The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part III - Sad Love) May 21, 2023

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds ‘the one’, not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we’ve been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part II - What Love Is) May 07, 2023

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds ‘the one’, not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we’ve been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part I - Happily Ever After) Apr 23, 2023

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds ‘the one’, not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we’ve been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Silvia Jonas: Research (website).

Episode 117, ‘The Rationality of Theism’ with Silvia Jonas (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Apr 09, 2023

For Judaism, it is practice over theology. The most important aspect of one’s faith is not philosophical reflection on God, but the rules and actions of the faithful. After all, according to Maimonides – arguably the most significant philosopher in the history of Jewish thought – we can never know God’s nature, and, therefore, there is more to be gained from what we do than trying to know what God is like. For Maimonides, ‘We are only able to apprehend that He is.’ This raises a problem, however, for if we cannot learn about, come to build a relationship, or increase our knowledge of God, then what is the point of religious observance?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing Judaism, knowledge, understanding and the rationality of theism with Professor Silvia Jonas of the University of Bamberg and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. According to Jonas, Maimonides’s insights are valuable; yet he misses a crucial piece of the puzzle – a distinction between knowledge and understanding.

Beyond understanding the ineffable, Jonas argues that theism shouldn’t try to compete with modern science. That doesn’t mean, however, that questions of God aren’t important. For Jonas, God is a worthy object of philosophical investigation, not because God completes our grand ‘theory of everything’, but because God shapes people’s everyday lives.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Judaism: Knowledge and Understanding

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Silvia Jonas (website).

Silvia Jonas, Ineffability and its Metaphysics (book).

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project (website).

Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence (book).

Episode 117, ‘The Rationality of Theism’ with Silvia Jonas (Part I - Judaism, Knowledge and Understanding) Mar 26, 2023

For Judaism, it is practice over theology. The most important aspect of one’s faith is not philosophical reflection on God, but the rules and actions of the faithful. After all, according to Maimonides – arguably the most significant philosopher in the history of Jewish thought – we can never know God’s nature, and, therefore, there is more to be gained from what we do than trying to know what God is like. For Maimonides, ‘We are only able to apprehend that He is.’ This raises a problem, however, for if we cannot learn about, come to build a relationship, or increase our knowledge of God, then what is the point of religious observance?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing Judaism, knowledge, understanding and the rationality of theism with Professor Silvia Jonas of the University of Bamberg and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. According to Jonas, Maimonides’s insights are valuable; yet he misses a crucial piece of the puzzle – a distinction between knowledge and understanding.

Beyond understanding the ineffable, Jonas argues that theism shouldn’t try to compete with modern science. That doesn’t mean, however, that questions of God aren’t important. For Jonas, God is a worthy object of philosophical investigation, not because God completes our grand ‘theory of everything’, but because God shapes people’s everyday lives.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Judaism: Knowledge and Understanding

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Silvia Jonas (website).

Silvia Jonas: Research (website).

Silvia Jonas, Ineffability and its Metaphysics (book).

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project (website).

Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence (book).

Episode 116, 'Why Honour Matters’ (Part II – Further Analysis and Discussion) Mar 12, 2023

Honour calls a person to defend their teammates, support their family, and have self-respect. To heed the call of honour, say those who listen, leads us towards a good life. Yet, honour does not bear the marks of modern liberal morality. Honour does not focus on the universal but the particular, nor does it claim impartiality. Rather, honour is deeply personal and emotional.

For some, the call of honour is like that of the sirens of Greek mythology: causing the illusion of what is good. In reality, pursuing that good causes us to crash on the rocks of family feuds, cycles of violence, and the subjection of women. But is this really the full story? Must a culture of honour result in revenge and injustice? And is modern liberal morality fit to play the role many thinkers wish it to?

In this interview, we’ll be speaking to Tamler Sommers, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Houston and host of the Very Bad Wizards podcast. Tamler is the author of several books, including, Relative Justice, A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain, and – the focus of our interview – Why Honor Matters.

It is time, according to Sommers, for those who are sceptical or separated from the importance of honour to reassess their relationship with it. To do so raises questions of criminal justice, morality, love, friendship, and personal integrity. In short, honour can be a great motivator across almost all areas of human life, says Sommers, and it is time we give it the respect it deserves.

Contents

Part I. Everything is Clear

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Tamler’s website

Tamler Sommers, Why Honour Matters

Tamler Sommers, Relative Justice: Cultural Diversity, Free Will, and Moral Responsibility

Tamler Sommers, A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain

Tamler Sommers, publications

Very bad wizard, podcast

Tamler Sommers, twitter

Episode 116, 'Why Honour Matters’ (Part I - The Centre of Morality) Feb 26, 2023

Honour calls a person to defend their teammates, support their family, and have self-respect. To heed the call of honour, say those who listen, leads us towards a good life. Yet, honour does not bear the marks of modern liberal morality. Honour does not focus on the universal but the particular, nor does it claim impartiality. Rather, honour is deeply personal and emotional.

For some, the call of honour is like that of the sirens of Greek mythology: causing the illusion of what is good. In reality, pursuing that good causes us to crash on the rocks of family feuds, cycles of violence, and the subjection of women. But is this really the full story? Must a culture of honour result in revenge and injustice? And is modern liberal morality fit to play the role many thinkers wish it to?

In this interview, we’ll be speaking to Tamler Sommers, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Houston and host of the Very Bad Wizards podcast. Tamler is the author of several books, including, Relative Justice, A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain, and – the focus of our interview – Why Honor Matters.

It is time, according to Sommers, for those who are sceptical or separated from the importance of honour to reassess their relationship with it. To do so raises questions of criminal justice, morality, love, friendship, and personal integrity. In short, honour can be a great motivator across almost all areas of human life, says Sommers, and it is time we give it the respect it deserves.

Contents

Part I. Everything is Clear

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Tamler’s website

Tamler Sommers, Why Honour Matters

Tamler Sommers, Relative Justice: Cultural Diversity, Free Will, and Moral Responsibility

Tamler Sommers, A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain

Tamler Sommers, publications

Very bad wizard, podcast

Tamler Sommers, twitter

Episode 115, ‘Intellectual Seemings’ with Laura Gow (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Feb 12, 2023

Our sensory experiences make up the fabric of our worlds. It’s a fabric that keeps us warm; a fabric that makes the world worth living in. If you couldn’t hear the cry of your new-born child, if you couldn’t taste your grandfather’s famous brussels sprouts at Christmas, or feel the embrace of your lifelong partner, then your life wouldn’t just include less experiences, but less meaning. Given the value we place on our sensory experiences, it seems important that we understand the nature of them. What is happening, exactly, when we hear, taste, and feel? What are sensory experiences made of?

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the nature of sensory phenomenology with Dr Laura Gow, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool. Formerly of Warwick University, Cambridge University, and the University of Antwerp, Dr Gow – whose work focuses on the philosophy of perception and the metaphysics of consciousness – is one of the UK’s leading phenomenologists. From hallucinations and colour to empty space and silence, Laura’s research covers a broad range of topics, but in this episode we’ll be focusing on transparency.

According to the transparency view, when we undergo a perceptual experience, the only properties we’re aware of are located externally. There are no perceptual properties, says Gow, inside of us – despite what it may seem.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Everything is Clear

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Laura Gow (website)

Laura Gow, Colour (paper)

Laura Gow, Everything is Clear (paper)

Laura Gow, Empty Space, Silence, and Absence (paper)

Laura Gow, A New Theory of Absence Experience (paper)

Laura Gow, Perceptual Experience and Physicalism (paper)

Laura Gow, The Limitations of Perceptual Transparency (paper)

Episode 115, ‘Intellectual Seemings’ with Laura Gow (Part I - Everything is Clear) Jan 29, 2023

Our sensory experiences make up the fabric of our worlds. It’s a fabric that keeps us warm; a fabric that makes the world worth living in. If you couldn’t hear the cry of your new-born child, if you couldn’t taste your grandfather’s famous brussels sprouts at Christmas, or feel the embrace of your lifelong partner, then your life wouldn’t just include less experiences, but less meaning. Given the value we place on our sensory experiences, it seems important that we understand the nature of them. What is happening, exactly, when we hear, taste, and feel? What are sensory experiences made of?

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the nature of sensory phenomenology with Dr Laura Gow, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool. Formerly of Warwick University, Cambridge University, and the University of Antwerp, Dr Gow – whose work focuses on the philosophy of perception and the metaphysics of consciousness – is one of the UK’s leading phenomenologists. From hallucinations and colour to empty space and silence, Laura’s research covers a broad range of topics, but in this episode we’ll be focusing on transparency.

According to the transparency view, when we undergo a perceptual experience, the only properties we’re aware of are located externally. There are no perceptual properties, says Gow, inside of us – despite what it may seem.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Everything is Clear

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Laura Gow (website)

Laura Gow, Colour (paper)

Laura Gow, Everything is Clear (paper)

Laura Gow, Empty Space, Silence, and Absence (paper)

Laura Gow, A New Theory of Absence Experience (paper)

Laura Gow, Perceptual Experience and Physicalism (paper)

Laura Gow, The Limitations of Perceptual Transparency (paper)

Episode 114, ‘Changing Minds’ with Robin McKenna (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jan 15, 2023

‘630 million threatened by rising seas!’; ‘Study blames climate change for 37% of worldwide heat deaths!’; ‘Fossil fuels must stay underground!’

Despite the headlines and 97% of climate scientists agreeing that human activity is one of the major causes of climate change, just seven in ten Americans believe that climate change is real and only six in ten consider human activity to be a leading cause. As a survey of beliefs, these statistics are concerning. The bigger problem, however, is that they aren’t held in a vacuum, but are formed within and contribute to the functioning of democratic societies.

If we want a genuinely democratic state, how can we establish public policies – informed by our very best science – if a sizable minority of people reject the science? What can be done, descriptively and ethically, to change the minds of those who hold (what experts might consider) unreasonable beliefs?

According to Robin McKenna, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool, these questions demonstrate the role and importance of contemporary epistemology. Drawing from the latest empirical research on how we form beliefs and how and why we change our minds, McKenna argues that we can improve our epistemic situations by creating environments in which we are more likely to form beliefs that align with the science.

To bring about a better world, people must recognise that their beliefs aren’t formed in an ideal and impartial state. To protect democracy and the natural world, says McKenna, we must combat misinformation and political bias through ethical and effective marketing.

Contents

Part I. Communicating Science

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Robin McKenna (website).

Robin McKenna, Persuasion and Intellectual Autonomy (chapter).

Robin McKenna, Persuasion and Epistemic Paternalism (paper).

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Episode 114, ‘Changing Minds’ with Robin McKenna (Part I - Communicating Science) Jan 01, 2023

‘630 million threatened by rising seas!’; ‘Study blames climate change for 37% of worldwide heat deaths!’; ‘Fossil fuels must stay underground!’

Despite the headlines and 97% of climate scientists agreeing that human activity is one of the major causes of climate change, just seven in ten Americans believe that climate change is real and only six in ten consider human activity to be a leading cause. As a survey of beliefs, these statistics are concerning. The bigger problem, however, is that they aren’t held in a vacuum, but are formed within and contribute to the functioning of democratic societies.

If we want a genuinely democratic state, how can we establish public policies – informed by our very best science – if a sizable minority of people reject the science? What can be done, descriptively and ethically, to change the minds of those who hold (what experts might consider) unreasonable beliefs?

According to Robin McKenna, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool, these questions demonstrate the role and importance of contemporary epistemology. Drawing from the latest empirical research on how we form beliefs and how and why we change our minds, McKenna argues that we can improve our epistemic situations by creating environments in which we are more likely to form beliefs that align with the science.

To bring about a better world, people must recognise that their beliefs aren’t formed in an ideal and impartial state. To protect democracy and the natural world, says McKenna, we must combat misinformation and political bias through ethical and effective marketing.

Contents

Part I. Communicating Science

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Robin McKenna (website).

Robin McKenna, Persuasion and Intellectual Autonomy (chapter).

Robin McKenna, Persuasion and Epistemic Paternalism (paper).

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Episode 113, Epicurus and the Art of Happiness (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion) Dec 18, 2022

You’re going to a party, but you don’t care if the other guests will like your dress. You pull onto your drive; you don’t consider what your neighbours will think of your car. You sell books that you’ve written, share photographs that you’ve taken, and post your thoughts on the world to any internet user who will listen – yet, you are unmoved and unmotivated by the popularity of your work.

Imagine if you didn’t have to worry about your career, your fame, or wealth. Imagine if you didn’t have to fret about falling in love or maintaining that love once you’ve found it. Imagine never feeling daunted by the fact you’re going to die, and that something may or may not be waiting for you beyond the grave. If you could free yourself from these anxieties, do you think you would be happy? Well, isn’t happiness the goal of life, after all?

According to the Epicureans, we should answer these questions with a resounding ‘yes’. For his followers, Epicurus worked out exactly how we can achieve this state of happiness and tranquillity, and the good news is that it is within reach for all of us. All we need to do is follow one principle: pursue pleasure and avoid pain. It’s just that simple.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Gaston Luga backpacks. Head over to www.gastonluga.com and get 15% off any purchase with the discount code PANPSYCAST.

Contents

Part I. The Path to Tranquility

Part II. Metaphysics, God, and Death

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Haris Dimitriadis, Epicurus And The Pleasant Life: A Philosophy of Nature

Daniel Klein, Travels with Epicurus: Meditations from a Greek Island on the Pleasures of Old Age

Epicurus and John Strodach, The Art of Happiness

John Sellars, The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness

James Warren, The Cambridge Companion to Epicureanism

Catherine Wilson, Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction

Catherine Wilson, The Pleasure Principle: Epicureanism: A Philosophy for Modern Living

Episode 113, Epicurus and the Art of Happiness (Part II - Metaphysics, God, and Death) Dec 04, 2022

You’re going to a party, but you don’t care if the other guests will like your dress. You pull onto your drive; you don’t consider what your neighbours will think of your car. You sell books that you’ve written, share photographs that you’ve taken, and post your thoughts on the world to any internet user who will listen – yet, you are unmoved and unmotivated by the popularity of your work.

Imagine if you didn’t have to worry about your career, your fame, or wealth. Imagine if you didn’t have to fret about falling in love or maintaining that love once you’ve found it. Imagine never feeling daunted by the fact you’re going to die, and that something may or may not be waiting for you beyond the grave. If you could free yourself from these anxieties, do you think you would be happy? Well, isn’t happiness the goal of life, after all?

According to the Epicureans, we should answer these questions with a resounding ‘yes’. For his followers, Epicurus worked out exactly how we can achieve this state of happiness and tranquillity, and the good news is that it is within reach for all of us. All we need to do is follow one principle: pursue pleasure and avoid pain. It’s just that simple.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Gaston Luga backpacks. Head over to www.gastonluga.com and get 15% off any purchase with the discount code PANPSYCAST.

Contents

Part I. The Path to Tranquility

Part II. Metaphysics, God, and Death

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Haris Dimitriadis, Epicurus And The Pleasant Life: A Philosophy of Nature

Daniel Klein, Travels with Epicurus: Meditations from a Greek Island on the Pleasures of Old Age

Epicurus and John Strodach, The Art of Happiness

John Sellars, The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness

James Warren, The Cambridge Companion to Epicureanism

Catherine Wilson, Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction

Catherine Wilson, The Pleasure Principle: Epicureanism: A Philosophy for Modern Living

Episode 113, Epicurus and the Art of Happiness (Part I - The Path to Tranquility) Nov 20, 2022

You’re going to a party, but you don’t care if the other guests will like your dress. You pull onto your drive; you don’t consider what your neighbours will think of your car. You sell books that you’ve written, share photographs that you’ve taken, and post your thoughts on the world to any internet user who will listen – yet, you are unmoved and unmotivated by the popularity of your work.

Imagine if you didn’t have to worry about your career, your fame, or wealth. Imagine if you didn’t have to fret about falling in love or maintaining that love once you’ve found it. Imagine never feeling daunted by the fact you’re going to die, and that something may or may not be waiting for you beyond the grave. If you could free yourself from these anxieties, do you think you would be happy? Well, isn’t happiness the goal of life, after all?

According to the Epicureans, we should answer these questions with a resounding ‘yes’. For his followers, Epicurus worked out exactly how we can achieve this state of happiness and tranquillity, and the good news is that it is within reach for all of us. All we need to do is follow one principle: pursue pleasure and avoid pain. It’s just that simple.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Gaston Luga backpacks. Head over to www.gastonluga.com and get 15% off any purchase with the discount code PANPSYCAST.

Contents

Part I. The Path to Tranquility

Part II. Metaphysics, God, and Death

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Haris Dimitriadis, Epicurus And The Pleasant Life: A Philosophy of Nature

Daniel Klein, Travels with Epicurus: Meditations from a Greek Island on the Pleasures of Old Age

Epicurus and John Strodach, The Art of Happiness

John Sellars, The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness

James Warren, The Cambridge Companion to Epicureanism

Catherine Wilson, Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction

Catherine Wilson, The Pleasure Principle: Epicureanism: A Philosophy for Modern Living

Episode 112, ‘The Philosophy of Buddhism’ with Jay Garfield (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Nov 06, 2022

A prick of the skin; the sorrow of grief; the inevitability of change; our dependence on the whim of the cosmos. Suffering bleeds into every aspect of our existence and, according to Siddhārtha Gautama (the Buddha), the anguish of our misfortune stems from our ignorance and confusion. If we were to see the world for how it really is – a place of impermanence, interdependence, and emptiness – then, according to Buddhism, we might free ourselves from illusion and discover the path to liberation and enlightenment. Today, this insight is shared by over half a billion people. Yet, most philosophy departments in Europe and America offer no courses in Buddhist philosophy and (within the leading journals) academic papers focusing on the central tenets of Buddhist philosophy of religion are vastly outweighed by their Abrahamic (and predominantly Christian) counterparts.

Professor Jay Garfield, our guest for this episode, is the exception to this rule. Championing the globalisation of philosophy and reshaping perceptions of Buddhist scholarship, Professor Garfield is Chair of Philosophy at Smith College in Massachusetts, Visiting Professor at Harvard Divinity School, Professor at Melbourne University, and adjunct Professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. Named amongst the 50 most influential philosophers of the past decade – with over 30 books and over 200 publications – it is safe to say that Professor Garfield is one of the leading exponents of Buddhist philosophy in contemporary academia.

For Garfield, if philosophy won’t diversify, then let’s call it out for what it is: a colonial discipline that ignores the rich and relevant insights of non-Western thought. As philosophers, we cannot afford to ignore the metaphysical, ethical, epistemological, and existential insights of Buddhist scholarship. It’s time to engage with Buddhism, and rid ourselves of our prejudices, ignorance, and confusion. Buddhism is a philosophy of the present, not a philosophy of the past, and it’s time we treated it that way.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. The Nature of Reality

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Jay Garfield, Personal Website. (Website)

Jay Garfield, Engaging Buddhism. (Book)

Jay Garfield, Practicing without a License. (Essay)

Books by Jay Garfield. (Website)

Episode 112, ‘The Philosophy of Buddhism’ with Jay Garfield (Part I - The Nature of Reality) Oct 23, 2022

A prick of the skin; the sorrow of grief; the inevitability of change; our dependence on the whim of the cosmos. Suffering bleeds into every aspect of our existence and, according to Siddhārtha Gautama (the Buddha), the anguish of our misfortune stems from our ignorance and confusion. If we were to see the world for how it really is – a place of impermanence, interdependence, and emptiness – then, according to Buddhism, we might free ourselves from illusion and discover the path to liberation and enlightenment. Today, this insight is shared by over half a billion people. Yet, most philosophy departments in Europe and America offer no courses in Buddhist philosophy and (within the leading journals) academic papers focusing on the central tenets of Buddhist philosophy of religion are vastly outweighed by their Abrahamic (and predominantly Christian) counterparts.

