More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/hypatia-alexandria.Hypatia of Alexandria, late antiquity public figure and scholar, made significant contributions to mathematics, philosophy, and astronomy. Her embrace of Neoplatonism was seen as such a threat to the political elite in Alexandria that she was murdered by a mob of Christians. So what made her ideas so dangerous and revolutionary for her time? As a woman in Ancient Egypt, how did she exert power over her own narrative? And should she really be considered a "martyr" for philosophy? Josh and Ray explore Hypatia's life and thought with Edward Watts, Professor of History at UCSD and author of "Hypatia: The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/hypatia-alexandria" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/hypatia-alexandria</a>. Hypatia of Alexandria, late antiquity public figure and scholar, made significant contributions to mathematics, philosophy, and astronomy. Her embrace of Neoplatonism was seen as such a threat to the political elite in Alexandria that she was murdered by a mob of Christians. So what made her ideas so dangerous and revolutionary for her time? As a woman in Ancient Egypt, how did she exert power over her own narrative? And should she really be considered a "martyr" for philosophy? Josh and Ray explore Hypatia's life and thought with Edward Watts, Professor of History at UCSD and author of "Hypatia: The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher."

570: Hypatia  of Alexandria

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/arts-all.When we think of “real” art, we often think of expensive, highbrow pieces that are displayed in museums and galleries, and critiqued by the elite. In fact, people commonly lament that they don’t know enough about art to truly understand or appreciate the works that they encounter. So should art aim to be accessible to everyone? Or is it ever okay to sacrifice accessibility for other competing aims that art can pursue? Do artists have a duty to make their work more available or accessible in other ways? Josh and Ray paint their masterpiece with Catharine Abell from the University of Oxford, author of "Fiction: A Philosophical Analysis."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/arts-all" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/arts-all</a>. When we think of “real” art, we often think of expensive, highbrow pieces that are displayed in museums and galleries, and critiqued by the elite. In fact, people commonly lament that they don’t know enough about art to truly understand or appreciate the works that they encounter. So should art aim to be accessible to everyone? Or is it ever okay to sacrifice accessibility for other competing aims that art can pursue? Do artists have a duty to make their work more available or accessible in other ways? Josh and Ray paint their masterpiece with Catharine Abell from the University of Oxford, author of "Fiction: A Philosophical Analysis."

514: The Arts For All?

More at www.philosophytalk.org/shows/mexican-philosophy.From early feminist Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz to existentialist Emilio Uranga, from Indigenous thought to theorists of aesthetic utopia, Mexican philosophy is full of fascinating figures with brilliant insights. What can we learn from them today about belief, desire, freedom, morality, and education? And do Mexican philosophers speak with one voice or in a complicated harmony, stretching across the centuries? Josh and Ray travel through space and time with Manuel Vargas from UC San Diego, author of "Building Better Beings: A Theory of Moral Responsibility."

More at <a href="http://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/mexican-philosophy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.philosophytalk.org/shows/mexican-philosophy</a>. From early feminist Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz to existentialist Emilio Uranga, from Indigenous thought to theorists of aesthetic utopia, Mexican philosophy is full of fascinating figures with brilliant insights. What can we learn from them today about belief, desire, freedom, morality, and education? And do Mexican philosophers speak with one voice or in a complicated harmony, stretching across the centuries? Josh and Ray travel through space and time with Manuel Vargas from UC San Diego, author of "Building Better Beings: A Theory of Moral Responsibility."

569: Mexican Philosophy

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/democracy-numbers.The United States prides itself on being “the world’s greatest democracy,” which adheres to the principle, “one person, one vote.” Despite this, its elections are often highly contentious—presidents can be elected after losing the popular vote, there is widespread gerrymandering and voter purging, and not everyone has equal representation in the Senate. So what can we do to make elections in the US more fair? And how do we decide what counts as fair in the first place? Is there some test or algorithm we can use to determine equal representation? Josh and Ray watch the polls with Moon Duchin from Tufts University, Director of the Metric Geometry and Gerrymandering Research Group.

