philosophy bites

Vagueness and Ethics: intervews with Robert Williams and Ofra Magidor

​Sometimes, there is vagueness about whether it is morally permissible (or even in some situations required) to perform a certain act—moral vagueness. What is the source of moral vagueness? 

These two episodes of the Philosophy Bites podcast have been made in association with Vagueness & Ethics, a research project funded by the European Commission (grant agreement number 101028625 — H2020-MSCA-IF-2020) and led by Miguel Dos Santos at Uppsala University in Sweden

Listen to Robert Williams on Decision Making Under Indeterminacy 

Listen to Ofra Magidor on Epistemicism and Moral Vagueness

 

Peter Godfrey Smith on Understanding Minds

Peter Godfrey Smith is famous for his work on understanding the minds of other animals, particularly octopuses. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses animal minds with Nigel Warburton.

Listen to Peter Godfrey Smith on Understanding Minds

Richard Bourke on Hegel's Philosophy of History

Hegel is a notoriously difficult philosopher to understand. Here Richard Bourke gives a clear route through his key ideas about history and how it unfolds in conversation with Nigel Warburton.

Listen to Richard Bourke on Hegel's Philosophy of History 

Jonathan Birch on the Edge of Sentience

Recent zoological research has shown us that a wide range of animals are likely to have sentience. We don't know for sure. There is sufficient evidence to think that it is likely that, for example, lobsters can feel pain. What should we do in the light of this? Jonathan Birch of the LSE,  author of The Edge of Sentience, discusses this important question with Nigel Warburton.

Listen to Jonathan Birch on the Edge of Sentience

Cheryl Misak on Frank Ramsey's Life and Thought

The Cambridge philosopher Frank Ramsey died aged 26, but in a short brilliant life he made significant contributions to philosphy and economics. Here in the Bio Bites strand of Philosophy Bites David Edmonds discusses Ramsey's life and thought with his biographer Cheryl Misak.

Listen to Cheryl Misak on Frank Ramsey's Life and Thought

Elizabeth Harman on Moral Heroes

Moral heroes are usually thought of as people who go beyond what is obligatory. Elizabeth Harman discusses whether sometimes we ought to act as moral heroes. She is in conversation with David Edmonds for this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Elizabeth Harman on Moral Heroes

Walter Sinnott Armstrong on AI and Morality

Can AI help us make difficult moral decisions? Walter Sinnott Armstrong explores this idea in conversation with David Edmonds in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Walter Sinnott Armstrong on AI and Morality

David Edmonds on the Life and Philosophy of Derek Parfit

David Edmonds discusses the life and work of Derek Parfit who died in 2017 in this episode of the Bio Bites strand of Philosophy Bites. David is the author of a recent biography of Parfit.

Listen to David Edmonds on the Life and Philosophy of Derek Parfit

 

Yascha Mounk on the Identity Trap

Yascha Mounk discusses some of the ways in which focussing on gender, racial, and sexual identities can distort political argument and be counterproductive for oppressed minorities.

Listen to Yascha Mounk on the Identity Trap

Mark Rowe on J.L. Austin

J.L.Austin was the best known exponent of what came to be known as Ordinary Language Philosophy. He was also a war hero. In this episode of the Bio Bites strand of the Philosophy Bites podcast David Edmonds discusses Austin's life and work with his biographer Mark Rowe.

Listen to Mark Rowe on J.L. Austin

James Klagge on Wittgenstein

In this episode James Klagge discusses the life and times of Ludwig Wittgenstein with David Edmonds. This is part of our mini series on the biographies of philosophers, Bio Bites.

Listen to James Klagge on Wittgenstein

David Chalmers on Technophilosophy and the Extended Mind

Where does your mind end and the world begin? David Chalmers discusses the idea of the extended mind that he developed with Andy Clark. According to them your smartphone and even your spectacles can be part of your mind.

Listen to David Chalmers on Technophilosophy and the Extended Mind 

Agnes Callard on Sex

What happens when people have sexual desires for one another? Agnes Callard from the University of Chicago discusses sex, eroticism, and much more in conversation with Nigel Warburton. 

Listen to Agnes Callard on Sex

Michael Lamb on Augustine on Hope

Augustine is usually described as a pessimist with a bleak view of human evil and corruption. Michael Lamb thinks that is a simplistic reading. Augustine has interesting things to say about hope as a virtue. 

Listen to Michael Lamb on Augustine on Hope

Seth Lazar on Political Philosophy in the Age of AI

AI has changed our lives already and looks set to have a huge impact. How should we adapt our thinking about political philosophy in the light of this? The philosopher Seth Lazar explores this question in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Seth Lazar on Political Philosophy in the Age of AI

Hannah Dawson on Law and Morality

In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton interviews the philosopher and intellectual historian Hannah Dawson about Mary Wollstonecraft and her book The Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792).

Listen to Hannah Dawson on Mary Wollstonecraft's The Vindication of the Rights of Woman 

Scott Herschovitz on Law and Morality

What is the relationship between law and morality? How do they differ? Scott Herschovitz discusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Scott Herschovitz on Law and Morality

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