Professor Jay Garfield, our guest for this episode, is the exception to this rule. Championing the globalisation of philosophy and reshaping perceptions of Buddhist scholarship, Professor Garfield is Chair of Philosophy at Smith College in Massachusetts, Visiting Professor at Harvard Divinity School, Professor at Melbourne University, and adjunct Professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. Named amongst the 50 most influential philosophers of the past decade – with over 30 books and over 200 publications – it is safe to say that Professor Garfield is one of the leading exponents of Buddhist philosophy in contemporary academia.

For Garfield, if philosophy won’t diversify, then let’s call it out for what it is: a colonial discipline that ignores the rich and relevant insights of non-Western thought. As philosophers, we cannot afford to ignore the metaphysical, ethical, epistemological, and existential insights of Buddhist scholarship. It’s time to engage with Buddhism, and rid ourselves of our prejudices, ignorance, and confusion. Buddhism is a philosophy of the present, not a philosophy of the past, and it’s time we treated it that way.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. The Nature of Reality

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Jay Garfield, Personal Website. (Website)

Jay Garfield, Engaging Buddhism. (Book)

Jay Garfield, Practicing without a License. (Essay)

Books by Jay Garfield. (Website)

Episode 111, The Banality of Evil (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion) Oct 09, 2022

Introduction

On April 11, 1961, a Monster was put on trial in the state of Israel and broadcasted to the world. The Monster, who was housed in a glass box, was accused of crimes against humanity and the Jewish people – of knowingly sending hundreds of thousands of people to their deaths. When the trial commenced, and the Monster was asked how he pleaded, he answered, ‘Not guilty, in the sense of the indictment.’

As the trial proceeded, the Monster portrayed himself as a cog in a machine. He was a cog who was helpless to stop the inevitable – a cog that was merely performing its duty. To some who observed the trial, the ‘Monster’ who sat before them appeared all too human. Behind the glass, there was no demonic essence of evil. The Monster was, in fact, an average person: a normal person who was capable of committing terrifyingly evil acts.

One observer went as far as to say that the manner in which the accused spoke, and the way he framed his story, was evidence that he simply lacked the ability to think. To this observer, it was no radical evildoer who sat in the glass box. In fact, his professed motives, and his inability to avoid cliches, were evidence of his banality.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Hannah Arendt

Part II. Eichmann in Jerusalem

Part III. The Essence of Evil

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (Book)

Richard J. Bernstein, Why Read Hannah Arendt Now? (Book)

Anne Heller, Hannah Arendt: A Life in Dark Times (Book)

Eichmann Trial (YouTube)

Episode 111, The Banality of Evil (Part III - The Essence of Evil) Sep 25, 2022

Introduction

On April 11, 1961, a Monster was put on trial in the state of Israel and broadcasted to the world. The Monster, who was housed in a glass box, was accused of crimes against humanity and the Jewish people – of knowingly sending hundreds of thousands of people to their deaths. When the trial commenced, and the Monster was asked how he pleaded, he answered, ‘Not guilty, in the sense of the indictment.’

As the trial proceeded, the Monster portrayed himself as a cog in a machine. He was a cog who was helpless to stop the inevitable – a cog that was merely performing its duty. To some who observed the trial, the ‘Monster’ who sat before them appeared all too human. Behind the glass, there was no demonic essence of evil. The Monster was, in fact, an average person: a normal person who was capable of committing terrifyingly evil acts.

One observer went as far as to say that the manner in which the accused spoke, and the way he framed his story, was evidence that he simply lacked the ability to think. To this observer, it was no radical evildoer who sat in the glass box. In fact, his professed motives, and his inability to avoid cliches, were evidence of his banality.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Hannah Arendt

Part II. Eichmann in Jerusalem

Part III. The Essence of Evil

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (Book)

Richard J. Bernstein, Why Read Hannah Arendt Now? (Book)

Anne Heller, Hannah Arendt: A Life in Dark Times (Book)

Eichmann Trial (YouTube)

Episode 111, The Banality of Evil (Part II - Eichmann in Jerusalem) Sep 11, 2022

Introduction

On April 11, 1961, a Monster was put on trial in the state of Israel and broadcasted to the world. The Monster, who was housed in a glass box, was accused of crimes against humanity and the Jewish people – of knowingly sending hundreds of thousands of people to their deaths. When the trial commenced, and the Monster was asked how he pleaded, he answered, ‘Not guilty, in the sense of the indictment.’

As the trial proceeded, the Monster portrayed himself as a cog in a machine. He was a cog who was helpless to stop the inevitable – a cog that was merely performing its duty. To some who observed the trial, the ‘Monster’ who sat before them appeared all too human. Behind the glass, there was no demonic essence of evil. The Monster was, in fact, an average person: a normal person who was capable of committing terrifyingly evil acts.

One observer went as far as to say that the manner in which the accused spoke, and the way he framed his story, was evidence that he simply lacked the ability to think. To this observer, it was no radical evildoer who sat in the glass box. In fact, his professed motives, and his inability to avoid cliches, were evidence of his banality.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Hannah Arendt

Part II. Eichmann in Jerusalem

Part III. The Essence of Evil

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (Book)

Richard J. Bernstein, Why Read Hannah Arendt Now? (Book)

Anne Heller, Hannah Arendt: A Life in Dark Times (Book)

Eichmann Trial (YouTube)

Episode 111, The Banality of Evil (Part I - The Life of Hannah Arendt) Aug 28, 2022

Introduction

On April 11, 1961, a Monster was put on trial in the state of Israel and broadcasted to the world. The Monster, who was housed in a glass box, was accused of crimes against humanity and the Jewish people – of knowingly sending hundreds of thousands of people to their deaths. When the trial commenced, and the Monster was asked how he pleaded, he answered, ‘Not guilty, in the sense of the indictment.’

As the trial proceeded, the Monster portrayed himself as a cog in a machine. He was a cog who was helpless to stop the inevitable – a cog that was merely performing its duty. To some who observed the trial, the ‘Monster’ who sat before them appeared all too human. Behind the glass, there was no demonic essence of evil. The Monster was, in fact, an average person: a normal person who was capable of committing terrifyingly evil acts.

One observer went as far as to say that the manner in which the accused spoke, and the way he framed his story, was evidence that he simply lacked the ability to think. To this observer, it was no radical evildoer who sat in the glass box. In fact, his professed motives, and his inability to avoid cliches, were evidence of his banality.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Hannah Arendt

Part II. Eichmann in Jerusalem

Part III. The Essence of Evil

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (Book)

Richard J. Bernstein, Why Read Hannah Arendt Now? (Book)

Anne Heller, Hannah Arendt: A Life in Dark Times (Book)

Mohammad Saleh Zarepour (website).

Eichmann Trial (YouTube)

Episode 110, ‘The Philosophy of Islam’ with Mohammad Saleh Zarepour (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Aug 14, 2022

Introduction

“How did the universe come into existence?” It’s a question that most of the world’s religions seek to answer. According to the Abrahamic faiths, the world can only exist with the existence of a being who was not caused by something other than itself – and this they call ‘Yahweh’, ‘Allāh’, or ‘God’. Philosophical arguments to this end come in many forms, one of which – from the medieval Islamic philosopher Ibn Sina (known in the West as ‘Avicenna’) – claims that we can prove the existence of this necessary being with absolute certainty. If something canexist there must be an uncaused being, and from this concept alone, Avicenna says that we can deduce every other property that Muslims attribute to Allāh.

In this interview, we’ll be discussing Avicenna and the philosophy of Islam with Dr Mohammad Saleh Zarepour. Currently Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Manchester, Dr Zarepour completed his first PhD at the Tarbiat Modares University in Iran and his second PhD at the University of Cambridge. Publishing extensively in philosophy of religion – and having worked on major initiatives such as the Global Philosophy of Religion Project – it is safe to say that Saleh is one of the world’s leading experts in Islamic philosophy.

Islam claims to solve the problem of existence, but its implications extend far beyond the origin of the cosmos. Allāh is a being invested in his creation – a being that will judge, reward, or punish us for our good and bad deeds, who permits us to live and to suffer – and differs from the God of Judaism and Christianity in his nature and actions. Thus, we should ask not only whether belief in Allāh’s necessity is reasonable, but whether the beliefs of Muslims are more (or less) reasonable than those of their Abrahamic cousins.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Allāh

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Mohammad Saleh Zarepour, Necessary Existence and Monotheism (book).

Zain Ali, ‘Some Reflections on William Lane Craig’s Critique of Islam’ (paper).

Episode 110, ‘The Philosophy of Islam’ with Mohammad Saleh Zarepour (Part I - Allāh) Jul 31, 2022

Introduction

“How did the universe come into existence?” It’s a question that most of the world’s religions seek to answer. According to the Abrahamic faiths, the world can only exist with the existence of a being who was not caused by something other than itself – and this they call ‘Yahweh’, ‘Allāh’, or ‘God’. Philosophical arguments to this end come in many forms, one of which – from the medieval Islamic philosopher Ibn Sina (known in the West as ‘Avicenna’) – claims that we can prove the existence of this necessary being with absolute certainty. If something canexist there must be an uncaused being, and from this concept alone, Avicenna says that we can deduce every other property that Muslims attribute to Allāh.

In this interview, we’ll be discussing Avicenna and the philosophy of Islam with Dr Mohammad Saleh Zarepour. Currently Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Manchester, Dr Zarepour completed his first PhD at the Tarbiat Modares University in Iran and his second PhD at the University of Cambridge. Publishing extensively in philosophy of religion – and having worked on major initiatives such as the Global Philosophy of Religion Project – it is safe to say that Saleh is one of the world’s leading experts in Islamic philosophy.

Islam claims to solve the problem of existence, but its implications extend far beyond the origin of the cosmos. Allāh is a being invested in his creation – a being that will judge, reward, or punish us for our good and bad deeds, who permits us to live and to suffer – and differs from the God of Judaism and Christianity in his nature and actions. Thus, we should ask not only whether belief in Allāh’s necessity is reasonable, but whether the beliefs of Muslims are more (or less) reasonable than those of their Abrahamic cousins.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Allāh

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Mohammad Saleh Zarepour (website).

Mohammad Saleh Zarepour, Necessary Existence and Monotheism (book).

Zain Ali, ‘Some Reflections on William Lane Craig’s Critique of Islam’ (paper).

Episode 109, The Mystery of Consciousness (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jul 17, 2022

In this episode, you’ll be treated to a live performance of The Panpsycast. The event took place at Liverpool’s beautiful Tung Auditorium on 20th May 2022. Over three hundred of you purchased tickets to the event, with some of our most loyal patrons travelling thousands of miles to be with us in person.

Before you listen to the audio, we just wanted to say a huge thank you to those who came along, as well as all of our wonderful panellists – Rowan Williams, Anil Seth, Laura Gow, and Philip Goff – for participating in the debate.

A special thank you to Q Quartet, The Department of Philosophy at Liverpool University, and Premier Christian Radio for making this episode possible – as well as all of our incredible patrons. Thank you again for your support; we hope you enjoy the show.

Contents

Part I. The Debate

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Department of Philosophy, University of Liverpool

Unbelievable? Premier Radio

Episode 109, The Mystery of Consciousness (Part I - The Debate) Jul 03, 2022

In this episode, you’ll be treated to a live performance of The Panpsycast. The event took place at Liverpool’s beautiful Tung Auditorium on 20th May 2022. Over three hundred of you purchased tickets to the event, with some of our most loyal patrons travelling thousands of miles to be with us in person.

Before you listen to the audio, we just wanted to say a huge thank you to those who came along, as well as all of our wonderful panellists – Rowan Williams, Anil Seth, Laura Gow, and Philip Goff – for participating in the debate.

A special thank you to Q Quartet, The Department of Philosophy at Liverpool University, and Premier Christian Radio for making this episode possible – as well as all of our incredible patrons. Thank you again for your support; we hope you enjoy the show.

Contents

Part I. The Debate

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Department of Philosophy, University of Liverpool

Unbelievable? Premier Radio

Episode 108, The Richard Dawkins Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jun 19, 2022

Introduction

The flight of a hummingbird, the sprint of a cheetah, the breath of a whale, a daisy turning towards the sunlight. Given the complexity of the natural world, we can understand why – before the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species – people believed that the universe was the work of an intelligent designer. These days, however – although creationism continues to be defended by religious fundamentalists – the scientific consensus is that the world’s organisms evolved through the long and arduous process of natural selection. ‘With a complete physical explanation,’ say the new atheists, ‘there’s no need to appeal to the supernatural.’

In this interview, we’ll be discussing atheism with Professor Richard Dawkins. It’s no exaggeration to say that Richard Dawkins is one of the most influential scientists, and the most famous atheist, of all time. Alongside his invaluable contributions to evolutionary biology, his books – including The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, and The God Delusion – have a readership in the tens of millions, resulting in numerous prestigious awards and recognition as ‘the world’s top thinker’.

‘Although atheism might have been logically tenable before Darwin’, says Dawkins, ‘Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.’ It is time we seized that possibility: that we embrace the godless universe, craft our own meaning, and stop suffering fools gladly.

Contents

Part I. Why I'm an Atheist

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene.

Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker.

Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion.

Richard Dawkins, Outgrowing God.

Richard Dawkins, Flights of Fancy.

www.richarddawkins.com

www.richarddawkins.net

Episode 108, The Richard Dawkins Interview (Part I - Why I’m an Atheist) Jun 05, 2022

Introduction

The flight of a hummingbird, the sprint of a cheetah, the breath of a whale, a daisy turning towards the sunlight. Given the complexity of the natural world, we can understand why – before the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species – people believed that the universe was the work of an intelligent designer. These days, however – although creationism continues to be defended by religious fundamentalists – the scientific consensus is that the world’s organisms evolved through the long and arduous process of natural selection. ‘With a complete physical explanation,’ say the new atheists, ‘there’s no need to appeal to the supernatural.’

In this interview, we’ll be discussing atheism with Professor Richard Dawkins. It’s no exaggeration to say that Richard Dawkins is one of the most influential scientists, and the most famous atheist, of all time. Alongside his invaluable contributions to evolutionary biology, his books – including The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, and The God Delusion – have a readership in the tens of millions, resulting in numerous prestigious awards and recognition as ‘the world’s top thinker’.

‘Although atheism might have been logically tenable before Darwin’, says Dawkins, ‘Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.’ It is time we seized that possibility: that we embrace the godless universe, craft our own meaning, and stop suffering fools gladly.

Contents

Part I. Why I'm an Atheist

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene.

Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker.

Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion.

Richard Dawkins, Outgrowing God.

Richard Dawkins, Flights of Fancy.

www.richarddawkins.com

www.richarddawkins.net

Episode 107, ‘The Ethics of Art’ with Daisy Dixon (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) May 22, 2022

Introduction

Art is created by people, but people are fallible. When the art we love is tainted by the brush of an artist’s biography, we must ask whether the shift in our aesthetic experience is reasonable. One might also wonder whether artworks can do wrong in and of themselves. If artworks can be intended as conveyers of truth, can they convey falsehoods or – more awkwardly – lies? These aren’t just conceptual problems. If artworks lie and immoral artists are inseparable from their artworks, how should we respond? Should we censor all art, some art, or no art at all?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the ethics of art with Cambridge University’s Dr Daisy Dixon. Dixon’s work, which explores the nature of (and responses to) unethical art, invites us to place art within its context – to consider artworks in relation to their artists, truth-functionality in relation to an artwork’s surroundings, and dangerous artworks in relation to their curation. If we do so, says Dixon, we’ll not only gain a better understanding of art but how we can bring about a better world.

Contents

Part I. Time

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Daisy Dixon, Website.

Daisy Dixon, University Profile.

Daisy Dixon, Conflicted art: how to approach works by morally bad artists.

Daisy Dixon, Lies in Art.

Daisy Dixon, Should we censor art?: a philosophical guide on how to manage dangerous art.

Episode 107, ‘The Ethics of Art’ with Daisy Dixon (Part I - Immoral Art) May 08, 2022

Introduction

Art is created by people, but people are fallible. When the art we love is tainted by the brush of an artist’s biography, we must ask whether the shift in our aesthetic experience is reasonable. One might also wonder whether artworks can do wrong in and of themselves. If artworks can be intended as conveyers of truth, can they convey falsehoods or – more awkwardly – lies? These aren’t just conceptual problems. If artworks lie and immoral artists are inseparable from their artworks, how should we respond? Should we censor all art, some art, or no art at all?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the ethics of art with Cambridge University’s Dr Daisy Dixon. Dixon’s work, which explores the nature of (and responses to) unethical art, invites us to place art within its context – to consider artworks in relation to their artists, truth-functionality in relation to an artwork’s surroundings, and dangerous artworks in relation to their curation. If we do so, says Dixon, we’ll not only gain a better understanding of art but how we can bring about a better world.

Contents

Part I. Time

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Daisy Dixon, Website.

Daisy Dixon, University Profile.

Daisy Dixon, Conflicted art: how to approach works by morally bad artists.

Daisy Dixon, Lies in Art.

Daisy Dixon, Should we censor art?: a philosophical guide on how to manage dangerous art.

Episode 106, Four Thousand Weeks (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion) Apr 24, 2022

Introduction

Enjoying a holiday in a small coastal village, a New York banker finds herself walking along a tranquil pier when she comes across a fisherman in a small, wooden boat. Inside the boat she spotted several rainbow-coloured fish. ‘Congratulations on a fine score. How long did it take you to catch them?’

‘Only a little while,’ the fisherman replied. ‘That’s great,’ said the banker, ‘so, why don’t you stay out longer and catch a few more?’ The fisherman explained that he only caught what he needed to put fish on the table and a roof over his family’s heads. ‘But’, the puzzled banker enquired, ‘what do you do with the rest of your time?’ The fisherman smiled: ‘I sleep in late, I read books, I go dancing with my wife, and I write jokes about Adam Sandler.’

The banker scoffed, ‘You know, I could offer you my assistance with your fishing business.’ The fisherman raised his eyebrows. ‘If you spent more time fishing, you could sell more fish and buy a bigger boat. You’d catch more fish, buy more boats, and soon enough you could buy a fleet! Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, and eventually open a cannery.’ The fisherman paused for a moment… ‘Right, but how long will this all take?’ The banker replied: ‘Ten to fifteen years?’

‘But what then?’ asked the fisherman. The banker looked confused, ‘Then you could enjoy some time off: sleep in late, read books, go dancing with your wife, and write jokes about Adam Sandler.’

The fisherman smiled, ‘I suggest you stick around for a while. Have you been fishing before? Ha! Why don’t you climb aboard?’

Contents

Part I. Time

Part II. How to Use It

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks.

Bertrand Russell, In Praise of Idleness.

Seneca, On the Shortness of Life.

Episode 106, Four Thousand Weeks (Part II - How to Use It) Apr 10, 2022

Introduction

Enjoying a holiday in a small coastal village, a New York banker finds herself walking along a tranquil pier when she comes across a fisherman in a small, wooden boat. Inside the boat she spotted several rainbow-coloured fish. ‘Congratulations on a fine score. How long did it take you to catch them?’

