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

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.

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

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

Roger Crisp on Virtue

What is a virtue? Is ethics a matter of cultivating appropriate virtues, patterns of behaviour prized by particular people at a particular time? Roger Crisp discusses the nature of virtue in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Roger Crisp on Virtue

Alex Neill on the Paradox of Tragedy

In this Philosophy Bites interview Alex Neill addresses the question of whether there really is a paradox of tragedy. How is it that we can enjoy tragedies when they show pain and suffering? He also considers the related question of how we can take pleasure in horror movies.

Listen to Alex Neill on The Paradox of Tragedy

Anthony Kenny on Aquinas' Ethics

Anthony Kenny gives an overview of Thomas Aquinas' approach to ethics in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to Anthony Kenny on Aquinas's Ethics

Listen to Anthony Kenny on his History of Philosophy (previously on Philosophy Bites)

Myles Burnyeat on Aristotle on Happiness

Myles Burnyeat explains what Aristotle meant by happiness in this latest episode of Philosophy Bites.  Surprisingly, Aristotle thought that children couldn't be happy in a meaningful sense and that things that happen without you being aware of them can affect your happiness...

Listen to Myles Burnyeat on Aristotle on Happiness

The book Maieusis, edited by Dominic Scott (see below) is a collection of articles by eminent classics scholars in honour of Myles Burnyeat.