tradition, community, and civic association. In his view, we’ve
Evidence in the Dock | Nick Enfield, Timothy Williamson, Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Should we give up seeing evidence as the truth and instead see it as a persuasive argument? Does evidence settle the matter or is a counter-narrative always possible? And if evidence is not the truth, how are we to choose between competing perspectives and models of the world?We turn to evidence to settle the matter. And we imagine it is evidence that confirms a scientific theory, or the guilt of
Bonus Episode: The Philosophy of Action
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesCan philosophy help us make real life decisions? Can actions speak louder than words? Our producer interviews philosophers Bence Nanay, Angie Hobbs, Christopher Hamilton, Barry Smith, Shahidha Bari, and performance artist Emma Sulkowicz about the power of ideas in their lives.There are thousands of big ideas to disc
The big ideas we choose to believe in | Dallas Campbell
Why do Flat Earthers believe the world is flat even when confronted with scientific evidence? Why don't anti-vaxxers "trust the science"? Listen to find out.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesDallas Campbell is one of the most celebrated science television presenters in the UK. He has been communicating complicated ideas to the nation for years. But
Our delusions about reality | Iain McGilchrist
How our brains lie to us and science follows. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWith a background in psychiatry, neuroimaging, and philosophy, Iain McGilchrist has a unique perspective on the world, the mind, and everything in between. Here, he discusses his new book, The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World.I
Necessary lies | Michael Shermer, Hilary Lawson & Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen
Can we hold multiple truths at once? Listen to find out!Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesMany still remain convinced that their own views and opinions are not just culturally relative but are true and accurate accounts of the way things are.Should we conclude that all forms of relativism are a mistake and insist on the importance and need to identi
A world of illusions | James Ladyman, Peter Atkins, Joanna Kavenna
Can we be sure there is a physical reality? Our philosophers and scientists debate.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes No-one who has ever stepped on a Lego brick could doubt the reality of physical objects. Yet from Heraclitus to George Berkeley, many philosophers claimed to have disproven the existence of things. Now even high-energy particle physi
Spirituality for the non-religious | Rupert Sheldrake
We keep looking for something more... for a reason.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesPilgrimage is undergoing a revival across Europe. But why are so many non-religious people drawn to spiritual journeys? Author of Ways To Go Beyond Rupert Sheldrake asks why we are attracted to holy places.Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist, author and parapsychology r
Animal Rights and Human Wrongs | Peter Singer, Christopher Belshaw, Mary-Ann Sieghart, Peter Egan
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWhat is our relationship with other species? And can we care about animals if we eat them? On today’s episode we’re discussing the morality of our relationship with animals.World-renowned moral philosopher Peter Singer, Honorary Associate in Philosophy at the Open University Christopher Belshaw, former assistant edi
The story of reality | Sophie Fiennes, Betty Sue Flowers, Noel Carroll
Should narratives reflect or escape reality? Our panellists discuss.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom fairy tales to Harry Potter, from Avatar to James Bond, we love fantasy and expect our books and films to take us there. Yet at the same time we want our poems and plays, novels and movies, to reflect life and reality.Should our narratives be s
Why the neoclassical philosophy of economics is fundamentally flawed | Abby Innes
What do the Soviet Union and the current British economy have in common? What can studying the philosophy of science reveal about our economic systems? Is the depoliticisation of economics a dangerous pipe dream?Join political economist Abby Innes as she argues that treating society as a closed system that can be controlled and regulated ignores man's unrelenting capacity for new ideas and technol
Perception as a fantasy | Donald Hoffman
Can we look for consciousness outside the realm of space-time?Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesJoin us as world-leading cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman discusses his cutting-edge research about consciousness and perception, as well as its astonishing implications for the ultimate nature of reality.Donald Hoffman is an American cognitive psych
The Rise and Fall of Ideologies | Rory Stewart, Grace Blakeley, Michael Sandel
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesOn today’s episode we’re discussing the role of idealism in the world of politics. Whether it's tribal nationalism, radical socialism, or environmental activism, the goals and ideals of politics are once again taking centre stage. Is a return to idealism dangerous or a necessary antidote to a bland politics that has
How important is rationality to humans? PART 1 | Stuart Hameroff, Subrena Smith, Paul Bloom
Thinking set freeIs the emphasis our modern society places on rationality well-placed? Does rationality help us think or should we be in tune with other ways of thinking/perceiving the world?Join our diverse panel of speakers as they discuss these questions: Stuart Hameroff, anesthesiologist known for the theory of consciousness he developed with Roger Penrose; Subrena Smith, philosopher and vocal