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/democracy-numbers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/democracy-numbers</a>. The United States prides itself on being “the world’s greatest democracy,” which adheres to the principle, “one person, one vote.” Despite this, its elections are often highly contentious—presidents can be elected after losing the popular vote, there is widespread gerrymandering and voter purging, and not everyone has equal representation in the Senate. So what can we do to make elections in the US more fair? And how do we decide what counts as fair in the first place? Is there some test or algorithm we can use to determine equal representation? Josh and Ray watch the polls with Moon Duchin from Tufts University, Director of the Metric Geometry and Gerrymandering Research Group.

517: Democracy By Numbers

What books should thoughtful people read this summer? Josh and Ray talk to the authors and editors of new and recent books as they compile their annual Summer Reading List:• Michael Schur, creator of TV's "The Good Place" and author of "How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question"• Lori Gruen, Professor of Philosophy at Wesleyan University and co-editor of "The Good It Promises, The Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism"• Gabriella Safran, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Stanford University and author of "Recording Russia: Trying to Listen in the Nineteenth Century"

What books should thoughtful people read this summer? Josh and Ray talk to the authors and editors of new and recent books as they compile their annual Summer Reading List: • Michael Schur, creator of TV's "The Good Place" and author of "How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question" • Lori Gruen, Professor of Philosophy at Wesleyan University and co-editor of "The Good It Promises, The Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism" • Gabriella Safran, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Stanford University and author of "Recording Russia: Trying to Listen in the Nineteenth Century"

568: Summer Reading List 2023

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-gender.Gender is a controversial topic these days, but people can't seem to agree about what gender is. Is it an inner identity, a biological fact, or an oppressive system? Should we respect it or resist it? Should it even be a thing? Josh and guest-host Blakey Vermeule question gender with regular co-host Ray Briggs, co-author of "What Even Is Gender?"

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-gender" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-gender</a>. Gender is a controversial topic these days, but people can't seem to agree about what gender is. Is it an inner identity, a biological fact, or an oppressive system? Should we respect it or resist it? Should it even be a thing? Josh and guest-host Blakey Vermeule question gender with regular co-host Ray Briggs, co-author of "What Even Is Gender?"

567: What Is Gender?

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/rhetoric-big-tech.Big Tech is known for its "disruption" of established industries and changing fundamental aspects of our lives from shopping and delivery to communication and transit. While many welcome these changes, there are also worries about privacy, fairness, and deregulation. So how do tech companies think about what it is they are doing and what justifies it? Who are their philosophical sources, and do they use them responsibly? What role does New Age thinking, Ayn Rand, Martin Heidegger, and even Samuel Beckett play in shaping the rhetoric of big tech? Josh and Ray debug the code with Adrian Daub from Stanford University, author of "What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/rhetoric-big-tech" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/rhetoric-big-tech</a>. Big Tech is known for its "disruption" of established industries and changing fundamental aspects of our lives from shopping and delivery to communication and transit. While many welcome these changes, there are also worries about privacy, fairness, and deregulation. So how do tech companies think about what it is they are doing and what justifies it? Who are their philosophical sources, and do they use them responsibly? What role does New Age thinking, Ayn Rand, Martin Heidegger, and even Samuel Beckett play in shaping the rhetoric of big tech? Josh and Ray debug the code with Adrian Daub from Stanford University, author of "What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley."

518: The Rhetoric of Big Tech

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/minds-and-matter.Everything that seems to have a mind also has a body made of flesh and blood. But if we look at the diversity of animals found in the world, we find a huge variety of species that perceive and interact with the world in very different ways. Is there something all these species have in common? Are neurons and ganglia required, or can evolution generate consciousness in different ways? What can the study of evolutionary biology tell us about the nature of the mind? Josh and Ray sail away with Peter Godfrey-Smith from the University of Sydney, author of "Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/minds-and-matter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/minds-and-matter</a>. Everything that seems to have a mind also has a body made of flesh and blood. But if we look at the diversity of animals found in the world, we find a huge variety of species that perceive and interact with the world in very different ways. Is there something all these species have in common? Are neurons and ganglia required, or can evolution generate consciousness in different ways? What can the study of evolutionary biology tell us about the nature of the mind? Josh and Ray sail away with Peter Godfrey-Smith from the University of Sydney, author of "Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind."

