Ted Honderich on What It Is to be Conscious
In this episode Ted Honderich sketches his theory of the nature of consciousness.
Oct 11, 2014•17 min
Philosophy Bites
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
John Dupre on Genomics
Genomics is a new approach to understanding our biology, one with far-reaching consequences for our understanding of what we are and where are responsibilities lie. Philosopher of biology John Dupre explains in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Sep 29, 2014•16 min
Peter Lamarque on Literature and Truth
Many people have claimed that one of the benefits of reading writers like Dostoevsky and Shakespeare is that they convey important truths about the human condition. Peter Lamarque is sceptical about this way of speaking about literature. He explains why in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Sep 14, 2014•18 min
Jennifer Nagel on Intuitions about Knoweldge
Knowledge is part of our everyday lives. We know all kinds of things without even thinking about them. But what is going on here? Jennifer Nagel discusses our intutions about knowledge with Nigel Warburton for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast
Aug 31, 2014•19 min
Tamar Gendler on Why Philosophers Use Examples
Why do philosophers use examples? Tamar Gendler explores this question in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Aug 17, 2014•14 min
Amia Srinivasan on Genealogy
Does it matter where our ideas came from? Friedrich Nietzsche famously diagnosed the origin of Christian morality in what he thought of as a slave mentality. Amia Srninivasan discusses genealogical reasoning with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Aug 02, 2014•19 min
Seth Lazar on Sparing Civilians in War
Why is it morally wrong to target civilians in war? Can civilians be distinguished clearly from combatants? Seth Lazar discusses these issues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Jul 19, 2014•16 min
Chris Betram on Rousseau's Moral Psychology
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's insights into moral psychology and its impact on how we live are the subject of this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Jul 06, 2014•20 min
Roger Scruton on the Sacred
Is there any place for a notion of the sacred in contemporary life? Roger Scruton believes that there is. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses his understanding of the sacred and the part it plays in our experience of each other.
Jun 24, 2014•16 min
Regina Rini on the Moral Self and Psychology
What can experimental psychology contribute to our self-development as moral agents? Philosopher Regina Rini explores this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Jun 08, 2014•18 min
Simon Blackburn on Narcissism
Vanity, smugness, narcissism - they're not good, but they're not all the same thing. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Simon Blackburn explores what's wrong with narcissism and how it differs from related concepts.
May 24, 2014•15 min
Norman Daniels on the Philosophy of Healthcare
Should we be striving to reduce health inequalities? If so, how? Harvard philosopher Norman Daniels discusses this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
May 13, 2014•17 min
Tom Stoneham on George Berkeley's Immaterialism
George Berkeley was famous for arguing that objects are really just ideas. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Tom Stoneham clarifies what he meant by this.
Apr 27, 2014•19 min
Michael Ignatieff on Political Theory and Political Practice
Michael Ignatieff was an academic with a keen inerest in political theory before he learnt the hard way about politics in practice. He was an academic who became leader of the opposition in Canada then lost heavily in the 2011 Prime Ministerial election. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses the relationship between theory and practice in politics with Nigel Warburton ....
Apr 12, 2014•18 min
Stephen Darwall on Moral Accountability
Moral accountability is at the heart of moral obligation and it reveals much about the attitudes we hold to each otehr. Yale professor Stephen Darwall explains what this means in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Mar 30, 2014•17 min
David Papineau on Philosophy and Sport
David Papineau discusses a range of specific sporting incidents that are of philosophical interest in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. David Papineau has a weblog on philosophy and sport: 'More Important Than That'
Mar 13, 2014•22 min
Roberto Mangabeira Unger on Deep Freedom
Roberto Unge r argues that contemporary political progressives have abandoned what 19th century liberals knew: that some ways of living are better than others. In this conversation with Nigel Warburton he argues that we need a different concept of freedom, one that will allow humans to thrive.
Mar 04, 2014•17 min
Nicola Lacey on H.L.A.Hart and Legal Positivism
H.L.A. Hart made significant contributions to legal philosophy. Nicola Lacey discusses his legal positivism in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Feb 24, 2014•18 min
John Skorupski on Normativity
Some statements are descriptive, such as ' Philosophy Bites is a podcast series'; others are normative, such as 'You ought to tell the truth'. But what exactly is normativity? John Skorupski explores this question in conversation with David Edmonds.
Feb 09, 2014•17 min
Tim Scanlon on What's Wrong with Inequality?
Is a concern for inequality of wealth just a form of envy? Are there good reasons for objecting to inequality? Harvard philosopher Tim Scanlon discusses these questions in converation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Jan 25, 2014•15 min
Emma Borg on Language and Context
How much of the meaning of what we say depends on its context of utterance? Is there a role for literal meaning. Emma Borg discusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Jan 07, 2014•21 min
Patricia Churchland on Self Control
Neurophilosopher Pat Churchland discusses the insights that neuroscience can give us into the nature of self control in this episode of the Philosophyh Bites podcast.
Dec 22, 2013•18 min
Jennifer Saul on Implicit Bias
Implicit biases are tricky. We all have them, apparently, but we don't realise we have them. What are the implications of these biases? Does it, perhaps, go some way to explaining why there are so few women in academic philosophy? Jennifer Saul discusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast....
Dec 07, 2013•16 min
Adrian Moore on Bernard Williams on Ethics
Bernard Williams was one of the most brilliant philosophers of his generation. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Adrian Moore discusses his ideas about Ethics.
Nov 23, 2013•22 min
Rom Harre on the Linguistic Turn in Philosophy
For this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Rom Harre discusses and illustrates the so-called Linguistic Turn in Philosophy, the focus on actual uses of language that was advocated by the later Wittgenstein, J.L. Austin, Gilbert Ryle and others.
Nov 10, 2013•16 min
Robert Talisse on the Importance of Arguments in Politics
Why is argument so important in politics? Bob Talisse , co-author of Why We Argue (and how we should) , explores this issue in conversation with David Edmonds for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Oct 26, 2013•19 min
John Tasioulas on Human Rights
What are human rights? Are they simply legal rights? What is their relation to morality? John Tasioulas discusses the basis of human rights in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.
Oct 12, 2013•21 min
Eric Schwitzgebel on the Ethical Behaviour of Ethics Professors
You might expect people who specialize in moral philosophy to behave better than other people. Eric Schwitzgebel has done some empirical investigation of whether this is the case, and it doesn't seem to be. What does that show about ethics? Philosophy Bites investigates.
Sep 28, 2013•16 min
Alison Gopnik on Hume and Buddhism
Many people have noticed similarities between what David Hume wrote about the self and Buddhist teaching on this subject. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites archive Alison Gopnik discusses the possibility that there was a direct route of influence.
Sep 14, 2013•16 min
David Edmonds on Trolley Problems
Is it ever morally acceptable to kill one person to save many? Most people agree that in some extreme circumstances this, though psychologically difficult, can be the right action to take. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, Nigel Warburton interviews David Edmonds (co-creator of the Philosophy Bites podcast) about the life and death thought experiments known as Trolley Problems. David Edmonds book about Trolley Problems Would You Kill the Fat Man? will be published in Autumn 2013 b...
Sep 01, 2013•17 min
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