Psychedelics and the Birth of Philosophy | Brian Muraresku
Could they possibly be connected? Listen to find out!Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesMany have argued that Western civilisation was born in Ancient Greece by combing art, democracy, religion and science. Fewer have explored the role that psychedelic experiences played in building these traditions as we know them. On today’s episode we’re joined re
If it doesn't kill you | Susie Orbach, Anders Sandberg, and Havl Carel
Do we need suffering to lead a meaningful life? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom the plots of Hollywood movies to the roots of Christianity, many see value in adversity and suffering. Be it in character building boot camps or overcoming the trials of a difficult childhood or adult life. Yet the great majority of us do our very best to avoid su
Monsters of pantheism| Mary-Jane Rubenstein
Is pantheism more radical than atheism?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesPantheism is the radical belief that reality and god are one and the same thing. Why has it been so feared for 400 years? Philosopher and author of Strange Wonder, Mary-Jane Rubenstein shows how the idea threatens much more than just religion.Mary-Jane Rubenstein is Professor o
The Good Fight | Charlotte Leslie
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesCan the threat of terror be fought with compassion? Conservative politician and Spectator's 'Backbencher of the year' Charlotte Leslie issues a rallying cry for the politics of love. Music: Apache Force by Little Glass Men and Enter the World of Paradise by D SMILEZ available under an Attribution Creative Commons Li
Catching Sight of Ourselves | Christopher Hamilton, Adjoa Andoh, Daniel Miller
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFar flung destinations are often home to those seeking to 'find themselves'. Encouraged perhaps by Socrates’ maxim for an ethical life: 'know thyself'. But do any of us ever arrive? Is the self a real and stable enough 'thing' that it can be known? Or can we never catch sight of ourselves in the mirror? Anthropologi
Has the world gone to Hell? | Slavoj Žižek on fascism, shame, and dirty jokes
Žižek: "Trump did what The Left couldn't"As we look around at the state of the modern world, it's very easy to get disheartened - and that's putting it lightly! From pointless wars and endless suffering to the decline of social bonds and trustworthy institutions, there really is a lot to get you down. Fortunately, maverick philosopher Slavoj Žižek is on the case, arguing that all is not lost - tho
Bonus Episode: Hidden Desires, Secret Thoughts | Shahida Bari, Barry C Smith, Richard Bentall
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesOver a century after Freud wrote the interpretation of dreams, how much of our unconscious minds have we uncovered? Writer, academic and critic Shahida Bari, Philosopher and Director of the Institute of Philosophy at the Institute of Advanced Studies in London Barry C Smith and Professor of Clinical Psychology at th
The Good, Bad, & Controversial | Naomi Goulder, Brendan O'Neill, Sameer Rahim, Sam Roddick
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe all want to do the right thing. But from suicide bombers to Catholic priests, we have never been able to agree on what the right thing is. Should we give up on morality and see it as a fiction designed to justify beliefs? Or, despite our disagreements, is it still the most important tool we have to measure human
How to Make the Right Decision | Jason McKenzie Alexander
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesCognitive science has shown that all of us suffer from biases that distort our reality, impair our judgement and lead us to bad decisions. Here author J. McKenzie Alexander guides a workshop session that talks through the findings of contemporary decision theory and what's really involved when we make a choice.Head
The Morality of the Tribe | David Miller, Natalie Cargill, Peter Tatchell
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe think everyone should be treated equally. Yet we also think we are right to care most about our family, our friends and our lovers, and 82% of charitable donations in the UK are given to the causes closest to home. Should we just accept that our ethics are in practice tribal? In this episode of Philosophy for our
Experiencing The World | Annaka Harris, Hilary Lawson, Reza Negarestani, Bernardo Kastrup
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFor centuries we have distinguished between our experience and the world, between the subjective and the objective, between consciousness and material reality. Might the very distinction between subject and object, conscious experience and the world, be the mistake? Or could we formulate a new conceptual framework t
Doing Right And Feeling Good | Anders Sandberg, Simon Baron-Cohen, Peter Dews
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe think empathising with others is the route to a better world. But studies show that empathy encourages us to help one named child over ten anonymous others. Is morality perhaps not about empathy at all? Does the moral way to act have more to do with thinking than feeling, or is empathy a vital force for good? Zer
Rethinking the Enlightenment | Historian Aviva Chomsky
The spectre of the EnlightenmentWhat the Enlightenment a net positive or a net negative? Or is that the wrong question, and should we look at it simply as a historical period?Join Professor of History Aviva Chomsky as she dissects one of the most important periods in modern history from the lens of a critical historian. The Enlightenment was not just a period that produced thoughts and ideas - it
