Guide to Philosophy Talk SC1118
SC1118
Josh Schneider, Jenny Johnson, and Daniel Hartwig
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
September 2020
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Philosophy Talk
Creator:
Taylor, Kenneth Allen, 1954-
Creator:
Perry, John, 1943-
Creator:
Landy, Joshua
Creator:
Satz, Debra
Identifier/Call Number: SC1118
Physical Description:
60000 megabyte(s)
(503 computer files)
Physical Description:
3.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 2002-2020
Language of Material: English
Language of Material: English
Information about Access
The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in
original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Ownership & Copyright
Please
contact Philosophy
Talk for questions regarding use and reproduction.
Cite As
[identification of item], Philosophy Talk (SC1118). Dept. of Special Collections and
University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Scope and Contents
Philosophy Talk is a weekly, one-hour radio series that challenges listeners to question
their assumptions and to think about things in new ways. The hosts' down-to-earth and
no-nonsense approach brings the richness of philosophic thought to everyday subjects. Topics
are lofty (Truth, Beauty, Justice), arresting (Terrorism, Intelligent Design, Climate
Change) and engaging (Baseball, Love, Happiness). Philosophy Talk is produced by KALW in San
Francisco on behalf of Stanford University, as part of its Humanities Outreach
Initiative."
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Philosophy and aesthetics
Philosophy -- History
Philosophy
Taylor, Kenneth Allen, 1954-
Perry, John, 1943-
Landy, Joshua
Satz, Debra
Pilot #1: Can Machines Think?
2002 Jan 1
Pilot #1: Can Machines Think?
Physical Description: 1 computer
file(s) (mp3)
Scope and Contents
Will Computers someday be able to have humanlike consciousnes and intelligence? Will
they someday outstrip the thinking of humans? Would it matter if they did? Or is
Artificial Intelligence on fundamentally the wrong track?
Pilot #2: Terrorism
2002 Jan 1
Pilot #2: Terrorism
Physical Description: 1 computer
file(s) (mp3)
Scope and Contents
What is terrorism? Is terrorism morally worse than other forms of warfare. Was
Truman's decision to drop the A-bomb and act of terrorism? Is the US a terrorist
State? Is terrorism an insult the powerful use to deligitimate the only means of
resistance open to the disempowered?
Bush's Doctrine of Preemptive Self-Defense
2004 Jan 13
Bush's Doctrine of Preemptive Self-Defense
Physical Description: 1 computer
file(s) (mp3)
Scope and Contents note
What is the difference between mere aggression and preemptive self defense? Can you
really permissibly "defend" yourself against an attack that hasn't even begun? How
does preemptive self defense differ from preventive war, from humanitarian
intervention?
Would You Want to Live Forever?
2004 Jan 20
Would You Want to Live Forever?
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Pick your favorite age. You are healthy, career thriving, family intact (at least
pretend!). Would you like to live forever at that age, in that health, with those
friends and family members also living forever with you? Immortality, on earth? How
about an extra fifty or one hundred years or two hundred beyond your present life
expectancy?
Race
2004 Jan 27
Race
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Is race a discredited pseudo-scientific category? Or a real dimension of difference
among humans? Or a socially constructed reality? What difference does it make?
Marriage and the State
2004 Feb 3
Marriage and the State
Physical Description: 1 computer
file(s) (mp3)
Scope and Contents note
With what right does the state say who can and cannot marry? The state has, at
various times, said that people of different races cannot marry, that people of the
same sex cannot marry, that no one can marry more than one person at at time. But with
what legitimate authority can the state make such prohibitions?
Patriotism versus Cosmopolitanism
2004 Feb 10
Patriotism versus Cosmopolitanism
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Patriotism versus Comopolitanism: Is your loyalty to America and Americans more
important than the common humanity you share with everyone on the globe?
The Insanity Defense
2004 Feb 17
The Insanity Defense
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Ken and John debate (use?) the insanity defense. What difference does it make if the
person who commits a crime is, in one way or another, mentally ill? Does this make
punishment illegitimate? Why is punishment, rather than therapy, ever legitimate?
Which sorts of mental illness should exempt a criminal from punishment? Inability to
know right from wrong? Inability to resist compulsion? Irrational depravity?
Drug Legalization
2004 Feb 24
Drug Legalization
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Ken and John discuss the philosophical issues underlying arguments for and against
the legalization of drugs. Does America's drug problem rest on confused philosophy?
Listen in and get more confused.
Genetic Engineering and Cloning
2004 Mar 2
Genetic Engineering and Cloning
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Ken and John and Ken and John discuss cloning and the ethical issues surrounding
genetic engineering. When is genetic manipulation morally permissible? For health?
Beauty? Wit? What sorts of animals is it acceptable to clone? Should we ban stem cell
research?
Markets and Morality
2004 Mar 9
Markets and Morality
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Scope and Contents note
Ken, John and Elizabeth Anderson take on the topic of markets and morality.Does the
free market provide incentives for behavior that is problematic from a moral
perspective?Or does the free market punish morally problematic behavior?Is respecting
the free market itself moral, insofar as respecting the free market is also respecting
individual freedom of choice?
Nietzsche
2004 Mar 16
Nietzsche
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Nietzsche. Ken and John and Ãœbermensch-at-large Brian Leiter discuss everyone's
favorite syphilitic philosopher. Was he a mysogynistic Nazi-supporter, or an artistic
visionary who sought to set us free from our moralistic chains? Boring radio is
dead.
Has Science Replaced Religion?
2004 Mar 23
Has Science Replaced Religion?
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Has science replaced religion? Can one be religious and maintain a scientific
viewpoint? Does belief in evolution undermine morality or belief in God, or vice
versa? Ken and John take on the big questions.
Humor
2004 Mar 30
Humor
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Scope and Contents note
Consciousness
2004 Apr 6
Consciousness
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Scope and Contents note
Is the conscious mind just the brain or something more? Can science explain
consciousness? How does Ken know that John is a conscious being and not just an
automaton programmed to act like a conscious being? Or is John just an automaton?Is
the conscious mind just the brain or something more? Can science explain
consciousness? How does Ken know that John is a conscious being and not just an
automaton programmed to act like a conscious being? Or is John just an automaton?
Taxation
2004 Apr 13
Taxation
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
How is taxation different from stealing? What right does the government have to take
some of our money? No taxation without representation? What difference does
representation make?
Baseball
2004 Apr 27
Baseball
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
What can we learn from baseball? Are the passions we have for our baseball teams and
heroes irrational? If so, what makes passions for families, cities, countries,
universities, or radio stations more rational? Are all allegiances and loyalties
ultimately arbitrary? Eminent Kant scholar and baseball fan extraordinare
Allen Wood visits.
Whose Language Is It?
2004 May 4
Whose Language Is It?
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Is there a right and a wrong way to speak English? Is there really something wrong
with saying, "Hopefully, we'll have a good century?" or "Where is the library at?", or
"There is no way to correctly split an infinitive." Is grammatical purity just
snobbism?
Animal Rights
2004 May 11
Animal Rights
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
We shouldn't be mean to animals. Is that because animals have rights, like people do?
Or is it just because people care about animals? Is it intrinsically worse to step on
dog than on a spider?
Meaning of Life
2004 May 18
Meaning of Life
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Does life have a meaning? If we were created by a powerful God, would that give our
lives meaning? Who gave God's existence meaning? What if we were created by a crazy
scientist wholly for the purpose of irritating his or her spouse?
Terrorism
2004 Jun 1
Terrorism
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
We like to think that terrorism is always wrong. But what if the cause is just? Do
the ends ever justify the means? And how do we define "terrorism" anyway?
Dignity and the End of Life
2004 Jun 8
Dignity and the End of Life
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Join John and Ken and their guest, Peggy Battin, as they discuss dignity and the end
of life. Is physician assisted suicide morally okay? What about active euthanasia for
patients suffering terminal illnesses? If we begin traveling down this path, how do we
put a break to our slide down the slippery slope toward a world in which we license
physicians to kill or assist the suicide of severely depressed but not terminally ill
patients?
Virtue
2004 Jun 15
Virtue
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Scope and Contents note
What is virtue?Is virtue the key human happiness and flourishing, as the ancients
held, or a quaint notion of at best secondary interest for ethics, as many modern
theorists hold? Does the return of virtue ethics to the philosophical scene mark an
advance in our thinking about morality or is it just a nostalgia for morally simpler
times?
Humans: The Irrational Animal
2004 Jun 29
Humans: The Irrational Animal
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Scope and Contents note
Some psychologists claim to have demonstrated that humans are systematically, deeply
and perhaps irredeemably irrational in their reasoning and decision making. But what
is rationality and why does it matter? If we are really so irrational, how have we
managed to get this far as a species? Maybe rationality isn't such a big deal after
all. Tune in as Ken Taylor and guest host
Nadeem Hussain
size up the human mind.
Paternalism and Health
2004 Jul 13
Paternalism and Health
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Paternalism and Health: Some diseases such as Alzheimer's inhibit our abilities to
make decisions and lessen our quality of life. In cases like these, we often think
that others are justified in stepping in and making decisions for that person. But
what about the case where the person in question is relatively healthy but suffers,
perhaps, from minor depression, or an anxiety disorder? When (if ever) is it OK to
step in and take charge of someone else's life or body?
Who Owns Ideas?
2004 Jul 20
Who Owns Ideas?
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
You can own a car or a bicycle. But what about an idea? If you invent a program it
seems like you should have some say about its use. But can you really own the idea
itself? Listen in and steal an idea or two.
Affirmative Action
2004 Aug 17
Affirmative Action
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Is affirmative action a way of balancing out inequality? Or is it just another form
of bias in admissions and hiring practices? And where's the line between fostering
diversity and lowering standards?
Gambling
2004 Aug 24
Gambling
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Rolling the dice in a game you're rigged to lose sounds like a bad idea. So why is it
so much fun? Is gambling an exciting pastime, or a vicious addiction?
Happiness
2004 Aug 31
Happiness
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Is happiness a mere psychological state? And if so, what's so important about it? Is
there anything more to being happy than just thinking you're happy? Or is happiness a
way of life?
Plato
2004 Sep 14
Plato
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
From his theory of the Forms, to his views about morality, justice, and the soul
Plato was one the greatest and most influential philosophers of all time. Indeed, it
has been said that all of philosophy is but a footnote to Plato. Find out why as John
and Ken dig into the philosophical views of Plato, with their guest, Chris Bobonoich,
a leading Plato scholar.
Corporations
2004 Sep 21
Corporations
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Scope and Contents note
Corporations are recognized as persons in the eyes of the law. But if they are
persons, they would seem to be pathologically self-interested persons, driven by
nothing but the desire for their own further aggrandizement. How can we cope with such
persons in our midst?
The Environment and Global Justice
2004 Sep 28
The Environment and Global Justice
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Our current way of life is unsustainable. Depletion of the ozone layer, the dwindling
of the rain forest, the loss of animal habitat, and toxic runoff into lakes, streams
and rivers are just a few of the environmental challenges we face. The environment is
a global problem that no one nation can address on its own. Something must give,
somewhere. But who will pay what costs for improving the global environment? Wealthy
nations of the North? Developing nations of the South? By what principles of justice
shall we decide?
Feminism
2004 Oct 12
Feminism
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Some feminists hold that there are specially feminine ways of knowing, and the
current scientific research is flawed for not recognizing them. Some hold that
philosophy itself is a thoroughly phallocentric enterprise, and deeply flawed. Other
feminists vigorously reject these views. Join John and Ken as they discuss the
philosophies of feminism.
Karl Marx
2004 Oct 19
Karl Marx
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The ideas of Karl Marx vie with those of Rousseau, Locke and Jefferson for shaping
the politics of the twentieth century. Are Marx's ideas of real philosophical value
and interest, or simply relics of interest only in trying to understand the benighted
century we have left behind?
Is This Any Way to Run a Democracy?
2004 Nov 2
Is This Any Way to Run a Democracy?
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
America prides itself on being the oldest continuous democracy in the world. But
criticisms of the America system are widespread.Our system is tailored to narrow
interests and wealthyelites. Our two partieslock out alternative voices. Ourvoting
procedures discourage participation and lead to unrepresentative outcomes. Is this
really the best way to run a democracy? Join John and Ken as they examine the
philosophicalunderpinnings of democracy in America.
Time
2004 Nov 9
Time
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Time is the most familiar thing in the world, and yet philosophically one of the most
puzzling. Is the present what's left when you subtract what has already happened, and
what is yet to happen? Then it seems to vanish into a mere instant.Are future events
completely unreal? Or are they just the things we can't know yet? Is time unreal, as
many philosophers have thought? Columbia's Dave Albert joins John and Ken for a
fascinating hour.
Truth and Relativism
2004 Nov 16
Truth and Relativism
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Is there such a thing as absolute truth, independent of who is doing the thinking,
and where?Or is truth relative to backgrounds, cultures, creeds, times, and places?Can
it be true that what is right for me isn't right for you? John and Ken search for
truth with Helen Longino, Professor of Philosophy and Women's Studies at the
University of Minnesota.
Love
2004 Nov 30
Love
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Is love just a (second-hand) emotion? Is it a feeling? A disparate group of feelings,
glandular responses, and ill-considered commitments condensed into a single word so
that poets will have something to write about?A poor substitute for true friendship
imposed upon us by lust? Or the deepest and most satisfying of human conditions?
Disability
2004 Dec 7
Disability
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
The Americans with Disabilities Act recognizes that people with disabilities are
often prevented from leading productive and satisfying lives because social, school
and work environments are often thoughtlessly and unnecessarily designed with only
people with the standard set of abilities in mind. In manycases"reasonable
accommodation" to the ways people with disabilities need to do things is required.
What is reasonable? Elevators in schools? Probably. How about elevators in the Grand
Canyon?What is a disability? Blindness? Certainly. How about obesity? Where do we draw
lines, and on what principles?
Nature vs. Nurture
2004 Dec 13
Nature vs. Nurture
Physical Description: 1 computer
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The philosopher John Locke thought we had no innate ideas; our minds are blank
slates, upon which experience writes.Nurture is everything, nature nothing.Modern
popular genetics gives the impression that we are nothing but the stage on which a
play written by our genes is performed; nature is everything, nurture nothing.What are
the facts, and what are the philosophical principles that are used to interpret these
facts?
Gender
2005 Jan 4
Gender
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Are gender roles and differences fixed, once and for, all by biology? Or is gender
socially constructed and culturally variable? How does gender differ from sex? Join
John and Ken as they explore whether men and women are really from different planets
after all.
The Mystery of Mind
2005 Jan 11
The Mystery of Mind
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Modern science tells us that the mind is just the brain working.But science cannot
yet tell us how consciousness, rationality,free will, autonomy, or even our sense of
self arises out of the merely material processes of the brain. Could our confidence
that mind is just the brain working possibly be misplaced?
Aristotle
2005 Jan 25
Aristotle
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
Aristotle'sphilosophical doctrines have permeated and helped shape Western Culture in
spheres as disparate as cosmology, biology, ethics, physics, politics, and logic.Join
John and Ken for a tour of some of the greatest hits of one of the greatest
philosophers ofAntiquity.
Evil
2005 Feb 1
Evil
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Is there such a thing as pureevil in the world?How should we confront evil?Can
evilever be finally overcome? If the universe was created by a supremely good,
supremely powerful, supremely loving deity, why is there evil in the world to begin
with? On the other hand, if there is no god and everything is permitted, what
distinguishes the truly evil from the purely good?
Ethics in Sport
2005 Feb 8
Ethics in Sport
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Once upon a time,student athletes were students first, athletes second; the Olympics
was about amateurism and the pursuit of excellence, not the pursuit ofendorsements;
and professional athletes enhanced the physics through rigorous work-outs, not through
performance enhancing substances.No doubt athletic excellence is at an all time high,
but are ethics in athletics at an all time low?
The Erotic vs. The Pornographic
2005 Feb 15
The Erotic vs. The Pornographic
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Scope and Contents note
Erotic experience is a human good. Mature, consenting adults should be able to
explore the erotic realm freely, without outside interference.Pornography is illicit
and destructive.But what is the real difference between the erotic and the
pornographic?Is there a bright line?In our attempts to regulate pornography do we run
the risk of infringing upon the erotic freedoms of consenting adults?
Hume
2005 Mar 1
Hume
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David Hume's was a superb essayist,a brilliant philosopher, and a world-class bon
vivant. His philosophical viewsin ethics, epistemology, aesthetics, and the philosophy
of religion, though shocking to many in his own time,are enduring touchstones of
modern philosophy, still required reading of every student of philosophy. Join John
and Ken for a tour of a few ofHume's most startling ideas.
