philosophy bites

Luciano Floridi on the Fourth Revolution

New technology has changed our relationship to one another and to the world, argues Luciano Floridi. This calls for a shake up in philosophy.

Listen to Luciano Floridi on the Fourth Revolution

 

Paul Snowdon on Persons and Animals

What am I? This is the fundamental question that Paul Snowdon addresses in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. John Locke thought that continuity of memory was the basic criterion for determining whether or not we are dealing with the same person over time. Paul Snowdon, in contrast,  argues that we should see ourselves as primarily human animals.

Listen to Paul Snowdon on Persons and Animals

Michael Sandel on What Shouldn't Be Sold

Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel discusses the moral limits of markets in this, the 100th episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Sandel is the BBC 2009 Reith Lecturer. His four Reith Lectures will be broadcast on Radio 4 and the BBC World Service in June. You can follow Philosophy Bites interviewer Nigel Warburton on Twitter commenting on Sandel's first lecture as it is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 10.15 p.m. UK time on 13th June on www.twitter.com/philosophybites. Add #goodradio or #Reith2009 to any comments you make on Twitter. For more information about the 2009 Reith Lectures follow www.twitter.com/Reith2009.

Listen to Michael Sandel on What Shouldn't Be Sold

You can also listen to Michael Sandel on Enhancement in Sport (a topic that is relevant to the 3rd of his Reith lectures) on an earlier episode of  Ethics Bites which we made for The Open University. Open2.net has a site with some audio and links about the 2009 Reith Lectures here.

Allen Buchanan on Enhancement

Biological enhancement of human beings in a variety of dimensions is now possible. But what are the ethical implications?  Allen Buchanan discusses enhancement in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Allen Buchanan on Enhancement

On Twitter

I've just started Twittering on http://twitter.com/philosophybites.

Nigel

Walter Sinnott-Armstrong on Moral Psychology

Nigel Warburton interviews Walter Sinnott-Armstrong about moral psychology for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Is recent psychological research relevant to moral philosophy? If so, what exactly can it provide?

Listen to Walter Sinnott-Armstrong on Moral Psychology

Thomas Hurka on Pleasure

Pleasure is something we all seek. But should we? Is it the most important thing in life? Are all pleasures of equal value? Thomas Hurka investigates the concept of pleasure in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to Thomas Hurka on Pleasure

Amazon and Indirect Censorship

If it is true that Amazon is removing books that they deem to have sexual content from their rankings, then I'm afraid we will shortly be removing all Amazon links from this site, as we strongly disapprove of this act of indirect censorship. Books removed from the rankings allegedly include Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty, Jeanette Winterson's Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, E.M.Forster's Maurice, and some serious works of psychology.

For more on this issue, read the piece on The Guardian's website here.

UPDATE: Amazon claim it was a 'glitch' and are re-ranking everything, see here.

Terence Irwin on Aristotle's Ethics

Aristotle's Ethics, although only known as a series of lecture notes, has had an immense influence on philosophy. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, Terence Irwin outlines the key features of this work.

Listen to Terence Irwin on Aristotle's Ethics

Raymond Tallis on Assisted Dying

Assisted dying, providing a patient with the means to kill themselves, is a highly controversial issue. For this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Raymond Tallis, who is both an eminent gerontologist and philosopher, discusses this topic with interviewer Nigel Warburton.

Listen to Raymond Tallis on Assisted Dying

Julian Savulescu on the 'Yuk' Factor

How relevant is revulsion to moral judgements? We all have strong emotional reactions of 'yuk!' to some activities. But should we attempt to set these aside or should they be guides to our action? Julian Savulescu, Director of the Oxford University Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics discusses the relevance of moral repugnance with Nigel Warburton for Philosophy Bites.

Listen to Julian Savulescu on the 'Yuk' Factor

Sebastian Gardner on Jean-Paul Sartre on Bad Faith

Jean-Paul Sartre's Being and Nothingness is sometimes described as the bible of existentialism. At its core is the notion of Bad Faith. For this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Sebastian Gardner, author of a recent book about Being and Nothingness, explains what Sartre meant by Bad Faith.

Listen to Sebastian Gardner on Sartre on Bad Faith

Keith Ward on Idealism in Eastern and Western Philosophy

Is the ultimate nature of reality non-physical? Keith Ward, who believes that it is, discusses the idealist traditions in Eastern and Western philosophy in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Keith Ward on Idealism in Eastern and Western Philosophy

Bibliography of Keith Ward's writing

David Papineau on Scientific Realism

Do subatomic particles really exist? Or are they convenient fictions that explain observable phenomena? David Papineau discusses  arguments for and against scientific realism in this  episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to David Papineau on Scientific Realism

 

Kate Soper on Alternative Hedonism

Kate Soper believes that we need to rethink how we live in the light of impending environmental catastrophe. But the unexpected element in her thought is that alternative ways of living can be more enjoyable than consumerism. This leads to her notion of alternative hedonism.

Listen to Kate Soper on Alternative Hedonism

Chandran Kukathas on Genocide

Genocide is, at first glance, a straightforward term. We think we know what it is and why it is such an evil.  But, as  Chandran Kukathas of the London School of Economics argues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, perhaps the received definition of this term that emerged following the Second World War needs refinement.

Listen to Chandran Kukathas on Genocide

M.M. McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry

In Plato's dialogue The Meno, Socrates presents an apparent paradox that makes our ability to learn anything new puzzling. M.M. McCabe discusses this apparent paradox and its relevance in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to MM McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry

Philosophy Bites in iTunes Best of 2008

Philosophy Bites features in the iTunes Best of 2008 audio podcasts list that has just been issued. We are delighted that so many people out there seem to be interested in philosophical discussion. Thanks for all your emails and comments.

Raymond Tallis on Parmenides

Parmenides was possibly the greatest of the pre-Socratic philosophers. Raymond Tallis, author of a recent book on this philosopher, The Enduring Significance of Parmenides, discusses his ideas and influences with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Raymond Tallis on Parmenides

Read Raymond Tallis' article on Parmenides from Prospect

Don Cupitt on Non-Realism About God

Don Cupitt, the controversial theologian and philosopher whose BBC television series The Sea of Faith (and accompanying book) spawned a theological movement with the same name, is the interviewee for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. He explains his non-realism about God.

Listen to Don Cupitt on Non-Realism About God