Are we hallucinating ourselves? | Anil Seth
Is consciousness independent from our bodies? Or is it just a hallucination? Listen to find out.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesSomehow, within each of our brains, billions of neurons work to create our conscious experience. How does this happen? Why do we experience life in the first person? After over twenty years researching the brain, world-re
Why is There Something Rather than Nothing? | Amie Thomasson, George Ellis, Rupert Sheldrake
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesThe fundamental problem of philosophy, argued Heidegger, is 'why is there something rather than nothing?'. Now, some scientists claim nothing doesn't exist and that even deepest space is full of virtual particles. Have we misunderstood the very idea of nothing? In this episode of Philosophy for our Times, Templeton
Consciousness is quantum mechanical | Stuart Hameroff
Consciousness is one of the most fundamental aspects of our existence, but it remains barely understood, even defined. Across the world scholars of many disciplines - philosophy, science, social science, theology - are joined on a quest to understand this phenomenon.Tune into one of the more original and controversial thinkers at the forefront of consciousness research, Stuart Hameroff, as he pres
Being mindful in a mindless world | Ellen Langer
The mindful body with Ellen LangerCan mindfulness be contagious?Ellen Langer's research certainly seems to suggest that's the case. As Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of 'The Mindful Body', Ellen has racked up decades of experience and numerous awards during her investigations into the impact of mindful living.In this interview, Ellen discusses the transformative power
The Secrets of Consciousness | Interview with Rupert Sheldrake
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesRupert Sheldrake is a renowned author and biologist, known for his research into parapsychology. In this exclusive interview, Rupert shares with us the secrets of consciousness, putting forward a panpsychist view of what it is to be conscious and debunking why materialism has failed. In association with the New Coll
Science, Sex and Stereotypes | Helena Cronin
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesDarwinian philosopher Helena Cronin breaks a 21st century taboo: Did men and women evolve differently?There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_cam
The Cult of Mindfulness | Vishpani Blomfield, Linda Woodhead, Miguel Farias
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom yoga retreats to mindfulness, meditation is fashionable and now even prescribed by the UK's National Health Service. Yet in some cases it can lead to depression and even psychosis. Is it a mistake to think that self-exploration and being at one with ourselves are necessarily good things? In this episode of Phil
March Of The Machines | Roger Penrose, Nigel Shadbolt, Warren Ellis
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesEvil artificial intelligences are luckily confined to fiction. Yet leading scientists claim that intelligent machines are 'the most serious threat facing mankind'. Are they right or could a mind free from human prejudices create a better world? Or is all talk of artificial intelligence a deluded fantasy? Physicist
On the nature of reality | Rowan Williams and Iain McGilchrist
Who are we? Why are we here? Does life have a meaning beyond itself? Join former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and groundbreaking psychiatrist, literary scholar and author of 'The Matter with Things', Iain McGilchrist, to explore the nature of meaning, and why we should move beyond the assumptions of a materialist worldview from radically divergent perspectives. Please feel free to ema
Dreamland | Oliver Burkeman, Helen Lederer, Erwin James
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFulfill your dreams and make the most of your life! So advocate headmasters, moralists and revolutionaries. Yet poet John Betjeman's principal regret was that he did not have more sex. Is life not about goals and ambition but about the moment of being? Or is making our dreams real the only way to fulfillment? Writer
The Known, The Strange And The New | John Ellis, Robert Rowland-Smith, Janne Teller
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom Aristotle to Einstein humans have tried to make sense of the world. Yet despite huge advances a final explanation looks ever distant. What makes our lives and the world so puzzling and inexplicable? Is it the limitation of the human brain or is language not able to describe reality? Or is it too soon to give up
Breaking through the consciousness stalemate | Philip Goff
Can we free ourselves from stale ideas about consciousness?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesSome argue that the reality we perceive is a controlled hallucination. Others claim that science is about to crack the ancient problem of the self once and for all. Distinguished philosopher and panpsychist Philip Goff argues that neither of these are true,
The Vital Statistics | Helena Cronin
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIs statistical and scientific ignorance undermining the fight against sexism? Darwinian philosopher Helena Cronin argues sex difference should be accepted not ignored. Music: Apache Force by Little Glass Men and Enter the World of Paradise by D SMILEZ available under an Attribution Creative Commons LicenseThere are
Dancing With The Devil | Simon Baron-Cohen, Rebecca Roache, Peter Dews