515: Minds and Matter

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/can-art-save-us.The world is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis, and we urgently need good ways to address it. Courageous politicians would help, of course, as might scientific innovations. But how much of the problem is a failure of imagination? Could the arts help us see our way out of the problem? How can literature, painting, and movies redraw the landscape in our minds? Josh and Ray imagine a conversation with Harriet Hawkins, Professor of Human Geography and Co-Director of the Centre for GeoHumanities at Royal Holloway, University of London.

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/can-art-save-us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/can-art-save-us</a>. The world is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis, and we urgently need good ways to address it. Courageous politicians would help, of course, as might scientific innovations. But how much of the problem is a failure of imagination? Could the arts help us see our way out of the problem? How can literature, painting, and movies redraw the landscape in our minds? Josh and Ray imagine a conversation with Harriet Hawkins, Professor of Human Geography and Co-Director of the Centre for GeoHumanities at Royal Holloway, University of London.

566: Can Art Save Us?

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/true-contradictions.If you want to tell the truth, you shouldn’t contradict yourself—that’s just common sense. A suspect who was home on the night of the crime can’t have been elsewhere, and whatever the weapon, we can rule out the hypothesis that it was both a candlestick and not a candlestick. But there are philosophers who claim we shouldn’t overgeneralize based on murder mysteries: some contradictions are true. Could a badly written law make the dastardly deed both legal and illegal? Do mathematical paradoxes create weird things that both do and don’t exist? If we embrace contradictions, will we still be able to tell the difference between truth and falsehood? Josh and Ray embrace contradiction with Graham Priest from the City University of New York, author of "Doubt Truth to Be a Liar."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/true-contradictions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/true-contradictions</a>. If you want to tell the truth, you shouldn’t contradict yourself—that’s just common sense. A suspect who was home on the night of the crime can’t have been elsewhere, and whatever the weapon, we can rule out the hypothesis that it was both a candlestick and not a candlestick. But there are philosophers who claim we shouldn’t overgeneralize based on murder mysteries: some contradictions are true. Could a badly written law make the dastardly deed both legal and illegal? Do mathematical paradoxes create weird things that both do and don’t exist? If we embrace contradictions, will we still be able to tell the difference between truth and falsehood? Josh and Ray embrace contradiction with Graham Priest from the City University of New York, author of "Doubt Truth to Be a Liar."

565: True Contradictions

Bite-size episodes from the program that questions everything... except your intelligence. Learn more and access complete episodes at www.philosophytalk.org.

It hurts me to rate this so poorly. I get that you have to make money and are restricted on advertising. But, c’mon!  Find a way to get it done so you can put a full episode up and not just a few minutes. Is the restriction because you record on campus? Then record off campus. Or whatever works. This method of putting up a couple minutes and then wanting us to search elsewhere for a paid download is awful. It adds so much friction to the process that it grinds to a halt.  It could be a really interesting podcast, but I’m afraid I’m so discouraged with this process that I’m just deleting it from my playlist. Again, it’s painful because I think the content can be excellent. But I have about ten minutes a week to download a few hours of podcasts, and there’s just too much quality stuff out there that requires a single click and is frictionless.

Couple Minutes Not Worth It

I, too, was irked by these teaser shorts. I was even more irked to learn one must subscribe and pay $ to hear full podcasts and access archives. However, I emailed the show and received an explanation: Stanford U doesn’t pay a cent to support this show. Further, there is a restriction on advertising because the show is recorded on the campus. Thus, their only choice was to make it available by subscription. The cost is reasonable in the Scheme of All Things, about $6 to $8 monthly depending on the length you choose. I have blown a lot more on worse things.

