Philosophy For Our Times

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Why Choice is Not an Illusion | Raymond Tallis Oct 20, 2020

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In the modern world we seem to benefit from an abundance of choices in our day-to-day life. But are we really free to decide, or is choice just an illusion? On today’s episode we’re joined remotely by cultural critic and philosopher Raymond Tallis who unpicks the arguments against the existence of free will.

Professor Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, poet, novelist and cultural critic and was until recently a physician and clinical scientist. In the Economist's Intelligent Life Magazine (2009) he was listed as one of the top living polymaths in the world.

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Materialism Deconstructed| Bernardo Kastrup, Nancy Cartwright, Peter Atkins Oct 13, 2020

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Has physical materialism been undermined in favour of fields and energy, mathematics and information? This week we’re asking whether the world is only material, only made of physical stuff.

Metaphysical idealist Bernardo Kastrup, chemist and Fellow of Lincoln College at Oxford University Peter Atkins and Philosopher of Science Nancy Cartwright debate beyond material. Founding director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses Barry C. Smith hosts.

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The Maths of Life | Silvia Jonas Oct 06, 2020

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How can mathematical models inform our understanding of the world? And how can we explain overwhelming experiences? This week, philosopher Silvia Jonas investigates how mathematics shapes the way in which philosophers conceptualise reality and considers how we can use mathematical models to answer big philosophical questions.

Silvia Jonas is a philosopher at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy working in metaphysics, philosophy of mathematics, and epistemology. She is the author of 'Metaphysics: The Unspeakable in Art, Religion, and Philosophy'.

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What do we really know? | Renata Salecl, Philip Goff & Simon Blackburn Sep 29, 2020

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For much of human history people have held firm - if mistaken - beliefs about the nature of the world and the right course of action. But now a steep decline in religious belief, compounded by doubts about the very possibility of objective truth, has left many in the West profoundly lost. Should we welcome this new uncertainty and revel in the absence of a constricting set of agreed beliefs? Are we only now recognising the limitations of the human condition, which our hubris once obscured or denied? Or must we escape from being lost - even if it means adopting illusory certainties - in order to provide social identity, personal well being and purpose?

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Martyrdom and Sacrifice |Terry Eagleton Sep 22, 2020

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Can the radical elements of religion help us today? And how should we view martyrdom and sacrifice? To help us discus the role of religion today we’re joined this week by Marxist literary critic and public intellectual Terry Eagleton who explores the intersection between faith, martyrdom and sacrifice in a post 9/11 age.

Terry Eagleton is widely recognized as a mainstay of British academia. He has published over forty books on topics ranging from Samuel Richardson to banality of evil in his On Evil.

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A Philosopher’s Duty? | Julian Baggini Sep 15, 2020

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Should it be a philosopher’s duty to discuss politics? And how can philosophy be used to improve public life? This week we’re discussing the roles and responsibilities of philosophers and the everyday applications of philosophy.

Julian Baggini is a philosopher, journalist and the author of philosophy books for a general audience. He is co-founder of The Philosophers' Magazine and has written for international newspapers and magazines.

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Understanding Consciousness | Bernardo Kastrup, Susan Blackmore, Tim Crane Sep 08, 2020

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Should we conclude that consciousness cannot be explained in terms of the physical? But if so what is the alternative? Or is it just a matter of time, and one day an AI machine will miraculously find itself experiencing the world, and its mere components will have soul?

Philosopher of mind Tim Crane, metaphysical idealist Bernardo Kastrup and consciousness specialist Susan Blackmore debate the miracle of mind. Closure theorist Hilary Lawson hosts.

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The Ancient Indian Roots of Consciousness | Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad Sep 01, 2020

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The radical idea that everything is conscious has a small but growing following in Anglo-American philosophy. How deep are the philosophical roots of panpsychism? And how do older Indian systems of thought inform modern philosophical ideas?

To explore these questions we’re joined on this week’s episode by Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad, Professor of Comparative Religion and Philosophy at Lancaster University who helps us explore the realms of consciousness and experience through the lens of classical Indian philosophy.

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A World of Illusions | Jan Westerhoff Aug 25, 2020

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Should we trust our senses? And how can we know that the waking world is real but the dreaming world is not?

On this week’s episode we are interviewing Professor of Buddhist Philosophy at Oxford University, Jan Westerhoff. Westerhoff discusses the philosophy of illusions, dreams and outlines his theory of an external world whose fundamental constituents are bits of mind, not bits of matter.

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Panpsychism to the rescue | Philip Goff Aug 18, 2020

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Is 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.

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