philosophy bites

Carissa Véliz on Digital Ethics

Digital Ethics is a new field. What is its main focus? Carissa Véliz discusses digital ethics with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Carissa Véliz on Digital Ethics

Theron Pummer on the Rules of Rescue

You might not have an obligation to risk your life saving other people, but if you do, you should opt for saving the greatest number you can. So thinks Theron Pummer. He discusses why with David Edmonds. 

Listen to Theron Pummer on the Rules of Rescue

William MacAskill on Longtermism

When we make moral decisions do we need to take into account their effect on future people? What weight should we give to these people's interests. William MacAskill argues for longtermism and this has some controversial consequences. He discusses longtermism with David Edmonds.

Listen to William MacAskill on Longtermism

Kieran Setiya on Loneliness

What is loneliness, and what can philosophers say about it? Kieran Setiya discusses loneliness with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Kieran Setiya on Loneliness

Edith Hall on Aristotle's Way

How should you live? Philosophers have had many thoughts on this question, but Aristotle's answers still remain relevant. Here scholar and Aristotle-enthusiast Edith Hall makes the case for following Aristotle's Way. 

Listen to Edith Hall on Aristotle's Way

L.A. Paul on Transformative Experience

We have all had transformative experiences of one kind or another. But what is their philosophical significance? L.A. Paul discusses this question with Nigel Warburton. 

Listen to L.A. Paul on Transformative Experience

Josiah Ober on the Civic Bargain

How do you solve the question of collective self-government by citizens? Josiah Ober argues that we need to become civic friends, a concept he explains in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Josiah Ober on the Civic Bargain

Skye Cleary on Authenticity

What is authenticity and how can we achieve it? Skye Cleary discusses this important question through the lens of Simone de Beauvoir's philosophy.

Listen to Skye Cleary on Authenticity

Peter Railton on AI and Ethics

Technological developments have transformed Artificial Intelligence in the last decade. Can ethics move quickly enough to keep apace of it? Peter Railton discusses some of the problems that arise when thinking about ethics and AI with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Peter Railton gave the 2022 Uehiro Lectures on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence

Listen to Peter Railton's Philosophy Bites interview on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence

Clare Chambers on the Unmodified Body

Throughout history people have modified their bodies one way or another. But how much of this is morally acceptable? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, the philosopher Claire Chambers  bucks the trend and makes a cases for the  unmodified body. Clare was interviewed by David Edmonds.

Listen to Clare Chambers on the Unmodified Body

 

Peter Singer on Consequentialism

Peter Singer's positions on animals, human suffering, poverty, and much else besides are all underpinned by his consequentialism: he believes that the right thing to do is to maximise happiness. Here he explains what that means in practice, and in particular what it means for rich people...

 

Listen to Peter Singer on Consequentialism

Listen to a short clip of Peter Singer explaining why he gave the million-dollar Berggruen Prize money away

Listen to a short clip of Peter Singer on the importance of writing clearly in the humanities and in philosophy

 

Previous interviews with Peter Singer on Philosophy Bites:

Listen to Peter Singer on Life and Death Decision-Making

Listen to Peter Singer on Henry Sidgwick's Ethics

Listen to Peter Singer on The Life You Can Save

Listen to Peter Singer on Human Use of Animals

 

 

 

Cécile Fabre on the Ethics of Spying

Is it immoral to act as a spy? We hear a great deal about the ethics of just wars, but very little about the ethics of spying. Here Cécile Fabre discusses some of the ethical implications of spying in its various forms. 

Listen to Cécile Fabre on the Ethics of Spying

Ro Khanna on Digital Dignity

The Internet and digital technology have transformed our lives. Is it possible to preserve human dignity in the face of technological progress? Ro Khanna explains how he things this can be possible.

Listen to Ro Khanna on Digital Dignity

Benjamin Lipscomb on Four Women Philosophers

Benjamin Lipscomb, in conversation with David Edmonds, discusses how four women philosophers, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley and Iris Murdoch met in Oxford and went on to make significant contributions to philosophy. 

Listen to Benjamin Lipscomb on Four Women Philosophers

Paul Bloom on Psychological Hedonism

Many philosophers have argued that we pursue pleasure. But perhaps things aren't as simple as that. Perhaps sometimes we pursue pain or discomfort too. Paul Bloom explains.

Listen to Paul Bloom on Psychological Hedonism

 

Myisha Cherry on Rage

Seneca famously declared that anger is a useless emotion and suggested a variety of ways to avoid feeling it. Myisha Cherry in contrast, argues that rage can be a useful emotion, particularly rage against racial injustice. In discussion with Nigel Warburton she explains the importance of this kind of emotion in motivating action and bringing about political change. 

Listen to Myisha Cherry on Rage

Agnes Callard on Complaint

Agnes Callard discusses the nature of complaint and its philosophical importance. 

Listen to Agnes Callard on Complaint

Arash Abizadeh on Thomas Hobbes' Ethics

Thomas Hobbes is best known for his account of why we should accept political authority. But, argues Arash Abizadeh, that was Hobbes' solution to the problem of how we should live together in society that arises directly from his views about what human beings are and what obligations we have to one another. 

Listen to Arash Abizadeh on Thomas Hobbes' Ethics

 

Steven Nadler on Spinoza on Free Speech

Spinoza expert Steven Nadler discusses Spinoza's views on free speech in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Steven Nadler on Spinoza on Free Speech

Listen to an earlier Philosophy Bites interview with Steven Nadler on Spinoza on Death

Please consider supporting Philosophy Bites, either via the links in the sidebar or on Patreon.

Read Nigel Warburton's recent Five Books interview with Steven Nadler on the best books by and about Spinoza

 

Suki Finn on the Metaphysics of Nothing

What is the status of something that is an absence, like a hole? Suki Finn explores the metaphysics of nothing in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Suki is also the editor of a new book based on Philosophy Bites interviews with women philosophers selected from our archive Women of Ideas, to be published by Oxford University Press in April.

Listen to Suki Finn on the Metaphysics of Nothing

You might also be interested in this previous related Philosophy Bites interview with Tim Crane:

Listen to Tim Crane on Non-Existence