‘Only a little while,’ the fisherman replied. ‘That’s great,’ said the banker, ‘so, why don’t you stay out longer and catch a few more?’ The fisherman explained that he only caught what he needed to put fish on the table and a roof over his family’s heads. ‘But’, the puzzled banker enquired, ‘what do you do with the rest of your time?’ The fisherman smiled: ‘I sleep in late, I read books, I go dancing with my wife, and I write jokes about Adam Sandler.’

The banker scoffed, ‘You know, I could offer you my assistance with your fishing business.’ The fisherman raised his eyebrows. ‘If you spent more time fishing, you could sell more fish and buy a bigger boat. You’d catch more fish, buy more boats, and soon enough you could buy a fleet! Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, and eventually open a cannery.’ The fisherman paused for a moment… ‘Right, but how long will this all take?’ The banker replied: ‘Ten to fifteen years?’

‘But what then?’ asked the fisherman. The banker looked confused, ‘Then you could enjoy some time off: sleep in late, read books, go dancing with your wife, and write jokes about Adam Sandler.’

The fisherman smiled, ‘I suggest you stick around for a while. Have you been fishing before? Ha! Why don’t you climb aboard?’

Contents

Part I. Time

Part II. How to Use It

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks.

Bertrand Russell, In Praise of Idleness.

Seneca, On the Shortness of Life.

Episode 106, Four Thousand Weeks (Part I - Time) Mar 27, 2022

Introduction

Enjoying a holiday in a small coastal village, a New York banker finds herself walking along a tranquil pier when she comes across a fisherman in a small, wooden boat. Inside the boat she spotted several rainbow-coloured fish. ‘Congratulations on a fine score. How long did it take you to catch them?’

‘Only a little while,’ the fisherman replied. ‘That’s great,’ said the banker, ‘so, why don’t you stay out longer and catch a few more?’ The fisherman explained that he only caught what he needed to put fish on the table and a roof over his family’s heads. ‘But’, the puzzled banker enquired, ‘what do you do with the rest of your time?’ The fisherman smiled: ‘I sleep in late, I read books, I go dancing with my wife, and I write jokes about Adam Sandler.’

The banker scoffed, ‘You know, I could offer you my assistance with your fishing business.’ The fisherman raised his eyebrows. ‘If you spent more time fishing, you could sell more fish and buy a bigger boat. You’d catch more fish, buy more boats, and soon enough you could buy a fleet! Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, and eventually open a cannery.’ The fisherman paused for a moment… ‘Right, but how long will this all take?’ The banker replied: ‘Ten to fifteen years?’

‘But what then?’ asked the fisherman. The banker looked confused, ‘Then you could enjoy some time off: sleep in late, read books, go dancing with your wife, and write jokes about Adam Sandler.’

The fisherman smiled, ‘I suggest you stick around for a while. Have you been fishing before? Ha! Why don’t you climb aboard?’

Contents

Part I. Time

Part II. How to Use It

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks.

Bertrand Russell, In Praise of Idleness.

Seneca, On the Shortness of Life.

Episode 105, ‘Animals in Transhumanism’ with Michael Hauskeller (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Mar 13, 2022

Welcome to ‘Episode 105 (Part II of II)’, in which we’ll be analysing Hauskeller’s argument against transhumanist approaches to animals.

We are all prisoners of our biology. Whether humans (and our non-human cousins) have the capacity to think, feel, or fly is dictated by their DNA, long before they have a say in the matter. It’s a living lottery that has lifted human beings to lofty heights; that is, above the world’s lowly, lesser creatures. With the emergence of new technologies, the age of the transhumanists is upon us: philosophers and scientists who believe that the lottery should be rigged towards self-design and the elimination of suffering. We have a moral imperative, say the transhumanists, to engineer a world that is better for everybody: to seek out technological solutions to ethical problems, not just for ourselves but the rest of the animal kingdom. After all, the question is not, ‘can they reason?’ – nor ‘can they talk?’ – but ‘can they suffer?’

In this episode, we’ll be discussing animals in transhumanism with Professor of Philosophy and Head of Department at the University of Liverpool, Michael Hauskeller. With over two hundred publications – across a vast range of philosophical questions – in both academic and public philosophy, Professor Hauskeller is, undoubtedly, one of the world’s most prominent philosophers. For Hauskeller, philosophy helps us navigate ourselves towards a better tomorrow: through philosophy, we can discover what kind of people we want to be, in what kind of world we want to live, and how we should steer the futures of our fellow creatures.

Our question for today: should we take pity on the world’s poor brutes – those who live such lowly lives – and lift them up to our own lofty heights? Or should we leave them to dance the muddy dance of life?

Contents

Part I. How to Become a Post-Dog

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Michael Hauskeller, Academia Profile.

Michael Hauskeller, How to Become a Post-Dog: Animals in Transhumanism (paper)

Michael Hauskeller, Living Like a Dog: Can the Life of Non-Human Animals Be Meaningful? (paper)

Michael Hauskeller, University Profile.

Nick Bostrom, Golden Retriever – Live on Larry King! (paper)

Episode 105, ‘Animals in Transhumanism’ with Michael Hauskeller (Part I - How to Become a Post-Dog) Feb 27, 2022

Welcome to ‘Episode 105 (Part I of II)’, in which we’ll be discussing animals in transhumanism with Michael Hauskeller.

We are all prisoners of our biology. Whether humans (and our non-human cousins) have the capacity to think, feel, or fly is dictated by their DNA, long before they have a say in the matter. It’s a living lottery that has lifted human beings to lofty heights; that is, above the world’s lowly, lesser creatures. With the emergence of new technologies, the age of the transhumanists is upon us: philosophers and scientists who believe that the lottery should be rigged towards self-design and the elimination of suffering. We have a moral imperative, say the transhumanists, to engineer a world that is better for everybody: to seek out technological solutions to ethical problems, not just for ourselves but the rest of the animal kingdom. After all, the question is not, ‘can they reason?’ – nor ‘can they talk?’ – but ‘can they suffer?’

In this episode, we’ll be discussing animals in transhumanism with Professor of Philosophy and Head of Department at the University of Liverpool, Michael Hauskeller. With over two hundred publications – across a vast range of philosophical questions – in both academic and public philosophy, Professor Hauskeller is, undoubtedly, one of the world’s most prominent philosophers. For Hauskeller, philosophy helps us navigate ourselves towards a better tomorrow: through philosophy, we can discover what kind of people we want to be, in what kind of world we want to live, and how we should steer the futures of our fellow creatures.

Our question for today: should we take pity on the world’s poor brutes – those who live such lowly lives – and lift them up to our own lofty heights? Or should we leave them to dance the muddy dance of life?

Contents

Part I. How to Become a Post-Dog

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Michael Hauskeller, Academia Profile.

Michael Hauskeller, How to Become a Post-Dog: Animals in Transhumanism (paper)

Michael Hauskeller, Living Like a Dog: Can the Life of Non-Human Animals Be Meaningful? (paper)

Michael Hauskeller, University Profile.

Nick Bostrom, Golden Retriever – Live on Larry King! (paper)

Episode 104, ‘Art and the Future’ with Vid Simoniti (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Feb 13, 2022

Introduction

If we want to improve our public discourse, we must aim to be as objective as possible. When we raise our consciousness and work towards clearing our minds of personal interests, political affiliations, and the sophistry of art, we grow closer to rationality and knowledge. Art, on the other hand, is nothing more than the overly excited offspring of objectivity: films, paintings, music, and dance contribute nothing unique to our understanding of the world. At worst, art muddies the waters of our discourse; at best, it merely reflects the insights of political philosophy and science.

Opposing this view – and championing the cognitive advantages of artworks as political discourse – is Dr Vid Simoniti, Lecturer in Philosophy of Art at the University of Liverpool. As well as being a rising star in the worlds of academic philosophy and art history, Dr Simoniti’s work as a BBC New Generation Thinker – and his collaborations with public-facing projects such as the Liverpool bi-annual – is bringing conversations about art and philosophy into the public square.

When we enjoy a play at the theatre, rock our heads to a song on the radio, or wiggle the joysticks on our PlayStation controllers: does it leave us more attuned to how the world is? For Simoniti, in the context of art as political discourse, the answer is unequivocally ‘yes’.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Public Health

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Vid Simoniti, Website.

Vid Simoniti, Art Against the World (Podcast).

Vid Simoniti, ‘Art as Political Discourse’ (Paper).

Episode 104, ‘Art and the Future’ with Vid Simoniti (Part I - Art as Political Discourse) Jan 30, 2022

Introduction

If we want to improve our public discourse, we must aim to be as objective as possible. When we raise our consciousness and work towards clearing our minds of personal interests, political affiliations, and the sophistry of art, we grow closer to rationality and knowledge. Art, on the other hand, is nothing more than the overly excited offspring of objectivity: films, paintings, music, and dance contribute nothing unique to our understanding of the world. At worst, art muddies the waters of our discourse; at best, it merely reflects the insights of political philosophy and science.

Opposing this view – and championing the cognitive advantages of artworks as political discourse – is Dr Vid Simoniti, Lecturer in Philosophy of Art at the University of Liverpool. As well as being a rising star in the worlds of academic philosophy and art history, Dr Simoniti’s work as a BBC New Generation Thinker – and his collaborations with public-facing projects such as the Liverpool bi-annual – is bringing conversations about art and philosophy into the public square.

When we enjoy a play at the theatre, rock our heads to a song on the radio, or wiggle the joysticks on our PlayStation controllers: does it leave us more attuned to how the world is? For Simoniti, in the context of art as political discourse, the answer is unequivocally ‘yes’.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Public Health

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Vid Simoniti, Website.

Vid Simoniti, Art Against the World (Podcast).

Vid Simoniti, ‘Art as Political Discourse’ (Paper).

Episode 103, 'Nudges' with Thomas Schramme (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jan 16, 2022

Introduction

Given the choice, who wouldn’t increase the balance in their bank account, switch into a fit and healthy body, find themselves in a meaningful career, and cultivate happiness and love in their relationships? These are preferences we all share, but few of us achieve them. Perhaps we could, if only we made better choices. We all want to make better decisions – the salad over the burger, the restful night’s sleep over ‘one more episode’ – yet we continue to succumb to our desires. Perhaps we need some help: maybe we need something to nudge us in the right direction?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the philosophy of nudges with Professor Thomas Schramme. Chair of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool, Thomas’s research focuses on moral and political philosophy and the philosophy of health and medicine. With over one hundred publications and heading several innovative projects – including ‘How Does it Feel? Interpersonal Understanding and Affective Empathy’ – Professor Schramme is not only an expert in his field but always communicates his ideas through accessible and engaging prose.

As we’ll find in this interview, Schramme challenges some of the most prominent ideas in contemporary politics and psychology. According to Daniel Kehneman, nudges ‘have changed the world’… but, asks Schramme, do they always change it for the better?

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Public Health

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Schramme, University Profile.

Thomas Schramme, Publications.

Thomas Schramme, Free-riders, collective benefit and the philosophy of mandatory vaccination.

Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, The Final Edition.

Episode 103, 'Nudges' with Thomas Schramme (Part I - Public Health) Jan 02, 2022

Introduction

Given the choice, who wouldn’t increase the balance in their bank account, switch into a fit and healthy body, find themselves in a meaningful career, and cultivate happiness and love in their relationships? These are preferences we all share, but few of us achieve them. Perhaps we could, if only we made better choices. We all want to make better decisions – the salad over the burger, the restful night’s sleep over ‘one more episode’ – yet we continue to succumb to our desires. Perhaps we need some help: maybe we need something to nudge us in the right direction?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the philosophy of nudges with Professor Thomas Schramme. Chair of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool, Thomas’s research focuses on moral and political philosophy and the philosophy of health and medicine. With over one hundred publications and heading several innovative projects – including ‘How Does it Feel? Interpersonal Understanding and Affective Empathy’ – Professor Schramme is not only an expert in his field but always communicates his ideas through accessible and engaging prose.

As we’ll find in this interview, Schramme challenges some of the most prominent ideas in contemporary politics and psychology. According to Daniel Kehneman, nudges ‘have changed the world’… but, asks Schramme, do they always change it for the better?

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Public Health

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Schramme, University Profile.

Thomas Schramme, Publications.

Thomas Schramme, Free-riders, collective benefit and the philosophy of mandatory vaccination.

Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, The Final Edition.

Episode 102, The Richard Swinburne Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Dec 19, 2021

The existence of God is the most discussed, and perhaps the most important, question in philosophy. For the majority of the world’s population, God provides meaning, morality, metaphysics, and hopefully, salvation.

A rich history of scholarship defending God’s existence has meant theism has long been considered to be a reasonable worldview; however, with the rise of secularism and the new atheist movement, a fiery and passionate debate has ensued: one of science vs. religion. Our question: can the two be reconciled?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing God’s existence with one of contemporary philosophy’s most influential thinkers, Professor Richard Swinburne. Best known for his great trilogy of books – The Coherence of Theism, The Existence of God, and Faith and Reason – Professor Swinburne’s impact on philosophy of religion has been enormous... from high school classrooms to university halls, every teacher knows his name and every student must wrestle with his work.

According to Swinburne, theism is the friend – and not the enemy – of science; for God ‘explains everything that we observe’, from the universe’s existence and the scientific laws which operate within it, to its extraordinary miracles and conscious creatures. ‘If we want a complete explanation of the universe’, says Swinburne, ‘then science needs God.’

Contents

Part I. Is there a God?

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Existence of God, Richard Swinburne (book).

Is There a God?, Richard Swinburne (book).

More books by Richard Swinburne.

Episode 102, The Richard Swinburne Interview (Part I - Is there a God?) Dec 05, 2021

The existence of God is the most discussed, and perhaps the most important, question in philosophy. For the majority of the world’s population, God provides meaning, morality, metaphysics, and hopefully, salvation.

A rich history of scholarship defending God’s existence has meant theism has long been considered to be a reasonable worldview; however, with the rise of secularism and the new atheist movement, a fiery and passionate debate has ensued: one of science vs. religion. Our question: can the two be reconciled?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing God’s existence with one of contemporary philosophy’s most influential thinkers, Professor Richard Swinburne. Best known for his great trilogy of books – The Coherence of Theism, The Existence of God, and Faith and Reason – Professor Swinburne’s impact on philosophy of religion has been enormous... from high school classrooms to university halls, every teacher knows his name and every student must wrestle with his work.

According to Swinburne, theism is the friend – and not the enemy – of science; for God ‘explains everything that we observe’, from the universe’s existence and the scientific laws which operate within it, to its extraordinary miracles and conscious creatures. ‘If we want a complete explanation of the universe’, says Swinburne, ‘then science needs God.’

Contents

Part I. Is there a God?

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Existence of God, Richard Swinburne (book).

Is There a God?, Richard Swinburne (book).

More books by Richard Swinburne.

Episode 101, Talking about the Mind (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Nov 21, 2021

Imagine the smile on your parent’s face as you rush to meet them at the school gates, the soft heat of the sand between your toes on a first holiday, waking up in the haze of a late afternoon after dancing all night, the drop in your stomach when you realize you’ll never hear their voice again. These are conscious experiences. Without them, what is there to life? In this sense, we all know what consciousness is – there’s nothing we know more intimately – yet it remains one of life’s greatest mysteries. Despite the incredible advances made in physical science, it doesn’t seem like we’re any closer to an explanation of where consciousness comes from. How is it, exactly, that the brain’s 86 billion neurons give rise to conscious experience? As we’ll see, our answer to this question will not only shape our understanding of the human mind, but the fabric of reality itself. – Extract from Philosophers on Consciousness

Episode 101, Talking about the Mind (Part I - The Fabric of Reality) Nov 07, 2021

Introduction

Imagine the smile on your parent’s face as you rush to meet them at the school gates, the soft heat of the sand between your toes on a first holiday, waking up in the haze of a late afternoon after dancing all night, the drop in your stomach when you realize you’ll never hear their voice again. These are conscious experiences. Without them, what is there to life? In this sense, we all know what consciousness is – there’s nothing we know more intimately – yet it remains one of life’s greatest mysteries. Despite the incredible advances made in physical science, it doesn’t seem like we’re any closer to an explanation of where consciousness comes from. How is it, exactly, that the brain’s 86 billion neurons give rise to conscious experience? As we’ll see, our answer to this question will not only shape our understanding of the human mind, but the fabric of reality itself. – Extract from Philosophers on Consciousness

Contents

Part I. The Fabric of Reality

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philosophers on Consciousness: Talking about the Mind (Bloomsbury; Jack Symes).

Episode X, The Cave Jul 25, 2021

The Panpsycast is now five years old. In which time, we have never failed to release a weekly instalment of the show. We’re exceptionally proud of what we’ve accomplished with your support. From our audiobook and upcoming book series to our big interviews and collaborations with leading organisations – it’s incredible that so many of you tune in week in, week out and support us on Patreon.

Producing the podcast takes a lot of work, and every project has its peaks and valleys. The beginning of the pandemic marked a difficult time for us behind the scenes, and we’ve reached a point where we need to take a short step back.

So, The Panpsycast will be taking a break; set to return on November 7th, 2021.

Throughout our hiatus, we’ll be pausing all Patreon payments. So, for August, September, and October, you won’t be charged anything if you’ve already pledged your support. We hope that you’ll stick around so we can keep producing the show when we return, and we’re incredibly grateful for your patience and understanding.

If you’re missing us over the next three months, we’ve got over 250 instalments of the show in our back-catalogue, a 24-chapter Christianity audiobook on our website, and absolutely loads of bonus content over on our Patreon – including heaps of After Shows and insider interviews. If you’ve already been through our content… then, wow! You should really check out Philosophy Bites… just kidding. We’re incredibly grateful for your support and hope the content we’ve released will inspire you to hit the book shops whilst we’re away.

We know how much the show means to so many of you, and we haven’t taken this decision lightly. Producing the show means so much to all of us, and we can’t wait to get back.

We’ll see you back here on November 7th, 2021.

___

‘The Cave’, written and performed by Andrew Horton.

Episode 100, Plato's Cave (Part II - Souls) Jul 18, 2021

A philosophical education can feel like a long and arduous path. Sometimes you think you have seen the light; you think that you have knowledge, only to discover you knew nothing. It is times like this where the learner must examine their blind spots and begin their path to understanding once again while accepting that the next attempt might too end where it began.

The philosopher Plato likened this path to the ascent from a dark cave up into the light of the sun. He also said that those who have seen the illuminated world above have a responsibility to go back to show others the way. Today we go back, not because we have seen the sun, but because we have travelled the path enough to know we can do a little better than we did before. The blind leading the blind? Perhaps, but we might stumble into something interesting along the way.

With special thanks to the following creators for their sound samples.

InspectorJ, InspectorJ(2), InspectorJ(3), InspectorJ(4), straget, jameswrowles, JG_Booysen, ethang, womb_affliction, bennychico11, HerbertBoland, ShadyDave, and 3bagbrew.

Contents

Part I. Forms

Part II. Souls

Links

Plato, The Republic (Online).

Plato, The Republic (Book).

Episode 100, Plato's Cave (Part I - Forms) Jul 11, 2021

A philosophical education can feel like a long and arduous path. Sometimes you think you have seen the light; you think that you have knowledge, only to discover you knew nothing. It is times like this where the learner must examine their blind spots and begin their path to understanding once again while accepting that the next attempt might too end where it began.

The philosopher Plato likened this path to the ascent from a dark cave up into the light of the sun. He also said that those who have seen the illuminated world above have a responsibility to go back to show others the way. Today we go back, not because we have seen the sun, but because we have travelled the path enough to know we can do a little better than we did before. The blind leading the blind? Perhaps, but we might stumble into something interesting along the way.