Religion and the Secular State
2005 Mar 8
Religion and the Secular State
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Can committed believers and committed non-believers share a common political life in
the context of a secular state?Committed believers may want the policies of the
stateto reflect their deeply heldreligious convictions and values.Committed
non-believers may notwant the state imposing religiously inspired values in the
absence of any purely secular justification.Must religion retreat from the public
sphere or can religion find a place in the public sphere, even in a purely secular
state?
What is Beauty?
2005 Mar 15
What is Beauty?
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Are there objective standards of beauty? Or is beauty in the eye of the beholder?Must
art be beautiful to be great art?What is the role of the experienceof beauty in a good
life?
Neurocosmetology
2005 Mar 22
Neurocosmetology
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Progress in neuroscience may soon make possible an age of neurocosmetology: the use
of drugs to let people affect the way their brains work, so as to make them more
effective, more attractive, and more like their "cognitive ideal."A world where all
the women are beautiful and all the men handsome might be bearable if boring. But
would a society full of type-A's work at all?Can it be rational to choose to change in
ways that may change who you are? Should there be moral or legal prohibitions against
healthy people messing with their own brain chemistry?
Is Free Will an Illusion?
2005 Mar 29
Is Free Will an Illusion?
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We like to think of ourselves as enjoying unrestricted freedom of the will.But modern
science increasingly teaches us that our choices are causally determined by some
combination of our genes, our upbringing, and our present circumstances.Can the idea
of freedom of the will be reconciled with the scientific outlook or is free will an
illusion?If we give up on the idea that we have freedom, what follows for our practice
of holding people morally responsible for their actions and choices?
Schopenhauer
2005 Apr 5
Schopenhauer
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Arthur Schopenhauer, the great Nineteenth Century philosopher, had a pessimistic
vision of the world as "will and idea. Our will to survive serves no high purpose;
the world is at best a shared illusion. Schopenhauer influenced Nietzsche and
Wittgenstein and inspired our guest, prominent psychiatrist Irv Yalom, to write the
novel
The Schopenhauer Cure . What truths, metaphysical or psychological, can we
wrest from Schopenhauer's gloomy vision?
Genetic Determinism
2005 Apr 19
Genetic Determinism
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Are there genes for practically everything? For being gay? For being mean? For being
a philosopher? Does modern science show that we are largely the product of our genes
--- or not? Join Ken and John and famed philosopher of biology John Dupre to see how
trapped you are by your genes.
Propaganda
2005 Apr 26
Propaganda
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Allegedly independent radio commentators taking money to spout the government line!
Fake news reports being produced and distributed by the Administration to promote a
partisan agenda! Journalists abandoning neutrality and objectivity to become
cheerleaders for a political doctrine! Where can this happen? Right here in the good
old U.S. of A. propaganda is all around us! But what exactly is propaganda? How can it
be distinguished from legitimate news and information? Can democracy survive where
propaganda flourishes? Join John and Ken for a fresh, philosophical look at
propaganda.
Forgiveness
2005 May 3
Forgiveness
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Justice is a virtue and so, many claim, is forgiveness. But they seem inconsistent.
Is forgiveness really a virtue? Philosopher Charles Griswold discusses the South
African reconciliation process, truly evil people, and the virtue of forgiveness.
Confucius
2005 May 10
Confucius
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Confucius laid down a pattern of thinking followed by more people for more
generations than any other human being on the face of the earth. No matter what
religion, no matter what form of government, the Chinese (and most other East Asian
civilizations) and their way of thinking can in some way be shown to have Confucian
elements about them. Join John and Ken as they discuss the ancient wisdom of
Confucius.
Prostitution
2005 May 17
Prostitution
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Scope and Contents note
Is prostitution morally objectionable? Should it be illegal? Or is it simply a market
transaction, where one party sells a service for a price that another party is willing
to pay, and no third party is harmed? Philosophy Talk favorite Debra Satz joins John
and Ken.
Evolution of the Human Mind
2005 May 24
Evolution of the Human Mind
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Scope and Contents note
Is the human mind a relatively inflexible program bequeathed to us by evolution, and
culture just a veneer that gives age-old urges a respectable cover? Or our minds
largely the product of language, culture, and civilization, with evolution having
supplied only the most basic hardware and operating system? John and Ken welcome Leda
Cosmides to shed some light on the human mind.
Intergenerational Obligations
2005 Jun 7
Intergenerational Obligations
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Scope and Contents note
Parents have duties to their children. But do grown up children have obligations to
their parents? More generally,do the younger members of a society have obligations to
their elders? Where would such obligations come from? What are their limits? Join John
and Ken as they investigate the moral ties that bind the generations together.
The Ethics of Identity
2005 Jun 14
The Ethics of Identity
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Scope and Contents note
What makes me who I am? Is it fair of me, or others, to take my race or ethnicity as
part of whom I am? How does the age-old virtue of standing up for kith and kin comport
with the demands of fairness as cosmopolitanism? Join John and Ken and Philosophy Talk
regular Anthony Appiah from Princeton.
Global Poverty and International Aid
2005 Jun 21
Global Poverty and International Aid
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Scope and Contents note
Does a hungry child in a far away land have any less of a demand on your good will
and aid than a hungry child from your own family or neighborhood? Does each
individual have the duty to give to the worldwide alleviation of poverty up to the
point at which further giving would cause his or her own family more harm than it
would do good for others? Or is responsibility for others a mostly local affair: take
care of your family, look out for those in your community, and the rest of the world
will take care of itself? John and Ken welcome Peter Singer to discuss Global Poverty
and International Aid.
Zen
2005 Jun 28
Zen
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What is the sound of one hand clapping? Does Zen Buddhism provide a unique
perspective on the world that transcends the wisdom in Western Philosophy? Is there a
special kind of Zen logic? Or is it just one more religion?
Moral Dilemmas and Moral Ambiguity
2005 Jul 19
Moral Dilemmas and Moral Ambiguity
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Scope and Contents note
It would be nice if we always knew the morally right thing to do, if our choices and
commitments were painted in stark black and white. Unfortunately life is full of gray
areas, including situations in which all the choices that confront us seem morally
problematic, in which all the people who surround us seem composed of equal parts good
and evil. Join John and Ken as they explore the extent to which reality confronts us
with moral dilemmas and moral ambiguity.
The Indispensible Emotions
2005 Jul 26
The Indispensible Emotions
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Scope and Contents note
Where would we be without emotions? Many philosophers throughout history have thought
the emotions serve only to cloud our judgments and actions. Phrases like "He's just
acting emotionally" or "Her judgment is clouded by emotion" are phrases of
condemnation, not of praise. Still, some philosophers have argued the emotions have an
intelligence of their own and that the emotions are indispensable for our ethical
lives. Join John and Ken and their guest Martha Nussbaum as they explore the role of
emotions in well lived lives and well-order societies.
Descartes
2005 Aug 2
Descartes
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Scope and Contents note
The 17th Century philosopher Rene Descartes is often considered the father of modern
philosophy. His
Meditations are a staple in introductory philosophy courses, and his views
on the relation of mind and body have dominated philosophical discussion of this issue
for three hundred years. John and Ken discuss the life, times, and philosophy of this
fascinating French philosopher.
Saints, Heroes, and Well-Lived Lives
2005 Aug 30
Saints, Heroes, and Well-Lived Lives
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Some actions are right, and some are wrong. But aren't some even better than
right---the kinds of things that heroes and saints do? Yet some philosophers think
that such "supererogatory" acts make no sense; we should always do the best thing open
to us, and there is no room for better than best. John and Ken discuss the philosophy
and psychology of saints and heroes with Susan Wolf from the University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill.
Language of Politics
2005 Sep 20
Language of Politics
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Politics, especially American politics, puts pressure on words like "liberal",
"conservative" and "values" as they are used more as weapons than as tools for
communication. John and Ken discuss this process and the philosophical shifts that
often accompany changes in meaning with famed San Francisco linguist Geoff Nunberg, a
regular on "Fresh Air."
Ethics in War
2005 Sep 27
Ethics in War
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After World War II the Nurenberg trials and the conventions that arose out of them
codified the idea that there are right and wrong ways to wage war. That prisoners of
war have definite rights, and that non-combatants should be treated differently that
soldiers. Some think the idea of a morality of warfare makes no sense, and that the
distinction between soldiers and non-combatants is meaningless in the setting of
modern warfare. John and Ken discuss these issues in the light of philosophical
theories of right and wrong.
The Strange World of Quantum Reality
2005 Oct 4
The Strange World of Quantum Reality
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Quantum mechanics is an astoundly successful, mathematically elegant, explanatorily
deep, even beautiful scientific theory. Yet it reveals a truly puzzling world of
micro-entities: entities that can be at two places at once, that can "travel" from
here to the other side of Alpha Centauri in an instant without traversing the space in
between, that behave like waves when unobserve but like particles when observed. Join
John, Ken and their guest,Jenann Ismael as they try to make philosophical sense of the
strange world of quantum reality.
Reconciliation
2005 Oct 11
Reconciliation
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Justice, truth, and identity; race, society, and law "these all come into dramatic
play as South Africa makes the tumultuous transition to a post-apartheid democracy.
How has the new South Africa constructed its concepts of reconciliation? How has its
historical emergence meant a rethinking, reimaging, re-experiencing, relabeling, and
repoliticizing of race? John and Ken discuss reconciliation with Daniel Herwitz, a
philosopher who has spent much time in South Africa.
The Willing Suspension of Disbelief
2005 Oct 18
The Willing Suspension of Disbelief
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Why don't we run out of the movie theatre when a monster shows on the screen? What
kind of mental state is the willing suspension of disbelief? Why do fiction and drama
affect our emotions even when we know they are not real? John and Ken examine the role
of suspension of disbelief in the enjoyment of theatre, movies, video games, and what
this trait reveals about the human mind in general.
George Berkeley
2005 Nov 1
George Berkeley
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Berkeley founded and defended idealism; the doctrine that there is not a material
world; reality is the orchestration of ideas in minds, nothing more. He influenced
Hume, Mill, Russell, and many other philosophers. John and Ken explore Berkeley's
ideas.
Language of Fiction
2005 Nov 22
Language of Fiction
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What are we talking about when we talk about Sherlock Holmes or Santa Claus?
Something that doesn't exist? Something that exists only in the mind? Something that
exists only in a fictional or imaginary world? Are statements about fictional objects
true? Is there a distinction between literal truth and "fictional truth?" We'll
uncover the facts about fiction.
Friendship
2005 Nov 29
Friendship
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Who do we call friends? Do we need friends out of love for others or for ourselves?
Is a life with friends necessarily a better life? Ancient philosophers, such as
Aristotle, wrote extensively on the topic. John and Ken examine just what friendship
means in the modern life with their friend, Martha Nussbaum, Professor of Law and
Ethics, University of Chicago.
Freedom of Speech
2005 Dec 6
Freedom of Speech
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The Constitution grants the freedom of speech to every citizen. Journalists value it
more than anything else. Should the freedom of speech be unlimited? Would unlimited
freedom of speech do more good or bad to our society? Would limited freedom of speech
impact the monitoring power of news media and therefore threaten our society? John and
Ken discuss the philosophy behind the freedom of speech.
Kant
2005 Dec 13
Kant
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Immanuel Kant introduced the human mind as an active originator of experience rather
than just a passive recipient of perception. How has his philosophy influenced the
world after him? John and Ken dig into the brilliantly active mind of Kant.
The Existence of God
2005 Dec 20
The Existence of God
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The question of whether or not God exists is profoundly fascinating and important.
What are the proofs of the existence of God? How can one prove that God does not
exist? Join us as John and Ken explore issues such as religious experience, the Bible,
evil, eternity, the origin of the universe, design, and the supposed connection
between morality and the existence of God with Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Professor of
Philosophy, and Hardy Professor of Legal Studies, Dartmouth College.
Progress and the Environment
2006 Jan 3
Progress and the Environment
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Does the value of preserving our environment conflict with the development of a world
community in which all enjoy the fruits of human progress? Is the environment
important intrinsically, or only as a source of pleasure and other goods for human
beings? Ken and John discuss these and other issues with Terry Tamminen, Cabinet
Secretary to California Governor Schwarzenegger, and an environmental activist.
Intelligent Design
2006 Jan 17
Intelligent Design
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Is there any reason to think the cause or causes of order in the universe bear an
even remote analogy to human intelligence? Even if they did, would that mean these
intelligent causes had the benevolence and sense of justice required of a Christian
God? Is this whole issue one of science, religion, or philosophy? These questions,
considered by Hume, have now become the focus of a national debate. The philosophers
discuss intelligent design with Daniel Dennett, Director of the Center for Cognitive
Studies at Tufts University, author of books on consciousness, evolution, and
freedom.
Philosophy of Science
2006 Jan 24
Philosophy of Science
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Is philosophy the queen of the sciences, with the job of synthesizing, interpreting
and evaluating the results of the particular sciences? Or should we adopt John Locke's
conception of philosophy as a handmaiden to science: clarifying concepts, definitions
and assumptions? During the twentieth century the discipline of the philosophy of
science emerged as a central part of philosophy. Ken and John discuss some of the
leading ideas and projects involved in this branch of philosophy.
Legislating Values
2006 Jan 31
Legislating Values
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To legislate is to choose, and choices are made for the sake of values. But what
values should, and which values do, guide our legislators? And why? Does the majority
always rule? What attention must be paid to deeply held religious values? Or deeply
held secular values? Ken and John discuss these issues with Representative Anna Eschoo
(D-Cal).
W.E.B. Du Bois
2006 Feb 7
W.E.B. Du Bois
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The Philosophers discuss the life and ideas of W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963).
Sociologist, historian, philosopher, editor, writer, and activist, he was one of the
most influential intellectuals of the twentieth century. The first African-American
Ph.D. from Harvard University, Du Bois died in Ghana after having renounced his
American citizenship. In between he co-founded the NAACP and wrote The Souls of Black
Folk (1903) as well as a number of other influential books that had a decisive impact
on the development of African-American culture in the twentieth century.
Marriage and Monogamy
2006 Feb 14
Marriage and Monogamy
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Monogamy is traditional in most cultures, and it is the law throughout America since
Utah gave up polygamy to acquire statehood. Is there any philosophical basis for
favoring monogamy over polygamy? Or any reasons grounded in clear empirical facts or
social needs? With a looming shortage of females relative to males in large parts of
Asia, is it time to question this traditional assumption about marriage?
The Science of Humor
2006 Feb 28
The Science of Humor
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Being funny isn't easy. Figuring out what makes things funny is even harder. Still, a
number of psychologists (e.g., Freud) and philosophers (e.g., Bergson) have tried. Now
computer scientists are trying to learn enough about humor to construct programs that
can write good jokes; maybe an artificial stand-up comedian is on the way. Ken and
John discuss the art, philosophy and science of humor with Tony Veale, an Irish
computer scientist who knows a good joke when his program produces one.
Existentialism
2006 Mar 7
Existentialism
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Being and Nothingness, the for-itself and the in-itself, bad faith, and the
existential predicament: these existentialist concepts were central to the
philosophical scene in Europe and America after World War II. Join the Philosophers as
they examine the ideas of existentialism.
What are Numbers?
2006 Mar 14
What are Numbers?
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Plato claimed that numbers exist in some mind-independent abstract heaven.
Nominalists claim that there is no such heaven. Clearly, we can't see, hear, taste or
feel numbers. But if there are no numbers what is mathematics all about?
Suicide
2006 Mar 21
Suicide
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Taking human life is wrong. But what if it is one's own life? Is suicide worse or
less bad than murder? Is it wrong at all? Can suicide be rational? How about helping
another commit suicide? The Philosophers discuss the metaphysics and morality of
taking one's own life.
The Philosophy of Hoops
2006 Mar 28
The Philosophy of Hoops
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Basketball, an American invention but a world-wide phenomenon, is sometimes
characterized as the most athletic and aesthetic of sports. What makes a sport
interesting? Valuable? Fun? Entertaining? What values does sport exemplify, and does
basketball really measure up? Does commercialization undermine the values of sport?
Ken and John discuss the philosophy of basketball with Frank Deford, one of America's
premier sportswriters.
The Value of Truth
2006 Apr 4
The Value of Truth
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The pursuit of truth is often thought to be "intrinsically" valuable. Scientists and
philosophers, who eschew religious rationales for their life's work, take the pursuit
of truth to be obviously a worthwhile enterprise. But what's so great about truth?