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe think we've grown out of the belief in evil. It's not in our genes and people don't get possessed. But across media and culture, from Star Wars to Isis, evil still holds us strangely captive. Why does the devil seem to have the best tunes? Is the battle between good and evil an essential part of being human after
Free will is not an illusion | Denis Noble
Biology against determinism!Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe all feel like we have free will. That our decisions are our own and that we could have chosen otherwise. But today, many prominent figures argue free will is an illusion. Join groundbreaking biologist Denis Noble as he argues that, in fact, our bodies hold the key to our freedom.Den
Big Bang Creation Myths | Sean Carroll, Roger Penrose, Laura Mersini-Houghton
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesThe big bang theory won out over the Steady State alternative 50 years ago because we discovered the universe was expanding. But now we know that the universe is in fact accelerating away from us. Might the whole big bang theory be mistaken? In this episode of Philosophy for our Times, eminent mathematician Roger Pe
A radical plan to save education | Michael Hrebeniak, Isabelle McNeill
There is hope for academia after all.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe need a revolution. Universities are turning into corporations, students, academics and the culture at large is damaged as a result. Cambridge academics Michael Hrebeniak and Isabelle McNeill lay out their vision of how to revolutionise education by removing neo-liberal "output
The Rise and Fall of Sex | Daphna Joel, Barry Barnes, Stuart Ritchie
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesAlthough most of us are critical of gender stereotypes, few deny the existence of two discrete biological sexes. Yet biology itself shows dozens of combinations of human sex chromosomes. Could biological sex itself then be an illusion, constructed from human categories? Or is this a futile attempt to deny the realit
Why artists shouldn't fear AI | Jaron Lanier
What does originality mean in the age of AI? Why should artists resist the temptation to fear AI? What role will human creativity play in the future we're building?Jaron Lanier, a visionary computer scientist, artist, composer, futurist, and writer, discusses his latest artistic ventures and the importance of originality in art. Lanier shares insights into how technology intersects with creativity
Sisters and Sisterhood | Myriam Francois, Margaret Heffernan, Kimberlé Crenshaw
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesMore women MPs, more women CEOs, women it would seem are on the move. Yet the gap between successful women and the rest is growing. Might feminism's success paradoxically harbour the end of the sisterhood as we swap one inequality for another? Or are female care workers and CEOs still on the same side? American civi
Nietzsche on overcoming nihilism | Philosopher Babette Babich
Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap with Babette BabichDo life's struggles make the search for meaning a hopeless endeavour?Join renowned, continental philosopher Babette Babich as she explains the Nietzschean path to finding purpose, arguing that we must embrace all elements of life - good and bad - in our search for a meaningful existence.Babette is a trailblazing philosophe
Politics and the Patriarchy | Angela Eagle
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesHas Westminster made progress to equality? Cameron told Shadow Secretary for Business Angela Eagle to “Calm down dear”; here she forecasts the future of sexism in politics. Music: Apache Force by Little Glass Men and Enter the World of Paradise by D SMILEZ available under an Attribution Creative Commons LicenseThere
A tale of truth | Simon Blackburn
Is "truth" a redundant concept? Listen as Simon Blackburn grapples with the topic. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesTruth has had a difficult century. More than ever we are lost as to both 'what truth is' and 'what is true'. Should we instead turn to pragmatism? Join Simon Blackburn to explore why truth and pragmatism may be more aligned than at fi
Leadership in the Age of Trump | Jess Phillips, Jon Barnes, Tania Branigan
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesThere are many who see Trump and Putin as a threat to world peace. But are they in power because we believe that strong leaders are good for us? Is it a mistake to imagine that leaders can solve all of our problems? Can we imagine a politics where we voted for policies rather than personalities? In this episode of P
Psychology of AI | Isabel Millar
An interview with Isabel Millar.Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesQuestions over artificial intelligence seem to dominate our contemporary. But underpinning the technology are an array of presuppositions - about thinking, knowledge and consciousness - that are in dire need of philosophical scrutiny. In this fascinating interview, Dr Isabel Millar
Is objective news an illusion? | John Lloyd, Hilary Lawson, Jonathan Calvert
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe want news to accurately reflect the real world. But in an age when competing channels with different perspectives are instantly available should we recognise this goal as an illusion? Should we accept that journalists set the world's agenda with their own fictions and fantasies, or is there a framework of objecti
The Swindle Of The New | Terry Eagleton
