philosophy bites

Ray Monk on Philosophy and Biography

Ray Monk discusses the relationship between philosophy and a philosopher's life in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast. Can understanding the biographical context of a philosopher and the type of person that they were help us understand their philosophical writing? Is there anything that philosophers might learn from biography? Monk as an award-winning biographer of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell is well-placed to address these questions.

Listen to Ray Monk on Philosophy and Biography

MM McCabe on Socratic Method

What is Socratic Method and does it have any present day applications? In this interview for Philosophy Bites MM McCabe explains the significance of Socrates' impertinent questioning and contrasts his approach with present day university teaching.

Listen to M.M. McCabe on Socratic Method

Aaron Ridley on Nietzsche on Art and Truth

In this interview Aaron Ridley explores Nietzsche's changing views about the relationship between art and truth including his views about the dionysian and appollonian aspects of existence.

Listen to Aaron Ridley on Nietzsche on Art and Truth

Clare Carlisle on Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling

What is faith? Are human beings capable of it? What part does reason play in life? These and more questions are raised by Søren Kierkegaard's book Fear and Trembling. Clare Carlisle illuminates many of the themes of the book in this interview for Philosophy Bites.

Listen to Clare Carlisle on Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling

Alex Neill on the Paradox of Tragedy

In this Philosophy Bites interview Alex Neill addresses the question of whether there really is a paradox of tragedy. How is it that we can enjoy tragedies when they show pain and suffering? He also considers the related question of how we can take pleasure in horror movies.

Listen to Alex Neill on The Paradox of Tragedy