Sure, it's good to know what's for lunch, or the nature of the disease that plagues
you, but is there any intrinsic or instrumental value in knowing how far away the
farthest stars are? Or whether Milton's greatest works were written while he had a
headache? Or what the next layer of basic particles are like? Truth telling on
Philosophy Talk.
Philosophy and the Law
2006 Apr 11
Philosophy and the Law
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With what right do governments make and enforce laws? To what extent are citizens
obligated to obey the law, even if a law is unjust? John and Ken talk about philosophy
and the law with Jules Coleman from Yale University.
What Is Art?
2006 Apr 25
What Is Art?
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What is art? Anything someone wants to call art? Or are there some objective
criteria, that not every instance of paint smeared on canvas and not every murder
mystery meets? What are the main philosophies of art? Are any of them plausible? John
and Ken talk about the nature of art with Alexander Nehamas from Princeton
University.
Justice Across Boundaries
2006 May 9
Justice Across Boundaries
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Philosophical conceptions of justice have most often been directed at the nature of a
just state. But many contemporary issues of justice reach across boundaries. Are our
immigration policies fair and just? Can a just state invade another state in order to
outfit it with a more just government? Can we defend economic policies that improve
the lives of our citizens but an adverse impact on economies abroad?
Philosophical Summer Reading List
2006 May 16
Philosophical Summer Reading List
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Are there some philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues you want to bone
up on over the Summer? Hegel's
Phenomenology of the
Spirit
probably isn't a very good choice to take to the beach, but there are
a lot of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to add philosophical depth
to your Summer Reading. Ken and John discuss some of their favorites and pass on
suggestions from Philosophy Talk guests.
The Nature of Imagination
2006 May 30
The Nature of Imagination
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A lot of our thinking, and even our perception, has to do not only with what is, but
what might be, and what would have been. That is, the imagination is an important part
of our intellectual life. And learning to use our imaginations without losing sight of
reality is part of growing up. What is the imagination, and what led Mother Nature to
make it such an important part of our make-up? John and Ken discuss the imagination
with Alison Gopnik, a leading scholar in the field of children s learning.
Hegel
2006 Jun 6
Hegel
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Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel is without doubt one of the most influential
philosophers of all time. He has, however, been largely ignored by American "analytic"
philosophers of the twentieth century. John and Ken don't know nearly as much about
Hegel and his philosophy as they should. They will be lively if somewhat obtuse
students for Allen Wood, Stanford's resident expert on virtually all aspects of modern
philosophy, when Philosophy Talk goes to the bookshelf and pulls down the big volumes
of Hegel's collected works.
Leadership
2006 Jun 27
Leadership
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At certain crucial times, such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World
War II, America was blessed with great leaders. But now? What is leadership? How is it
cultivated? What political processes bring great leaders to the top of the heap? And
what processes will keep demonic leaders, like Hitler, from gaining ascendance? Can
philosophy help us understand the nature of and limits of leadership? John and Ken
welcome Deborah Rhode, Director of the Stanford Center on Ethics.
Stoicism
2006 Jul 25
Stoicism
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People who don't seem affected by emotions are often called "stoic." But there's a
lot more to Stoicism than simply being unaffected. Stoicism dates back to ancient
Greece and Rome and offers a comprehensive approach to living life. Who were the
original Stoics? What were their arguments? And is being stoic a good idea? John and
Ken delve deep into Stoicism in this episode with John Cooper from Princeton
University.
The Future of Philosophy
2006 Aug 1
The Future of Philosophy
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Ken and John discuss the future of philosophy with three rising stars in American
philosophy: Elizabeth Harman from New York University, Brian Weatherson from Cornell
University, and Sean Kelly from Princeton University. This program was recorded at the
American Philosophical Association Meetings before an audience of cranky and
opinionated philosophers in Portland, Oregon.
Race, Class, and Inequality
2006 Aug 8
Race, Class, and Inequality
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The concept of equality is as important to America's self-conception as it is
confusing. What sort of equality? Equality before the law; equality of opportunity;
equal access to all the benefits of modern society? If we treat everyone the same, how
can we take account of inequities due to race, class, gender and other factors? Guest
Elizabeth Kiss from Duke University joins John and Ken in front of a live studio
audience at Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland.
Athletic Beauty
2006 Aug 15
Athletic Beauty
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Figure skating is athletic and beautiful. How about a bone-crunching tackle? Or a
spikes-high slide into second? Or a slam-dunk? Or an overweight sixty-year-old at a
bowling alley? John and Ken discuss the nature of athletic beauty with Hans Gumbrecht,
author of In Praise of Athletic Beauty.
Language in Action
2006 Aug 22
Language in Action
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How do we communicate ideas with language? Where does the literal meaning of a word
end and the subtle connotation begin? John and Ken tackle the semantics, pragmatics,
and mysteries of meaning.
100th Episode
2006 Aug 29
100th Episode
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It s our anniversary! Join the philosophers for a celebration of the program that
questions everything except your intelligence with a look back on the issues and the
people that have made Philosophy Talk a hit.
Liberty vs. Security
2006 Sep 5
Liberty vs. Security
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Edward Gibbon and James Madison both noted how liberties in Rome were among the
victims of its growing empire. Is our society facing a similar problem, given what
some public figures have said about choosing between how much liberty and how much
security we want? Or is this a false choice put forward by those in power? John and
Ken take a philosophical lens to the relationship between liberty and security.
War Crimes
2006 Sep 12
War Crimes
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In war, people do awful things to other people. But the concept of 'war crime'
suggests that some things are worse than others. How do we disentangle what's fair
play from what's criminal? What are the ethical justifications for regarding some of
the evils of war as worse than others? John and Ken bring on noted guest David Luban
to explore the challenging subject of war crimes.
The Philosophy of Music
2006 Sep 19
The Philosophy of Music
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Most people enjoy music daily and have strong listening preferences. Music along with
love is often thought of as a universal language. But what makes a collection of
sounds a piece of music as opposed to just noise? Can music teach us anything? And is
the value of music objective? This program explores what philosophy has to tell us
about music and vice versa.
Jewish Philosophy
2006 Oct 1
Jewish Philosophy
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Rabbis and Talmudic scholars have spent centuries puzzling over theology, texts, and
life. In the process they came up with many philosophical ideas that have inspired the
work of more recent philosophers such as Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas. Who or
what is God? By what rules should people live? And what does Maimonides have to say
about diets and bathing? Join John and Ken as they investigate the past, present, and
future of Jewish philosophy with Paul Franks from the University of Toronto.
Karl Popper
2006 Oct 8
Karl Popper
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Karl Popper is a landmark figure in the philosophy of science. His notion of
"falsifiability" endures to this day and even appears in arguments about creation
versus evolution. But what does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable? And where
does the idea stand in contemporary philosophy of science? John and Ken test a few
ideas on Popper and falsifiability with Denis Phillips from Stanford University.
Language and Thought
2006 Oct 22
Language and Thought
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You might think our thought simply determine what we say. But maybe the language we
speak is what really determines the thoughts we can have. As Wittgenstein famously
wrote, "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." And Benjamin Lee Whorf
held that the language you speak has a systematic influence on how you think about and
interact with reality. John and Ken wrestle with the relationship between language and
thought with Lera Boroditsky from Stanford University.
Believing in God
2006 Oct 29
Believing in God
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Some have argued that there aren't any good arguments for believing in God. Is belief
in God just an act of faith without reason? Plenty of philosophers would disagree. Why
are philosophers so divided on the matter? In this episode Ken and John discuss the
rational arguments for believing in God.
Separation of Powers
2006 Nov 5
Separation of Powers
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In America, there's not just one governing body, there are three: executive,
legislative, and judicial. You might think that separating those powers is just less
efficient. But the founding fathers put a lot of philosophical thought into coming up
with a system of checks and balances. In this episode, John and Ken discuss the
separation of powers with Stanford law professor Kathleen Sullivan in front of a live
audience on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Dreaming
2006 Nov 12
Dreaming
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A scary dream brings all the fears that a scary real situation can, and a happy dream
can make us feel truly happy. But what are dreams? Where do they come from? And why do
they feel so real? Thinkers from Descartes to Freud have been fascinated by dreams and
their philosiphical significance. Join John and Ken as they explore one of the mind's
greatest mysteries.
What is a Child?
2006 Nov 19
What is a Child?
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Back in the middle ages, people thought of children simply as little adults. Modern
psychology has destroyed that theory. But then, what is a child? How are their minds
different? And what are the moral implications of these differences for how we should
treat them? Join John and Ken as they reflect on the nature of childhood.
American Pragmatism
2006 Dec 3
American Pragmatism
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Pragmatism is perhaps America's most distinctive contribution to philosophy.
Developed by Pierce, Dewey, and James in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
pragmatism holds that both the meaning and the truth of any idea is a function of its
practical outcome. The pragmatists rejected all forms of absolutism and insisted that
all principles be regarded as working hypotheses that must bear fruit in lived
experience. Join John and Ken as they dig into this intellectually vibrant, still
influential, and distinctly American philosophical tradition.
Philosophy and Neuroscience
2006 Dec 10
Philosophy and Neuroscience
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Philosophers have always been concerned with the mind. What is consciousness?
Representation? Emotion? Now that neuroscience is making headway on these same
questions, we should ask: how should philosophy and neuroscience relate? John and Ken
discuss this question and more as they delve into neuroscientifically-minded
philosophy.
Philosophy and Film
2006 Dec 17
Philosophy and Film
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Despite the crass commercialism that drives the production of many movies, there's no
doubt that film is a distinctive and distinctively powerful art form. Cinematic
representations move us in ways that few others do. Film has also proven to be an
outstanding vehicle for conveying philosophical ideas. Join John and Ken as they
explore both the philosophy of film and philosophy within film.
The Promise and Perils of the New Genomics
2007 Jan 7
The Promise and Perils of the New Genomics
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John and Ken welcome their special guest, noted scientist and entrepreneur, Craig
Venter. From the mapping of the human genome, to the patenting of synthetic life
forms, to bio-prospecting for genetic gold in the depths of the oceans and the deepest
reaches of the world's rain forests, Craig Venter has been at the forefront of a
revolution in genomics. Join the hosts and their guest as they explore the ethical,
legal, and economic issues associated with the new genomics. This program was recorded
in front of a live audience at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.
We've Been Framed: How Language Shapes Politics
2007 Jan 14
We've Been Framed: How Language Shapes Politics
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Does the hijacking of words by political forces tell us something interesting about
the nature of language and meaning? Would liberals by some other name smell sweeter,
or are they really tax-raising, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York
Times-reading, body-piercing, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freaks? Ken and John welcome
back Philosophy Talk favorite Geoff Nunberg, author of
The Way
We Talk Now
and
Going Nucular, to explain the ABCs of
"talking right."
Legal Ethics
2007 Jan 21
Legal Ethics
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Lawyers are often thought to be hardly better than hired guns, who, in the words of
Plato, are paid to "make the weaker argument the stronger" -- like the sophists of
old. In fact, lawyers are legally and morally bound by stringent codes of ethics.
Noted philosopher of law David Luban, of Georgetown University, is the guest as
Philosophy Talk explores the ethical obligations of lawyers to their clients, to the
court, and to society at large.
If Truth is so valuable, why is there so much BS?
2007 Jan 28
If Truth is so valuable, why is there so much BS?
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Everywhere we look -- in the media, in our political campaigns, in the hallowed halls
of the academy -- we are confronted with an endless stream of BS, spin, propaganda,
half-truths, and even outright lies. Yet for centuries, philosophers have argued that
the pursuit of truth is both intrinsically good and instrumentally useful. But if
truth is really both good and useful, then why is there so much BS around? John and
Ken welcome Harry Frankfurt, author of
On Bullshit and
On Truth, to discuss the relative value and utility of Truth
and its alternatives
.
Mental Imagery
2007 Feb 4
Mental Imagery
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In the Early Modern period many philosophers took ideas to be mental images of the
objects they stood for. During the 20th century, that notion fell into considerable
disrepute. Yet recent cognitive science has revived the idea that at least some of our
mental representations are highly imagistic in character, not just mental
representations tied to vision and perception generally. Join John, Ken, and noted
cognitive psychologist Lera Boroditsky of Stanford University to explore the imagistic
nature of mental representations.
The Judiciary in Democracy
2007 Feb 11
The Judiciary in Democracy
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In many democracies, the judiciary is protected, to one degree or another, from the
voters. Our federal judges, for example, though appointed by elected officials, then
have lifetime tenure. In more local venues, however, many judges are directly
elected. What is the role of the judiciary in a democracy, and how much protection
from democratic processes is needed? John and Ken probe the judiciary branch of
government with Larry Kramer, Dean of the Stanford Law School.
Wittgenstein
2007 Mar 4
Wittgenstein
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The Austrian/British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein exercised enormous influence
over philosophy in the middle third of the last century, and his view and his life
continue to fascinate thinkers around the world. What are the basic tenets of
Wittgenstein's philosophy, and what is their enduring legacy? Join John and Ken as
they investigate the ideas and implications of one of the great philosophers of
language and thought.
Animal Minds
2007 Mar 11
Animal Minds
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People have strong but divergent opinions about the nature of animals' minds. Do dogs
make plans? Do they remember specific events? Do they dream? Do cats recognize their
owners as unified wholes, or just as collections of parts, some warm, some capable of
providing food. Could it be that whales, dolphins, elephants, and various kind of
monkeys have mental lives that approach -- or surpass -- those of humans in subtlety
and richness? John and Ken explore thenature of non-human minds with guest Colin Allen
from Indiana University.
Immortality and the Afterlife
2007 Mar 18
Immortality and the Afterlife
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Many religions contemplate some form of personal continued existence after death:
reincarnation in another body, or continued being in some vastly different place like
Heaven or Hell. Do any of these conceptions make sense? If so, is there any evidence
for any of them? And why do people want continued existence, even immortality?
Wouldn't it be a bore? John and Ken welcome back Anne Ashbaugh of Colgate University
to explore the philosophy of eternal life.
Skepticism
2007 Mar 25
Skepticism
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Various forms of skepticism play important roles in the history of philosophy. Do we
really know there are external objects? That there are other minds? That there is a
distant (or even a not-so-distant) past? All the evidence we have for these things
seems consistent with our being in a world in which they don't exist. What does this
tell us about life? About philosophy? Our hosts discuss one of the deepest and most
fertile philosophical traditions.
A Philosophical Shout-Out
2007 Apr 1
A Philosophical Shout-Out
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On this special pledge-week episode, John and Ken open the phones and the inbox to
their listeners, answering questions about art, politics, proof, and philosophy
itself.
Can Science Explain Consciousness?
2007 Apr 15
Can Science Explain Consciousness?
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Human are conscious, billiard balls are not, and computers aren't either. But all
three are just collections of molecules, aren't they? What is consciousness, and does
it go beyond what science can explain? Join John, Ken, and their guest, Joseph Levine
from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as they probe the limits of scientific
accounts of consciousness.
Ethics in Journalism
2007 Apr 29
Ethics in Journalism
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Freedom of speech tells us the government shouldn't restrict the journalist. But
should anything restrict the journalist? Should the duty to inform be limited by the
duty not to betray national security, not to injure the innocent, not to corrupt the
jury pool, and similar considerations? How do we draw the line? John and Ken welcome
Dale Jacquette from Pennsylvania State University to delve into the ethics of
journalistic practice.
Autonomy
2007 May 6
Autonomy
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Philosophers call a person autonomous if she is responsible not just for what she
does but also for the priciples and rules that guide her. But does this really make
sense? Aren't we all just products of culture, education and genes? Join John and Ken
as they investigate the nature of autonomy.
Science, Ethics, and Censorship
2007 May 13
Science, Ethics, and Censorship
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Science is, on the one hand, a huge enterprise funded to a great extent by the
government and by industry. On the other hand, science is supposed to be the
dispassionate, objective search for truth. What happens when the search for truth
conflicts with the needs and desires of the funders? Should those funders be allowed
to censor the science they pay for? Should scientists be free to publish the truth
whatever its effect? John and Ken welcome Ronald Atlas, Past President of the American
Society for Microbiology and Graduate Dean at the University of Louisville.
Artificial Intelligence
2007 May 20
Artificial Intelligence
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At least some versions of artificial intelligence are attempts not merely to model
human intelligence, but to make computers and robots that exhibit it: that have
thoughts, use language, and even have free will. Does this make sense? What would it
show us about human thinking and consciousness? Join John and Ken as they uncover the
philosophical issues raised by artificial intelligence.
Aging and the Well-Lived Life
2007 May 27
Aging and the Well-Lived Life
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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 and a live studio
audience at the Hyatt Residence in Palo Alto.