With special thanks to the following creators for their sound samples.

InspectorJ, InspectorJ(2), InspectorJ(3), InspectorJ(4), straget, jameswrowles, JG_Booysen, ethang, womb_affliction, bennychico11, HerbertBoland, ShadyDave, and 3bagbrew.

Contents

Part I. Forms

Part II. Souls

Links

Plato, The Republic (Online).

Plato, The Republic (Book).

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jul 04, 2021

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part III - Mere Instruments) Jun 27, 2021

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part II - Fellow Creatures) Jun 20, 2021

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part I - History) Jun 13, 2021

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

William Lane Craig, Popular Books.

Episode 98, The William Lane Craig Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jun 06, 2021

Introduction

Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable?

Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig’s work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world’s most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, ‘It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.’

Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return.

Global Philosophy of Religion

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Reasonable Faith

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

William Lane Craig, Academic Books.

_

Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig (website).

Reasonable Faith (Facebook).

Reasonable Faith (Twitter).

_

‘William Lane Craig and A. C. Grayling Debate on God & Evil’.

Episode 98, The William Lane Craig Interview (Part I - Reasonable Faith) May 30, 2021

Introduction

Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable?

Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig’s work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world’s most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, ‘It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.’

Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return.

Global Philosophy of Religion

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Reasonable Faith

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

William Lane Craig, Popular Books.

William Lane Craig, Academic Books.

_

Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig (website).

Reasonable Faith (Facebook).

Reasonable Faith (Twitter).

_

‘William Lane Craig and A. C. Grayling Debate on God & Evil’.

Episode 97, ‘Lessons from Lockdown’ with Vittorio Bufacchi (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) May 23, 2021

Introduction

Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we’ve longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We’ve hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they?

What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change.

Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi’s work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most.

Contents

Part I. The Pandemic

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Website.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Twitter.

Episode 97, ‘Lessons from Lockdown’ with Vittorio Bufacchi (Part I - The Pandemic) May 16, 2021

Introduction

Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we’ve longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We’ve hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they?

What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change.

Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi’s work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most.

Contents

Part I. The Pandemic

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Website.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Twitter.

Episode 96, Pride and Anger (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion) May 09, 2021

Introduction

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature.

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book)

Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book)

Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book)

Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper)

Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper)

Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One’s Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper)

Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Episode 96, Pride and Anger (Part II - Anger) May 02, 2021

Introduction

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature.

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book)

Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book)

Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book)

Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper)

Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper)

Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One’s Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper)

Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Episode 96, Pride and Anger (Part I - Pride) Apr 25, 2021

Introduction

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature.

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book)

Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book)

Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book)

Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper)

Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper)

Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One’s Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper)

Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Episode 95, Conspiracy Theories (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion) Apr 18, 2021

Introduction

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’?

Who are ‘they’?

Ah, I see.

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book)

Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book)

Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book)

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook)

Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube)

Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Episode 95, Conspiracy Theories (Part II - Solutions) Apr 11, 2021

Introduction

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’?

Who are ‘they’?

Ah, I see.

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book)

Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book)

Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book)

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook)

Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube)

Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Episode 95, Conspiracy Theories (Part I - Origins) Apr 04, 2021

Introduction

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’?

Who are ‘they’?

Ah, I see.

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book)

Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book)

Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book)

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook)

Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube)

Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Episode 94, ‘The New Age of Empire’ with Kehinde Andrews (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Mar 28, 2021

Introduction

Western civilisation is the most successful in history. Built on the shoulders of science, industry and democracy, enlightenment philosophy gave birth to the scientific revolution that has increased the quality of life for millions. The Western political drive for democracy has given rise to the largest political representation of people in history, and supranational bodies like the United Nations ensure that inequality and injustice are a thing of the past. Shortly, a Green New Deal and universal basic income will solve the remaining of society’s problems.

For Kehinde Andrews, Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University, nothing could be further from the truth. In his eyes, Western civilisation is built not on Enlightenment ideals, but on the shoulders of genocide, slavery and colonialism. Since 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the West has systematically murdered, exploited, and hoarded the wealth of black and brown nations.

Unfortunately, this is not a thing of the past. Today we live not only with the legacy of Empire, but firmly within it! The age of Empire is alive and well, and its colonial, racist, white supremacist logic shapes every part of our lives today. Although the prospects look bleak, a revolution is possible. As Andrews says, Malcolm X was right: ‘the ballot or the bullet, liberty or death, freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody’.

Contents

Part I. The Logic of Empire

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Kehinde Andrews, The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World.

Kehinde Andrews, Back to Black: Black Radicalism for the 21st Century.

Kehinde Andrews, Birmingham City University.

Kehinde Andrews, Twitter.

Episode 94, ‘The New Age of Empire’ with Kehinde Andrews (Part I - The Logic of Empire) Mar 21, 2021

Introduction

Western civilisation is the most successful in history. Built on the shoulders of science, industry and democracy, enlightenment philosophy gave birth to the scientific revolution that has increased the quality of life for millions. The Western political drive for democracy has given rise to the largest political representation of people in history, and supranational bodies like the United Nations ensure that inequality and injustice are a thing of the past. Shortly, a Green New Deal and universal basic income will solve the remaining of society’s problems.

For Kehinde Andrews, Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University, nothing could be further from the truth. In his eyes, Western civilisation is built not on Enlightenment ideals, but on the shoulders of genocide, slavery and colonialism. Since 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the West has systematically murdered, exploited, and hoarded the wealth of black and brown nations.

Unfortunately, this is not a thing of the past. Today we live not only with the legacy of Empire, but firmly within it! The age of Empire is alive and well, and its colonial, racist, white supremacist logic shapes every part of our lives today. Although the prospects look bleak, a revolution is possible. As Andrews says, Malcolm X was right: ‘the ballot or the bullet, liberty or death, freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody’.

Contents

Part I. The Logic of Empire

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Kehinde Andrews, The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World.

Kehinde Andrews, Back to Black: Black Radicalism for the 21st Century.

Kehinde Andrews, Birmingham City University.

Kehinde Andrews, Twitter.

Episode 93, ‘The Philosophy of Hinduism’ with Jessica Frazier (Part II - Death, Evil, and Suffering) Mar 14, 2021

Introduction

Hinduism is the world’s oldest living religion, and it won’t be disappearing any time soon. This ancient worldview currently boasts over one billion devotees, making it the third most popular religion in the world. Despite its popularity, scholarship in philosophy of religion continues to ignore its influence, with academic papers on the Abrahamic faiths vastly outnumbering those devoted to Hinduism. Our classrooms don’t paint a prettier picture. In UK schools, Hinduism is scarcely taught in comparison to the other major world religions, with reports showing that educators lack the confidence and subject knowledge to teach Hinduism properly. Fortunately, thanks to the work of scholars such as Jessica Frazier, things are changing.

Jessica Frazier is Lecturer in Theology and Religion at Trinity College, Oxford and Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Frazier is one of the world’s leading experts on Hindu philosophy, reshaping and globalising philosophy of religion for the 21st century. As well as being the founding editor of the Journal of Hindu Studies, she is best known for her books Reality, Religion and Passion, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies, and most recently, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality. Far from your ivory tower academic, Jessica is a committed public philosopher, broadening the horizons of academics and the general public through her captivating writing style and regular media appearances.

As we will see, Frazier’s work demonstrates Hinduism's rich and insightful philosophical tradition; a tradition that can shed light on life’s greatest questions: from the nature of life, god and suffering, to the fundamental structure of reality.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Fundamental Reality

Part II. Death, Evil, and Suffering

Links

Jessica Frazier, About (webpage).

Jessica Frazier, Reality, Religion, and Passion (book).

Jessica Frazier, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (book).

Jessica Frazier, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (book).

Jessica Frazier, Categorisation in Indian Philosophy: Thinking Inside the Box (book).

Jessica Frazier, BBC In Our Times: Hindu Creation (podcast).

Jessica Frazier, History of Philosophy without Any Gaps (podcast).

Episode 93, ‘The Philosophy of Hinduism’ with Jessica Frazier (Part I - Fundamental Reality) Mar 07, 2021

Introduction

Hinduism is the world’s oldest living religion, and it won’t be disappearing any time soon. This ancient worldview currently boasts over one billion devotees, making it the third most popular religion in the world. Despite its popularity, scholarship in philosophy of religion continues to ignore its influence, with academic papers on the Abrahamic faiths vastly outnumbering those devoted to Hinduism. Our classrooms don’t paint a prettier picture. In UK schools, Hinduism is scarcely taught in comparison to the other major world religions, with reports showing that educators lack the confidence and subject knowledge to teach Hinduism properly. Fortunately, thanks to the work of scholars such as Jessica Frazier, things are changing.

Jessica Frazier is Lecturer in Theology and Religion at Trinity College, Oxford and Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Frazier is one of the world’s leading experts on Hindu philosophy, reshaping and globalising philosophy of religion for the 21st century. As well as being the founding editor of the Journal of Hindu Studies, she is best known for her books Reality, Religion and Passion, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies, and most recently, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality. Far from your ivory tower academic, Jessica is a committed public philosopher, broadening the horizons of academics and the general public through her captivating writing style and regular media appearances.

As we will see, Frazier’s work demonstrates Hinduism's rich and insightful philosophical tradition; a tradition that can shed light on life’s greatest questions: from the nature of life, god and suffering, to the fundamental structure of reality.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Fundamental Reality

Part II. Death, Evil, and Suffering

Links

Jessica Frazier, About (webpage).

Jessica Frazier, Reality, Religion, and Passion (book).

Jessica Frazier, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (book).

Jessica Frazier, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (book).

Jessica Frazier, Categorisation in Indian Philosophy: Thinking Inside the Box (book).

Jessica Frazier, BBC In Our Times: Hindu Creation (podcast).

Jessica Frazier, History of Philosophy without Any Gaps (podcast).

Episode 92, 'The Philosopher Queens' with Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Feb 28, 2021

In Plato’s ideal state, the wisest amongst the populous would be selected to rule. These rulers, who could see beyond the shadows to glimpse the light of truth, would be trusted to make choices to the benefit of all. The gender of these leaders, said Plato, was not to matter – despite him labelling them ‘the philosopher kings’.

That ideal was never realised but the conversation started by Plato and his contemporaries inspired what many think of as the birth of ‘Western Philosophy’. The central tenets being: the nature of reality, truth and knowledge, how to live the good life, and most importantly, the practice of prudence and the pursuit of justice.

To the Ancient Greeks, Prudence and Justice were personified as females. The term ‘philosophy’ itself contains the Greek word ‘Sophia’ meaning wisdom – which was also personified in the female form. Thus, it is a great irony that much of the history of philosophy has focused on the achievements of men: at its lowest points using its own intellectualising to oppress women. Prudence and justice seemed only to exist for men.

However, there have always been women concerning themselves with the big questions, seeing beyond the darkness and shadows that kept their societies stuck in male-centric thinking. Now more than ever, there are people dedicated to pointing the spotlight on women’s ideas, women’s lives, and women’s achievements. Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting call them, ‘the philosopher queens’.

Contents

Part I. Women in Philosophy

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (IndieBound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Unbound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Amazon).

Episode 92, 'The Philosopher Queens' with Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Part I - Women in Philosophy) Feb 21, 2021

In Plato’s ideal state, the wisest amongst the populous would be selected to rule. These rulers, who could see beyond the shadows to glimpse the light of truth, would be trusted to make choices to the benefit of all. The gender of these leaders, said Plato, was not to matter – despite him labelling them ‘the philosopher kings’.

That ideal was never realised but the conversation started by Plato and his contemporaries inspired what many think of as the birth of ‘Western Philosophy’. The central tenets being: the nature of reality, truth and knowledge, how to live the good life, and most importantly, the practice of prudence and the pursuit of justice.

To the Ancient Greeks, Prudence and Justice were personified as females. The term ‘philosophy’ itself contains the Greek word ‘Sophia’ meaning wisdom – which was also personified in the female form. Thus, it is a great irony that much of the history of philosophy has focused on the achievements of men: at its lowest points using its own intellectualising to oppress women. Prudence and justice seemed only to exist for men.

However, there have always been women concerning themselves with the big questions, seeing beyond the darkness and shadows that kept their societies stuck in male-centric thinking. Now more than ever, there are people dedicated to pointing the spotlight on women’s ideas, women’s lives, and women’s achievements. Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting call them, ‘the philosopher queens’.

Contents

Part I. Women in Philosophy

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (IndieBound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Unbound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Amazon).

Episode 91, ‘How to Save the World from Financialisation’ with Grace Blakeley (Part II - A Green Future, Further Analysis and Discussion) Feb 14, 2021

‘History has ended, and capitalism is the last man standing. The innovations and freedoms enjoyed by the Global North have shown that the free market is the only viable economic system; it is almost impossible to imagine a coherent alternative.’

This was certainly the view of Margaret Thatcher, who was elected as Prime Minister amidst the turbulence of 1980s’ Britain. For many, unleashed from the shackles of pre-1970s’ economics, Thatcher restored order and long-term prosperity to a country in crisis: solving industrial disputes, taking on the unions, cutting income tax, and creating a nation of entrepreneurs and homeowners.

As we will hear, economic commentator Grace Blakeley has little sympathy for this view. For Blakeley, neoliberalism was a system geared towards maximising share profits over goods and services: a dangerous economic model that puts shareholders first, customers second, and workers last.

As we left ‘the golden age of capitalism’, the rising tides of climate catastrophe, global poverty, and vast increases in income inequality eventually came knocking at the doors of world governments... but nobody answered. As prime ministers and presidents pretended they weren’t home, a guest arrived who hadn’t the courtesy of knocking. In 2008, the world watched on as the market collapsed in the biggest economic crash since 1929. The house of cards had fallen – the contradictions of Western, free market economics had caught up with us. After the crash, governments announced £500bn in spending as they bailed out the world’s banks. Now, history repeats itself once more in the wake of the Corona Crash.

Contents

Part I. A World in Crisis

Part II. A Green Future, Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Grace Blakeley, Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation

Grace Blakeley, The Corona Crash: How the Pandemic Will Change Capitalism

Episode 91, ‘How to Save the World from Financialisation’ with Grace Blakeley (Part I - A World in Crisis) Feb 07, 2021

‘History has ended, and capitalism is the last man standing. The innovations and freedoms enjoyed by the Global North have shown that the free market is the only viable economic system; it is almost impossible to imagine a coherent alternative.’

This was certainly the view of Margaret Thatcher, who was elected as Prime Minister amidst the turbulence of 1980s’ Britain. For many, unleashed from the shackles of pre-1970s’ economics, Thatcher restored order and long-term prosperity to a country in crisis: solving industrial disputes, taking on the unions, cutting income tax, and creating a nation of entrepreneurs and homeowners.

As we will hear, economic commentator Grace Blakeley has little sympathy for this view. For Blakeley, neoliberalism was a system geared towards maximising share profits over goods and services: a dangerous economic model that puts shareholders first, customers second, and workers last.

As we left ‘the golden age of capitalism’, the rising tides of climate catastrophe, global poverty, and vast increases in income inequality eventually came knocking at the doors of world governments... but nobody answered. As prime ministers and presidents pretended they weren’t home, a guest arrived who hadn’t the courtesy of knocking. In 2008, the world watched on as the market collapsed in the biggest economic crash since 1929. The house of cards had fallen – the contradictions of Western, free market economics had caught up with us. After the crash, governments announced £500bn in spending as they bailed out the world’s banks. Now, history repeats itself once more in the wake of the Corona Crash.

Contents

Part I. A World in Crisis

Part II. A Green Future, Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Grace Blakeley, Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation

Grace Blakeley, The Corona Crash: How the Pandemic Will Change Capitalism

Episode 90, Arthur Schopenhauer (Part V - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jan 31, 2021

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will’s ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation.

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. ‘The Will’ will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer’s Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Episode 90, Arthur Schopenhauer (Part IV - Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics) Jan 24, 2021

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will’s ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation.

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. ‘The Will’ will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer’s Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Episode 90, Arthur Schopenhauer (Part III - The World as Will) Jan 17, 2021

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will’s ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation.

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. ‘The Will’ will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer’s Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Episode 90, Arthur Schopenhauer (Part II - The World as Representation) Jan 10, 2021

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will’s ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation.

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. ‘The Will’ will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer’s Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Episode 90, Arthur Schopenhauer (Part I - The Life of Schopenhauer) Jan 03, 2021

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will’s ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation.

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. ‘The Will’ will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer’s Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Episode 89, Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground (Part V - Further Analysis and Discussion) Dec 27, 2020

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don’t listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Episode 89, Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground (Part IV - Body and Blood) Dec 20, 2020

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don’t listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Episode 89, Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground (Part III - Apropos of the Wet Snow) Dec 13, 2020

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don’t listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Episode 89, Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground (Part II - Underground) Dec 06, 2020

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don’t listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Episode 89, Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground (Part I - The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky) Nov 29, 2020

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don’t listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Episode 88, Buddhism (Part V - Further Analysis and Discussion) Nov 22, 2020

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore.

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners.

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, “we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!” His head against the pavement, he didn’t move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, “sorry, I don’t have any change.” The man replied, “It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Episode 88, Buddhism (Part IV - The Eightfold Path) Nov 15, 2020

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore.

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners.

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, “we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!” His head against the pavement, he didn’t move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, “sorry, I don’t have any change.” The man replied, “It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Episode 88, Buddhism (Part III - The Cycle of Life) Nov 08, 2020

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore.

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners.

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, “we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!” His head against the pavement, he didn’t move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, “sorry, I don’t have any change.” The man replied, “It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Episode 88, Buddhism (Part II - The Four Noble Truths) Nov 01, 2020

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore.

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners.

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, “we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!” His head against the pavement, he didn’t move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, “sorry, I don’t have any change.” The man replied, “It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Episode 88, Buddhism (Part I - The Life of Siddhartha Gautama) Oct 25, 2020

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore.

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners.

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, “we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!” His head against the pavement, he didn’t move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, “sorry, I don’t have any change.” The man replied, “It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Episode 87, Confucianism (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion) Oct 18, 2020

Introduction

One day when Jack, Olly, and Andy were accompanying Confucius, Confucius said: “Why don’t each of you tell me what you have your mind set on.”

Andy was the first to reply, he said he wanted to be as profitable and the prestigious as the Duke of Zhou. Once he had profit and prestige, he could have all things his heart desired.

Jack, having suspected that Andy had given a poor response, said he wished to cultivate humanness by helping others to help themselves. He wanted to allow others to see how their selfishness prevented them from becoming truly human and from experiencing true joy.

Finally, Olly simply responded that he wished not to make any promises he couldn’t keep but that he hoped to learn from the ancients, respect the roles he had been assigned, and care for his friends and family.

Confucius sat quietly for a moment and then said: “Andy, you have mistaken what made the Duke of Zhou so well pleased. Jack, you have said the right words but for the wrong reason. Olly, you can learn from the ancients but also from your less capable friends, see if you share any of their qualities.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Confucius

Part II. The Analects

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Great Courses, The Analects of Confucius (Audible).

Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed, Yong Huang (Bloomsbury).

Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, Daniel Gardner (Oxford).

Episode 87, Confucianism (Part III - Practices) Oct 11, 2020

Introduction

One day when Jack, Olly, and Andy were accompanying Confucius, Confucius said: “Why don’t each of you tell me what you have your mind set on.”

Andy was the first to reply, he said he wanted to be as profitable and the prestigious as the Duke of Zhou. Once he had profit and prestige, he could have all things his heart desired.