Here is the reason you must pay $

Bite-size episodes from the program that questions everything... except your intelligence. Learn more and access complete episodes at <a href="http://www.philosophytalk.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.philosophytalk.org</a>.

Philosophy Talk Starters

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/time-space-and-quantum-mechanics.Quantum physics is regarded by many as the most powerful predictive theory science has produced.  But there is no interpretation of what the theory means that all knowledgeable scientists and philosophers agree on.  For example, quantum mechanics delivers no very clear message about the difference between past, present and future. What are the implications for our everyday experience of space and time?  John and Ken welcome back Jenann Ismael from the University of Arizona, author of "The Situated Self" and many essays on the interpretation of quantum mechanics.

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/time-space-and-quantum-mechanics" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/time-space-and-quantum-mechanics</a>. Quantum physics is regarded by many as the most powerful predictive theory science has produced. But there is no interpretation of what the theory means that all knowledgeable scientists and philosophers agree on. For example, quantum mechanics delivers no very clear message about the difference between past, present and future. What are the implications for our everyday experience of space and time? John and Ken welcome back Jenann Ismael from the University of Arizona, author of "The Situated Self" and many essays on the interpretation of quantum mechanics.

260: Time, Space, and Quantum Mechanics

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/health-care-right-or-privilege.Do we have a right to healthcare, and to good high quality healthcare, in any precise and defensible sense? Or is the "right to healthcare" just a nice way to say it would be very nice if everyone had healthcare? John and Ken take a philosophical lens to the alleged right to healthcare and health insurance with Laurence Baker from the Center for Health Policy at Stanford University.

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/health-care-right-or-privilege" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/health-care-right-or-privilege</a>. Do we have a right to healthcare, and to good high quality healthcare, in any precise and defensible sense? Or is the "right to healthcare" just a nice way to say it would be very nice if everyone had healthcare? John and Ken take a philosophical lens to the alleged right to healthcare and health insurance with Laurence Baker from the Center for Health Policy at Stanford University.

207: Healthcare – Right or Privilege?

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/pornography.Is pornography an art form, or simply anything that depicts genitals in action?  Where does mere eroticism end and pornography begin?  In the internet age, pornography appears to have become not only more accessible but also more acceptable in American society – is this a welcome loosening up of a conservative tradition, or is it the path to moral degradation?  John and Ken probe the philosophical implications of pornography with Rae Langton, author of "Sexual Solipsism: Philosophical Essays on Pornography and Objectification."

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/pornography" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/pornography</a>. Is pornography an art form, or simply anything that depicts genitals in action? Where does mere eroticism end and pornography begin? In the internet age, pornography appears to have become not only more accessible but also more acceptable in American society – is this a welcome loosening up of a conservative tradition, or is it the path to moral degradation? John and Ken probe the philosophical implications of pornography with Rae Langton, author of "Sexual Solipsism: Philosophical Essays on Pornography and Objectification."

201: Pornography

More at www.philosophytalk.org/shows/philosophy-and-pop-culture.From Star Trek and the Grateful Dead to South Park and Stephen Colbert, philosophical questions are everywhere in popular culture: Is time travel possible? Can a person survive being disintegrated and reassembled? Does humor enable the expression of deep truths, political or otherwise? John and Ken look at the Big Questions in pop culture with Richard Hanley from the University of Delaware, author of "South Park and Philosophy."

More at <a href="http://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/philosophy-and-pop-culture" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.philosophytalk.org/shows/philosophy-and-pop-culture</a>. From Star Trek and the Grateful Dead to South Park and Stephen Colbert, philosophical questions are everywhere in popular culture: Is time travel possible? Can a person survive being disintegrated and reassembled? Does humor enable the expression of deep truths, political or otherwise? John and Ken look at the Big Questions in pop culture with Richard Hanley from the University of Delaware, author of "South Park and Philosophy."