Summer Reading List 2007
2007 Jun 10
Summer Reading List 2007
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Are there philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues you want to read up on
over the summer? Kant's
Critique of Pure Reason
probably isn't the obvious choice to take to the beach (though it does make great
radio), but there are a lot of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to
add philosophical depth to your Summer Reading. Plus, new and classic fiction books
with a philosophical bent. Join John and Ken and John to share some of the
philosophically-minded reading on your list for this summer.
Where Does Morality Come From?
2007 Jul 1
Where Does Morality Come From?
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School teachers, preachers, parents, and even a few philosophers often claim to be
authorities on the dictates of morality. But where does morality really come from?
From society s customs? From God s commandments? From the cold, impersonal
commandments of pure reason? Or from human emotions and sentiments? Join John as Ken
as they explore the meaning and origins of morality.
Capital Punishment
2007 Jul 8
Capital Punishment
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The death penalty: An effective deterrent? A just retribution for horrendous crimes?
Or a racist, classist form of state-sanctioned murder? Join John and Ken and their
guest, Robert Weisberg, Director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, as they
discuss the philosophical pros and cons of capital punishment.
Philosophy Through Humor
2007 Jul 22
Philosophy Through Humor
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Why did Nietzsche cross the road? To get beyond good and evil! How is a good joke
like a good philosophical argument? Are philosophical tenets at the core of much of
humor? To find out, join the philosophers and their guests, Thomas Cathcart and Daniel
Klein, authors of
Plato and A Platypus Walk Into a Bar:
Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
.
Flirting with Philosophy
2007 Aug 12
Flirting with Philosophy
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What is flirting? Can you flirt without intending to? Can you flirt by dressing a
certain way, by walking a certain way? Is flirtatious behavior culturally relative?
Could you flirt with a robot? With your own long-term partner? With an idea? Join John
and Ken as they plumb the philosophical depths of flirting with Carrie Jenkins from
the University of Nottingham, author ofThe Philosophy of Flirting.
Postmodernism
2007 Aug 19
Postmodernism
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In art, architecture, music, film, literature, sociology, communications, fashion and
philosophy there is a contrast between "the modern" and "the post-modern." But just
what are the main hallmarks of the postmodern? How does the "postmodern" differ from
the "modern?" Is the postmodern an improvement over the modern? John and Ken are
joined by Gary Aylesworth, Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Illinois University, to
explore the contours of postmodernism in philosophy, literature, and art.
The Value of Art
2007 Sep 9
The Value of Art
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An art lover will argue that art brings beauty to our surroundings and provides
occasions for intellectual and emotional reflection. But those who don't appreciate
art see it as unnecessary and frivolous - at any rate, certainly not something that
tax dollars should go to support. In a time when school budgets for art programs are
dwindling, John and Ken are joined by Cynthia Freeland, Chair of the Philosophy
Department at the University of Houston, to ask the critical question: what is the
value of art?
Math and the Mind
2007 Sep 16
Math and the Mind
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How does a bunch of grey matter in our skulls have the ability to solve mathematical
problems? Are we the only species that can? Does catching a baseball require doing
calculations? Join John, Ken, and their guest, noted cognitive scientist and NPR's
"Math Guy" Keith Devlin, as they discuss the many ways our minds can do the math.
Love, Poetry and Philosophy
2007 Sep 30
Love, Poetry and Philosophy
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For Plato, love and philosophy were closely related. Love of beauty causes one to
contemplate the whole sea of beauties, including beautiful systems of justice and
beautiful scientific theories. But Plato wasn't such a fan of poetry, arguing that it
merely evoked strong emotions in a way contrary to reason. Noted poet Troy Jollimore,
winner of the 2006 National Book Critics Circle Award, disagrees. He joins John and
Ken for a spirited discussion of love, poetry, and philosophy, recorded in front of a
live audience at Powell's City of Books in Portland, Oregon.
Faith, Reason, and Science
2007 Oct 14
Faith, Reason, and Science
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Does faith obscure reason? Does reason obscure faith? Or perhaps their subject
matters are different. Faith might address one area of our lives and reason and
science another. Faith may allow us to see meaning, values, and God, while reason sees
everything else, whatever that may be. Or perhaps faith and reason are fundamentally
intertwined. Is faith void of reason? Is it irrational to be faithful? Are science and
rationality void of faith? John and Ken welcome Nancey Murphy, author ofDid My Neurons
Make Me Do It?: Philosophical and Neurobiological Perspectives on Moral Responsibility
and Free Will, to explore the meaning of faith and the place of faith and reason in
religion, scientific practice, and our knowledge of ourselves and the world around
us.
Predicting the Future
2007 Oct 21
Predicting the Future
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People who predict the future well are sometimes said to be psychic. But we all make
predictions about the future, with more or less success. We confidently predict the
sun will rise tomorrow, that ice will be cold, etc. But maybe we're not quite as good
at predicting the future as we think. Is the stock market predictable? The weather?
Political upheavals? Or is life just too random to make good predictions? John and Ken
predict that Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly
Improbable, will join them to consider the extent to which we can forecast the
future.
Philosophy and Literature
2007 Oct 28
Philosophy and Literature
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What can we learn from studying philosophy? What can we learn from reading great (or
not-so-great) literature? Some philosophers and literary theorists believe that
philosophy and literature converge in a number of places. Great literature is often
deeply philosophical, and great philosophy is often great literature, sometimes in the
form of fictional narrative. Perhaps we can learn many of the same lessons from
philosophy and literature. Can the methods of philosophy and literary criticism be
combined? Are the truths they shed light upon complementary? John and Ken are joined
by fellow Stanford philosophy professor Lanier Anderson to discuss the intersection of
philosophy and literature.
Immigration and Citizenship
2007 Nov 11
Immigration and Citizenship
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What are the effects of immigration on culture in America? Does it promote
homogenization, diversity, or both? Cultural enrichment, or assimilation? What
challenges does immigration raise? What immigration policies should the American
government adopt, with respect to economics, culture, and ethics? How can we justify
denying privileges and protections to people based simply upon where they were born?
What, if any, restrictions on immigration and citizenship are permissible? John and
welcome Noe Lozano, Dean of Diversity at Stanford's School of Engineering, to discuss
the challenges and benefits of immigration, in a program
recorded before a live
audience
at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA.
Islamic Philosophy
2007 Nov 18
Islamic Philosophy
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Some of the many topics discussed in Islamic philosophy are the Qur'an, knowledge,
dreams, justice, poetry, reality, prophethood, peace, and the State. How has Islamic
philosophy interacted historically with other philosophical traditions? How has
philosophy influenced the popular practice and interpretation of Islam? When has
Islamic philosophy melded with or clashed with Islam's religious teachings? John and
Ken are joined by Mashhad Al-Allaf, Imam Khattab Chair of Islamic Studies at the
University of Toledo and Author of
The Essential
Ideas of Islamic Philosophy
and
The Essence of
Islamic Philosophy
.
Political Correctness
2007 Dec 2
Political Correctness
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What is political correctness? Has it always existed? What's "political" about it?
Some people think that concerns over being PC lead to censorship and the stifling of
free debate. Others think the label "politically correct" is nothing but a demeaning
term for values we should espouse anyway, like appropriateness, politeness, fairness,
and respectfulness. Is "politically correct" just a nasty label used to diminish and
belittle social progress? Or do the assailants of political correctness have a point?
John and Ken take on political correctness with former political speechwriter Leonard
Steinhorn, Professor of Communication at American University.
Concept of God
2007 Dec 9
Concept of God
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What does "God" mean? Is God a concrete thing like a chair or a human; or is it an
abstract thing, like love or goodness? Is there something that all concepts of God
have in common, some feature that all cultures attribute to God? Richard Swinburne,
Emeritus Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the
University of Oxford, joins John and Ken to explore the many ways in which people
across the world conceive of the divine.
Personal Identity
2007 Dec 16
Personal Identity
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What is necessary for a person to survive over time? Is it the continued existence of
the living body? Or is it just the living brain? Or is it one's psychology, which
might persist even without one's original brain in a computer or in an entirely new
brain? How important are questions of personal identity for ethics and rationality?
John and Ken are joined by Raymond Martin, Professor of Philosophy at Union College
and co-author of
The Rise and
Fall of Soul and Self: An Intellectual History of Personal Identity
.
Work
2008 Jan 6
Work
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Is work the curse of the working class? Or a human's best opportunity for happiness
and meaning? What is work, and what is leisure? Are you what you do? And how does
American society differ in its attitude towards work, and holidays, from others? John
and Ken discuss these issues and more with Al Gini from Loyola University Chicago,
author of
My Job, My
Self: Work and the Creation of the Modern Individual
. This program was
recorded in front of a live audience at Centenary College in Shreveport, LA.
Why Music Matters
2008 Jan 13
Why Music Matters
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There is something deeply mysterious about music. Why does it affect us so
powerfully? Is it like a language, telling us something? A subtle form of
communication? Are there universal interpretations of the emotions that various pieces
of music expresses? Or does one need to be part of a music "community" in order to
appreciate musical expression? John and Ken explore how music matters with musician
and founding member of the Kronos Quartet David Harrington, in a program
recorded in front of a live audience at Biscuits and Blues in San
Francisco.
Persons, Selves, Souls, and Loops
2008 Jan 20
Persons, Selves, Souls, and Loops
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Can a self, a consciousness, an "I" arise out of mere matter? If it cannot, then how
can you or I be here? And if it can, how does THAT work? These and other questions of
identity are central to I Am A Strange Loop, the latest book by Indiana University
Philosopher Douglas Hofstadter, author of the acclaimed Godel, Escher, Bach. He joins
John and Ken for a probing discussion of the self, the soul, and the strange loop that
binds them.
St. Augustine
2008 Jan 27
St. Augustine
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The philosopher Saint Augustine of Hippo is one of the most important figures in the
history of Christianity. His efforts against the Manichean, Arian and Pelagain
heresies shaped the fundamentals of Christian doctrine. His
Confessions tells the story of his own conversion from Manicheanism to
Christianity. His philosophical ideas anticipated Saint Thomas Aquinas and Descartes.
His three-volume
City of
God
remains a classic of Christian apologetics. And many find the roots of
some of the darker sides of Christian doctrine, from the emphasis on original sin to
the second-rate status for women, in his works. John and Ken welcome Georgetown
University Provost James O'Donnell, author of
Augustine,
Sinner & Saint: A New Biography
.
Paradoxes
2008 Feb 3
Paradoxes
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A paradox is a persuasive argument that something, which we judge must be false, is
true. Zeno's Paradox, for example, is a convincing argument that it's impossible to
move. Paradoxes are valuable in philosophy because they help us become aware of forms
of argument that are deceptively convincing yet logically fallacious. John and Ken are
joined by Roy Sorensen from Dartmouth College, author of
A Brief
History of the Paradox
, to consider what we can learn from paradoxes.
Connectionism
2008 Feb 17
Connectionism
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Does the human mind work like a computer? If so, what kind of computer? A theory
known as connectionism offers a revolutionary perspective on these issues. Ken and
John delve into cutting-edge cognitive science with Jay McClelland from Stanford
University, an architect of the connectionist view.
Infinity
2008 Feb 24
Infinity
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Infinity is a puzzling concept. Mathematicians say there are as many odd numbers as
there are numbers altogether. That seems like saying there are as many men as there
are people altogether which we know is untrue. And if you subtract infinity from
infinity, you are still left with infinity but which infinity? Some infinities are
larger than others how can this be? John and Ken unravel the paradoxes of infinity
with Rudy Rucker, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at San Jose State University
and author of
Infinity and the
Mind: The Science and Philosophy of the Infinite
.
Science vs. Pseudo-science
2008 Mar 2
Science vs. Pseudo-science
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Astronomy is science; Astrology is pseudo-science. Evolutionary Biology is science;
Creationism is pseudo-science. How about cultural anthropology, abstract economics,
string-theory, and evolutionary psychology science or pseudo-science? Is
pseudo-science just politically incorrect science? Or is there an objective
difference? John and Ken tackle these questions with Stuart Vyse from Connecticut
College, author of
Believing in
Magic: The Psychology of Superstition
.
Apologizing
2008 Mar 30
Apologizing
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Can you be sorry without intending to change your behavior in the future? Without
being ashamed? Do other cultures have different concepts of sorrow and guilt? John and
Ken unapologetically explore the language and philosophy of contrition with Nick Smith
from the University of New Hampshire, author of
I Was Wrong: The
Meanings of Apologies.
Philosophy of Wine
2008 Apr 6
Philosophy of Wine
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The discriminating wine palate: bouquet, nose, great vintages, genius vintners. Are
these just myths perpetrated by winemakers and taken up by snobs with too much money
to spend? John and Ken raise a philosophical glass with Barry Smith from the
University of London, editor of
Questions of
Taste: The Philosophy of Wine.
Politics and Cognitive Science
2008 Apr 13
Politics and Cognitive Science
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Can cognitive science explain the difference between liberals and conservatives? Do
we elect our presidents on the basis of stale metaphors and the manipulations of
pernicious language mavens? We put these questions to George Lakoff, Professor of
Linguistics at UC Berkeley and author of
Thinking Points:
Communicating Our American Values and Vision.
Varieties of Love
2008 Apr 20
Varieties of Love
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Is love a single thing, or just a word we use to express any number of unrelated
emotions? Is love intrinsically irrational? What have philosophers said about love?
Did they know what they were talking about? Christopher Phillips, author of
Socrates in
Love
, joins John and Ken for a program recorded live at
Powell's City
of Books
in Portland, Oregon.
Experimental Philosophy
2008 May 4
Experimental Philosophy
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Philosophical reasoning relies on intuitions. John Rawls called this method
"reflective equilibrium. But where do we get our data about "intuitions"? John and
Ken welcome back Anthony Appiah from Princeton University, author of
Experiments in
Ethics
. They discuss psychological experiments that determine what people
really think.
Promises
2008 May 11
Promises
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What is a promise: a prediction? A statement of intention? Is promising rational?
Does it create an obligation? John and Ken promise to raise these issues and more with
Sir Neil MacCormick from the University of Edinburgh, author of
Rhetoric and the
Rule of Law
.
Summer Reading List 2008
2008 Jun 1
Summer Reading List 2008
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Summer's just around the corner what books are you going to pack with your Speedo?
John and Ken leaf through some of this summer's philosophy, fiction, and non-fiction
reading with Danielle Marshall from
Powell's City of
Books
.
The Problem of Evil
2008 Jun 8
The Problem of Evil
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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
.
Hannah Arendt
2008 Jun 22
Hannah Arendt
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Hannah Arendt was one of the most original and influential philosophers of the 20th
century. Her work considered historical and contemporary political events, such as the
rise and fall of Nazism, and drew conclusions about the relation between the
individual and society. Seyla Benhabib,Professor of Political Science and Philosophy
at Yale University and Director of its Program in Ethics, Politics and Economics,
joins John and Ken discuss Arendt's political philosophy and its enduring
influence.
Altruism
2008 Jun 29
Altruism
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Are people genuinely altruistic, or is altruism just a type of selfish-behavior? Are
other animals altruistic? Should we strive to be altruistic, or is selfishness a
higher virtue? John and Ken take the moral high ground with their guest Jeff Schloss,
Professor and Chair of Biology at Westmont College and co-editor of
Altruism and
Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue.
The Luck of the Draw
2008 Jul 13
The Luck of the Draw
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Sometimes it isn't possible to distribute goods evenly. When this happens, we often
leave it up to randomness in the form of lotteries to decide who gets what. Is this
just? Or is it merely the best we can do? What distinguishes fair systems of
randomization from unfair ones? John and Ken take their chances with Peter Stone,
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University.
Giving and Keeping
2008 Jul 27
Giving and Keeping
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How should people allocate their assets however modest or grand ethically and
effectively? What kinds of giving should the government encourage through tax
incentives and other measures? Is providing for loved ones more worthy than
self-expression through philanthropy? John and Ken are joined by Rob Reich, Associate
Professor of Political Science and Ethics in Society at Stanford University, for a
program recorded before a live audience at the Classic Residence by Hyatt in Palo
Alto, CA
Philosophy and Pop Culture
2008 Aug 3
Philosophy and Pop Culture
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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
. This program was recorded before a live audience at the
University of Delaware in Newark, DE.
Dualism
2008 Aug 10
Dualism
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What is the relationship between the mind and the brain? Monists believe that there
is only one substance or property in the Universe, be it physical (Materialists) or
mental (Idealists). But Dualists, like the 17th Century French philosopher Rene
Descartes, hold that mental stuff exists side by side with physical stuff. Can this
view be defended, in light of modern science? John and Ken probe the mind-body with
David Rosenthal from City University of New York, author of
Consciousness
and Mind
.
