philosophy bites

Roger Scruton on the Sacred

Is there a place for the sacred in contemporary life? Roger Scruton believes there is. In this discussion he explains his understanding of the experiences he calls sacred.

Listen to Roger Scruton on the Sacred

 

Alain de Botton on Atheism 2.0

Is religion ridiculous? Many atheists think that it is. Alain de Botton is an atheist, but he believes there is much that atheists can learn from religion.

Listen to Alain de Botton Atheism 2.0

 Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

 

Luc Bovens on Catholicism and HIV

Luc Bovens of the London School of Economics, maintains that the Catholic church should permit condom use for discordant heterosexual couples (those where one partner has HIV and the other doesn't) on grounds of consistency with other doctrines, such as that of Double Effect.

Listen to Luc Bovens on Catholicism and HIV

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Paul Russell on David Hume's Philosophy of Irreligion

To celebrate David Hume's 300th Birthday we are releasing this bonus episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. On the standard reading of Hume's Treatise, this important book reveals its author both as a sceptic and as someone wanting to contribute positive ideas about human nature. These two aspects of the book seem to be in tension. Paul Russell suggests a way of solving the riddle of the Treatise. He emphasizes David Hume's irreligion and how it pervades every aspect of Hume's first book.

Listen to Paul Russell on David Hume's Philosophy of Irreligion 

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Previous Philosophy Bites interviews on David Hume:

Listen to Peter Millican on Hume's Significance

Listen to Stewart Sutherland on Hume on Design

A range of Open University podcasts on David Hume (with transcripts) is available here

Ben Rogers on Pascal's Pensées

Blaise Pascal's Pensées is renowned as a great book. Yet few philosophers know much more about it than that it contains Pascal's famous 'Wager' in which he purports to demonstrate that a rational agnostic should gamble on God's existence. Here Ben Rogers explains the context in which the book was written and outlines its key themes.

Listen to Ben Rogers on Pascal's Pensées

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