168: Philosophy and Pop Culture

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/problem-evil.Many religions tell us that God is perfect: all-knowing, all-powerful, and beneficent.  Why then do bad things happen?  John and Ken discuss the problem of evil with their guest, Michael Tooley from the University of Colorado at Boulder, co-author of "Knowledge of God."

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/problem-evil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/problem-evil</a>. Many religions tell us that God is perfect: all-knowing, all-powerful, and beneficent. Why then do bad things happen? John and Ken discuss the problem of evil with their guest, Michael Tooley from the University of Colorado at Boulder, co-author of "Knowledge of God."

163: The Problem of Evil

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/extended-mind.An increasing number of psychologists and philosophers believe that to understand how the mind really works, we must understand it as both embedded in a body and as situated in an environment.  According to some, in fact, the body and the environment do not just house the mind, but are an essential part of the mind in the sense that workings of the mind depend upon and exploit the body and the environment.  John and Ken probe the extended mind, embodied cognition, and the situated self with renowned cognitive scientist George Lakoff, co-author of "Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought."

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/extended-mind" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/extended-mind</a>. An increasing number of psychologists and philosophers believe that to understand how the mind really works, we must understand it as both embedded in a body and as situated in an environment. According to some, in fact, the body and the environment do not just house the mind, but are an essential part of the mind in the sense that workings of the mind depend upon and exploit the body and the environment. John and Ken probe the extended mind, embodied cognition, and the situated self with renowned cognitive scientist George Lakoff, co-author of "Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought."

250: The Extended Mind

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/desire.There are two ways to have your desires fulfilled: you can either get what you want (if you're lucky enough) or change your desires.  If we can fit our desires to what we have, we're likely to be a lot happier.  So why do we desire things that are out of reach?  Why do we have desires that make us unhappy?  And what can we do about it?  John and Ken explore the relationship between desire and happiness with William Irvine, author of "On Desire: Why We Want What We Want."

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/desire" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/desire</a>. There are two ways to have your desires fulfilled: you can either get what you want (if you're lucky enough) or change your desires. If we can fit our desires to what we have, we're likely to be a lot happier. So why do we desire things that are out of reach? Why do we have desires that make us unhappy? And what can we do about it? John and Ken explore the relationship between desire and happiness with William Irvine, author of "On Desire: Why We Want What We Want."

192: Desire

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/challenges-free-will.We seem to be able to decide our behavior for ourselves – what we do is up to us.  But if everything that we do can be explained by physics, does this leave room for freedom?  Are all of our actions pre-determined?  Are we slaves to fate?  Is freedom compatible with determinism, or does science teach us that we're nothing but complex machines, following out a complicated program that a good enough physicist could have predicted centuries ago?  And what are the implications for morality and responsibility?  John and Ken exercise their will with Manuel Vargas from the University of San Francisco.

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/challenges-free-will" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/challenges-free-will</a>. We seem to be able to decide our behavior for ourselves – what we do is up to us. But if everything that we do can be explained by physics, does this leave room for freedom? Are all of our actions pre-determined? Are we slaves to fate? Is freedom compatible with determinism, or does science teach us that we're nothing but complex machines, following out a complicated program that a good enough physicist could have predicted centuries ago? And what are the implications for morality and responsibility? John and Ken exercise their will with Manuel Vargas from the University of San Francisco.

188: Challenges to Free Will

More at https://philosophytalk.org/shows/space-time-continuum.Strange things are said about time: that it's illusory, that it has no direction. But what about space, or the space-time continuum? What exactly is space-time? Are space and time fundamental features of the world? How do Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity change our understanding of space-time? Is there a distinction to be made between space and time, or must the two concepts be united into a single interwoven continuum? John and Ken fill time and space with Tim Maudlin from NYU, author of "Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time."

More at <a href="https://philosophytalk.org/shows/space-time-continuum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://philosophytalk.org/shows/space-time-continuum</a>. Strange things are said about time: that it's illusory, that it has no direction. But what about space, or the space-time continuum? What exactly is space-time? Are space and time fundamental features of the world? How do Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity change our understanding of space-time? Is there a distinction to be made between space and time, or must the two concepts be united into a single interwoven continuum? John and Ken fill time and space with Tim Maudlin from NYU, author of "Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time."

