Philosophy Bites

Edmonds and Warburton•www.philosophybites.com

David Edmonds (Uehiro Centre, Oxford University) and Nigel Warburton (freelance philosopher/writer) interview top philosophers on a wide range of topics. Two books based on the series have been published by Oxford University Press. We are currently self-funding - donations very welcome via our website http://www.philosophybites.com

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Episodes

Timothy Williamson on Vagueness

Philosopher Timothy Williamson explains how we can make sense of such vague concepts as 'heap' or 'red' or 'bald' in the process outlining his own solution to what are usually known as Sorites Paradoxes. Williamson gives a precise account of what 'vagueness' means, how it differs from ambiguity, and why this matters.

Aug 13, 2007•15 min

David Papineau on Physicalism

Are all our thoughts simply physical events in our bodies? Can we give a purely physical account of the conscious human mind? David Papineau believes that we can. In this interview for Philosophy Bites he explains what physicalism is, why he believes it to be true, and how it can be defended against a range of criticisms.

Aug 07, 2007•16 min

Anthony Grayling on Atheism

Is belief in the existence of a God or gods the equivalent of believing that there are fairies at the bottom of the garden? Or can it be defended on the basis of reason or evidence? In this interview for Philosophy Bites Anthony Grayling gives a philosophical defence of atheism and explains why he believes it to be a well-grounded and ultimately life-affirming position to hold.

Jul 30, 2007•13 min

Adrian Moore on Infinity

Infinity is a difficult concept to grasp and one that introduces several paradoxes. In this interview for Philosophy Bites, Adrian Moore, author of an important book on the subject, gives a clear and stimulating introduction to the philosophy of infinity.

Jul 24, 2007•14 min

Roger Crisp on Utilitarianism

How should we live? John Stuart Mill, one of the great thinkers of the nineteenth century thought that we should maximise happiness. Here Roger Crisp, author of an acclaimed book on Mill, explains Mill's utilitarian ethical theory.

Jul 16, 2007•13 min

Edward Craig - What is Philosophy?

Edward Craig, editor of the Routledge Encylopedia of Philosophy and author of Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction gives an interesting angle on the nature of philosophy, how it relates to other kinds of thinking, and what makes good philosophy good.

Jul 10, 2007•13 min

Anne Phillips on Multiculturalism

Should members of a minority group be left to lead their lives as they see fit, even where their values differ from those of the majority? Anne Phillips, author of a recent book on multiculturalism, addresses the difficult question of how people from different cultures can live together without conflict.

Jul 03, 2007•16 min

Alain de Botton on The Aesthetics of Architecture

How important is beauty in architecture? Is a concern with beauty mere asetheticism? Alain de Botton, author of The Architecture of Happiness, discusses the nature and value of architectural beauty in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Jun 27, 2007•14 min

Barry Smith on Wine

Is wine tasting a purely subjective matter? Why should we value the experience of drinking wine? Philosopher Barry Smith, editor of a new book on the philosophy of wine, Questions of Taste, explores these and related issues in this interview.

Jun 21, 2007•15 min

Miranda Fricker on Epistemic Injustice

Testimonial injustice occurs when others fail to treat you seriously as a source of knowledge. In this interview Miranda Fricker, author of a recent book on the topic, explains this concept which lies at the intersection between epistemology and political philosophy.

Jun 16, 2007•14 min

John Cottingham on The Meaning of Life

What is the meaning of life? This is a basic question for all of us. There is also the possibility that life has no meaning whatsoever. In this interview John Cottingham explains his vision of the kinds of meaning that we can find in our lives.

Jun 12, 2007•14 min

Stephen Law on The Problem of Evil

Stephen Law explores the problem of evil, distinguishing between its logical and evidential forms, arguing the latter poses a significant challenge to belief in an all-powerful, all-good God. He introduces a scale of reasonableness to assess beliefs, then critiques common arguments for God's existence and theodicies like the free will defense, especially in light of natural disasters and widespread animal suffering. The discussion culminates with the "evil god" hypothesis, illustrating how readily arguments can be inverted, suggesting belief in an omnibenevolent deity is ultimately unreasonable.

Jun 09, 2007•14 min

Mary Warnock on Philosophy in Public Life

What can philosophers contribute to public life? Mary Warnock who sits in the House of Lords and has chaired two important commissions discusses how her training in philosophy prepared her for these roles.

Jun 02, 2007•13 min

Simon Blackburn on Plato's Cave

What is the nature of reality? Is the world as it appears, or is there something timeless behind the world of appearances? Simon Blackburn discusses one of the most famous images in Philosophy: Plato's cave.

Jun 02, 2007•14 min

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