Jack, having suspected that Andy had given a poor response, said he wished to cultivate humanness by helping others to help themselves. He wanted to allow others to see how their selfishness prevented them from becoming truly human and from experiencing true joy.

Finally, Olly simply responded that he wished not to make any promises he couldn’t keep but that he hoped to learn from the ancients, respect the roles he had been assigned, and care for his friends and family.

Confucius sat quietly for a moment and then said: “Andy, you have mistaken what made the Duke of Zhou so well pleased. Jack, you have said the right words but for the wrong reason. Olly, you can learn from the ancients but also from your less capable friends, see if you share any of their qualities.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Confucius

Part II. The Analects

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Great Courses, The Analects of Confucius (Audible).

Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed, Yong Huang (Bloomsbury).

Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, Daniel Gardner (Oxford).

Episode 87, Confucianism (Part II - The Analects) Oct 04, 2020

Introduction

One day when Jack, Olly, and Andy were accompanying Confucius, Confucius said: “Why don’t each of you tell me what you have your mind set on.”

Andy was the first to reply, he said he wanted to be as profitable and the prestigious as the Duke of Zhou. Once he had profit and prestige, he could have all things his heart desired.

Jack, having suspected that Andy had given a poor response, said he wished to cultivate humanness by helping others to help themselves. He wanted to allow others to see how their selfishness prevented them from becoming truly human and from experiencing true joy.

Finally, Olly simply responded that he wished not to make any promises he couldn’t keep but that he hoped to learn from the ancients, respect the roles he had been assigned, and care for his friends and family.

Confucius sat quietly for a moment and then said: “Andy, you have mistaken what made the Duke of Zhou so well pleased. Jack, you have said the right words but for the wrong reason. Olly, you can learn from the ancients but also from your less capable friends, see if you share any of their qualities.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Confucius

Part II. The Analects

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Great Courses, The Analects of Confucius (Audible).

Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed, Yong Huang (Bloomsbury).

Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, Daniel Gardner (Oxford).

Episode 87, Confucianism (Part I - The Life of Confucius) Sep 27, 2020

Introduction

One day when Jack, Olly, and Andy were accompanying Confucius, Confucius said: “Why don’t each of you tell me what you have your mind set on.”

Andy was the first to reply, he said he wanted to be as profitable and the prestigious as the Duke of Zhou. Once he had profit and prestige, he could have all things his heart desired.

Jack, having suspected that Andy had given a poor response, said he wished to cultivate humanness by helping others to help themselves. He wanted to allow others to see how their selfishness prevented them from becoming truly human and from experiencing true joy.

Finally, Olly simply responded that he wished not to make any promises he couldn’t keep but that he hoped to learn from the ancients, respect the roles he had been assigned, and care for his friends and family.

Confucius sat quietly for a moment and then said: “Andy, you have mistaken what made the Duke of Zhou so well pleased. Jack, you have said the right words but for the wrong reason. Olly, you can learn from the ancients but also from your less capable friends, see if you share any of their qualities.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Confucius

Part II. The Analects

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Great Courses, The Analects of Confucius (Audible).

Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed, Yong Huang (Bloomsbury).

Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, Daniel Gardner (Oxford).

Episode 86, Taoism (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion) Sep 20, 2020

There was once a wise farmer named Oliver who, enjoying the evening’s sun at the end of a summer’s day, watched on as one of his prized horses escaped from his farm. That evening, having heard the news, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver’s farm to express their sympathies. Oliver turned to his neighbours upon their arrival and said, “maybe.”

The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses. Jack and Andrew, seeing the horses from their homes, ran to Oliver’s exclaiming his good fortune. Olly turned to the men and said, “maybe.”

The following day, Oliver tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown off the horse’s back and broke his leg. Jack and Andrew came to offer their condolences for the misfortune. Sat upright in his bed, without a wince, Oliver spoke clearly to the men once more, “maybe.”

The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to recruit soldiers for the army, but because of his broken leg, Oliver was rejected.

Relieved, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver to proclaim how fortunately everything had turned out. Olly turned to them and answered, “maybe.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Lao Tzu

Part II. The Tao Te Ching

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Tao Te Ching (Penguin)

Lao Tzu (Stanford Encyclopedia)

Taoism (Stanford Encylopedia)

The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff

Episode 86, Taoism (Part III - Practices) Sep 13, 2020

There was once a wise farmer named Oliver who, enjoying the evening’s sun at the end of a summer’s day, watched on as one of his prized horses escaped from his farm. That evening, having heard the news, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver’s farm to express their sympathies. Oliver turned to his neighbours upon their arrival and said, “maybe.”

The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses. Jack and Andrew, seeing the horses from their homes, ran to Oliver’s exclaiming his good fortune. Olly turned to the men and said, “maybe.”

The following day, Oliver tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown off the horse’s back and broke his leg. Jack and Andrew came to offer their condolences for the misfortune. Sat upright in his bed, without a wince, Oliver spoke clearly to the men once more, “maybe.”

The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to recruit soldiers for the army, but because of his broken leg, Oliver was rejected.

Relieved, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver to proclaim how fortunately everything had turned out. Olly turned to them and answered, “maybe.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Lao Tzu

Part II. The Tao Te Ching

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Tao Te Ching (Penguin)

Lao Tzu (Stanford Encyclopedia)

Taoism (Stanford Encylopedia)

The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff

Episode 86, Taoism (Part II - The Tao Te Ching) Sep 06, 2020

There was once a wise farmer named Oliver who, enjoying the evening’s sun at the end of a summer’s day, watched on as one of his prized horses escaped from his farm. That evening, having heard the news, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver’s farm to express their sympathies. Oliver turned to his neighbours upon their arrival and said, “maybe.”

The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses. Jack and Andrew, seeing the horses from their homes, ran to Oliver’s exclaiming his good fortune. Olly turned to the men and said, “maybe.”

The following day, Oliver tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown off the horse’s back and broke his leg. Jack and Andrew came to offer their condolences for the misfortune. Sat upright in his bed, without a wince, Oliver spoke clearly to the men once more, “maybe.”

The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to recruit soldiers for the army, but because of his broken leg, Oliver was rejected.

Relieved, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver to proclaim how fortunately everything had turned out. Olly turned to them and answered, “maybe.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Lao Tzu

Part II. The Tao Te Ching

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Tao Te Ching (Penguin)

Lao Tzu (Stanford Encyclopedia)

Taoism (Stanford Encylopedia)

The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff

Episode 86, Taoism (Part I - The Life of Lao Tzu) Aug 30, 2020

There was once a wise farmer named Oliver who, enjoying the evening’s sun at the end of a summer’s day, watched on as one of his prized horses escaped from his farm. That evening, having heard the news, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver’s farm to express their sympathies. Oliver turned to his neighbours upon their arrival and said, “maybe.”

The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses. Jack and Andrew, seeing the horses from their homes, ran to Oliver’s exclaiming his good fortune. Olly turned to the men and said, “maybe.”

The following day, Oliver tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown off the horse’s back and broke his leg. Jack and Andrew came to offer their condolences for the misfortune. Sat upright in his bed, without a wince, Oliver spoke clearly to the men once more, “maybe.”

The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to recruit soldiers for the army, but because of his broken leg, Oliver was rejected.

Relieved, Jack and Andrew came to Oliver to proclaim how fortunately everything had turned out. Olly turned to them and answered, “maybe.”

Contents

Part I. The Life of Lao Tzu

Part II. The Tao Te Ching

Part III. Practices

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Tao Te Ching (Penguin)

Lao Tzu (Stanford Encyclopedia)

Taoism (Stanford Encylopedia)

The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff

Kate Manne, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny.

Episode 85, ‘How Male Privilege Hurts Women’ with Kate Manne (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Aug 23, 2020

Misogyny is the hatred of women, practiced only by a few bigoted men. A hatred, which is far from systemic. Sexual and domestic violence are at record lows and continue to decline. Women are entitled to equal pay, positions of power, and bodily autonomy, and these rights and liberties have been enshrined in law and accepted by the general population. Feminism is the rule, misogyny the exception: we are all feminists now.

This couldn’t be further from the view of Kate Manne, Associate Professor at Cornell University and author of the hugely popular and multi-award-winning, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny. Today, Kate is not only one of the world’s leading feminist philosophers (labelled as “The Simone de Beauvoir of the 21st century” by Amanda Marcotte), but according to Prospect Magazine, one of the “World’s Top 10 Thinkers”.

Today we’ll be discussing Kate’s newly released, Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women. Kate calls us to radically rethink our understanding of the nature and function of misogyny. Misogyny is not the hatred of women and girls, practiced by the few, it is controlling and punishing those who challenge male entitlement, practiced by the many. Misogyny is the law enforcement branch of the patriarchal order - a deterrent, a warning, a whip - which sustains the hierarchy of men over women. As history and the personal experiences of women so often attest to, those at the top of hierarchies often expect things from those beneath them.

Contents

Part I. Entitled

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Kate Manne, Twitter.

Kate Manne, Website.

Kate Manne, Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women.

Episode 85, ‘How Male Privilege Hurts Women’ with Kate Manne (Part I - Entitled) Aug 15, 2020

Misogyny is the hatred of women, practiced only by a few bigoted men. A hatred, which is far from systemic. Sexual and domestic violence are at record lows and continue to decline. Women are entitled to equal pay, positions of power, and bodily autonomy, and these rights and liberties have been enshrined in law and accepted by the general population. Feminism is the rule, misogyny the exception: we are all feminists now.

This couldn’t be from further the view of Kate Manne, Associate Professor at Cornell University and author of the hugely popular and multi-award-winning, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny. Today, Kate is not only one of the world’s leading feminist philosophers (labelled as “The Simone de Beauvoir of the 21st century” by Amanda Marcotte), but according to Prospect Magazine, one of the “World’s Top 10 Thinkers”.

Today we’ll be discussing Kate’s newly released, Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women. Kate calls us to radically rethink our understanding of the nature and function of misogyny. Misogyny is not the hatred of women and girls, practiced by the few, it is controlling and punishing those who challenge male entitlement, practiced by the many. Misogyny is the law enforcement branch of the patriarchal order - a deterrent, a warning, a whip - which sustains the hierarchy of men over women. As history and the personal experiences of women so often attest to, those at the top of hierarchies often expect things from those beneath them.

Contents

Part I. Entitled

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Kate Manne, Twitter.

Kate Manne, Website.

Kate Manne, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny.

Kate Manne, Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women.

Episode 84, The Patricia Churchland Interview (Part II - The Conscience) Aug 09, 2020

Introduction

Resting on our shoulders is the most complex object in the known universe: 86 billion neurons, each connected to 10,000 others. From Plato to Descartes, to the modern-day, philosophers have largely been ignorant of the workings of the brain, despite many questions in philosophy seeming to be intimately linked with its nature. Questions like: What are the origins of our moral intuitions, our conscience? What is the nature of decision-making? And how does the brain produce consciousness?

Following the recent upsurge of interest and research into neuroscience (reaching full steam in the 1970s), Patricia Churchland describes the emergence of neurophilosophy as ‘inevitable’, coining the term in her now classic book, Neurophilosophy: Toward a Unified Science of the Mind-Brain in 1986. Alongside Neurophilosophy, Patricia Churchland is best known for her books Touching a Nerve, Braintrust, and most recently Conscience, which (together with hundreds of other publications, interviews, public talks, and awards) have led her to be considered one of, if not the, world’s leading neurophilosopher.

Currently Professor Emerita in Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego, Patricia Churchland has knocked down the wall between science and philosophy, inspiring a new wave of thinking about life’s most challenging questions.

For some, however, the wall was there for a reason: questions of philosophy should not be confused with questions of science. After all, what can neuroscience tell us about the origin of consciousness or the nature of morality? Our topics for this episode...

Contents

Part I. The Hornswoggle Problem

Part II. The Conscience

Links

Patricia Churchland, Website.

Patricia Churchland, Books.

Patricia Churchland, The Hornswoggle Problem.

Patricia Churchland, Conscience (IndieBound).

Patricia Churchland Conscience (Amazon).

Episode 84, The Patricia Churchland Interview (Part I - The Hornswoggle Problem) Aug 02, 2020

Introduction

Resting on our shoulders is the most complex object in the known universe: 86 billion neurons, each connected to 10,000 others. From Plato to Descartes, to the modern-day, philosophers have largely been ignorant of the workings of the brain, despite many questions in philosophy seeming to be intimately linked with its nature. Questions like: What are the origins of our moral intuitions, our conscience? What is the nature of decision-making? And how does the brain produce consciousness?

Following the recent upsurge of interest and research into neuroscience (reaching full steam in the 1970s), Patricia Churchland describes the emergence of neurophilosophy as ‘inevitable’, coining the term in her now classic book, Neurophilosophy: Toward a Unified Science of the Mind-Brain in 1986. Alongside Neurophilosophy, Patricia Churchland is best known for her books Touching a Nerve, Braintrust, and most recently Conscience, which (together with hundreds of other publications, interviews, public talks, and awards) have led her to be considered one of, if not the, world’s leading neurophilosopher.

Currently Professor Emerita in Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego, Patricia Churchland has knocked down the wall between science and philosophy, inspiring a new wave of thinking about life’s most challenging questions.

For some, however, the wall was there for a reason: questions of philosophy should not be confused with questions of science. After all, what can neuroscience tell us about the origin of consciousness or the nature of morality? Our topics for this episode...

Contents

Part I. The Hornswoggle Problem

Part II. The Conscience

Links

Patricia Churchland, Website.

Patricia Churchland, Books.

Patricia Churchland, The Hornswoggle Problem.

Patricia Churchland, Conscience (IndieBound).

Patricia Churchland, Conscience (Amazon).

Episode 83, The David Chalmers Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jul 26, 2020

Introduction

The hard problem of consciousness is the problem of experience. How do 100 billion neurons come together to bring about a unified, conscious mind, and the rich tapestry of qualities that make up our world? This might be the most difficult problem in philosophy and science. No matter how rich our description of the brain, it seems that we’ll still be left with this same question: where does consciousness come from and what is its place in nature?

Having coined the term ‘the hard problem’ in 1994, today, David Chalmers finds himself ranked amongst the world’s most prominent thinkers. David is currently Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University, co-director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Honorary Professor of Philosophy at the Australian National University, and co-director of the academic database PhilPapers. Amongst his many contributions, David is the author of The Conscious Mind, The Character of Consciousness, and Constructing the World. David’s hundreds of papers, interviews, and talks, make up some of the most influential contributions to the field, breathing new life into the debate and inspiring a new wave of scholarship.

For many, the problem of consciousness goes beyond the dusty chalkboards of seminar rooms and into our day-to-day lives. Consciousness may well be the determining factor of what constitutes a worthwhile existence, or whether or not a being deserves our moral consideration.

The stakes are higher than the nature of the world itself. It’s time to wake up and smell the roses… how can we explain consciousness?

Contents

Part I. Consciousness

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

David Chalmers, Website

David Chalmers, Books (IndieBound)

David Chalmers, Books (Amazon)

David Chalmers, Papers

David Chalmers, Talks

Episode 83, The David Chalmers Interview (Part I - Consciousness) Jul 19, 2020

Introduction

The hard problem of consciousness is the problem of experience. How do 100 billion neurons come together to bring about a unified, conscious mind, and the rich tapestry of qualities that make up our world? This might be the most difficult problem in philosophy and science. No matter how rich our description of the brain, it seems that we’ll still be left with this same question: where does consciousness come from and what is its place in nature?

Having coined the term ‘the hard problem’ in 1994, today, David Chalmers finds himself ranked amongst the world’s most prominent thinkers. David is currently Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University, co-director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Honorary Professor of Philosophy at the Australian National University, and co-director of the academic database PhilPapers. Amongst his many contributions, David is the author of The Conscious Mind, The Character of Consciousness, and Constructing the World. David’s hundreds of papers, interviews, and talks, make up some of the most influential contributions to the field, breathing new life into the debate and inspiring a new wave of scholarship.

For many, the problem of consciousness goes beyond the dusty chalkboards of seminar rooms and into our day-to-day lives. Consciousness may well be the determining factor of what constitutes a worthwhile existence, or whether or not a being deserves our moral consideration.

The stakes are higher than the nature of the world itself. It’s time to wake up and smell the roses… how can we explain consciousness?

Contents

Part I. Consciousness

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

David Chalmers, Website

David Chalmers, Books (IndieBound)

David Chalmers, Books (Amazon)

David Chalmers, Papers

David Chalmers, Talks

Episode 82, ‘The Nature of Consciousness’ with Susan Blackmore (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jul 11, 2020

The smell of coffee, the taste of asparagus, the warmth of a hug, and the agony of death: conscious experience makes up the fabric of our world, yet many consider it to be the most intractable mystery in philosophy and science. What is it like to undergo experience? What is the function of consciousness? Where does consciousness occur? What are the contents of this experience? Is our stream of consciousness unified?

The hardest problem of all, might be the origin of consciousness itself: how, why, or are we, subjects of experience? In one sense, it shouldn’t come as a surprise - after all, in the words of physicist Michio Kaku, ‘Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe; 100 billion neurons, each connected to 10,000 others’. However, for many, the brain doesn’t seem like the right type of thing to give rise to consciousness. How can soggy grey matter feel like anything? As McGinn put it, you might as well believe that numbers emerge from biscuits or ethics from rhubarb!

Challenging our understanding of consciousness and reframing the mystery is psychologist and author, Visiting Professor at Plymouth University, Dr Susan Blackmore. Best known for her books The Meme Machine, Zen and the Art of Consciousness, Consciousness: An Introduction, and Seeing Myself, Susan’s work spans across hundreds of publications in over 20 different languages, making huge contributions in the fields of psychology, memetics, religion, philosophy of mind, supernatural experience, and many other areas. It is no surprise to find her ranked amongst 2013’s 30 Most Influential Psychologists Working Today and 2015’s Top 100 Global Minds.

It’s time to smell the coffee, and reflect on your experience, to see the dark with the light on: what is the nature of consciousness?

Contents

Part I. Mystery and Illusion

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Susan Blackmore, Website.

Books by Susan Blackmore. Amazon.

Susan Blackmore, A Very Short Introduction to Consciousness. Amazon.

Susan Blackmore, A Very Short Introduction to Consciousness. IndieBound.

Episode 82, ‘The Nature of Consciousness’ with Susan Blackmore (Part I - Mystery and Illusion) Jul 05, 2020

The smell of coffee, the taste of asparagus, the warmth of a hug, and the agony of death: conscious experience makes up the fabric of our world, yet many consider it to be the most intractable mystery in philosophy and science. What is it like to undergo experience? What is the function of consciousness? Where does consciousness occur? What are the contents of this experience? Is our stream of consciousness unified?

The hardest problem of all, might be the origin of consciousness itself: how, why, or are we, subjects of experience? In one sense, it shouldn’t come as a surprise - after all, in the words of physicist Michio Kaku, ‘Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe; 100 billion neurons, each connected to 10,000 others’. However, for many, the brain doesn’t seem like the right type of thing to give rise to consciousness. How can soggy grey matter feel like anything? As McGinn put it, you might as well believe that numbers emerge from biscuits or ethics from rhubarb!

Challenging our understanding of consciousness and reframing the mystery is psychologist and author, Visiting Professor at Plymouth University, Dr Susan Blackmore. Best known for her books The Meme Machine, Zen and the Art of Consciousness, Consciousness: An Introduction, and Seeing Myself, Susan’s work spans across hundreds of publications in over 20 different languages, making huge contributions in the fields of psychology, memetics, religion, philosophy of mind, supernatural experience, and many other areas. It is no surprise to find her ranked amongst 2013’s 30 Most Influential Psychologists Working Today and 2015’s Top 100 Global Minds.