427: The Space-Time Continuum

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/mind-and-world.What kinds of contact can the mind have with the world?  Can we know how the world is in itself, or can we only know shadows of the world in our own minds?  Are we trapped behind a veil of our own mental states?  Is there a world outside my mind – or our minds – at all?  John and Ken tackle the big questions of perception, the external world, and the nature of reality, with Howard Robinson from the Central European University, author of "Perception."

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/mind-and-world" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/mind-and-world</a>. What kinds of contact can the mind have with the world? Can we know how the world is in itself, or can we only know shadows of the world in our own minds? Are we trapped behind a veil of our own mental states? Is there a world outside my mind – or our minds – at all? John and Ken tackle the big questions of perception, the external world, and the nature of reality, with Howard Robinson from the Central European University, author of "Perception."

196: The Mind and the World

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/foucault-and-power.Michel Foucault was a 20th century philosopher known for his work concerning power and knowledge. Foucault is often cited for his theory of knowledge and power, which are inextricably linked. But what exactly is Foucault's philosophy of power? Is it a universal theory intended to be applied in any context, or was Foucault simply responding to the specific power dynamics of his time? Josh and Ken take power from Gary Gutting from the University of Notre Dame, author of "Thinking the Impossible: French Philosophy Since 1960."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/foucault-and-power" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/foucault-and-power</a>. Michel Foucault was a 20th century philosopher known for his work concerning power and knowledge. Foucault is often cited for his theory of knowledge and power, which are inextricably linked. But what exactly is Foucault's philosophy of power? Is it a universal theory intended to be applied in any context, or was Foucault simply responding to the specific power dynamics of his time? Josh and Ken take power from Gary Gutting from the University of Notre Dame, author of "Thinking the Impossible: French Philosophy Since 1960."

470: Foucault and Power

More at www.philosophytalk.org/shows/machiavelli.Niccolò Machiavelli is best known for arguing that people in power should use deception, force, and manipulation if those tactics are necessary to achieve their ends. In an age of unscrupulous politics and ruthless business practice, shouldn't we be encouraging a move away from Machiavellian thinking? Then again, are we even sure that those "Machiavellian" views were really Machiavelli's? If not, what did he really think, and what might we learn from him? John and Ken plot and scheme with Maurizio Viroli from Princeton University, author of "Redeeming the Prince: The Meaning of Machiavelli's Masterpiece."

More at <a href="http://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/machiavelli" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.philosophytalk.org/shows/machiavelli</a>. Niccolò Machiavelli is best known for arguing that people in power should use deception, force, and manipulation if those tactics are necessary to achieve their ends. In an age of unscrupulous politics and ruthless business practice, shouldn't we be encouraging a move away from Machiavellian thinking? Then again, are we even sure that those "Machiavellian" views were really Machiavelli's? If not, what did he really think, and what might we learn from him? John and Ken plot and scheme with Maurizio Viroli from Princeton University, author of "Redeeming the Prince: The Meaning of Machiavelli's Masterpiece."

354: Machiavelli

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/bodies-sale.I can sell my house, the things I make, and the services I provide.  So why can't I sell one of my kidneys?  What is the philosophical basis for the taboo against selling parts of our bodies?  There is an (illegal) market in body parts; shouldn't we trust the wisdom of the market and make it legitimate?  Or would doing so undermine the very dignity of persons and human life?  Ken and John dissect the issues with Stanford Philosopher Debra Satz, author of "Why Some Things Should Not Be for Sale: On The Limits of Markets."