Global Justice and Human Rights
2008 Aug 24
Global Justice and Human Rights
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What constitutes a just society? What are the obligations of liberal democracies to
ensure the rights and well-being of the citizens of other countries? What kinds of
interventions and institutions are most suitable to the task of preventing war,
disease, and poverty in the world today? John and Ken discuss the requirements of
justice with Helen Stacy from Stanford Law School.
Utilitarianism
2008 Sep 7
Utilitarianism
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Can morality be quantified? Can the good be calculated? Utilitarianism says the right
action is the one which leads to the most overall happiness - a deceptively simple
theory, but not without its detractors. Is utilitarianism compatible with the idea
that people have inalienable rights? Should we be so focused on the consequences of
our actions? John and Ken welcome Wayne Sumner from the University of Toronto, author
of
The Hateful
and the Obscene: Studies in the Limits of Free Expression
.
The Morality of Food
2008 Sep 21
The Morality of Food
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Scope and Contents note
Veganism, freeganism, organic, sustainability, simplicity, biofuel, animal rights,
worker's rights, nutrition, preventing hunger, reducing waste and protecting the
environment. What obligations do we have when it comes to buying, eating and producing
food? How should we balance moral and practical concerns? John and Ken chew on these
questions with Michael Pollan from the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, author of
The
Omnivore's Dilemma
and
In Defense of
Food
.
Overcoming the Terror of Death
2008 Oct 12
Overcoming the Terror of Death
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To many death is terrifying. But why? As David Hume pointed out, all the years we
didn't exist before we were born seemed painless enough. Why worry about future
non-existence? Is the real worry that we will continue to exist? Ken and John confront
mortality with psychiatrist and novelist Irv Yalom, author of
Staring at the
Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death
. This program was recorded before a
live audience at The Marsh theater in San Francisco.
Digital Selves
2008 Oct 19
Digital Selves
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Scope and Contents note
Second
Life
and dozens of other online adventures involve creating digital selves,
and millions of users are taking advantage of the opportunity to develop new personas.
Cyberpunk literature, like William Gibson's
Neuromancer , describes worlds in which the line between digital selves and
real selves is hard to draw. What makes your digital self you? What does your choice
of digital selves show about you? And what makes onscreen representation more or less
effective as digital selves? John and Ken are joined by Jeremy Bailenson, Director of
Stanford's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, for a program recorded before a live
audience at The Marsh theater in San Francisco.
Making Decisions
2008 Nov 2
Making Decisions
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When we make decisions we think we're in control, making rational choices. But are
we? This is the central question posed by Dan Ariely, Professor of Behavioral
Economics at Duke University, in his book
Predictably
Irrational.
Ken and John discuss irrationality, its dangers, and perhaps
also its benefits, with this philosophical and fascinating economist.
William James
2008 Nov 9
William James
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William James is a great figure, historically important as a philosopher (pragmatism
and radical empiricism), a student of religion (author of the monumental
Varieties of
Religious Experience
), and psychology. Ken and John examine the life and
ideas of this towering figure with Russell Goodman, a leading scholar of Pragmatism
and author of
Wittgenstein and
William James
.
Gandhi
2008 Nov 16
Gandhi
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Gandhi is famous as the leader of the movement for Indian independence, which he
based on his philosophy of non-violence, an important influence on Martin Luther King
Jr. Gandhi's ideas and the effects of his leadership continue to influence the world
and its leaders. What was the philosophical basis these ideas? Is non-violence a
strategy for a certain purpose, or the basis for a way of life? Ken and John welcome
Akeel Bilgrami, Director of the Heyman Center for the Humanities at Columbia
University and author of
"Gandhi, the
Philosopher."
Levels of Reality
2008 Nov 23
Levels of Reality
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Are there levels of reality, with each level emerging from the other in a way that
provides a truly new aspect of reality? The concept of emergence has been seen as an
alternative to mere reducibility in discussion of the relation of the physical world
to the biological world, consciousness, the social world, and God. Ken and John probe
the nature of reality with Tim O'Connor, Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University
and author of
Theism and
Ultimate Explanation
.
Bodies For Sale
2008 Dec 7
Bodies For Sale
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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
.
John Rawls
2008 Dec 14
John Rawls
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John Rawls was one of the most influential political philosophers of the twentieth
century. In his book
A Theory of
Justice
he articulated a concept of justice as fairness, which won many
fans among liberals, and provoked important responses from thoughtful libertarians
such as Robert Nozick. Ken and John discuss the life and ideas of John Rawls with
Joshua Cohen, Professor of Political Science, Philosophy, andLaw at Stanford
University and co-author of
Associations and
Democracy
.
The Idea of the University
2009 Jan 4
The Idea of the University
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Is a university a research institute with students, or and educational institution
with research around the edges or something in between? To whom does the university
answer the trustees? The administration? The faculty? The students? Or something more
abstract, like knowledge and wisdom? John and Ken examine the very idea of a
university with Stanford Provost John Etchemendy, in a program recorded before a live
audience at the Annenberg Auditorium on the Stanford campus.
Philosophy of History
2009 Jan 11
Philosophy of History
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Is history just a series of events, or an interpretation of those events? Is there
progress in history? Can history be objective, or is it, as Napoleon said, just the
version of past events that people have decided to agree upon? Ken and John delve into
the past and its meaning with Daniel Little, Chancellor of the University of
Michigan-Dearborn and author of History's Pathways (forthcoming in March 2009) and
Varieties of
Social Explanation
.
Civil Disobedience
2009 Jan 18
Civil Disobedience
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Thoreau, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King all engaged in civil disobedience, and are
widely admired for doing so. But how can democratic society function if each person's
conscience has to be satisfied for a law to be obeyed? When is civil disobedience
justified? When is it required? How does the concept fit with the great ethical and
political philosophies? John and Ken discuss the ethics of protest and punishment with
Kimberley Brownlee from the University of Manchester.
Creativity
2009 Jan 25
Creativity
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What makes an idea or work of art creative? Can creativity be measured? Can a
computer be creative? What is the relationship between creativity and consciousness?
John and Ken explore their creative sides with Margaret Boden from the University of
Sussex, author of
The Creative
Mind: Myths and Mechanisms.
Movie Show
2009 Feb 2
Movie Show
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Different Cultures, Different Selves
2009 Feb 22
Different Cultures, Different Selves
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Why do we do what we do? To please others? To live up to what culture expects? Or for
our own reasons as "autonomous agents"? Americans tend to admire (at least in theory)
the autonomous individual, the person who knows what he wants, and sets out to get it,
no matter what the world might think. Is this true of all cultures? John and Ken are
joined by Stanford Psychologist Hazel Markus to explore differences in motivation and
action across cultures.
Bi-racial Identities
2009 Mar 1
Bi-racial Identities
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Many people identify strongly with the ethnic or racial group to which they belong as
Jews, or African-Americans, or Latinos. But to which groups does a person truly
belong? President Obama has a white mother from Kansas and an African father from
Kenya. Why is he seen as our first African-American President, rather than our
forty-fourth white president? How does racial identity work? Is such identification a
positive or a negative factor in a person's life? Must we choose among our potential
identities? Ken and John discuss racial and bi-racial identity with Michele Elam from
Stanford University, author of Mixed Race in the New Millennium (forthcoming from
Stanford University Press in 2009) and
Race, Work,
and Desire in American Literature, 1860-1930
.
Challenges to Free Will
2009 Mar 8
Challenges to Free Will
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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.
The Copyright Wars
2009 Mar 22
The Copyright Wars
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Today there is an entire generation of people who have never paid for music. From
Napster to YouTube, some of our most innovative and inventive young people have been
the targets of lawsuits by entertainment industry lawyers for violating copyright
laws. What are the ideas behind copyright protection? What is the philosophical and
practical basis of copyright? Can rethinking the issues suggest the form of a truce
between generations? Ken and John sample the copyright debate with Larry Lessig,
author of
Remix: Making
Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy
.
The Root of All Evil?
2009 Mar 29
The Root of All Evil?
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Money makes the world go around. But what sort of thing is money? Bits of paper and
metal? An elaborate set of IOUs to be redeemed with more IOUs? An abstract accounting
tool? If money is real, how can billions disappear on the stock market? And where does
it go? Ken and John follow the money its nature, its utility, and whether it is the
root of all evil with Stanford Economist Alex Gould.
Too Much Information
2009 Apr 5
Too Much Information
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We re just never going to catch up, writes David Weinberger in
Everything Is
Miscellaneous
. That is, we're never going to catch up with the flood of
information that is thrown at us by modern technology, especially the internet. We can
never get all of our email filed, our digital pictures labeled, our calendars updated,
our computers organized. Is the problem too much information, or out-of-date
expectations about how information should be organized? Ken and John try to make sense
of the flood of information with author and philosopher David Weinberger.
Desire
2009 Apr 12
Desire
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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
, in a program recorded before a live audience at
the Illahee Institute in Portland, Oregon.
Beliefs Gone Wild
2009 May 3
Beliefs Gone Wild
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Our brains evolved on the African savannah, but are now expected to deal with complex
statistical information and other intricate concepts every day. The result: beliefs
gone wild. Ken and John reveal the traps that the mismatch between our brains and the
world we live in pose for ordinary mortals with their guest,
The
Undercover Philosopher
, Michael Philips. This program was recorded before a
live audience at the Illahee Institute in Portland, Oregon.
Worship
2009 May 10
Worship
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Worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for something. The
attitude of worship towards God or gods or ancestors is a universal of human culture.
But why do we worship? Do objects of worship need to fulfill certain criteria? Does
worship play a positive or negative role in human culture? Is it clear that a perfect,
omnipotent and omniscient God truly wants to be worshipped? Some pagan religions
worship the earth, or the aspects of nature that make human life possible and
rewarding. Does this make more sense than worshipping an imperfect God? The
Philosophers express their reverence with Daniel Speak from Loyola Marymount
University.
Lincoln
2009 May 17
Lincoln
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More than any other President, Abraham Lincoln is known for his words, from the
Lincoln-Douglass debates to the second inaugural address, as well as his deeds. What
was Lincoln's basic philosophy, and did it change over the course of his Presidency?
Ken and John welcome back Chicago Public Radio's Resident Philosopher, Al Gini, to
celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln, the man and his ideas.
The Mind and the World
2009 Jun 7
The Mind and the World
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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.
Summer Reading List 2009
2009 Jun 14
Summer Reading List 2009
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Even if you're not going to Biarritz for the summer as usual, you can relax in the
sun and read. There are a lot of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to
add philosophical depth to your Summer Reading. Join Ken and John to share some of the
philosophically-minded reading on your list for this summer.
Social Networking
2009 Jul 5
Social Networking
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From online bulletin boards at the dawn of the internet to the modern mammoths of
Facebook and MySpace, people have used communications technology to associate in
innovative ways. How do our old-fashioned values fit in to our new digital
playgrounds? John and Ken network with Malcolm Parks from the University of
Washington, author of
Personal
Relationships and Personal Networks
, for a program recorded in front of a
live audience at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
The Prison System
2009 Jul 26
The Prison System
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As of June 30, 2007, the prisons and jails in the land of the free held 2,299,116
inmates; one in every 31 American adults is in prison, on parole, or on probation. The
state of California has more people in jail than China does, and this year expects to
spend more on prisons than on higher education. Is something wrong with this picture?
John and Ken explore the nature of incarceration and rehabilitation with Kara Dansky,
Executive Director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center.
Money and Morality
2009 Aug 12
Money and Morality
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Does our system of credit and money make upward social mobility possible for anyone
willing to work hard? Or is it just a big Ponzi scheme? Are corporations the essential
structures necessary to harness the capital, energy, intelligence, and leadership on a
scale large enough to make and market the inventions that define modern life? Or are
they just devices for evading responsibility and rewarding greed? Ken and John put
these questions and more to Neil Malhotra from the Stanford Graduate School of
Business, in a program recorded in front of a live audience at the Classic Residence
by Hyatt in Palo Alto, California.
Pornography
2009 Aug 30
Pornography
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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.
The Postmodern Family
2009 Sep 13
The Postmodern Family
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What is a family, and what distinguishes it from other kinds of associations? Is the
traditional role of the family merely grounded in custom and habit, or is there a
deeper philosophical justification for it? How has the structure of families changed
over the ages, and how does it differ across cultures? John and Ken examine the
structure and function of the family in relation to morality, values, and evolution
with Stanford sociologist Michael Rosenfeld, author of
The Age of
Independence: Interracial Unions, Same-Sex Unions and the Changing American
Family.
Philosophy Talk Highlights
2009 Sep 20
Philosophy Talk Highlights
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It's a Philosophy Talk highlight reel for the membership drive. In this special
episode, John and Ken relive some favorite moments from the Philosophy Talk archives.
Listen to cognitive scientist Margaret Boden on creativity, computers, and the
emotions, Stanford University's Kara Dansky on the nature of crime and punishment,
Georgetown Provost James O'Donnell on the contemporary relevance of Saint Augustine,
Stanford's Michele Elam on biracial identities in the age of Obama, and Berkeley
psychologist Alison Gopnik on her favorite philosophical movie. Plus selected
commentaries from Ian Shoales, the Sixty-Second Philosopher.
What are Words Worth?
2009 Sep 27
What are Words Worth?
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How do words shape our minds? Do the French suffer because they have no word for
berry or cozy? Do we suffer because we have no word for schadenfreude? Why do we adopt
new words, or give old words new meaning? Can we eliminate a concept by renaming it,
or eliminating the word for it? Ken and John welcome back Geoff Nunberg, author of
The Years of
Talking Dangerously
, for a program recorded in front of a live audience at
the Marsh theatre in San Francisco.
War, Sacrifice, and the Media
2009 Oct 4
War, Sacrifice, and the Media
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The media often present a sanitized and one sided narrative of war, torture and other
forms of violence that blots out the faces and silences the voices of many of the main
victims: the refugees, the victims of unjust imprisonment and torture, and the
immigrants virtually enslaved by their starvation and legal disenfranchisement. John
and Ken probe the limits of the media representations of war and other forms of
violence with renowned UC Berkeley professor Judith Butler, author of
Frames of War:
When Is Life Grievable?
This program was recorded in front of a live
audience at the Marsh Theatre in San Francisco.
Schizophrenia and the Mind
2009 Oct 18
Schizophrenia and the Mind
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To be human, philosophers have often said, is to be rational. But many people, for
biological reasons, are clearly not rational. Schizophrenia is not only a malady, it
is also a window on how the human mind works, and what it means to be human. Ken and
John examine schizophrenia and its lessons for philosophers with John Campbell from UC
Berkeley, author of
Reference and
Consciousness.
Health Care: Right or Privilege?
2009 Nov 1
Health Care: Right or Privilege?
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Scope and Contents note
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? Ken and John 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.
200 and Counting
2009 Nov 15
200 and Counting
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The program that questions everything except your intelligence started off
questioning the conventional wisdom that there would be no audience for a radio show
about philosophy. One hundred and ninety-nine programs later, Ken and John are hanging
in there with large loyal audiences in the Bay Area and Oregon, outposts at over fifty
stations across North America, and a huge internet following. In their 200th program
Ken and John compile a list of the Top 10 mostpressing philosophical issues for the
21st century with help from you, their listeners, and three past guests: Jenann
Ismael, Brian Leiter, and Martha Nussbaum.
From the Minds of Babies
2009 Nov 29
From the Minds of Babies
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Consciousness, morality, meaning and truth have perplexed and puzzled generations
upon generations of philosophers. But could it be that we have been looking in all the
wrong places to solve these imponderable mysteries? Could the minds of babies hold the
key to philosophical progress? John and Ken welcome back renowned developmental
psychologist Alison Gopnik, author of
The Philosophical Baby:
What Children's Minds Tell us about Truth, Love, and the Meaning of Life,
for a program recorded live at the Marsh theatre in San Francisco.
Darwin
2009 Dec 6
Darwin
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Charles Darwin was born 200 years ago. His theory of evolution continues to shape our
thinking, not only in biology, but also in psychology, economics, and all other
attempts to understand human beings including philosophy. Ken and John delve into
Darwin's theory and its implications for philosophy with Daniel Dennett of Tufts
University, author of
Darwin's
Dangerous Idea
.
How Relevant Is Jesus?
2009 Dec 20
How Relevant Is Jesus?