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn our topsy turvy post-modern world, we're held captive by the promise of the new. One of Britain's most influential cultural critics, Terry Eagleton, examines novelty's strange perils. Supported by Routledge - Associate Academic Partner of the IAI. To learn more, and for exclusive discounts and prizes visit: http:
Greater than Equal | Theodore Dalrymple, Sophie Walker, Helena Cronin
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn today’s debate Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party faces Helena Cronin, Darwinian philosopher and a strong believer in natural sex differences. Joined by Psychiatrist Theodore Dalrymple, they debate the pros, cons and possibilities of equality.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv
The philosophy of performance | Michelle Terry
How can taking on the role of someone else help us to understand ourselves? Does the hermit know himself better than the socialite? And where is the line between our true, authentic selves and the multitude of characters we all play each and every day? Join actress and Creative Director of Shakespeare's Globe, Michelle Terry, as she draws on her experience as a performer to explore how acting can
The Fractured Mind | Bence Nanay
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIs it better for us to resist temptations or avoid them altogether? Philosopher of perception and action Bence Nanay argues that our ability to say no is connected with the fragmentation of our minds.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Fi
The neuroscience of consciousness | Patricia Churchland
Is consciousness all in the brain after all? Listen to find out!Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesHave you ever made a decision and wondered why you made it? Or wondered where your morality comes from? Renowned philosopher of mind and founder of Neurophilosophy Patricia Churchland takes us on a journey into the brain, the nature and data of morality
Minds, Madness And Medicine | Lucy Johnstone, David Nutt, David Healy
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesDeaths from heart disease have fallen by almost two thirds since the 1960s, yet outcomes for those with mental illness have not improved for decades. Is this because we have the wrong categories and the wrong diagnoses? Might neuroscience enable more precise descriptions and more effective treatment? Or is it a mist
The Weird and the Wonderful: Eileen Barker, Ariane Sherine, Phil Rickman
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn Europe, belief in organised religion continues to decline as science advances. Yet strangely interest in everything from ley lines to solstice rituals is on the rise. Should we dismiss this as empty fantasy? Or is there in nature something essential to ourselves, beyond science and beyond monotheistic religion? S
What Is Justice? | Sarah Langford
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesCan our legal system ever keep its promise of justice? In this episode of Philosophy for our Times, author of ‘In Your Defence’ Sarah Langford tells her story of a life in the courtroom, and shows us how our attitudes and actions can shape not only the outcome of a case, but the legal system itself. In association w
The philosophy of extinction (or of the end of the world)| Philosopher Ben Ware
Philosophy at the end of the worldIs humanity looking at its demise in the face? Has it always been? And how can philosophy help us?Join philosopher Ben Ware, Co-Director of the Centre for Philosophy and Art at King’s College London, as he interrogates how to philosophically, and humanly, confront the end of the world. Ware traces the idea of extinction across many authors - philosophers, writers
The infidelity of beliefs | Graham Harman, Hilary Lawson, Anandi Hattiangadi
Are we cheating ourselves?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn our post truth age it seems that we can collect beliefs on a whim or a tribal fashion. And many are happy to hold contradictory views to suit their temporary desires.Is this a dangerous approach that threatens not only the coherence of our own outlook but the stability and success of cul
Are we moral hypocrites? | Julian Baggini, David Chandler, Ece Temelkuran
Have you ever wondered if you are a "good" person? Are any of us actually morally good? Listen in to find out.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom fervent socialists to devout Christians, many have sought to live by a strict moral code. Yet from the gulags to the Inquisition it has often been those with the strictest codes who have perpetrated the
Panpsychism to the rescue | Philip Goff
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIs it possible for all matter in the universe to hold consciousness? And can the theory of panpsychism be the solution to the problems of materialism and dualism?To help us explore realms of panpsychism we’re joined by author and professor of philosophy at the university of Durham, Phillip Goff.There are thousands o
Power and Philosophy: East vs West |Julian Baggini, Jamie Whyte, Vivienne Shue
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIs the sun setting on Western ideas as well as Western economies? Or is Western thought, essential to growth and progress, already embedded in China's success? On this week’s episode we’re discussing the influence of the Eastern and Western worlds of philosophy on the modern global stage.Author of How the World Thin
The knowledge delusion | Santiago Zabala, Corine Besson, Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad
Beyond right and wrong?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesPoliticians, scientists, experts, specialists and even philosophers frequently claim to be right and to have understood how things ultimately are. Yet at the same time they know this can't plausibly be the case. In the history of humankind there is no theory that has been shown to be definitiv