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/bodies-sale" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/bodies-sale</a>. I can sell my house, the things I make, and the services I provide. So why can't I sell one of my kidneys? What is the philosophical basis for the taboo against selling parts of our bodies? There is an (illegal) market in body parts; shouldn't we trust the wisdom of the market and make it legitimate? Or would doing so undermine the very dignity of persons and human life? Ken and John dissect the issues with Stanford Philosopher Debra Satz, author of "Why Some Things Should Not Be for Sale: On The Limits of Markets."

179: Bodies For Sale

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/spinoza.Baruch Spinoza was a 17th century Dutch philosopher who laid the foundations for the Enlightenment. He made the controversial claim that there is only one substance in the universe, which led him to the pantheistic belief in an abstract, impersonal God. What effect did Spinoza have on Enlightenment thinkers? What are the philosophical – and religious – consequences of believing that there is only one substance in the universe? And why do scientists today still take him seriously? John and Ken welcome back Rebecca Goldstein, author of "Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/spinoza" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/spinoza</a>. Baruch Spinoza was a 17th century Dutch philosopher who laid the foundations for the Enlightenment. He made the controversial claim that there is only one substance in the universe, which led him to the pantheistic belief in an abstract, impersonal God. What effect did Spinoza have on Enlightenment thinkers? What are the philosophical – and religious – consequences of believing that there is only one substance in the universe? And why do scientists today still take him seriously? John and Ken welcome back Rebecca Goldstein, author of "Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity."

389: Spinoza

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/monstrous-technologies.Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein raises powerful questions about the responsibilities of scientists to consider the impact of their inventions on the world. Are these questions as relevant now as they were 200 years ago? What insights, if any, should today’s technologists and disrupters glean from Shelley's story? What does it mean to take responsibility for one’s scientific or technological innovations? And what role should university educators play in ensuring that no new monsters are unleashed onto the world? The hosts have a monstrously fun conversation with Persis Drell, Provost and former Dean of Engineering from Stanford University.

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/monstrous-technologies" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/monstrous-technologies</a>. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein raises powerful questions about the responsibilities of scientists to consider the impact of their inventions on the world. Are these questions as relevant now as they were 200 years ago? What insights, if any, should today’s technologists and disrupters glean from Shelley's story? What does it mean to take responsibility for one’s scientific or technological innovations? And what role should university educators play in ensuring that no new monsters are unleashed onto the world? The hosts have a monstrously fun conversation with Persis Drell, Provost and former Dean of Engineering from Stanford University.

454: Monstrous Technologies?

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/aging-and-well-lived-life.Aging is a physical process that will always be with us.  But conceptions of aging, views about the contributions older people can make to society, and what society owes them change from era to era and differ from culture to culture. In conjunction with the Stanford Humanities Center, John and Ken explore the issues involved in growing older with their guest, Stanford University psychologist Laura Carstensen.

More at <a href="http://philosophytalk.org/shows/aging-and-well-lived-life" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://philosophytalk.org/shows/aging-and-well-lived-life</a>. Aging is a physical process that will always be with us. But conceptions of aging, views about the contributions older people can make to society, and what society owes them change from era to era and differ from culture to culture. In conjunction with the Stanford Humanities Center, John and Ken explore the issues involved in growing older with their guest, Stanford University psychologist Laura Carstensen.

130: Aging and the Well-Lived Life

More at www.philosophytalk.org/shows/covid-conundrums.In just months the world changed radically, and we have all had to adjust our lifestyles to stop the spread of Covid-19. Those working on the frontlines are taking on great personal risk while the rest of us are required to socially distance. But even if you follow all the guidelines, you may still face moral dilemmas. Is it ethical to order non-essential goods online, putting low wage workers at risk for your own comfort? What should you do if your roommates refuse to follow the rules, putting your health in danger? And if social distancing means thousands will die alone of non-Covid related diseases, has it gone too far? Jon and Ray put your Covid-related conundrums to Karen Stohr from the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University, author of "Minding the Gap: Moral Ideals and Moral Improvement."