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Some people think Jesus was the son of God, though many who are skeptical about that
still think he was a great moral teacher. But if we really knew what Jesus would think
about moral issues that he didn't confront while he lived abortion, terrorism,
euthanasia, gay marriage or the destruction of old-growth redwoods would it be that
helpful? Would his moral vision have any implications for these issues? Ken and John
discuss the moral philosophy of Jesus and its contemporary relevance with Andrew
Fiala, Director of the Ethics Center at Fresno State University and author of
What Would
Jesus Really Do? The Power and Limits of Jesus' Moral Teachings.
This
program was recorded in front of a live audience at the College of the Sequoias in
Visalia, California.
Is it Wrong to Wreck the Earth?
2010 Jan 3
Is it Wrong to Wreck the Earth?
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There are too many people, doing too much damage to the ecosystem, essentially
guaranteeing that future generations will have a damaged Earth, and will have to
invest incredible amounts of time, money and labor to repairing what can be repaired.
But future generations are made up of people who don't yet exist what obligations do
we have to them? And what obligations, if any, do we have to our fellow fauna and the
flora we all depend on? Ken and John welcome environmental ethicist and celebrated
author Kathleen Moore for a program
recorded in front of a
live audience
at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Kierkegaard
2010 Jan 10
Kierkegaard
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Philosophy usually suggests a striving for rationality and objectivity. But the
Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard advocated subjectivity and the leap of faith his
conception of how an individual would believe in God or act in love. Kierkegaard,
whose best-known work is
Fear and
Trembling
, is often considered the father of Existentialism. Ken and John
explore the life and thought of this passionate philosopher with Lanier Anderson from
Stanford University.
Nihilism and Meaning
2010 Jan 24
Nihilism and Meaning
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The ancients believed in an enchanted universe a universe suffused with meaning and
purpose. But with the dawn of modernity, philosophy and science conspired together to
disenchant the universe, to reveal it as entirely devoid of meaning and purpose. Must
any rational and reflective person living in the 21st century accept such nihilism? Or
is there a way to re-infuse the disenchanted universe with meaning and purpose? John
and Ken welcome Hubert Dreyfus, co-author of
All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning
in a Secular Age
, for a thought-provoking discussion of nihilism
and meaning. This program was recorded live at the Marsh theatre in San Francisco.
Philosophy in Fiction
2010 Feb 7
Philosophy in Fiction
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Philosophers think a lot about fiction. But do novelists think about philosophy? Do
philosophers make good fictional characters? Can good stories be built around
philosophical problems? When awarding its Genius prize to philosopher-novelist Rebecca
Goldstein, the MacArthur Foundation said "[her] writings emerge as brilliant arguments
for the belief that fiction in our time may be the best vehicle for involving readers
in questions of morality and existence.'' Ken and John explore philosophy in fiction
with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of
The Mind-Body Problem
and
3
6 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of
Fiction
.
Mind Reading
2010 Feb 21
Mind Reading
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Scope and Contents note
We base many decisions every day not only on the belief that other people have minds,
but on detailed beliefs about what is going on in those minds: what these other people
believe, feel, hope, and fear. The basis of our ability to "read" the minds of others
is a lively area of research in psychology and the philosophy of psychology. Ken and
John discuss mind-reading with Shaun Nichols from the University of Arizona, author of
Mindreading: An Integrated Account of Pretense,
Self-awareness and Understanding Other Minds
. This program was recorded live
at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
The Movie Show 2010
2010 Feb 28
The Movie Show 2010
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Scope and Contents note
Movies play a large role in modern life. We enjoy watching them; we idolize the
actors and actresses who appear in them; we analyze the directors. But how well do
movies tackle bigger philosophical questions? With the help of listeners, John and Ken
present their second annual Dionysus Awards for the most philosophically-rich films of
the past year.
What Is 'Normal'?
2010 Mar 14
What Is 'Normal'?
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What does it mean to be normal? And abnormal? Who gets to decide, and what are the
repercussions? When do we applaud deviations from the norm, when do we condemn them,
and why? John and Ken take a look at the uses and abuses of making judgments about
normality with Charles Scott from Vanderbilt University, author of
Living With Indifference and
The
Language of Difference.
Fear
2010 Mar 28
Fear
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Scope and Contents note
Fear is an emotion, but it is one with a long history in both political theory and
politics in the real world. In many versions of social contract theory, it is a fear
of the state of nature that leads to government in the first place. From McCarthy to
post-9/11 politics, fear has played a leading role in American public discourse. Ken
and John examine fear as theme in politics and political philosophy with Corey Robin
from the City University of New York, author of
Fear: The
History of a Political Idea.
What is a Wife?
2010 Apr 4
What is a Wife?
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Scope and Contents note
The concept of a wife has been embedded in cultures, religious practices, social
customs and economic patterns of wildly different sorts. Is there a core concept of
what it is to be a wife? Is it a good concept, or one that deserves to be thrown on
the trash heap of intellectual history because it perpetrates corrosive stereotypes of
women? What conceptions of being a wife do Americans have today? Join John and Ken as
they discuss the topic with Marilyn Yalom, author of
A History of the
Wife.
This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Marsh
Theatre in San Francisco.
The Ethics of Torture
2010 Apr 11
The Ethics of Torture
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According to former Vice President Cheney, practices widely regarded as torture
prevented further attack on America after 9/11. The facts are in dispute. But suppose
he is correct can torture be justified on such utilitarian grounds? What is the
philosophical basis of our aversion to using torture? Is the moral principle not to
torture absolute or circumstantial? Ken and John consider the ethics of torture with
Nancy Sherman from Georgetown University, author of
The Untold
War: Inside the Hearts, Minds, and Souls of Our Soldiers.
Faces, Feelings, and Lies
2010 Apr 18
Faces, Feelings, and Lies
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Scope and Contents note
According to Proverbs, lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. But lies on human
lips are as common as fleas on a dog. What is a lie? Are all untruths lies? Is lying
always immoral? Do our faces inevitably betray our lies? Join the hosts as they
uncover the concept, practice, and detection of lies with pioneering psychologist Paul
Ekman, author of
Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and
Marriage
and scientific consultant to the Fox television series
Lie To Me
. This program was recorded live at the
Marsh Theatre in San Francisco.
Mental Illness and Culture
2010 May 9
Mental Illness and Culture
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Paranoia, depression, schizophrenia, bipolarity, and all the other ways Americans
have discovered to be crazy are they universal phenomena, rooted in human biology? Or
are they cultural kinks, rooted in one society's peculiar pressures and institutions?
Are Americans inducing the rest of the world to be crazy like us, so we can market the
appropriate cures? Ken and John maintain their sanity with Ethan Watters, author of
Crazy Like
Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche.
Philosophy Talk "Live" Highlights
2010 May 16
Philosophy Talk "Live" Highlights
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
It's a Philosophy Talk highlight reel for the membership drive! In this special
episode, John and Ken relive some favorite moments from Philosophy Talk episodes
recorded in front of live audiences around the country. We start at the Marsh theatre
in San Francisco with psychologist Alison Gopnik and political philosopher Judith
Butler, followed by philosopher-poet Troy Jollimore in Portland, pop culture
philosopher Richard Hanley at the University of Delaware, scientist and entrepreneur
Craig Venter at the Smithsonian Institution, and political scientist Rob Reich in Palo
Alto, California. Plus selected commentaries from Ian Shoales, the Sixty-Second
Philosopher.
Summer Reading List 2010
2010 May 23
Summer Reading List 2010
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents note
What philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues do you want to read up on
over the summer? Heidegger's
Being and
Time
probably isn't the obvious choice to take on vacation, but there are a
lot of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to add philosophical depth
to your vacation reading. Not to mention new and classic fiction books with a
philosophical bent. You are invited to join John and Ken to share some of the
philosophically-minded reading on your reading list.
The Corporation as a Person
2010 Jun 20
The Corporation as a Person
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Scope and Contents note
The Supreme Court recently decided that corporations had the right of free speech
under the U.S. Constitution, since they are persons. But what does it mean to say
corporations are persons? Why should they have rights? If they have free speech,
should they have the vote? What sorts of duties do they have? Where did the idea of a
corporation as a person come from, and should it be retired? Ken and John examine the
philosophical bases of corporate personhood with shareholder activist Robert Monks,
co-author of
Corporate
Governance.
What Are Human Rights?
2010 Jun 27
What Are Human Rights?
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According to the Declaration of Independence, the basic human rights of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness are God-given. Whatever the role of God, rights must be
recognized by the society in which one lives to be of any use. Are rights universal?
God given? Philosophically justified? Or a matter of custom and culture? John and Ken
welcome back Helen Stacy, author of
Human Rights For the 21st Century: Sovereignty, Civil Society,
Culture
.
Democracy and The Press
2010 Jul 4
Democracy and The Press
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Our founding fathers believed that a free press would serve democracy by promoting
unfettered political debate and expose the actions of the government to the harsh
scrutiny of an informed and engaged populace. Today, however, large media
conglomerates have become part of the entrenched power structure and are driven as
much by profit as by a sense of public mission. Is it still possible to believe that
the press lives up to the lofty ideals of our founding fathers? John and Ken are
joined by former TV news anchor and investigative journalist Leslie Griffith for a
program recorded in front of a live audience at the Marsh theatre in Berkeley,
California.
Loyalty
2010 Jul 18
Loyalty
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Loyalty is usually reckoned to be an important virtue; even loyalty to lost causes is
often admired. But loyalty to evil causes is no virtue. To whom and what should one be
loyal? When is loyalty a virtue? When is it wrong? And when is it stupid? John and Ken
welcome back poet and philosopher Troy Jollimore, author of
Love's Vision and
Friendship and Agent-Relative
Morality.
Social Reality
2010 Aug 1
Social Reality
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Few things affect our lives as much as the fact that we are citizens of one country
rather than another. The government of, the economy of, and the rights recognized and
opportunities provided by the country we live in shape our lives. But how real are any
of these facts and things? Without human beliefs, and societies of humans, there would
be no states, no facts of citizenship, no money, and few opportunities. Are our lives
built on ontological fluff? Ken and John discuss the metaphysics of the social with
famed philosopher John Searle, author of
Making the
Social World: The Structure of Human Civilization
. This program was
recorded live at the Marsh theatre in Berkeley.
Humanism
2010 Aug 22
Humanism
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Humanism as a movement arose with the Renaissance. It took powerful expressionwith
the Enlightenment, and deeply influenced the founding of the United States. Butnow
"secular humanism" is widely decried and even derided. What was Humanism, andwhat has
it become? In an age of appreciating the interconnectedness of all nature, is
theHumanist enterprise out of date? John and Ken are joined by Jennifer Bardi, editor
of
The Humanist magazine, for a program recorded live
at the American Humanist Associationconference in San Jose, California.
Self-Deception
2010 Aug 29
Self-Deception
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Self-deception sounds like a contradiction: intentionally convincing yourself
ofsomething you know to be untrue. But it is a pervasive aspect of human nature.
Whatis the nature of self-deception, and what are its main patterns? Does it serve
anypurpose? John and Ken confront the truths of self-deception with Neil Van
Leeuwenfrom the University of Johannesburg, author of "Self-Deception Won't Make
YouHappy."
Philosophy for the Young - Corrupting or Empowering?
2010 Sep 5
Philosophy for the Young - Corrupting or Empowering?
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Socrates was executed for corrupting the youth. In America, youth below college age
are usually not exposed to philosophy in the classroom. Is philosophy all that
dangerous? Should it be taught to teenagers? Or would this lead to a generation of
self-absorbed and skeptical young people, shirking their duties in order to worry
about the meaning of life? John and Ken are joined by Jack Bowen, author of
The Dream Weaver and
If You Can Read
This: The Philosophy of Bumper Stickers
, for a program recorded with a live
audience of young philosophers at Palo Alto High School.
Meaning and the Revolution
2010 Sep 12
Meaning and the Revolution
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The American Revolution was saturated with meaning and ambiguity, from the words of
the Declaration of Independence, to the beliefs of the founding fathers, to the
vagueness, hedges, and contradictions of the Constitution on which the possibility of
union between slave and free states rested. Ken and John examine the personalities,
philosophies, and documents of the American Revolution with Pulitzer Prize winning
Stanford historian Jack Rakove, author of
Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America.
Philosophy and the Alma Mater
2010 Sep 19
Philosophy and the Alma Mater
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Scholars from Berkeley and from Stanford have played a big role on Philosophy Talk.
Sure, John and Ken are from Stanford, but many of our most frequent and most brilliant
guests are from Berkeley: Alison Gopnik, John Searle, Geoff Nunberg, George Lakoff,
and many others. But who supports
KALW more, Berkeley or Stanford? We'll
rely on our Stanford- and Berkeley-connected guests to charge up the Cardinal and
Bears in the audience, and see who can raise more money for our beloved radio
station.
Bargaining with the Devil
2010 Oct 24
Bargaining with the Devil
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Compromise is the condition of peace and progress. But there are times when we should
not compromise when compromise would undermine integrity and amount to cooperating
with evil. How do we distinguish between when are we 'bargaining with the devil' and
when are we simply trying to be tolerant of alternative lifestyles and political
positions? Is it OK to 'bargain with the devil' in the name of peace? When we refuse
to compromise on moral grounds, are we imposing our values? Ken and John negotiate the
terms with UC Irvine Law Professor and professional mediator Carrie Menkel-Meadow.
The Occult Philosophy
2010 Oct 31
The Occult Philosophy
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The occult is routinely dismissed in our times as the province of quacks, the
irrational, and the superstitious. But during the Renaissance, many of the best minds
in Europe studied the philosophy and science of the occult. The period witnessed an
outpouring of systematic philosophical and scientific treatises on the occult.
References to the occult pervade the works of Shakespeare and other literary writers
of the time. Many scholars believe that The Occult Philosophy and the Occult Sciences,
with their search for hidden causes, played a decisive role in the rise of modern
science. In this special Halloween week episode, John and Ken delve into Occult
Philosophy with Christopher Lehrich from Boston University, author of
The Occult Mind: Magic in Theory and Practice.
Reading, Narrative, and the Self
2010 Nov 28
Reading, Narrative, and the Self
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Reading is a lot of fun, especially narrative fiction everyone loves a good story.
But maybe there's more to it than that. Maybe everyone is, or at least tries to be, a
good story themselves. Perhaps our very personal identities rest on narratives we form
about ourselves, narratives that give our lives meaning, continuity, and coherence.
Will the younger generation fashion lives based on the chaos and violence-based levels
of computer games, rather than the carefully constructed lives of great fiction? Or is
that just one of the old-fogey hosts grumbling? John and Ken swap stories with Joshua
Landy, co-director of the Literature and Philosophy Initiative at Stanford University,
for a program recorded in front of a live audience at Congregation Beth Shalom in San
Francisco.
Disagreement
2010 Dec 5
Disagreement
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Sometimes people who seem to be your epistemic peers that is, people as experienced,
as well trained, as thoughtful, and as intelligent as you disagree with you. Should
this shake your confidence in your own beliefs? When, how much, and under what
conditions? Ken and John search for common ground with Jennifer Lackey from
Northwestern University, author of
Learning From
Words: Testimony as a Source of Knowledge.
The Power of Thought
2010 Dec 12
The Power of Thought
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Human thought is an amazing thing. It has given us not only science, literature, and
morality, but also superstition, slavery, and war. Thought has the power to uncover
the deepest mysteries of the universe. Or to create new realities social realities.
But what makes human thought so powerful? John and Ken put this question and more to
renowned cognitive scientist Steven Pinker, author of the best-selling
The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language and
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human
Nature.
Philosophy for Children
2010 Dec 19
Philosophy for Children
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Because of their innocent approach to things, do children make good philosophers? Or
do they lack the equipment for clear-thinking? Is exposure to philosophy good for
children? Or will it undermine their sense of security? John and Ken welcome Jana Mohr
Lone, founder and director of the Northwest Center for Philosophy for Children at the
University of Washington. Together they'll put some classic philosophical questions
about Mind/Body, Personal Identity, Ethics, and Social Philosophy to a live -- and
questioning -- audience of Seattle schoolchildren.
The Moral Costs of Free Markets
2011 Jan 2
The Moral Costs of Free Markets
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We live in a market-driven society our day-to-day lives consist of buying and selling
goods and services, and to some, our ability to do so without government regulation is
the underpinning of democratic freedom itself. Everything has a price, and pretty much
everything is for sale, from concert tickets to political influence. But should it be
this way? Ken and John explore the moral costs of free markets with Stanford
philosopher Debra Satz, author of
Why Some Things
Should Not Be For Sale: The Moral Limits of Markets.