It’s time to smell the coffee, and reflect on your experience, to see the dark with the light on: what is the nature of consciousness?

Contents

Part I. Mystery and Illusion

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Susan Blackmore, Website.

Books by Susan Blackmore. Amazon.

Susan Blackmore, A Very Short Introduction to Consciousness. Amazon.

Susan Blackmore, A Very Short Introduction to Consciousness. IndieBound.

Episode 81, ‘The End of Everything: Astrophysically Speaking’ with Katie Mack (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jun 28, 2020

Approximately 13.8 billion years ago, an infinitely dense state of an infinitely large universe lay dormant upon the backdrop of existence. Then, the expansion of everything. The potential for trillions of galaxies sprung out from this same point, and today, they shine like fairy lights in the darkness of the vast cosmos. From our own little planet, bursting with life, art, culture, and science, we can observe the effects of the big bang and the universes’ continuing expansion. We can see the beginning, but we can also see the end. In about five billion years, the sun will swell to around 250 times its current size, leaving our once blue and white planet a lifeless, magma-covered rock. That’s settled, the apocalypse is coming: the land will fry and the seas will boil - but there is more at stake than the Earth. What matters now is the bigger question: how will the universe end?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the impending doom of the cosmos with theoretical astrophysicist Katherine Mack. Katie is Assistant Professor of Physics at North Carolina State University. As well as making huge contributions to the field of astrophysics, Katie is one of the most active public-facing scientists in the world today. From publications in Slate, Scientific America, and Time Magazine, to featuring on the BBC and being quoted in the song lyrics of Hozier, Katie’s work is expanding into the furthest corners of our planet. Grab the cosmic popcorn, it’s a question as old as time itself: how will the universe end?

Contents

Part I. The Death of the Universe

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Katie Mack, Twitter.

Katie Mack, Website.

Katie Mack, The End of Everything (Amazon).

Katie Mack, The End of Everything (IndieBound).

Episode 81, ‘The End of Everything: Astrophysically Speaking’ with Katie Mack (Part I - The Death of the Universe) Jun 21, 2020

Approximately 13.8 billion years ago, an infinitely dense state of an infinitely large universe lay dormant upon the backdrop of existence. Then, the expansion of everything. The potential for trillions of galaxies sprung out from this same point, and today, they shine like fairy lights in the darkness of the vast cosmos. From our own little planet, bursting with life, art, culture, and science, we can observe the effects of the big bang and the universes’ continuing expansion. We can see the beginning, but we can also see the end. In about five billion years, the sun will swell to around 250 times its current size, leaving our once blue and white planet a lifeless, magma-covered rock. That’s settled, the apocalypse is coming: the land will fry and the seas will boil - but there is more at stake than the Earth. What matters now is the bigger question: how will the universe end?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the impending doom of the cosmos with theoretical astrophysicist Katherine Mack. Katie is Assistant Professor of Physics at North Carolina State University. As well as making huge contributions to the field of astrophysics, Katie is one of the most active public-facing scientists in the world today. From publications in Slate, Scientific America, and Time Magazine, to featuring on the BBC and being quoted in the song lyrics of Hozier, Katie’s work is expanding into the furthest corners of our planet. Grab the cosmic popcorn, it’s a question as old as time itself: how will the universe end?

Contents

Part I. The Death of the Universe

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Katie Mack, Twitter.

Katie Mack, Website.

Katie Mack, The End of Everything (Amazon).

Katie Mack, The End of Everything (IndieBound).

Episode 80, ‘Human Nature’ with Steven Pinker and Rutger Bregman (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jun 13, 2020

What was life like before we emerged from hunter-gatherer tribes and pulled ourselves into the civilised world? Notoriously, this same question was asked by the great philosopher Thomas Hobbes in the seventeenth century. His answer? The state of nature is a ‘time of war, where every man is enemy to every man’; where all live in ‘continual fear’, and in ‘danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.’ This is human nature. Left to our own devices, we are led to fight by diffidence, competition, and glory. Here our inner demons come out to play: predatory, revengeful, dominant, and sadistic. We are survival machines, but ultimately, the best way for us all to survive is to create a new machine, a great Leviathan - viz, the dawn of the state.

Thirty years after Hobbes’ death saw the birth of his rival, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It is here, at the origin of the state, says Rousseau, where human nature is corrupted: society is the curse of humankind. In his own words, ‘many writers have hastily concluded that man is naturally cruel, and requires civil institutions to make him more mild; whereas nothing is more gentle than man in his primitive state… according to the axiom of the wise Locke: There can be no injury, where there is no property.’ Be sure not to listen to Hobbes the imposter. We are lost, but we can find ourselves again.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the views of Hobbes and Rousseau with returning guests Steven Pinker and Rutger Bregman. Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, is one of the leading thinkers in the field. Steven has an extraordinary list of accomplishments and awards, considered by many, including Foreign Policy and Time magazine, to be amongst the 100 Most Influential People in the World Today. Historian and author, Rutger Bregman, is acclaimed for his bestselling book, Utopia for Realists: and how we can get there. Described by The Guardian as ‘the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas’ and by TED as ‘one of Europe's most prominent young thinkers’, Bregman’s vision of (and for) humankind is a call to rethink our understanding of the past, and our vision for the future.

Coinciding with the rise of the homo sapien, this might be the oldest and most important philosophical question: what is human nature?

Episode 80, ‘Human Nature’ with Steven Pinker and Rutger Bregman (Part I - Humankind) Jun 06, 2020

What was life like before we emerged from hunter-gatherer tribes and pulled ourselves into the civilised world? Notoriously, this same question was asked by the great philosopher Thomas Hobbes in the seventeenth century. His answer? The state of nature is a ‘time of war, where every man is enemy to every man’; where all live in ‘continual fear’, and in ‘danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.’ This is human nature. Left to our own devices, we are led to fight by diffidence, competition, and glory. Here our inner demons come out to play: predatory, revengeful, dominant, and sadistic. We are survival machines, but ultimately, the best way for us all to survive is to create a new machine, a great Leviathan - viz, the dawn of the state.

Thirty years after Hobbes’ death saw the birth of his rival, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It is here, at the origin of the state, says Rousseau, where human nature is corrupted: society is the curse of humankind. In his own words, ‘many writers have hastily concluded that man is naturally cruel, and requires civil institutions to make him more mild; whereas nothing is more gentle than man in his primitive state… according to the axiom of the wise Locke: There can be no injury, where there is no property.’ Be sure not to listen to Hobbes the imposter. We are lost, but we can find ourselves again.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the views of Hobbes and Rousseau with returning guests Steven Pinker and Rutger Bregman. Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, is one of the leading thinkers in the field. Steven has an extraordinary list of accomplishments and awards, considered by many, including Foreign Policy and Time magazine, to be amongst the 100 Most Influential People in the World Today. Historian and author, Rutger Bregman, is acclaimed for his bestselling book, Utopia for Realists: and how we can get there. Described by The Guardian as ‘the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas’ and by TED as ‘one of Europe's most prominent young thinkers’, Bregman’s vision of (and for) humankind is a call to rethink our understanding of the past, and our vision for the future.

Coinciding with the rise of the homo sapien, this might be the oldest and most important philosophical question: what is human nature?

Contents

Part I. Humankind

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Rutger Bregman, Humankind: A Hopeful History.

Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature: A History of Violence and Humanity.

Episode 79, The Absurd (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion) May 31, 2020

Meet Jack. Jack, like most individuals, takes great care of his health, appearance, the fulfilment of his projects, and the quality of his relationships with friends and family.

Today Jack is preparing for another episode of his iconic philosophy podcast. He has been reading diligently, noting fastidiously, and practicing his jokes in the mirror. Fully invested in his work, he goes to great lengths to ensure that the podcast is well received. But today is no ordinary day for Jack, something is about to happen that he could never prepare for.

Sat at his desk with his nose in Thomas Nagel’s Mortal Questions, Jack reaches for his cafetière to refill his Nietzsche coffee mug - when he hears the sound of a heavy creak above him. The room begins to shake, the coffee mug spills, and Jack jumps out of his chair as dust begins to fall around him. Fearing that the roof will cave, he runs out of the house, but finds that the streets are shaking too.

Like the set of a stage, the neighbourhood before his eyes begins to fall backwards. As the walls hit the ground, Jack sees countless figures in black uniforms running frantically in all directions. He looks up to the sky and sees several tall figures on ladders: a blue figure holds a large, blinding torch, a white figure holds a watering can, and a black figure holds what seems to be a large block of cheese. Jack is overwhelmed with disbelief - he is standing in the middle of a stage. Suddenly, one of the figures shouts instructions to another, who frantically pulls on a rope - the stage rising back to its original position, the figures disappearing.

It dawns on him: Jack is the actor in a play. What of his life? His childhood? His family and friends? What of his projects? Will he ever be able to return, to his old life?

Jack ponders the thought for a moment and walks back into his home. He cleans up the coffee, brushes up the dust, sits back down in his chair… and continues, with his reading.

Contents

Part I. Thomas Nagel

Part II. Camus, Criticisms, and Comparison

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Nagel, The Absurd (1971).

Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus (1942).

Episode 79, The Absurd (Part II - Camus, Criticisms, and Comparison) May 24, 2020

Meet Jack. Jack, like most individuals, takes great care of his health, appearance, the fulfilment of his projects, and the quality of his relationships with friends and family.

Today Jack is preparing for another episode of his iconic philosophy podcast. He has been reading diligently, noting fastidiously, and practicing his jokes in the mirror. Fully invested in his work, he goes to great lengths to ensure that the podcast is well received. But today is no ordinary day for Jack, something is about to happen that he could never prepare for.

Sat at his desk with his nose in Thomas Nagel’s Mortal Questions, Jack reaches for his cafetière to refill his Nietzsche coffee mug - when he hears the sound of a heavy creak above him. The room begins to shake, the coffee mug spills, and Jack jumps out of his chair as dust begins to fall around him. Fearing that the roof will cave, he runs out of the house, but finds that the streets are shaking too.

Like the set of a stage, the neighbourhood before his eyes begins to fall backwards. As the walls hit the ground, Jack sees countless figures in black uniforms running frantically in all directions. He looks up to the sky and sees several tall figures on ladders: a blue figure holds a large, blinding torch, a white figure holds a watering can, and a black figure holds what seems to be a large block of cheese. Jack is overwhelmed with disbelief - he is standing in the middle of a stage. Suddenly, one of the figures shouts instructions to another, who frantically pulls on a rope - the stage rising back to its original position, the figures disappearing.

It dawns on him: Jack is the actor in a play. What of his life? His childhood? His family and friends? What of his projects? Will he ever be able to return, to his old life?

Jack ponders the thought for a moment and walks back into his home. He cleans up the coffee, brushes up the dust, sits back down in his chair… and continues, with his reading.

Contents

Part I. Thomas Nagel

Part II. Camus, Criticisms, and Comparison

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Nagel, The Absurd (1971).

Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus (1942).

Episode 79, The Absurd (Part I - Thomas Nagel) May 17, 2020

Meet Jack. Jack, like most individuals, takes great care of his health, appearance, the fulfilment of his projects, and the quality of his relationships with friends and family.

Today Jack is preparing for another episode of his iconic philosophy podcast. He has been reading diligently, noting fastidiously, and practicing his jokes in the mirror. Fully invested in his work, he goes to great lengths to ensure that the podcast is well received. But today is no ordinary day for Jack, something is about to happen that he could never prepare for.

Sat at his desk with his nose in Thomas Nagel’s Mortal Questions, Jack reaches for his cafetière to refill his Nietzsche coffee mug - when he hears the sound of a heavy creak above him. The room begins to shake, the coffee mug spills, and Jack jumps out of his chair as dust begins to fall around him. Fearing that the roof will cave, he runs out of the house, but finds that the streets are shaking too.

Like the set of a stage, the neighbourhood before his eyes begins to fall backwards. As the walls hit the ground, Jack sees countless figures in black uniforms running frantically in all directions. He looks up to the sky and sees several tall figures on ladders: a blue figure holds a large, blinding torch, a white figure holds a watering can, and a black figure holds what seems to be a large block of cheese. Jack is overwhelmed with disbelief - he is standing in the middle of a stage. Suddenly, one of the figures shouts instructions to another, who frantically pulls on a rope - the stage rising back to its original position, the figures disappearing.

It dawns on him: Jack is the actor in a play. What of his life? His childhood? His family and friends? What of his projects? Will he ever be able to return, to his old life?

Jack ponders the thought for a moment and walks back into his home. He cleans up the coffee, brushes up the dust, sits back down in his chair… and continues, with his reading.

Contents

Part I. Thomas Nagel

Part II. Camus, Criticisms, and Comparison

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Nagel, The Absurd (1971).

Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus (1942).

Episode 78, Moral Luck (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion) May 10, 2020

Imagine two possible worlds. In the first world, Andrew is driving home from an intimate dinner party with Olly and Jack. He has been enjoying a range of delicious cheeses and wines, despite being the designated driver. With the exception of Andrew’s singing, the drive is uneventful, and the party arrives home, safe and sound. In the second world, the same initial conditions apply. Andrew has enjoyed a plethora of gastronomic delights, and finds himself behind the wheel, singing without reservation. Driving through the familiar country roads, where sadly it has been known for deer to meet the paths of oncoming traffic, Andrew sees an unknown shape ahead. Too slow to react, the car strikes the figure, and Andrew feels the crunch of the object beneath his wheels. The following morning, Andrew switches on Radio 4: ‘Police are requesting any information the public might have relating to a hit and run on Country Road yesterday evening, where a 6-year-old boy unfortunately lost his life. Anybody with information relating to the event, believed to have occurred in the hours in which one could be expected to be travelling home from an intimate dinner party, should contact their local police station immediately’. Andrew realises that it was not a deer he hit with his car, and turns himself in to the police station.

For Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel, this is a classic case of moral luck. In both possible worlds, Andrew’s actions and intentions were the same. In the first, Andrew wakes up and continues with his life. In the second, we expect him to face up to fourteen years in prison. Our question: should we judge Andrew’s moral character any more harshly in the second case than the first - do they not deserve the same punishment?

Contents

Part I. Bernard Williams

Part II. Thomas Nagel

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Nagel, Moral Luck

Bernard Williams, Moral Luck

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Moral Luck

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Moral Luck

Episode 78, Moral Luck (Part II - Thomas Nagel) May 03, 2020

Imagine two possible worlds. In the first world, Andrew is driving home from an intimate dinner party with Olly and Jack. He has been enjoying a range of delicious cheeses and wines, despite being the designated driver. With the exception of Andrew’s singing, the drive is uneventful, and the party arrives home, safe and sound. In the second world, the same initial conditions apply. Andrew has enjoyed a plethora of gastronomic delights, and finds himself behind the wheel, singing without reservation. Driving through the familiar country roads, where sadly it has been known for deer to meet the paths of oncoming traffic, Andrew sees an unknown shape ahead. Too slow to react, the car strikes the figure, and Andrew feels the crunch of the object beneath his wheels. The following morning, Andrew switches on Radio 4: ‘Police are requesting any information the public might have relating to a hit and run on Country Road yesterday evening, where a 6-year-old boy unfortunately lost his life. Anybody with information relating to the event, believed to have occurred in the hours in which one could be expected to be travelling home from an intimate dinner party, should contact their local police station immediately’. Andrew realises that it was not a deer he hit with his car, and turns himself in to the police station.

For Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel, this is a classic case of moral luck. In both possible worlds, Andrew’s actions and intentions were the same. In the first, Andrew wakes up and continues with his life. In the second, we expect him to face up to fourteen years in prison. Our question: should we judge Andrew’s moral character any more harshly in the second case than the first - do they not deserve the same punishment?

Contents

Part I. Bernard Williams

Part II. Thomas Nagel

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Nagel, Moral Luck

Bernard Williams, Moral Luck

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Moral Luck

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Moral Luck

Episode 78, Moral Luck (Part I - Bernard Williams) Apr 26, 2020

Imagine two possible worlds. In the first world, Andrew is driving home from an intimate dinner party with Olly and Jack. He has been enjoying a range of delicious cheeses and wines, despite being the designated driver. With the exception of Andrew’s singing, the drive is uneventful, and the party arrives home, safe and sound. In the second world, the same initial conditions apply. Andrew has enjoyed a plethora of gastronomic delights, and finds himself behind the wheel, singing without reservation. Driving through the familiar country roads, where sadly it has been known for deer to meet the paths of oncoming traffic, Andrew sees an unknown shape ahead. Too slow to react, the car strikes the figure, and Andrew feels the crunch of the object beneath his wheels. The following morning, Andrew switches on Radio 4: ‘Police are requesting any information the public might have relating to a hit and run on Country Road yesterday evening, where a 6-year-old boy unfortunately lost his life. Anybody with information relating to the event, believed to have occurred in the hours in which one could be expected to be travelling home from an intimate dinner party, should contact their local police station immediately’. Andrew realises that it was not a deer he hit with his car, and turns himself in to the police station.

For Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel, this is a classic case of moral luck. In both possible worlds, Andrew’s actions and intentions were the same. In the first, Andrew wakes up and continues with his life. In the second, we expect him to face up to fourteen years in prison. Our question: should we judge Andrew’s moral character any more harshly in the second case than the first - do they not deserve the same punishment?

Contents

Part I. Bernard Williams

Part II. Thomas Nagel

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Nagel, Moral Luck

Bernard Williams, Moral Luck

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Moral Luck

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Moral Luck

Episode 77, ‘Time Travel: The Grandfather Paradox and Abilities’ with Olivia Coombes (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Apr 18, 2020

Olivia Coombes is a philosopher and teacher at the University of Edinburgh whose research focuses on issues about the possibility of time travel, the paradoxes involved in time travel, and how these topics relate to the question of free-will. In addition to this, Liv is also the co-host of the Edinburgh-based podcast Two Philosophers: One Podcast, No Problems.

Since the philosopher David Lewis, and before, philosophers, scientists, movie fans (pretty much everybody), have deliberated the possibility of time travel. People have asked questions like: What is the order of time? If we could build a powerful enough machine, would we be able to travel through time? Causation goes forwards in time, but is there anything stopping it going backwards? And, if it could, can we have causal loops in time?

In this episode we’re going to be focusing on the grandfather paradox, which is one instance of the question: can time travellers change the past? This paradox asks us whether or not we could go back in time and kill our own grandfathers. Many people say no: it is logically impossible, like squaring circles, or making something from nothing. However, Olivia Coombes thinks differently. She thinks that we can kill our grandfathers, and that we are able to change the past.

Contents

Part I. Time Traveller Abilities

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Olivia Coombes, University Profile.

Olivia Coombes, Twitter.

Two Philosophers: One Podcast, No Problems.

David Lewis, The Paradoxes of Time Travel (1976).

Episode 77, ‘Time Travel: The Grandfather Paradox and Abilities’ with Olivia Coombes (Part I - Time Traveller Abilities) Apr 12, 2020

Olivia Coombes is a philosopher and teacher at the University of Edinburgh whose research focuses on issues about the possibility of time travel, the paradoxes involved in time travel, and how these topics relate to the question of free-will. In addition to this, Liv is also the co-host of the Edinburgh-based podcast Two Philosophers: One Podcast, No Problems.

Since the philosopher David Lewis, and before, philosophers, scientists, movie fans (pretty much everybody), have deliberated the possibility of time travel. People have asked questions like: What is the order of time? If we could build a powerful enough machine, would we be able to travel through time? Causation goes forwards in time, but is there anything stopping it going backwards? And, if it could, can we have causal loops in time?