More at <a href="http://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/covid-conundrums" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.philosophytalk.org/shows/covid-conundrums</a>. In just months the world changed radically, and we have all had to adjust our lifestyles to stop the spread of Covid-19. Those working on the frontlines are taking on great personal risk while the rest of us are required to socially distance. But even if you follow all the guidelines, you may still face moral dilemmas. Is it ethical to order non-essential goods online, putting low wage workers at risk for your own comfort? What should you do if your roommates refuse to follow the rules, putting your health in danger? And if social distancing means thousands will die alone of non-Covid related diseases, has it gone too far? Jon and Ray put your Covid-related conundrums to Karen Stohr from the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University, author of "Minding the Gap: Moral Ideals and Moral Improvement."

503: Covid Conundrums and Moral Dilemmas

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/why-something.The old metaphysical question – why anything exists at all – has perplexed and intrigued humankind for ages. It has long been a question reserved for philosophers, but now some physicists claim to have answered it. Yet these attempts have raised questions of their own: is this even a meaningful question in the first place? Can it be answered by science alone, or is philosophy necessary? And what will answering the question mean for us? John and Ken find something to talk about with Jim Holt, author of "Why Does The World Exist: An Existential Detective Story."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/why-something" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/why-something</a>. The old metaphysical question – why anything exists at all – has perplexed and intrigued humankind for ages. It has long been a question reserved for philosophers, but now some physicists claim to have answered it. Yet these attempts have raised questions of their own: is this even a meaningful question in the first place? Can it be answered by science alone, or is philosophy necessary? And what will answering the question mean for us? John and Ken find something to talk about with Jim Holt, author of "Why Does The World Exist: An Existential Detective Story."

403: Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/postmodernism-really-blame.Postmodernism is often characterized by its rejection of concepts championed by the Enlightenment, like meaning, truth, reason, and knowledge. Some philosophers blame postmodernism for making cynicism about truth and facts now respectable in political debate. So is postmodernism responsible for “fake news” and “alternative facts”? Or does it simply provide the tools to describe popular distrust of traditional authorities, like science and the media? Must we reject postmodernism in order to rescue truth? Josh and Ken find truth in Thomas de Zengotita, author of "Postmodern Theory and Progressive Politics: Toward a New Humanism."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/postmodernism-really-blame" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/postmodernism-really-blame</a>. Postmodernism is often characterized by its rejection of concepts championed by the Enlightenment, like meaning, truth, reason, and knowledge. Some philosophers blame postmodernism for making cynicism about truth and facts now respectable in political debate. So is postmodernism responsible for “fake news” and “alternative facts”? Or does it simply provide the tools to describe popular distrust of traditional authorities, like science and the media? Must we reject postmodernism in order to rescue truth? Josh and Ken find truth in Thomas de Zengotita, author of "Postmodern Theory and Progressive Politics: Toward a New Humanism."

484: Is Postmodernism Really to Blame for Post-Truth?

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/psychology-cruelty.Throughout history, people have committed all kinds of cruel, degrading, and evil acts toward other people. Many believe that for evil acts like genocide to be even possible, the victims must first be dehumanized by the perpetrators, starting with dehumanizing language or propaganda. But is this lack of empathy always at the heart of human cruelty? When we call others “vermin,” “roaches,” or “animals” are we thereby denying their humanity? Or can human cruelty and violence sometimes rely on actually recognizing the other’s humanity? Josh and guest host Alison Gopnik welcome back Paul Bloom from Yale University, author of "Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion."

More at <a href="https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/psychology-cruelty" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/psychology-cruelty</a>. Throughout history, people have committed all kinds of cruel, degrading, and evil acts toward other people. Many believe that for evil acts like genocide to be even possible, the victims must first be dehumanized by the perpetrators, starting with dehumanizing language or propaganda. But is this lack of empathy always at the heart of human cruelty? When we call others “vermin,” “roaches,” or “animals” are we thereby denying their humanity? Or can human cruelty and violence sometimes rely on actually recognizing the other’s humanity? Josh and guest host Alison Gopnik welcome back Paul Bloom from Yale University, author of "Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion."

465: The Psychology of Cruelty

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