philosophy bites

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.

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

A.C. Grayling on Bombing Civilians in Wartime

A.C. Grayling, author of Among The Dead Cities, explains why he believes that the Allies' deliberate targeting of civilians in Dresden and elsewhere during the Second World War was morally wrong.

Listen to Anthony Grayling on Bombing Civilians in Wartime

Anthony Appiah on Experiments in Ethics

In this interview for Philosophy Bites Anthony Appiah explains how experiments in psychology can be relevant to our ethical reasoning.

Listen to Anthony Appiah on Experiments in Ethics

Listen to Anthony Appiah on Cosmopolitanism (earlier on Philosophy Bites)

John Broome on Weighing Lives

How can human lives be weighed one against each other? Is this even possible? John Broome who has a background in economics as well as in philosophy, discusses how governments should allocate scarce resources or make life and death decisions in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to John Broome on Weighing Lives

Donna Dickenson on Body Shopping

Who owns your body? This is an important question now that there is a market in body parts. Donna Dickenson, author of Body Shopping, discusses the ethical issues with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to Donna Dickenson on Body Shopping

Read extracts from reviews of Body Shopping

Mary Warnock on the Right to Have a Baby

Does anyone have a right to have a baby? What are acceptable criteria for determining who should have access to in vitro fertilization? Mary Warnock, a philosopher and member of the House of Lords, discusses these topics with Nigel Warburton. This episode was produced in association with The Open University as part of the Ethics Bites series. A transcript of the programme is available from www.open2.net/ethicsbites.

Listen to Mary Warnock on the Right to Have a Baby

Listen to Mary Warnock on Philosophy and Public Life (a previous episode of Philosophy Bites)

Michael Sandel on Genetic Enhancement in Sport

Should athletes be allowed to use genetic enhancement to improve their performance? Michael Sandel, author of The Case Against Perfection, thinks not. Find out why by listening to this bonus episode of Philosophy Bites produced in association with the Open University and originally published on Ethics Bites. A transcript of this interview is available from www.open2.net/ethicsbites/

Listen to Michael Sandel on Genetic Enhancement in Sport

Peter Singer on Using Animals

How should we treat animals? Peter Singer, perhaps the best know living moral philosopher addresses this question in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this bonus episode. This  was produced in association with The Open University as part of podcast Ethics Bites. A transcript of the interview and further information about the series is available from Open2.net.

Listen to Peter Singer on Using Animals

Extensive list of links to online articles and interviews by and about Peter Singer