In this episode we’re going to be focusing on the grandfather paradox, which is one instance of the question: can time travellers change the past? This paradox asks us whether or not we could go back in time and kill our own grandfathers. Many people say no: it is logically impossible, like squaring circles, or making something from nothing. However, Olivia Coombes thinks differently. She thinks that we can kill our grandfathers, and that we are able to change the past.

Contents

Part I. Time Traveller Abilities

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Olivia Coombes, University Profile.

Olivia Coombes, Twitter.

Two Philosophers: One Podcast, No Problems.

David Lewis, The Paradoxes of Time Travel (1976).

Episode 76, René Descartes (Part V - Further Analysis and Discussion) Apr 04, 2020

All my life, I have been fed apples from that tree. I was told it was the only tree worth eating from. Every day, whether it was in school or in the church, someone would arrive with a basket, and I would take what they offered. Today a similar basket lays in front of me, full of apples I've been saving so to take a closer inspection.

Check those apples for me would you? Why so worried? Surely if they are good, there is nothing to worry about. You've heard of the Italian who was punished for checking, you say? I understand. I will do it myself.

There are too many in there to check one by one. I shall take them all out and only place back in the basket the ones that are certifiably good! I think the Italian might have been onto something, they all look rotten! I must check closer. I refuse to accept that they are all bad!

Ah, there is one. That will do. Perhaps the seeds can be used to grow more good apples...

Contents

Part I. The Life of René Descartes.

Part II. Meditations on First Philosophy, 1-2.

Part III. Meditations on First Philosophy, 3-4.

Part IV. Meditations on First Philosophy, 5-6.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy: in which are demonstrated the existence of God and the distinction between the human soul and body (Early Modern Texts).

Episode 76, René Descartes (Part IV - Meditations on First Philosophy, 5-6) Mar 29, 2020

All my life, I have been fed apples from that tree. I was told it was the only tree worth eating from. Every day, whether it was in school or in the church, someone would arrive with a basket, and I would take what they offered. Today a similar basket lays in front of me, full of apples I've been saving so to take a closer inspection.

Check those apples for me would you? Why so worried? Surely if they are good, there is nothing to worry about. You've heard of the Italian who was punished for checking, you say? I understand. I will do it myself.

There are too many in there to check one by one. I shall take them all out and only place back in the basket the ones that are certifiably good! I think the Italian might have been onto something, they all look rotten! I must check closer. I refuse to accept that they are all bad!

Ah, there is one. That will do. Perhaps the seeds can be used to grow more good apples...

Contents

Part I. The Life of René Descartes.

Part II. Meditations on First Philosophy, 1-2.

Part III. Meditations on First Philosophy, 3-4.

Part IV. Meditations on First Philosophy, 5-6.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy: in which are demonstrated the existence of God and the distinction between the human soul and body (Early Modern Texts).

Episode 76, René Descartes (Part III - Meditations on First Philosophy, 3-4) Mar 22, 2020

All my life, I have been fed apples from that tree. I was told it was the only tree worth eating from. Every day, whether it was in school or in the church, someone would arrive with a basket, and I would take what they offered. Today a similar basket lays in front of me, full of apples I've been saving so to take a closer inspection.

Check those apples for me would you? Why so worried? Surely if they are good, there is nothing to worry about. You've heard of the Italian who was punished for checking, you say? I understand. I will do it myself.

There are too many in there to check one by one. I shall take them all out and only place back in the basket the ones that are certifiably good! I think the Italian might have been onto something, they all look rotten! I must check closer. I refuse to accept that they are all bad!

Ah, there is one. That will do. Perhaps the seeds can be used to grow more good apples...

Contents

Part I. The Life of René Descartes.

Part II. Meditations on First Philosophy, 1-2.

Part III. Meditations on First Philosophy, 3-4.

Part IV. Meditations on First Philosophy, 5-6.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy: in which are demonstrated the existence of God and the distinction between the human soul and body (Early Modern Texts).

Episode 76, René Descartes (Part II - Meditations on First Philosophy, 1-2) Mar 15, 2020

All my life, I have been fed apples from that tree. I was told it was the only tree worth eating from. Every day, whether it was in school or in the church, someone would arrive with a basket, and I would take what they offered. Today a similar basket lays in front of me, full of apples I've been saving so to take a closer inspection.

Check those apples for me would you? Why so worried? Surely if they are good, there is nothing to worry about. You've heard of the Italian who was punished for checking, you say? I understand. I will do it myself.

There are too many in there to check one by one. I shall take them all out and only place back in the basket the ones that are certifiably good! I think the Italian might have been onto something, they all look rotten! I must check closer. I refuse to accept that they are all bad!

Ah, there is one. That will do. Perhaps the seeds can be used to grow more good apples...

Contents

Part I. The Life of René Descartes.

Part II. Meditations on First Philosophy, 1-2.

Part III. Meditations on First Philosophy, 3-4.

Part IV. Meditations on First Philosophy, 5-6.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy: in which are demonstrated the existence of God and the distinction between the human soul and body (Early Modern Texts).

Episode 76, René Descartes (Part I - The Life of René Descartes) Mar 08, 2020

All my life, I have been fed apples from that tree. I was told it was the only tree worth eating from. Every day, whether it was in school or in the church, someone would arrive with a basket, and I would take what they offered. Today a similar basket lays in front of me, full of apples I've been saving so to take a closer inspection.

Check those apples for me would you? Why so worried? Surely if they are good, there is nothing to worry about. You've heard of the Italian who was punished for checking, you say? I understand. I will do it myself.

There are too many in there to check one by one. I shall take them all out and only place back in the basket the ones that are certifiably good! I think the Italian might have been onto something, they all look rotten! I must check closer. I refuse to accept that they are all bad!

Ah, there is one. That will do. Perhaps the seeds can be used to grow more good apples...

Contents

Part I. The Life of René Descartes.

Part II. Meditations on First Philosophy, 1-2.

Part III. Meditations on First Philosophy, 3-4.

Part IV. Meditations on First Philosophy, 5-6.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy: in which are demonstrated the existence of God and the distinction between the human soul and body (Early Modern Texts).

Episode 75, ‘Christian Animal Ethics’ with David Clough (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Mar 01, 2020

With the dominance of humankind has come a new age, an age of global warming, ecological collapse, and sixth mass extinction. In 2018, it was reported that of all the Earth’s mammals, 96% are humans and livestock. Ouroverpopulation, overconsumption, and exploitation have caused a climate catastrophe, but we are not our only victims. Each year, over 70 billion land creatures and 7 trillion sea animals are killed for food, and despite growth in public awareness, the overwhelming majority of these animals continue to endure unimaginable suffering throughout their lives.

The religions of ancient India - Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism - are no strangers to practicing ahimsa and vegetarianism. Their Abrahamic cousins have a very different past. For the advocate of animal rights, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have a long and dark history in their treatment of our fellow creatures. A history, many theologians, want to condemn to the history books.

One such theologian is David Clough, professor of theological ethics at the University of Chester. Through his systematic theology On Animals, Professor Clough has inspired a new wave of scholarship on Christian attitudes towards our fellow creatures, and the Earth as a whole, calling Christians to unshackle themselves from Aristotelian ways of thinking and embrace Darwinian theories of the natural world.

Contents

Part I. The Rise of the Vegangelicals.

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Episode 75, ‘Christian Animal Ethics’ with David Clough (Part I - The Rise of the Vegangelicals) Feb 23, 2020

With the dominance of humankind has come a new age, an age of global warming, ecological collapse, and sixth mass extinction. In 2018, it was reported that of all the Earth’s mammals, 96% are humans and livestock. Ouroverpopulation, overconsumption, and exploitation have caused a climate catastrophe, but we are not our only victims. Each year, over 70 billion land creatures and 7 trillion sea animals are killed for food, and despite growth in public awareness, the overwhelming majority of these animals continue to endure unimaginable suffering throughout their lives.

The religions of ancient India - Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism - are no strangers to practicing ahimsa and vegetarianism. Their Abrahamic cousins have a very different past. For the advocate of animal rights, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have a long and dark history in their treatment of our fellow creatures. A history, many theologians, want to condemn to the history books.

One such theologian is David Clough, professor of theological ethics at the University of Chester. Through his systematic theology On Animals, Professor Clough has inspired a new wave of scholarship on Christian attitudes towards our fellow creatures, and the Earth as a whole, calling Christians to unshackle themselves from Aristotelian ways of thinking and embrace Darwinian theories of the natural world.

Contents

Part I. The Rise of the Vegangelicals.

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Episode 74, ‘Football’ with Stephen Mumford (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Feb 16, 2020

Football is the most popular sport on the planet. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s experienced the excitement of matchday. It’s hard to remain indifferent when thousands of tightly packed fans, each patriotically sporting the colours of their team, sing, cheer and heckle in unison. The thrill of a crunching challenge, a derby victory, or a last-minute winner will undoubtedly elicit excitement.

For the sceptic, there is nothing beyond this superficial appeal. Fool-ball is simply a game of chance, in which the sport’s novelty appeal is only sustained through blind patriotism. Football is push-pin, and it is not to be confused with poetry.

Durham University’s Stephen Mumford defends football in the face of this attack. For Mumford, football has an intellectual depth that rewards more detailed consideration. When we watch football through a philosophical lens, we are called to deliberate a great wealth of ideas; from categories of aesthetic virtue, and the role of chance, control and victory, to the nature of a team, and the persistence of a ‘club’ throughout time.

__

Contents

Part I. The Philosophy Behind the Game.

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Episode 74, ‘Football’ with Stephen Mumford (Part I - The Philosophy Behind the Game) Feb 09, 2020

Football is the most popular sport on the planet. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s experienced the excitement of matchday. It’s hard to remain indifferent when thousands of tightly packed fans, each patriotically sporting the colours of their team, sing, cheer and heckle in unison. The thrill of a crunching challenge, a derby victory, or a last-minute winner will undoubtedly elicit excitement.

For the sceptic, there is nothing beyond this superficial appeal. Fool-ball is simply a game of chance, in which the sport’s novelty appeal is only sustained through blind patriotism. Football is push-pin, and it is not to be confused with poetry.

Durham University’s Stephen Mumford defends football in the face of this attack. For Mumford, football has an intellectual depth that rewards more detailed consideration. When we watch football through a philosophical lens, we are called to deliberate a great wealth of ideas; from categories of aesthetic virtue, and the role of chance, control and victory, to the nature of a team, and the persistence of a ‘club’ throughout time.

__

Contents

Part I. The Philosophy Behind the Game.

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo: The Death of Socrates (Part IV - The Death of Socrates, Further Analysis and Discussion) Feb 02, 2020

Let me tell you about the day Socrates drank the poison. You must be aware of his trial and apology? The Athenians have not stopped talking about it since Meletus and the others condemned him. Do not worry, he did not die in fear and nor is he truly gone. He argued his case much like he always had. He died the philosopher’s death, having practiced for it his entire life.

What does this mean? Socrates spoke persuasively about matters concerning the immortality of the soul. He said the life of a true philosopher helps the prisoner, chained hand and foot in their body, to escape from the dark cave of ignorance and into the light of wisdom. This, in turn, provides the soul with the perfect means to release itself from the body after death.

When the hour arrived, and Socrates finally took the hemlock, he did not flinch. Those of us who bore witness could not help but shed a tear – we were not as brave as the wise man who lay before us. What? You would like to hear more? Are you not convinced of the immortality that Socrates proposed? Come, take a seat, I will tell you the full story…

Contents

Part I. The Soul and Body

Part II. Arguments for the Soul’s Immortality

Part III. In Defence of Immortality

Part IV. The Death of Socrates, Further Analysis and Discussion

Attributions

Thank you to the following creators for allowing us to use their work in this episode.

Tri-Tachyon: https://soundcloud.com/tri-tachyon/albums.

PSOVOD: https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/416057.

All other music and sound effects used in Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo (Parts I-IV) are fully licensed. To request certificates, please contact jack@thepanpsycast.com.

Links

Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo: The Death of Socrates (Part III - In Defence of Immortality) Jan 26, 2020

Let me tell you about the day Socrates drank the poison. You must be aware of his trial and apology? The Athenians have not stopped talking about it since Meletus and the others condemned him. Do not worry, he did not die in fear and nor is he truly gone. He argued his case much like he always had. He died the philosopher’s death, having practiced for it his entire life.

What does this mean? Socrates spoke persuasively about matters concerning the immortality of the soul. He said the life of a true philosopher helps the prisoner, chained hand and foot in their body, to escape from the dark cave of ignorance and into the light of wisdom. This, in turn, provides the soul with the perfect means to release itself from the body after death.

When the hour arrived, and Socrates finally took the hemlock, he did not flinch. Those of us who bore witness could not help but shed a tear – we were not as brave as the wise man who lay before us. What? You would like to hear more? Are you not convinced of the immortality that Socrates proposed? Come, take a seat, I will tell you the full story…

Contents

Part I. The Soul and Body

Part II. Arguments for the Soul’s Immortality

Part III. In Defence of Immortality

Part IV. The Death of Socrates, Further Analysis and Discussion

Attributions

Thank you to the following creators for allowing us to use their work in this episode.

Tri-Tachyon: https://soundcloud.com/tri-tachyon/albums.

PSOVOD: https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/416057.

All other music and sound effects used in Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo (Parts I-IV) are fully licensed. To request certificates, please contact jack@thepanpsycast.com.

Links

Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo: The Death of Socrates (Part II - Arguments for the Soul’s Immortality) Jan 19, 2020

Let me tell you about the day Socrates drank the poison. You must be aware of his trial and apology? The Athenians have not stopped talking about it since Meletus and the others condemned him. Do not worry, he did not die in fear and nor is he truly gone. He argued his case much like he always had. He died the philosopher’s death, having practiced for it his entire life.

What does this mean? Socrates spoke persuasively about matters concerning the immortality of the soul. He said the life of a true philosopher helps the prisoner, chained hand and foot in their body, to escape from the dark cave of ignorance and into the light of wisdom. This, in turn, provides the soul with the perfect means to release itself from the body after death.

When the hour arrived, and Socrates finally took the hemlock, he did not flinch. Those of us who bore witness could not help but shed a tear – we were not as brave as the wise man who lay before us. What? You would like to hear more? Are you not convinced of the immortality that Socrates proposed? Come, take a seat, I will tell you the full story…

Contents

Part I. The Soul and Body

Part II. Arguments for the Soul’s Immortality

Part III. In Defence of Immortality

Part IV. The Death of Socrates, Further Analysis and Discussion

Attributions

Thank you to the following creators for allowing us to use their work in this episode.

Tri-Tachyon: https://soundcloud.com/tri-tachyon/albums.

PSOVOD: https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/416057.

All other music and sound effects used in Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo (Parts I-IV) are fully licensed. To request certificates, please contact jack@thepanpsycast.com.

Links

Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo: The Death of Socrates (Part I - The Soul and Body) Jan 12, 2020

Let me tell you about the day Socrates drank the poison. You must be aware of his trial and apology? The Athenians have not stopped talking about it since Meletus and the others condemned him. Do not worry, he did not die in fear and nor is he truly gone. He argued his case much like he always had. He died the philosopher’s death, having practiced for it his entire life.

What does this mean? Socrates spoke persuasively about matters concerning the immortality of the soul. He said the life of a true philosopher helps the prisoner, chained hand and foot in their body, to escape from the dark cave of ignorance and into the light of wisdom. This, in turn, provides the soul with the perfect means to release itself from the body after death.

When the hour arrived, and Socrates finally took the hemlock, he did not flinch. Those of us who bore witness could not help but shed a tear – we were not as brave as the wise man who lay before us. What? You would like to hear more? Are you not convinced of the immortality that Socrates proposed? Come, take a seat, I will tell you the full story…

Contents

Part I. The Soul and Body

Part II. Arguments for the Soul’s Immortality

Part III. In Defence of Immortality

Part IV. The Death of Socrates, Further Analysis and Discussion

Attributions

Thank you to the following creators for allowing us to use their work in this episode.

Tri-Tachyon: https://soundcloud.com/tri-tachyon/albums.

PSOVOD: https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/416057.

All other music and sound effects used in Episode 73, Plato’s Phaedo (Parts I-IV) are fully licensed. To request certificates, please contact jack@thepanpsycast.com.

Links

Episode 72, Plato’s Crito: Socrates in Prison (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jan 05, 2020

Have you ever considered the invisible power of the law? How a contract is signed without ever putting pen to paper? Do not underestimate the importance of that which cannot be seen or grasped, since you unknowingly benefit from its presence and would suffer greatly in its absence. Therefore, if the law has kept you safe for all your best years, should you look to criticise it the moment it accuses?

Be careful not to pull too hard at that thread, for the social fabric appears tightly woven but is actually patched over the ages by many inadequate tailors. If you decide that the law doesn’t suit you now, are you not making yourself a special case? Isn’t everyone a special case? Would not everyone be pardoned?

So, what will it be: accept the law and therefore your fate, or set a precedent that demonstrates the contract is in fact as real as it is visible?

Contents

Part I. The Dialogue

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Episode 72, Plato’s Crito: Socrates in Prison (Part I - The Dialogue) Dec 29, 2019

Have you ever considered the invisible power of the law? How a contract is signed without ever putting pen to paper? Do not underestimate the importance of that which cannot be seen or grasped, since you unknowingly benefit from its presence and would suffer greatly in its absence. Therefore, if the law has kept you safe for all your best years, should you look to criticise it the moment it accuses?

Be careful not to pull too hard at that thread, for the social fabric appears tightly woven but is actually patched over the ages by many inadequate tailors. If you decide that the law doesn’t suit you now, are you not making yourself a special case? Isn’t everyone a special case? Would not everyone be pardoned?

So, what will it be: accept the law and therefore your fate, or set a precedent that demonstrates the contract is in fact as real as it is visible?

Contents

Part I. The Dialogue

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Episode 71, Plato’s Apology: Socrates on Trial (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Dec 22, 2019

Gentleman of our most prestigious Court of Athens, may I praise your patience and diligence in the presentation of the prosecution. I, Meletus stand before you unequivocally convinced that the criminal is guilty as charged. The hideous, snub-nosed Socrates is charged with corrupting the young men of Athens with his rhetoric and poisonous oratory skill, an undeniable fact. Socrates also stands before you charged with denying the gods their authority and challenging the beliefs of every genuine Athenian.

He insults our great city with his relentless irritating presence, a fly in great need of a spider. He shows no signs of remorse for his conduct or apology for his crimes, a true reflection of his guilt. I beg you loyal judicators of Athens, listen to his words, hear him twist them for his own malevolent purpose. Look into his eyes, see his lack of contrition. He says he knows nothing! I know at least one thing, the evidence presented by the prosecution proves Socrates is guilty, and he should accept the judgement of the Athenian Court.

Contents

Part I. The Dialogue

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Episode 71, Plato’s Apology: Socrates on Trial (Part I - The Dialogue) Dec 15, 2019

Gentleman of our most prestigious Court of Athens, may I praise your patience and diligence in the presentation of the prosecution. I, Meletus stand before you unequivocally convinced that the criminal is guilty as charged. The hideous, snub-nosed Socrates is charged with corrupting the young men of Athens with his rhetoric and poisonous oratory skill, an undeniable fact. Socrates also stands before you charged with denying the gods their authority and challenging the beliefs of every genuine Athenian.

