philosophy bites

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

Catherine Wilson on Epicureanism

Epicureanism is often caricatured as a philosophy of indulgence. But what did followers of Epicurus really believe and do? Catherine Wilson discusses Epicureanism and its legacy in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Catherine Wilson on Epicureanism

 

William B. Irvine on Living Stoically

How should we live? That's one of the basic philosophical questions. The Stoics had some answers. But are these at all relevant today? William B. Irvine, along with a number of other contemporary philosophers, believes we can learn from Stoicism. It's a philosophy that can change your life. Is he right?

Listen to William B. Irvine on Stoicism

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Julia Annas on What is Virtue Ethics For?

Julia Annas outlines the key features of Virtue Ethics, the approach to living well derived from Aristotle's writings, and explains what she thinks the purpose of this ethical approach is.

Listen to Julia Annas on What is Virtue Ethics For?

If you enjoy Philosophy Bites, you might also like Social Science Bites, our sister series.

Rebecca Newberger Goldstein on Progress in Philosophy

Has philosophy progressed at all since the time of Plato? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton discusses this question with the philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein.

Listen to Rebecca Newberger Goldstein on Progress in Philosophy

 

Adrian Moore on Bernard Williams on Ethics

Bernard Williams was one of the most brilliant philosophers of his generation. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites, Adrian Moore, who knew him well, discusses his views about ethics.

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Listen to Adrian Moore on Bernard Williams on Ethics

Read an obituary of Bernard Williams by Adrian Moore

Read Martha Nussbaum's tribute to Bernard Williams

Jessica Moss on Plato and Aristotle on Weakness of Will

You think you know what's best but do something else instead. What's going on? Plato and Aristotle had different approaches to this phenomenon of weakness of will ('akrasia' in Greek). Jessica Moss who has recently moved to New York University discusses their different approaches in this episode of the Philosphy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Jessica Moss on Plato and Aristotle on Weakness of Will

Peter Adamson on Avicenna's Flying Man Thought Experiment

Are we simply material beings? Do we have an immaterial soul? Can we know this? These questions have vexed philosophers for millenia. Avicenna, who was born in the 10th Century believed he could show that we are not simply physical through a thought experiment, the Flying Man. Peter Adamson discusses this idea with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Peter Adamson on the Flying Man Thought Experiment

Listen to an earlier interview with Peter Adamson on Avicenna on God

Listen to an earlier interview with Peter Adamson on Plotinus on Evil

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy.

Peter Adamson has his own podcast History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

Melissa Lane on Plato and Sustainability

What can the ancients teach us about sustainability? According to Melissa Lane of Princeton University, author of Eco-Republic, quite a lot. She discusses the relevance of Plato to modern environmental problems in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Melissa Lane on Plato and Sustainability

Listen to an earlier Philosophy Bites interview with Melissa Lane on Rousseau and Modern Society

Listen to an earlier Philosophy Bites interview with Melissa Lane on Plato and Totalitarianism

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy.

M.M. McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry

In Plato's dialogue The Meno, Socrates presents an apparent paradox that makes our ability to learn anything new puzzling. M.M. McCabe discusses this apparent paradox and its relevance in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to MM McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry