Philosophy For Our Times

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The Margins of Language | Stanley Fish, Genia Schönbaumsfeld, Hilary Lawson Jun 02, 2020

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We use language every day to communicate with others and understand the world. Yet, from metaphors to the mystical, there are many things we seem unable to directly express.

To help us explore the limits of language we are joined by eminent literary critic Stanley Fish, Wittgenstein expert Genia Schönbaumsfeld and post-realist philosopher Hilary Lawson. Joanna Kavenna hosts.

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How to Make the Right Decision | Jason McKenzie Alexander May 26, 2020

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Cognitive 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 of Philosophy at the London School of Economics, Jason McKenzie Alexander is an expert in evolutionary game theory and its application to the evolution of morality and social norms.

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Knowledge Resistance | Åsa Wikforss May 19, 2020

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With the rise of 'fake news' and the publicising of blatant lies, how important is it to reassert the importance of accuracy and truth?

Åsa Wikforss is a professor of theoretical philosophy at Stockholm University. Wikforss is a member of Swedish Academy whose research focuses on the intersection of philosophy of mind, language and epistemology, ans in 2017 Wikfoss published Alternative facts. On knowledge and its enemies, a book that has had a great impact in Sweden.

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Mysteries of the Mind | Markus Gabriel May 12, 2020

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Is the brain a conscious control centre? Where is my mind? Many believe the mystery of consciousness will be solved once we understand the physical brain. Philosopher and author of I Am Not A Brain Markus Gabriel challenges scientific complacency and argues for a different view of the self, the mind and human freedom.

Markus Gabriel is a German philosopher and author at the University of Bonn.

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In Search of Freedom | Paul Broks, Julian Baggini, Hannah Dawson, Hilary Lawson May 05, 2020

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Is there space left for individual autonomy when we are constrained by our genes, manipulated by technology and shaped by the cultural zeitgeist? Should we conclude that the very idea of freedom was a mistake, which once abandoned will enable us to reframe human behaviour and success and create a more equal society?

Historian of ideas and author of Life Lessons from Hobbes Hannah Dawson, post-realist philosopher Hilary Lawson, neuropsychologist and science writer Paul Broks and author of Freedom Regained Julian Baggini ask who's really in control. David Aaronovitch hosts.

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How To Overcome Wilful Blindness | Margaret Heffernan Apr 28, 2020

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How can we protect ourselves from the dangers we wilfully don't see? Businesswoman and author of Wilful Blindness Margaret Heffernan puts forward her theory and outlines how and why institutions and individuals need to open their eyes to information they do not want to know.

An entrepreneur, CEO and author, Heffernan's book Wilful Blindness was chosen as one of Financial Times' business books of the decade.

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Philosophy Vs Authority | Noam Chomsky, Deirdre McCloskey, Mark Lilla Apr 21, 2020

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We know authority is dangerous yet we assume it is necessary for society to work. Should we dream of a free and flourishing world without leadership and rules? Or do we want and need leaders and authority to feed our hopes and dreams?

Philosopher Noam Chomsky, political scientist Mark Lilla and professor of economics Deirdre McCloskey ask whether we need authority at all.

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The Value of Ethics | Bart Streumer Apr 14, 2020

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Can an action that is 'right' become 'wrong' without any other change taking place in the world? And do we need to apply ethics to real-world issues to feel that these theories matter? Bart Streumer unpacks these questions and more in this in-depth interview, before making the case that we should understand philosophy as a cooperative enterprise, in which debate, learning what others have to say, and changing your own mind, is crucial.

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Can we distinguish truth from lies? | Sacha Golob, Steve Fuller, Åsa Wikforss, Peter Pomerantsev Apr 08, 2020

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It seemed that we had all got used to the idea that rather than a single definitive truth there are a multiplicity of competing and alternative perspectives. Now with the rise of 'fake news' and the publicising of blatant lies, we want to reassert the importance of accuracy and truth.

Author of Post Truth Steve Fuller, theoretical philosopher Åsa Wikforss, continental philosopher Sacha Golob, and former Moscow journalist and author of This is Not Propaganda Peter Pomerantsev ask whether anybody has a monopoly on truth.

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New Gods | Myriam François, Peter Atkins, Hilary Lawson Mar 31, 2020

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As our churches have emptied our belief in progress, science and reason has also begun to falter, and we find ourselves in a new space in which all beliefs are challenged, and perspectives jostle in a relative world. Might religion, in the form of shared rituals and values, once again have a role to play?

To discuss the role of religion we are joined by three leading thinkers: acclaimed chemist Peter Atkins, writer and broadcaster Myriam Francois and philosopher Hilary Lawson.

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