He insults our great city with his relentless irritating presence, a fly in great need of a spider. He shows no signs of remorse for his conduct or apology for his crimes, a true reflection of his guilt. I beg you loyal judicators of Athens, listen to his words, hear him twist them for his own malevolent purpose. Look into his eyes, see his lack of contrition. He says he knows nothing! I know at least one thing, the evidence presented by the prosecution proves Socrates is guilty, and he should accept the judgement of the Athenian Court.

Contents

Part I. The Dialogue

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Episode 70, Plato's Euthyphro: Socrates Accused (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Dec 08, 2019

Did you hear the news of Socrates? He’s finally to answer for his sophistry! At last, the great lampooning, moral gadfly is to stand before the Court of Athens and answer for his crimes. To think, one could have the audacity to trade in talentless talk and lies, to lead our youth astray, and deny our gods, only to play the fool once more, and plead ignorance when his number is called.

Oh, magnificent Socrates, ‘the great rhetorician’ - his followers are deluded. A more fitting label? ‘Socrates, the great casuist clown!’ Lacking all reason and logic, he makes a mockery of our institutions. Like the fool who claims others cannot see, because he himself is blind, Socrates has only ever opened his mouth to appease his own lack of wisdom. Justly, he now finds himself in a tricky dilemma; may the gods have mercy on his impious soul.

Contents

Part I. The Dialogue

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Episode 70, Plato's Euthyphro: Socrates Accused (Part I - The Dialogue) Dec 01, 2019

Did you hear the news of Socrates? He’s finally to answer for his sophistry! At last, the great lampooning, moral gadfly is to stand before the Court of Athens and answer for his crimes. To think, one could have the audacity to trade in talentless talk and lies, to lead our youth astray, and deny our gods, only to play the fool once more, and plead ignorance when his number is called.

Oh, magnificent Socrates, ‘the great rhetorician’ - his followers are deluded. A more fitting label? ‘Socrates, the great casuist clown!’ Lacking all reason and logic, he makes a mockery of our institutions. Like the fool who claims others cannot see, because he himself is blind, Socrates has only ever opened his mouth to appease his own lack of wisdom. Justly, he now finds himself in a tricky dilemma; may the gods have mercy on his impious soul.

Contents

Part I. The Dialogue

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philip Goff, Galileo’s Error (2019).

Episode 69, ‘Galileo's Error’ with Philip Goff (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Nov 24, 2019

Galileo Galilei is widely considered to be the father of modern science and one of the greatest philosophers to have lived. Galileo played a pivotal role in the developments of the scientific revolution, overturning key tenets of Aristotelian physics and most significantly, advocating mathematics as the language of science. For Galileo, the physics of the past was plagued with unhelpful sensory qualities like colours, tastes, smells and sounds; for science to make progress, he thought, ‘the book of the universe’ must be written in a purely quantitative language.

For Durham University’s Philip Goff, this was Galileo’s Error. The hard problem of consciousness was born when Galileo stripped consciousness away from the scientific picture. Somehow, we must find a way back. We must lay the foundations for a new science - a new science of consciousness.

Contents

Part I. Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philip Goff, Website.

Philip Goff, Twitter.

Episode 69, ‘Galileo's Error’ with Philip Goff (Part I - Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness) Nov 17, 2019

Galileo Galilei is widely considered to be the father of modern science and one of the greatest philosophers to have lived. Galileo played a pivotal role in the developments of the scientific revolution, overturning key tenets of Aristotelian physics and most significantly, advocating mathematics as the language of science. For Galileo, the physics of the past was plagued with unhelpful sensory qualities like colours, tastes, smells and sounds; for science to make progress, he thought, ‘the book of the universe’ must be written in a purely quantitative language.

For Durham University’s Philip Goff, this was Galileo’s Error. The hard problem of consciousness was born when Galileo stripped consciousness away from the scientific picture. Somehow, we must find a way back. We must lay the foundations for a new science - a new science of consciousness.

Contents

Part I. Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philip Goff, Galileo’s Error (2019).

Philip Goff, Website.

Philip Goff, Twitter.

Episode 68, The Abigail Thorn Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Nov 10, 2019

Abigail Thorn is an actor and educator, best known as the creator and host of the popular YouTube channel Philosophy Tube. Boasting around half a million subscribers, Abigail’s channel is notorious for its well-researched content and colourful presentation. With over six years of videos under her belt, it is fair to say that Abigail is going over and above in her goal of giving away her philosophy degree for free.

In this episode, we’ll be getting at the person behind Philosophy Tube, discussing the role and responsibilities of those contributing to public-facing philosophy. When we present philosophy in the public sphere, what are our goals? Should they the same as those in the philosophy seminar room - our desire being rigorous, detailed, delicate contemplation - or does public media demand something else? In short, do we need to change our ways to make philosophy accessible?

[Note: Abigail Thorn came out as a transgender woman in January 2021. This episode was recorded pre-transition.]

Contents

Part I. Behind Philosophy Tube

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philosophy Tube, YouTube Channel

Philosophy Tube, Twitter

Philosophy Tube, Patreon

Interview: Philosophy Tube, What’s it like to be a philosopher?

Episode 68, The Abigail Thorn Interview (Part I - Behind Philosophy Tube) Nov 03, 2019

Abigail Thorn is an actor and educator, best known as the creator and host of the popular YouTube channel Philosophy Tube. Boasting around half a million subscribers, Abigail’s channel is notorious for its well-researched content and colourful presentation. With over six years of videos under her belt, it is fair to say that Abigail is going over and above in her goal of giving away her philosophy degree for free.

In this episode, we’ll be getting at the person behind Philosophy Tube, discussing the role and responsibilities of those contributing to public-facing philosophy. When we present philosophy in the public sphere, what are our goals? Should they the same as those in the philosophy seminar room - our desire being rigorous, detailed, delicate contemplation - or does public media demand something else? In short, do we need to change our ways to make philosophy accessible?

[Note: Abigail Thorn came out as a transgender woman in January 2021. This episode was recorded pre-transition.]

Contents

Part I. Behind Philosophy Tube

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philosophy Tube, YouTube Channel

Philosophy Tube, Twitter

Philosophy Tube, Patreon

Interview: Philosophy Tube, What’s it like to be a philosopher?

Episode 67, Flowers for Algernon (Part V - Further Analysis and Discussion) Oct 27, 2019

Report: March 2nd After the successes we have had with Algernon, and with much deliberation, I have officially chosen our first research subject. Charlie Gordon, 32, was recommended to us by Alice Kinian from the Beekman School for Retarded Adults and she has assured us of his desire to increase his intellect. I have scheduled for Charlie to come to the lab over the next few days where Burt Selden will run some preliminary psych tests. We are also going to test his mental flexibility with a few maze puzzles with Algernon. All that remains is the consent of a family member to grant permission for the operation. According to Alice Kinian, his sister Norma might be the most appropriate person to seek out. Providing there are no warning signs during the testing, and consent is provided, we will be on the cusp of something truly ground-breaking. All these years of hard work will be vindicated and the trust of my wife and those who fund me will have been justified. Dare I say it, I might be remembered amongst the pantheon of great scientists. Strauss has insisted that we keep a close eye on his mental state and emotional growth. I am inclined to agree but feel we cannot be held fully accountable for the man’s personality. The success or failure of this experiment will rest on his increased intelligence, or lack thereof. One thing is certain, if the experiment works, Charlie Gordon’s life will change forever. Professor Harold Nemur

Contents

Part I. Life and Context.

Part II. The Story: The Rise of Charlie Gordon.

Part III. The Story: The Fall of Charlie Gordon.

Part IV. The Meaning.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer’s Journey, Daniel Keyes (Amazon).

Episode 67, Flowers for Algernon (Part IV - The Meaning) Oct 20, 2019

Report: March 2nd After the successes we have had with Algernon, and with much deliberation, I have officially chosen our first research subject. Charlie Gordon, 32, was recommended to us by Alice Kinian from the Beekman School for Retarded Adults and she has assured us of his desire to increase his intellect. I have scheduled for Charlie to come to the lab over the next few days where Burt Selden will run some preliminary psych tests. We are also going to test his mental flexibility with a few maze puzzles with Algernon. All that remains is the consent of a family member to grant permission for the operation. According to Alice Kinian, his sister Norma might be the most appropriate person to seek out. Providing there are no warning signs during the testing, and consent is provided, we will be on the cusp of something truly ground-breaking. All these years of hard work will be vindicated and the trust of my wife and those who fund me will have been justified. Dare I say it, I might be remembered amongst the pantheon of great scientists. Strauss has insisted that we keep a close eye on his mental state and emotional growth. I am inclined to agree but feel we cannot be held fully accountable for the man’s personality. The success or failure of this experiment will rest on his increased intelligence, or lack thereof. One thing is certain, if the experiment works, Charlie Gordon’s life will change forever. Professor Harold Nemur

Contents

Part I. Life and Context.

Part II. The Story: The Rise of Charlie Gordon.

Part III. The Story: The Fall of Charlie Gordon.

Part IV. The Meaning.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer’s Journey, Daniel Keyes (Amazon).

Episode 67, Flowers for Algernon (Part III - The Story: The Fall of Charlie Gordon) Oct 13, 2019

Report: March 2nd After the successes we have had with Algernon, and with much deliberation, I have officially chosen our first research subject. Charlie Gordon, 32, was recommended to us by Alice Kinian from the Beekman School for Retarded Adults and she has assured us of his desire to increase his intellect. I have scheduled for Charlie to come to the lab over the next few days where Burt Selden will run some preliminary psych tests. We are also going to test his mental flexibility with a few maze puzzles with Algernon. All that remains is the consent of a family member to grant permission for the operation. According to Alice Kinian, his sister Norma might be the most appropriate person to seek out. Providing there are no warning signs during the testing, and consent is provided, we will be on the cusp of something truly ground-breaking. All these years of hard work will be vindicated and the trust of my wife and those who fund me will have been justified. Dare I say it, I might be remembered amongst the pantheon of great scientists. Strauss has insisted that we keep a close eye on his mental state and emotional growth. I am inclined to agree but feel we cannot be held fully accountable for the man’s personality. The success or failure of this experiment will rest on his increased intelligence, or lack thereof. One thing is certain, if the experiment works, Charlie Gordon’s life will change forever. Professor Harold Nemur

Contents

Part I. Life and Context.

Part II. The Story: The Rise of Charlie Gordon.

Part III. The Story: The Fall of Charlie Gordon.

Part IV. The Meaning.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer’s Journey, Daniel Keyes (Amazon).

Episode 67, Flowers for Algernon (Part II - The Story: The Rise of Charlie Gordon) Oct 06, 2019

Report: March 2nd After the successes we have had with Algernon, and with much deliberation, I have officially chosen our first research subject. Charlie Gordon, 32, was recommended to us by Alice Kinian from the Beekman School for Retarded Adults and she has assured us of his desire to increase his intellect. I have scheduled for Charlie to come to the lab over the next few days where Burt Selden will run some preliminary psych tests. We are also going to test his mental flexibility with a few maze puzzles with Algernon. All that remains is the consent of a family member to grant permission for the operation. According to Alice Kinian, his sister Norma might be the most appropriate person to seek out. Providing there are no warning signs during the testing, and consent is provided, we will be on the cusp of something truly ground-breaking. All these years of hard work will be vindicated and the trust of my wife and those who fund me will have been justified. Dare I say it, I might be remembered amongst the pantheon of great scientists. Strauss has insisted that we keep a close eye on his mental state and emotional growth. I am inclined to agree but feel we cannot be held fully accountable for the man’s personality. The success or failure of this experiment will rest on his increased intelligence, or lack thereof. One thing is certain, if the experiment works, Charlie Gordon’s life will change forever. Professor Harold Nemur

Contents

Part I. Life and Context.

Part II. The Story: The Rise of Charlie Gordon.

Part III. The Story: The Fall of Charlie Gordon.

Part IV. The Meaning.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer’s Journey, Daniel Keyes (Amazon).

Episode 67, Flowers for Algernon (Part I - Daniel Keyes: Life and Context) Sep 29, 2019

Report: March 2nd After the successes we have had with Algernon, and with much deliberation, I have officially chosen our first research subject. Charlie Gordon, 32, was recommended to us by Alice Kinian from the Beekman School for Retarded Adults and she has assured us of his desire to increase his intellect. I have scheduled for Charlie to come to the lab over the next few days where Burt Selden will run some preliminary psych tests. We are also going to test his mental flexibility with a few maze puzzles with Algernon. All that remains is the consent of a family member to grant permission for the operation. According to Alice Kinian, his sister Norma might be the most appropriate person to seek out. Providing there are no warning signs during the testing, and consent is provided, we will be on the cusp of something truly ground-breaking. All these years of hard work will be vindicated and the trust of my wife and those who fund me will have been justified. Dare I say it, I might be remembered amongst the pantheon of great scientists. Strauss has insisted that we keep a close eye on his mental state and emotional growth. I am inclined to agree but feel we cannot be held fully accountable for the man’s personality. The success or failure of this experiment will rest on his increased intelligence, or lack thereof. One thing is certain, if the experiment works, Charlie Gordon’s life will change forever. Professor Harold Nemur

Contents

Part I. Life and Context.

Part II. The Story: The Rise of Charlie Gordon.

Part III. The Story: The Fall of Charlie Gordon.

Part IV. The Meaning.

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Links

Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer’s Journey, Daniel Keyes (Amazon).

Episode 66, Niccolò Machiavelli (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion) Sep 22, 2019

No book can teach you how to tame the raging river of fortune, for it has many plans contrary to ambitious minds. Yet to submit powerlessly to fate with lamentation, as if God has not instilled you with freedom of the will, is a sign of disrespect and the ultimate folly of our kind. For the river splits into many paths and those that appear to drag us towards the abyss, may, in the end, lead us to glory if only we persist in our efforts.

That is not to say that fortune always favours the brave. The acts of life should be understood as drama rather than science, and sometimes the heroes lose. Nevertheless, if it just so happens that you wish to play the role of the Prince or Princess, and be responsible for guiding others to a better future, there is wisdom you can learn from your time and through history to aid your cause.

Before we go any further, however, I must warn you that the practicalities of ruling come with demands that are not for the faint-of-heart. Human nature dictates that at times, you will need to adopt the methods of the Fox and the Lion.

You must be like the Fox in order to spot the traps laid by those who wish to see you fail and you must be like the Lion so that those same people will never try too hard for fear of the repercussions.

This might sound harsh, but let me remind you that the road to hell is often pathed with good intentions and that sometimes to be good you must learn… to be cruel.

This episode is sponsored by Rachel Poulton’s The Little Book of Philosophy.

For more information about the book, please click the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y4csq4no.

Contents

Part I. Life and Context

Part II. The Prince

Part III. Machiavellianism Today

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Discourses on Livy (Amazon).

Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction (Amazon).

The Great Courses, Machiavelli in Context (Audible).

Cary J. Nedermand, Machiavelli: A Beginner's Guide (Amazon).

Dick Morris, New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century (Amazon).

Episode 66, Niccolò Machiavelli (Part III - Machiavellianism Today) Sep 15, 2019

No book can teach you how to tame the raging river of fortune, for it has many plans contrary to ambitious minds. Yet to submit powerlessly to fate with lamentation, as if God has not instilled you with freedom of the will, is a sign of disrespect and the ultimate folly of our kind. For the river splits into many paths and those that appear to drag us towards the abyss, may, in the end, lead us to glory if only we persist in our efforts.

That is not to say that fortune always favours the brave. The acts of life should be understood as drama rather than science, and sometimes the heroes lose. Nevertheless, if it just so happens that you wish to play the role of the Prince or Princess, and be responsible for guiding others to a better future, there is wisdom you can learn from your time and through history to aid your cause.

Before we go any further, however, I must warn you that the practicalities of ruling come with demands that are not for the faint-of-heart. Human nature dictates that at times, you will need to adopt the methods of the Fox and the Lion.

You must be like the Fox in order to spot the traps laid by those who wish to see you fail and you must be like the Lion so that those same people will never try too hard for fear of the repercussions.

This might sound harsh, but let me remind you that the road to hell is often pathed with good intentions and that sometimes to be good you must learn… to be cruel.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Gaston Luga.

Head over to www.gastonluga.com and get 15% off any purchase with the discount code PANPSY.

Contents

Part I. Life and Context

Part II. The Prince

Part III. Machiavellianism Today

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Discourses on Livy (Amazon).

Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction (Amazon).

The Great Courses, Machiavelli in Context (Audible).

Cary J. Nedermand, Machiavelli: A Beginner's Guide (Amazon).

Dick Morris, New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century (Amazon).

Episode 66, Niccolò Machiavelli (Part II - The Prince) Sep 08, 2019

No book can teach you how to tame the raging river of fortune, for it has many plans contrary to ambitious minds. Yet to submit powerlessly to fate with lamentation, as if God has not instilled you with freedom of the will, is a sign of disrespect and the ultimate folly of our kind. For the river splits into many paths and those that appear to drag us towards the abyss, may, in the end, lead us to glory if only we persist in our efforts.

That is not to say that fortune always favours the brave. The acts of life should be understood as drama rather than science, and sometimes the heroes lose. Nevertheless, if it just so happens that you wish to play the role of the Prince or Princess, and be responsible for guiding others to a better future, there is wisdom you can learn from your time and through history to aid your cause.

Before we go any further, however, I must warn you that the practicalities of ruling come with demands that are not for the faint-of-heart. Human nature dictates that at times, you will need to adopt the methods of the Fox and the Lion.

You must be like the Fox in order to spot the traps laid by those who wish to see you fail and you must be like the Lion so that those same people will never try too hard for fear of the repercussions.

This might sound harsh, but let me remind you that the road to hell is often pathed with good intentions and that sometimes to be good you must learn… to be cruel.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Gaston Luga.

Head over to www.gastonluga.com and get 15% off any purchase with the discount code PANPSY.

Contents

Part I. Life and Context

Part II. The Prince

Part III. Machiavellianism Today

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Discourses on Livy (Amazon).

Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction (Amazon).

The Great Courses, Machiavelli in Context (Audible).

Cary J. Nedermand, Machiavelli: A Beginner's Guide (Amazon).

Dick Morris, New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century (Amazon).

Episode 66, Niccolò Machiavelli (Part I - Life and Context) Sep 01, 2019

No book can teach you how to tame the raging river of fortune, for it has many plans contrary to ambitious minds. Yet to submit powerlessly to fate with lamentation, as if God has not instilled you with freedom of the will, is a sign of disrespect and the ultimate folly of our kind. For the river splits into many paths and those that appear to drag us towards the abyss, may, in the end, lead us to glory if only we persist in our efforts.

That is not to say that fortune always favours the brave. The acts of life should be understood as drama rather than science, and sometimes the heroes lose. Nevertheless, if it just so happens that you wish to play the role of the Prince or Princess, and be responsible for guiding others to a better future, there is wisdom you can learn from your time and through history to aid your cause.

Before we go any further, however, I must warn you that the practicalities of ruling come with demands that are not for the faint-of-heart. Human nature dictates that at times, you will need to adopt the methods of the Fox and the Lion.

You must be like the Fox in order to spot the traps laid by those who wish to see you fail and you must be like the Lion so that those same people will never try too hard for fear of the repercussions.

This might sound harsh, but let me remind you that the road to hell is often pathed with good intentions and that sometimes to be good you must learn… to be cruel.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Gaston Luga.

Head over to www.gastonluga.com and get 15% off any purchase with the discount code PANPSY.

Contents

Part I. Life and Context

Part II. The Prince

Part III. Machiavellianism Today

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Discourses on Livy (Amazon).

Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction (Amazon).

The Great Courses, Machiavelli in Context (Audible).