Abortion
2011 Jan 9
Abortion
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Nothing stirs up controversy like abortion. To some, it carries the steep moral cost
of destroying human life, while to others, it represents an inviolable bastion of
women s rights over their own bodies. Despite the polarizing nature of the debate, it
covers broad philosophical ground, and touches on religious, political, social and
moral considerations. Ken and John seek a dispassionate and rational discussion of
abortion with UC Berkeley Journalism professor Cynthia Gorney, author of
Articles of
Faith: A Frontline History of the Abortion Wars.
Derrida and Deconstruction
2011 Jan 16
Derrida and Deconstruction
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Jacques Derrida was one of the most influential and also one of the most polarizing
philosophers of the twentieth century. With his method of "deconstruction," Derrida
provided critiques not only of literary trends and philosophical ideas but also
political institutions. He won many followers among humanists, but analytical
philosophers tended to be skeptical that Deconstructionism was anything more than a
fancy name for a mélange of half-understood ideas. John and Ken take on Derrida and
his ideas with Joshua Kates from Indiana University, author of
Fielding
Derrida: Deconstruction in the Fields of Philosophy, History, and
Beyond.
Procrastination
2011 Jan 30
Procrastination
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Everyone procrastinates academics are especially prone to it. But why do we
procrastinate? Is it lack of will-power? Or is procrastination more like a disease,
something that might be cured? Can we structure our priorities in such a way so as to
accomplish more even while procrastinating? John and Ken can no longer put off the
discussion with Tim Pychyl, Director of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton
University and author of
The
Procrastinator s Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination
Puzzle.
The Movie Show 2011
2011 Feb 13
The Movie Show 2011
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It's the third annual Philosophy Talk Dionysus Awards show! With the help of
listeners and special guests, John and Ken turn a philosophical eye to the past year's
cinematic offerings, and present their Dionysus Awards for the most
philosophically-rich films of the past year.
John Locke
2011 Feb 27
John Locke
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Thomas Jefferson identified John Locke as one of the three greatest men that have
ever lived, without any exception. Many debates in modern political theory have
their roots in the writings of John Locke, and Locke s work on other philosophical
issues, particularly identity and selfhood, have also influenced generations of
philosophers. What was Locke s influence on contemporary political theory and our
understanding of the purpose of government? John and Ken are joined by William Uzgalis
from Oregon State University, author of
Locke
s Essay Concerning Human Understanding: A Reader s Guide.
Is It All Relative?
2011 Mar 20
Is It All Relative?
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We've all heard a disenchanted teenager claim that everything is relative and that
there is no absolute morality or truth. Of course, there seems to be something wrong
with that; isn't the relativity of everything then an absolute? Relativism has
appeared throughout philosophy since the ancient Greek Sophists. Proponents of
relativism argue that some central element of thought, experience, evaluation, or even
reality is somehow relative to something else. Does that mean that we merely obey a
code that has no inherent value? John and Ken avoid absolutes with Paul Boghossian
from New York University, author of
Fear of
Knowledge: Against Relativism and Constructivism.
What is an Adult?
2011 Apr 10
What is an Adult?
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In the Middle Ages, people married, had children, went off to war and took on all the
traditional trappings of adulthood by their early teens. But today many people put off
those trappings until well into their thirties. Some have even suggested that we need
a new vocabulary to describe the variety of life stages experienced by 21st century
humans. John and Ken explore the new adulthood with Ethan Watters, author of
Urban Tribes:
A Generation Redefines Friendship, Family, and Commitment
, in a program
recorded in front a live audience at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley, California.
The Extended Mind
2011 Apr 17
The Extended Mind
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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.
This
program was recorded in front a live audience at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley,
California.
Should Marriage be Abolished?
2011 May 1
Should Marriage be Abolished?
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State-sanctioned marriage has long been regarded as one of the bedrocks of a stable
society. But in recent times, this venerable institution has become the focus of
intense debate, as those long denied the right to marry clamor to be let in and those
determined to keep marriage the way it's always been threaten to amend the
constitution in defense of marriage. In the heat of battle, few have stopped to ask
whether the state should be in the marriage business in the first place until now.
John and Ken welcome Tamara Metz from Reed College, author of
Untying the
Knot: Marriage, the State and the Case for Their Divorce.
Cities, Gentrification, and Inequality
2011 May 8
Cities, Gentrification, and Inequality
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In the 1960s, as many American cities burst and burned, the upper and middle classes
fled to the suburbs, leaving behind a decaying infrastructure and a socially isolated
urban underclass. In more recent times, many urban centers have undergone
re-gentrification, and with it the return of the upper classes, safer neighborhoods,
and better services. But gentrification often drives poor and working class people
from the very places they had called home. Is gentrification on balance a morally and
socially good thing or bad thing? Does it serve more to increase inequality or to
lessen the isolation of the urban underclass? John and Ken assess the moral cityscape
with Stanford sociologist Frederic Stout, co-editor of
The City
Reader.
Summer Reading List 2011
2011 May 29
Summer Reading List 2011
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Summer's just around the corner what philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical
issues do you want to read up on? Kant's
Critique of Pure
Reason
may not be the obvious choice to take on vacation, but there are lots
of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to add philosophical depth to
your summer reading. Not to mention new and classic fiction books with a philosophical
bent. John and Ken share some of the philosophically-minded titles on their reading
list and take suggestions from listeners and special guests.
Gay Pride Prejudice
2011 Jun 5
Gay Pride & Prejudice
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The question of gay rights has become a hot button issue, with opposition taking on
the air of a moral panic and support taking on the air of a righteous crusade. John
and Ken attempt to dispassionately examine the competing scientific, religious, and
philosophical visions of the nature of gayness. They explore the consequences of those
competing arguments for and against gay rights with cultural and psychological
anthropologist Gilbert Herdt, editor of
Moral Panics, Sex Panics: Fear and the Fight over Sexual
Rights
. This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theater in
Berkeley.
Whodunit: The Language of Responsibility
2011 Jun 12
Whodunit: The Language of Responsibility
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Who is responsible for the broken vase in the foyer? How harshly should criminals be
punished for their crimes? Did Justin Timberlake mean to disrobe Janet Jackson during
her infamous ˜wardrobe malfunction ? Cognitive scientists have recently discovered
some surprising ways in which the language we use influences how we think about
responsibility and agency. John and Ken are joined by Stanford psychologist Lera
Boroditsky for a probing look at cross cultural variations in the language of
responsibility. This program was recorded in front a live audience at the Marsh
Theater in Berkeley, California.
Atheism and the Well-Lived Life
2011 Jul 10
Atheism and the Well-Lived Life
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Atheists don't believe in God does that mean they don't find life meaningful? Are
atheists doomed to be grouchy nihilists, finding meaning only in criticizing theists?
Or does a world without God offer its own meanings and values to structure a
well-lived life? John and Ken search for a meaningful atheism with Louise Antony from
UMass Amherst, editor of
Philosophers Without Gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular
Life
. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at
the
Engaging Philosophy conference at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley,
Massachusetts.
The Psychology of Evil
2011 Jul 17
The Psychology of Evil
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True evil seems easy to recognize: the killing of innocent children; assigning whole
populations to death by gassing, or napalm, or aerial bombing. These acts go beyond
the criminal, the mean, the bad. But what is the psychology of evil-doers? Are they
monsters among us just like the rest of us, with one screw a little loose, or are they
radically unlike us? John and Ken probe the evil mind with Simon Baron Cohen from
Cambridge University, author of
The Science of Evil: On Empathy
and the Origins of Cruelty.
Philosophy and Everyday Life
2011 Jul 31
Philosophy and Everyday Life
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The State of Public Philosophy
2011 Aug 7
The State of Public Philosophy
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In the 18th and 19th Century, philosophers and intellectuals were immersed in
politics and popular culture. Even in the early 20th Century some of the leading
academic figures of the time, like Betrand Russell, also wrote for a broader public.
Where have the public philosophers and public intellectuals gone? Can philosophers and
intellectuals still speak to a broad public? If they speak will the public listen? Or
is the public intellectual a thing of the past? John and Ken contemplate the place of
the public intellectual in the modern world with Hans Gumbrecht, author of
Reading
Moods: On Literature's Different Reality.
This program was recorded in
front of a live audience at the Marsh theatre in San Francisco
Time, Space, and Quantum Mechanics
2011 Aug 14
Time, Space, and Quantum Mechanics
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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.
Deconstructing the College Admissions Rat Race
2011 Sep 4
Deconstructing the College Admissions Rat Race
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America's elite colleges and universities spend millions of dollars to generate
thousands of applicants, the vast majority of whom they reject. High school students
and their parents work hard to gain entry to such institutions, and can be devastated
by the rejection. Is there a purpose to this rat race? What values are implicit in the
American college admissions process? John and Ken offer admission to Mitchell Stevens
from Stanford's School of Education, author of
Creating A
Class: College Admissions and the Education of Elites
, for a program
recorded with an audience of high school students in Palo Alto, California.
Latin-American Philosophy
2011 Sep 18
Latin-American Philosophy
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Latin American Philosophy began centuries before anything of much philosophical
consequence happened in North America. Yet in our own time, Latin American Philosophy
is undergoing a protracted identity crisis. Is it just transplanted European
philosophy? A reaction to analytical philosophy? A reflection of the themes of
liberation theology? John and Ken explore Latin America's philosophical traditions
with Joesph Orosco from Oregon State University, author of
Cesar Chavez and
the Common Sense of Nonviolence.
This program was recorded live at OSU in
Corvallis.
Wisdom
2011 Sep 25
Wisdom
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Philosophy is the love of wisdom or is it? Is this traditional definition outmoded?
Is wisdom an anachronism, an elitist concept deployed by old learned people with
nothing of practical value to say? Do the professors of philosophy around the world
(or on this program) love wisdom any more or less than anyone else? John and Ken wise
up with Valerie Tiberius from the University of Minnesota, author of
The Reflective Life: Living Wisely With Our
Limits
.
Morality and the Self
2011 Oct 2
Morality and the Self
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Social psychologists have discovered that our self-images play a surprising role in
our thinking about everyday moral matters. People who feel they have already proven
themselves to be morally good feel less pressure to do the right thing than someone
whose moral credentials are still in question. And people often resent, rather than
applaud, the morally admirable actions of others if those actions threaten their own
sense of moral adequacy. John and Ken explore the surprising ways in which our own
self-images influences our moral evaluations and reasoning with Stanford psychologist
Benoît Monin. This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in San
Francisco.
Cooperation and Conflict
2011 Oct 16
Cooperation and Conflict
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The Prisoner s Dilemma is a problem studied in game theory that shows how two people
might not cooperate even if it is in both their best interests to do so. It highlights
the inherent tension between individual interests and a larger society. Should you
pick up your trash at the lunch table? Should you push in your chair after getting up?
Should you take performance-enhancing drugs? Should you preserve the earth for the
next generation? John and Ken find their mutual interests in a discussion of
cooperation and conflict with Cristina Bicchieri from the University of Pennsylvania,
author of
The Grammar of Society: The Nature and Dynamics of
Social Norms.
Thinking Inside the Box
2011 Oct 23
Thinking Inside the Box
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Speaking to the National Association of Broadcasters in May 1961, FCC Chairman Newton
Minow famously introduced the characterization of television as a vast wasteland.
And that wasteland has only become vaster though occasionally a flower will bloom,
from The Twilight Zone and Star Trek to South Park and Lost. With help from
listeners, critics, and past guests, John and Ken try to tease out the thoughtful from
the mindless for a thinking person's guide to TV, past and present.
Miracles
2011 Nov 6
Miracles
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Religions rely on miracles to demonstrate the authenticity of figures thought to have
supernatural powers. Many people feel that key events in their lives were literally
miracles. Many even claim to have witnessed miracles. But what counts as a miracle? Is
it true, as Hume argued, that it is always more rational to disbelieve the testimony
of a miracle than to believe in the miracle itself? John and Ken explore what miracles
are, and what would constitute good reasons for believing in them, with Peter Graham
from the University of California Riverside.
Is Nothing Sacred Anymore?
2011 Nov 13
Is Nothing Sacred Anymore?
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Tribal societies lived in a world of the sacred and profane, ritual and taboo. Is
there anything left of this structure in the modern world? Is anything really taboo,
or are things just inadvisable, problematic, unhealthy, unwise, and less than optimal
under the circumstances? John and Ken consider what, if anything, is still sacred with
Cora Diamond from the University of Virginia. This program was recorded live at
Pacific University's 15th annual
undergraduate
philosophy conference
in Forest Grove, Oregon.
The Military: What is it Good for?
2011 Nov 27
The Military: What is it Good for?
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Is the military draft a natural expression of democratic values, or a challenge to
our most basic concepts of individual rights and liberties? Are the values that make
for an effective military consistent with the values that make for a free and
democratic republic? If the government must have the power to defend the nation, does
it follow that it must have the power to control events around the entire world? John
and Ken enlist themselves in a discussion of the military and its role in public life
with Pulitzer Prize winning historian David Kennedy, for a program recorded live at
the Marsh theatre in San Francisco.
Forgive and Forget
2011 Dec 11
Forgive and Forget
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At least forgive OR forget. Get things behind you. All good advice for those who
don't want their life dominated by the bad things that have happened to them at the
hands of others. This advice has also been applied to aggrieved populations following
liberating reforms and revolutions, as in South Africa. But what is forgiveness? What
are its limits? Does it make sense to forgive those who attempt genocide, for example?
Does forgiveness entail a sacrifice of pride and dignity? John and Ken let bygones be
bygones with their guest, Paul Hughes from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
The Examined Year - 2011
2012 Jan 8
The Examined Year - 2011
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A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on significant moments of the past twelve
months. But what ideas and events that took shape over the past year have prompted us
to question our assumptions and to think about things in new ways? What significant
events – in politics, in science, and in philosophy itself – have called into question
our most deeply-held beliefs? Join John, Ken, and their special guests as they
celebrate the examined year with a philosophical look back at 2011.
Is Democracy a Universal Value?
2012 Jan 15
Is Democracy a Universal Value?
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Americans value democracy, and expect others to value it. But is it a universal
value? Does God, or rationality, or something very basic about human sensibility,
dictate that states should be organized democratically? What if there were empirical
evidence that some non-democratic form of government is more likely to produce human
happiness, cultural achievement, and sound money? John and Ken consider the
universality of democratic values with Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at the Hoover
Institution and author of
The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle
to Build Free Societies Throughout the World
. This program was recorded live
at the Marsh theatre in San Francisco.
The Right to Privacy
2012 Jan 29
The Right to Privacy
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Is the right to privacy the right to be left alone and to control one's personal
information really a right? Is privacy just a privilege that can be revoked any time
it conflicts with other more important needs, like the need to protect our security?
Who has the right to infringe upon our privacy and for what particular purposes? How
much public surveillance do we really need to stay safe and does that count as an
infringement on our privacy? How does our use of social media undermine our claims to
privacy? John and Ken talk publicly with George Washington University law professor
Jeffrey Rosen, author of
The Naked Crowd: Reclaiming Security
and Freedom in an Anxious Age
.
Black Solidarity
2012 Feb 5
Black Solidarity
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From the abolition of slavery to the Black Power movement, black unity has been
considered a powerful method to achieve freedom and equality. But does black
solidarity still make sense in a supposedly post-racial era? Or should we be moving
past all racial identities and identity politics? And how should we think about racial
solidarity versus class or gender solidarity? In celebration of Black History Month,
John and Ken join forces with Tommie Shelby from Harvard University, author of
We Who Are Dark: The Philosophical Foundations of Black
Solidarity.
The 2012 Dionysus Awards
2012 Feb 12
The 2012 Dionysus Awards
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Movies play a large role in modern life. We enjoy watching them; we idolize the
actors and actresses who appear in them; we analyze the directors. But how well do
movies tackle bigger philosophical questions? With the help of listeners and special
guests, John and Ken turn a philosophical eye to the past year's cinematic offerings,
and present their 4th annual Dionysus Awards for the most philosophically-rich films
of the past year. Send your nominations to
comments@philosophytalk.org .
The Movie Show
2012 Feb 12
The Movie Show
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Along with the blockbusters, summer is a great time to catch up on some of the
deepermovies you may have missed over the past year. Whether you're out catching a
late-nite feature or staying in on a hot August night, you'll want to know what recent
movies have tackled big philosophical ideas. With the help of listeners and special
guests, Johnand Ken turn a philosophical eye to the past year's cinematic offerings,
and present theirannual Dionysus Awards for the most philosophically-rich films of the
last year.