Bonus Episode: The Struggle for Social Justice | Angela Eagle
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesBritain is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, so why do so many feel short-changed? In this episode of Philosophy for our Times, Labour MP and former minister Angela Eagle sees an urgent need to protect social cohesion and makes a case for radical economic reform. In association with the New College of the
Real Men | Julie Bindel, Diane Abbott, Rowan Pelling, Serena Kutchinsky
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesBeing a real man used to be about courage, grit, and determination. But in an age of increased empathy and softness the story is getting blurred. Is the 'real man' a fantasy we should be pleased to see relegated to history along with Marlboro ads, or are these qualities that women still want and society needs?Jamie
How to be a Stoic | Massimo Pigliucci
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe all want to lead a good life. But that goal seems always elusive. What can we learn from the ancient Stoics? Hear philosopher of science and author of How to be a Stoic Massimo Pigliucci explain how the philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius can help us focus on what really matters, and confro
Bonus Episode: The Rojava Revolution | Elif Sarican
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesTo celebrate our 100th episode of Philosophy for Our Times, we're treating you to a week of bonus content. To kick off, here's an interview with Elif Sarican, a Kurdish rights activist, about the experiment in direct democracy currently taking place in Northern Syria.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at I
Copying consciousness: the future of mind uploading | Anders Sandberg
What makes you 'you'? If scientists made a digital replica of your mind, would this new 'you' be conscious? And what does this all mean for what it means to exist?Whole-brain emulation (often called “mind uploading” in science fiction) refers to the possible future ability to scan a human brain in such detail that a digital replica could be created, capable of functioning, and perhaps even experie
A guide to parenting in the digital age | Melanie Challenger
How do we make decisions regarding our children in an impossibly complicated digital world?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesTechnology is changing parenthood. From children raised by smartphones, to making choices about gene-editing and enhancement, Melanie Challenger asks what it means to be a parent in a technological age.Melanie Challenger is a
The Evolution of Suicide | Nicholas Humphreys
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesSuicide is a terrible but commonplace event amongst all societies within the human race. But at what point in our evolution did suicide come into being, and for what purpose? Can suicide be explained, and if so, can we provide an answer to those who become so desperate? Neuropsychologist and author of A History of t
Should we free ourselves of objects and clutter? | Paul Dolan, Mary-Ann Ochota and Steve Taylor
Should we all engage in a radical cull? Listen to find out.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe are attached to things. Our dwellings are packed with items we rarely throw out. Things have traditionally given us comfort but they also give us status. The wealthy often collect things for no other purpose than to own them. But in an age when the great
The puzzle of artistic greatness | Minna Salami, Stanley Fish, Meg Rosoff, Janne Teller
Should the origins of ideas matter as much as their substance? Our experts discuss.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesThere has always been dispute over which ideas are most significant. But at least there used to be broad agreement about the hallmarks of quality and the great works in each field. Now, from literature to the social sciences, there ar
The seduction of thought | Miranda Keeling, Steve Taylor, Andy West
Is thought a distraction from reality?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom the birth of reason to Descartes' "I think, therefore I am"; Western culture has placed thought at the centre of what it is to be human. We spend much of our time planning the future, reflecting on the past, puzzling about what to do, and talking about it with others. But m
The truth about consciousness | Anil Seth
How wrong was Descartes exactly? Listen to find out!Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesProfessor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience Anil Seth explores the ultimate mystery of our consciousness experience. In this interview, Seth discusses the misconceptions surrounding the difference between consciousness and intelligence, the link between c
What we Cannot Know | Marcus du Sautoy
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesThe headlines of new discoveries about the universe continue, but are we approaching our limits? Mathematician and broadcaster Marcus du Sautoy explores. Music: Apache Force by Little Glass Men available under an Attribution Creative Commons LicenseThere are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, art
Material girls - philosophies of gender | Kathleen Stock
What is behind the polarising debate on gender? How can we navigate the new politics of gender identity... if at all?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesGender identity is the hot topic, but many argue that we must remain grounded in biological sex. Join philosopher Kathleen Stock as she seeks collaboration between trans rights activists and feminists
