Philosophy For Our Times

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode: Tribute to Mary Midgley Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

We are paying tribute to philosopher Mary Midgley who passed away last week at the age of 99 by revisiting our episode 'Are you an illusion?' in which Midgley investigates the self with fellow philosopher Simon Blackburn and neuroscientist Colin Blakemore.

(With special thanks to the In Parenthesis project for interview excerpts - http://www.womeninparenthesis.co.uk/)

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_campaign=bonus-episode-tribute-to-mary-midgley

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mysteries of the multiverse | Catherine Heymans Oct 17, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

Can we ever observe universes beyond our own? Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans reveals the latest innovations that might help map out the multiverse.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The AI Revolution | Nigel Shadbolt Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

In a world with artificial intelligence, how will we maintain control? Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Open Data Institute co-founder and researcher at Oxford University, examines how AI looks set to reshape our lives and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reason And The Gods | Myriam Francois, Anthony Gottlieb, Linda Woodhead Oct 03, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

Belief in the Gods once filled lives with purpose and a vision of truth. Now many in the secular West dismiss the divine yet also rue the loss of meaning and belief. Is this because evidence and reason are not sufficient to make sense of the world? Is there something about the world that is deeply strange and justifies spirituality? Or is the worldwide flourishing of religion a temporary blip in human history? Sociologist of religion Linda Woodhead, former executive editor of The Economist and author of The Dream of the Enlightenment Anthony Gottlieb, TV presenter and Research Associate at SOAS Centre for Islamic Studies Myriam Francois explore the link between reason and religion. Julian Baggini hosts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Secrets Of Consciousness | Philip Goff, Nicholas Humphrey, Susan Blackmore Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

Consciousness is one of the unresolved philosophical questions. There was hope that neuroscience might find some answers. But we still have no explanation for where brain activity ends and experience begins. Is it a mistake to think we can explain consciousness by examining the brain? Should we look elsewhere to our evolutionary roots perhaps? Or might neuroscience pull the cat from the bag after all? Psychologist and author of Seeing Myself Susan Blackmore, panpsychist and author of Consciousness and Fundamental Reality Philip Goff, and psychologist Nicholas Humphrey, whose books include The Mind Made Flesh and Soul Dust: The Magic of Consciousness, explore the unknown corners of our minds and lives.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Against Meritocracy | Kwame Anthony Appiah Sep 19, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

Would a meritocratic society provide a fair equality of opportunity? Can discrimination based on merit ever be justified, or should we aim to solve social inequality through equality of outcome? Kwame Anthony Appiah is a British Ghanaian philosopher at Columbia University and author of Cosmopolitanism and The Honor Code.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The End of the Theory of Everything | John Ellis, Huw Price, Joanna Kavenna Sep 05, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

Stephen Hawking once predicted a theory of everything by 2000. However, after decades without one he began to doubt its existence. Have we failed because no one theory can make sense of reality? Must we "employ different theories in different situations" as Hawking suggested, or is there a final theory just waiting to be discovered?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Beyond Men and Women | Finn Mackay, Angela Eagle, Patricia MacCormack Aug 28, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

What does is mean to socially construct a gendered identity, and why do some feminists insist on separating this from the sex we are assigned at birth?

On the panel: activist Finn Mackay, Labour politician Angela Eagle and post-human philosopher, Patricia MacCormack.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Generation Wars II | Diane Abbott, Anatole Kaletsky, Victor Adebowale, Joe Todd Aug 21, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

Some refer to millennials as entitled avocado-eating lay-about’s who care more about their social media presence than engaging with and caring about the world. Millennials, on the other hand, soothe their sorrow at never being able to afford a mortgage (even if they didn’t eat avocados) by eating avocados. Who deserves sympathy and crucially, whom does the state support? The older generation or the younger?

Our panel for Generation Wars, part 2, features Labour MP Dianne Abbott, economist Anatole Kaletsky, People’s Peer Victor Adebowale and Momentum campaigner Joe Todd. Tom Clark hosts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Technology, Relationships and Freedom | Chi Onwurah, Kate Russell, James Ladyman Aug 14, 2018

Show notes

Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes

What’s the price we pay for the buzz we get from likes online? Are tech companies forcing us to follow their every whim? Mining us for data they can profit from? Or do we have the power to harness technology for good? Making our lives easier and giving us more free time? Connecting us with people and enriching our lives?

To debate this issue, we have on our panel Chi Onwurah, shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science and Innovation. Kate Russell, a technology reporter and presenter of BBC Click. And professor of philosophy at the university of Bristol, James Ladyman. Isobel Hilton hosts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.