Pantheism
2012 Feb 26
Pantheism
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Pantheism is the doctrine that the world is either identical with God or an
expression of His nature. Pantheistic ideas appear in many schools of Buddhism and
Hinduism, and in the Tao-te-Ching. Pantheism also has had defenders in Western
philosophy, including Heraclitus, Spinoza, Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel. Many of the
Romantic poets, like Shelley, Keats, and Wordsworth, were considered pantheists. In
modern times, the ecological movement has led to new interest in pantheism and its
emphasis on nature as sacred. Is there a consistent world view that all these
philosophies have in common? And how should we understand the claim that nature is to
be worshipped? John and Ken welcome back Philip Clayton from the Claremont Graduate
School, editor of
In Whom We Live and Move and Have Our Being:
Panentheistic Reflections on God's Presence in a Scientific World.
Epicurus and the Good Life
2012 Mar 4
Epicurus and the Good Life
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Though his name is often misleadingly associated with indulgence in sensual
pleasures, the philosopher Epicurus developed a far-reaching system of thought that
incorporated an empiricist theory of knowledge, a description of nature based on
atomistic materialism, and views about the importance of friendship and both mental
and physical pleasures for leading the good life. These notions of what constitutes
a good life have preserved the relevance of Epicurean philosophy for contemporary
life. A diverse array of thinkers, including Thomas Jefferson, Diderot, and Jeremy
Bentham, have considered themselves Epicureans. So what is the legacy of Epicurus, and
how have his ideas become integrated into the fabric of modernity? With great
pleasure, John and Ken welcome David Konstan from NYU, author of
A Life Worthy of the Gods: The Materialist Psychology of
Epicurus.
Poetry as a Way of Knowing
2012 Apr 1
Poetry as a Way of Knowing
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What is poetry? Mere word play? A pretty, or at any rate striking, way of expressing
thought and emotion? Or does great poetry involve an approach to the world that
provides insight and information not available in other ways? Ken and John explore how
poetry can illuminate what we know with award-winning poet Jane Hirshfield, author of
Come, Thief and other poetic works of philosophical
richness. This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley.
What Are Leaders Made of?
2012 Apr 15
What Are Leaders Made of?
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There seems to be a paradox in leadership: the qualities of ruthlessness and
opportunism necessary to attain power and become a leader are not necessarily the
qualities of morality and a sense of justice that make for a good leader. Do the
traits that make it likely that someone will become a leader correlate positively or
negatively with the traits that make a good and effective leader? Do our democratic
institutions lead to better leaders than, say, a lottery like the Athenians used? Ken
and John ask what leaders are and should be made of with Stanford Law Professor
Deborah Rhode, co-author of
Moral Leadership: The Theory and
Practice of Power, Judgment, and Policy.
This program was recorded live at
the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley.
What Is Love?
2012 Apr 22
What Is Love?
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It may seem doubtful that philosophers have much to tell us about love (beyond their
love of wisdom). Surely it is the poets who have the market cornered when it comes to
deep reflection on the nature of love. John and Ken question the notion that love
cannot be captured by the light of reason by turning their attention to the philosophy
of love with philosopher-poet Troy Jollimore from CSU Chico. Troy is the author of
Love s Vision, as well as two collections of poems:
At Lake Scugog and 2006's
Tom
Thomson in Purgatory
, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. This
program was recorded live at the Mill Valley Public Library, just north of San
Francisco.
Freedom, Blame, and Resentment
2012 May 13
Freedom, Blame, and Resentment
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When someone acts without regard for our feelings or needs, a natural response is to
feel resentment toward that person. But is that a rational response? What if there's
no such thing as free will? Is blame still appropriate in a deterministic universe? Or
are we simply genetically programmed to respond emotionally to perceived injuries?
John and Ken talk freely with Pamela Hieronymi from UCLA, author of "The Will as
Reason."
Summer Reading List 2012
2012 May 27
Summer Reading List 2012
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Summer is the perfect time to dig in to deep reading. Plato's Collected Dialogues may
be a bit much to take on vacation, but there are lots of readable, beach-friendly
classics and non-classics to add philosophical depth to your summer reading. Not to
mention new and classic fiction books with a philosophical bent. John and Ken share
some of the philosophically-minded titles on their reading list and take suggestions
from listeners and special guests.
What Might Have Been
2012 Jun 10
What Might Have Been
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When we make claims about things that could have been "what philosophers call
counterfactual statements "we are, in some sense, sliding between different worlds. We
all use counterfactual statements frequently. But what would make our speculations
about what might have been in a different scenario true or false? When I say things
could have gone differently than they did, I am speaking of a possible world in which
things did, in fact, go differently. But how do we make sense of this talk of possible
worlds? How can there be facts other than facts about the actual world? John and Ken
consider the possibilities with Laurie Paul from the University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, co-author of
Causation: A User's
Guide
.
Corporations and the Future of Democracy
2012 Jun 24
Corporations and the Future of Democracy
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The US prides itself on the strength of its democratic institutions and considers
itself a leader in the promotion of democratic values around the globe. But can we
consistently maintain this self-image in the face of the growing power of
corporations? How are capitalism and globalization subverting the interests of
democracy at home and abroad? Does the problem stem from fundamental inconsistencies
between global capitalism and national democracy? Can regulations provide a solution,
and if so, who has the authority to create and enforce these regulations? John and Ken
welcome former US Senator Russell Feingold, author of
While
America Sleeps: A Wake-up Call for the Post-9/11 Era
, for a program recorded
live on the Stanford campus.
Identities Lost Found in a Global Age
2012 Jul 1
Identities Lost & Found in a Global Age
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Throughout human history, people have tended to live and die in the place they're
born. Place is an important part of identity. But what happens when people are
deprived of this sense of place? What psychological effects do emigrants, exiles, and
expatriates endure? What happens to the importance of place when community membership
can be based on common interests among people linked by email and facebook? John and
Ken situate themselves with UC Berkeley English Professor Bharati Mukherjee, author of
Miss New Indiaand other novels exploring migration,
alienation, and identity. This program was recorded live at the Marsh theatre in
Berkeley.
Hypocrisy
2012 Jul 8
Hypocrisy
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Hypocrites believe one thing, but do another. Jefferson opposed slavery, but owned
slaves. Jesus professed universal love, but cursed an innocent fig tree. Jerry Brown
opposes the death penalty, but as governor of California will be responsible for
executions. Hypocrites all--but vile hypocrites? Surely it was better that Jefferson
was a hypocrite, and articulated the case against slavery, than not opposing it at
all. Does it take courage to defend a view that you, yourself, don't have the courage
or the character to follow through on? John and Ken try to practice what they preach
with Lawrence Quill from San Jose State University, author of
Secrecy and Democracy (forthcoming).
Gut Feelings
2012 Jul 22
Gut Feelings
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We may think of ourselves as rational decision-makers, but we often base even
high-stakes decisions on intuitions or "gut feelings" rather than explicit reasoning.
Decisionsbased on intuition are not highly esteemed in business, politics, or medicine
which maylead decision-makers to construct elaborate post facto rationalizations to
explain theirintuitive choices. What place should intuitions have in important
decision-making? Isthere a role for expertise in developing reliable gut-feelings?
John and Ken trust theirinstincts with Gerd Gigerenzer from the Max Planck Institute
for Human Development, author of
Gut Feelings: The Intelligence
of the Unconscious.
Neuroscience and the Law
2012 Aug 12
Neuroscience and the Law
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Recent advances in neuroscience have revealed that certain neurological disorders,
likea brain tumor, can cause an otherwise normal person to behave in criminally
deviantways. Would knowing that an underlying neurological condition had caused
criminalbehavior change the way we assign moral responsibility and mete out justice?
Should it? Is committing a crime with a "normal" biology fundamentally different from
doing sowith an identifiable brain disorder? John and Ken ask how the law should
respond to thefindings of neuroscience with David Eagleman, author of
Incognito: The Secret Livesof the Brain.
The Moral Costs of Climate Change
2012 Aug 19
The Moral Costs of Climate Change
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Global climate change confronts us not only with well-known pragmatic challenges,but
also with less commonly acknowledged moral challenges. Who is responsible
forresponding to environmental catastrophes around the world? What kind of help
doesthe industrialized world owe developing nations? What values should we hold onto,
andwhich must we discard, in response to the changing climate? John and Ken survey
themoral landscape with Allen Thompson from Oregon State University, editor of
Ethical Adaptation to Climate Change: Human Virtues of the
Future.
This program was recordedlive at OSU in Corvallis, Oregon.
The Nature of Wilderness
2012 Aug 26
The Nature of Wilderness
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Nowadays we think of wilderness as a fully natural environment that contrasts
sharplywith the designed and constructed environments in which we normally move. But
doesthat vision of wilderness really exist anymore? What is natural and what is
artificial aboutwilderness? Should humans be understood as a part of nature or
distinct from it? Andhow should we approach conservation efforts so that we balance
the needs of a growingworld population with the need to preserve some aspect of the
wild in our lives? John andKen welcome Jay Odenbaugh from Lewis & Clark College,
for a program recorded liveon campus in Portland, Oregon.
Why Be Moral?
2012 Sep 16
Why Be Moral?
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Morality tells us how we ought to behave, if we want to do the right thing. But is
there a reason why we ought to be moral in the first place? Both Plato and Kant
believed that morality is dictated by reason and so a fully rational person is
automatically a moral person too. But how can we derive morality from reason? Isn t it
possible to be a rational but amoral or even immoral person? John and Ken walk the
line with James Sterba from the University of Notre Dame, author of
From Rationality to Equality. This program was recorded live
at the 16th annual
Undergraduate Philosophy Conference at Pacific University in Forest Grove,
Oregon.
Regulating Bodies
2012 Sep 30
Regulating Bodies
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Most countries allow their citizens to smoke cigarettes, get intoxicated, and eat
unhealthy food despite the harms that such behaviors may bring to the individual's
health and to the social and economic interests of the state. Yet taking certain
narcotics, selling one's organs, and driving without a seat-belt are often prohibited
by law. Is this an arbitrary distinction, or is there a principled reason for these
diverging attitudes? What can government legitimately prohibit its citizens from doing
to their own bodies -- and what can it legimitately compel them to do? John and Ken
are joined by Cécile Fabre from the University of Oxford, author of
Whose Body is it Anyway? Justice and the Integrity of the
Person.
Prostitution and The Sex Trade
2012 Oct 14
Prostitution and The Sex Trade
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Some consider the commodification of sexual services inherently wrong, something that
ought to be abolished outright. Others claim that prostitution is a legitimate form of
commerce and that changing its legal status would reduce or eliminate most harms to
sex workers. So in a just society, are there any conditions under which buying and
selling sex are morally acceptable? Does the sex trade inevitably involve coercion of
some kind, or can becoming a sex worker ever be a free, fully autonomous choice? John
and Ken explore the complexities of the world's oldest profession with novelist,
columnist, and former sex worker Tracy Quan, author of the best-selling
Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl. This program was recorded
live at the
Public Radio Program Directors
Conference
in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Forbidden Words
2012 Oct 21
Forbidden Words
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Some words, like n****r, ch*nk, and c*nt, are so forbidden that we won't even spell
them out here. Decent people simply don't use these words to refer to others; they are
intrinsically disrespectful. But aren't words just strings of sounds or letters? Words
have life because they express ideas. But in a free society, how can we prohibit the
expression of ideas? How can we forbid words? Where does the strange power of curses,
epithets, and scatological terms come from? John and Ken avoid mincing words with
Chris Hom from Texas Tech University, author of Hating and Necessity: The Semantics of
Racial Epithets (forthcoming). This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theater in
Berkeley, California.
Economics - Science or Cult?
2012 Nov 18
Economics - Science or Cult?
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With the recent global economic crisis, many people wonder if our economic policies
are built on sound principles or on dubious, unscientific claims. What kinds of
assumptions does Economics make about markets and the behavior of producers and
consumers? What kinds of assumptions does it make about the rationality of
individuals? How, if at all, are those claims empirically verified? Or are they just
speculative theories proven false by the current crisis? John and Ken pursue their
rational self-interest with Alex Rosenberg from Duke University, author of Economics:
Mathematical Politics or Science of Diminishing Returns?
How Fiction Shapes Us
2012 Nov 25
How Fiction Shapes Us
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A good novel can do many things. It can distract us from the humdrum of daily
existence, stimulate our imaginations, and delight us with its creative use of
language. But isn't there something more we gain from engaging with fictional worlds
and characters? Do we, for example, use literary texts to morally improve ourselves?
Is there some deeper truth we're supposed to learn from a good novel? Or do we use
fiction to fine-tune certain cognitive capacities? John and Ken entertain the
possibilities with Joshua Landy, author of
How To Do Things
With Fictions
, for a program recorded live at Litquake – San Francisco's
Literary Festival.
Are Some People Smarter than Others?
2012 Dec 2
Are Some People Smarter than Others?
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Egalitarian principles play an important role in our moral and political discourse.
Yet there's no doubt that some people are smarter, stronger, or more talented in
certain respects than others. So was Thomas Jefferson wrong to think that all men are
created equal? Might we reasonably think that some people are better than others? If
so, should the "elite" be treated differently? Should we, for example, find immoral
acts committed by a great artist less reprehensible than the same acts committed by a
common person? John and Ken level the playing field with Thomas Hurka from the
University of Toronto, author of
The Best Things In Life: A
Guide To What Really Matters
.
Unconditional Love
2012 Dec 9
Unconditional Love
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According to Corinthians 13, "Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one." But
is love always unconditional? Should it be? If unconditional love means that we love
no matter what our beloved's actions or traits are, doesn't that suggest we should
love everyone in this way? If not, how do we select just a few to love
unconditionally? Perhaps the feeling we reserve for those we cherish most in the world
is better described as selfless rather than unconditional love, in which case we are
confronted with another challenge. What happens when our beloved changes radically and
loses the very features that caused us to love in the first place? John and Ken talk
unconditionally with Lynn Underwood, editor of
The Science of
Compassionate Love: Theory, Research and Applications
.
Has Science Replaced Philosophy?
2012 Dec 16
Has Science Replaced Philosophy?
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Modern science has made astounding progress in our understanding of ourselves and the
universe. Physics, neuroscience, and psychology now tackle questions that a few
decades ago could only be explored through philosophical speculation. So some vocal
members of the scientific community, and even members of the general public, have
suggested that philosophy itself has become a superfluous, archaic practice. Is
philosophy useful and applicable today? Or has it been reduced to a dissociated game
of mental aerobics, a mere ping-pong game of arguments and counter-arguments? John and
Ken question the modern-day viability of philosophy with Massimo Pugliucci from the
City University of New York, author of
Answers to Aristotle:
How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to A More Meaningful Life
.
Turbo-charging the Mind
2012 Dec 30
Turbo-charging the Mind
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The rapid advance of computer technology in recent decades has produced a vast array
of intelligent machines that far outstrip the human mind in speed and capacity. Yet
these machines know far less than we do about almost everything. Is it possible to
have the best of both worlds? Can we use new technologies to create a hybrid
intelligence that seamlessly integrates the vast knowledge and skills embedded in our
biological brains with the vastly greater capacity, speed, and knowledge-sharing
ability of our mechanical creations? John and Ken examine the prospects for
transcending the biological limits of the human mind with Anna Salamon from the
Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence. This program was recorded live at
the Marsh Theater in Berkeley, California.
The Examined Year - 2012
2013 Jan 6
The Examined Year - 2012
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A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant events of the previous
year. But what ideas and events took shape over the past twelve months that have
prompted us to question our assumptions and to think about things in new ways? Join
John, Ken, and their special guests as they celebrate the examined year with a
philosophical look back at 2012.
• The Year in Philosophy: Barbara Grosz from the Harvard School of Engineering and
Applied Sciences discusses the legacy of Alan Turing, whose centennial was celebrated
in 2012. • The Year in Politics: Jason Stanley from Rutgers University explores the
precarious place of Truth in the presidential election and beyond. • The Year in
Science: Hank Greely from the Stanford Law School talks about the ethical and legal
implications of the year's advances in genetics.
The Linguistics of Name-Calling
2013 Jan 20
The Linguistics of Name-Calling
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Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can also hurt you. And language
gives us surprisingly many ways to deride, hurt and demean – from a subtly sneering
intonation to hurtful and offensive names. How does such language work? And why is
there so much of it around these days? Has our acerbic political culture ushered in a
new era of name-calling? Or is name calling a phenomenon as old as language itself?
John and Ken welcome back linguist and NPR commentator Geoffrey Nunberg, author of
Ascent of the A-Word: Assholism, The First Sixty Years, for a program recorded live at
the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley.
Bioethics: Myths and Realities
2013 Feb 10
Bioethics: Myths and Realities
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Recent advances in mapping the human genome suggest a vision of the future that might
fill us with equal parts hope and dread. On the one hand, the possibility of
identifying disease-causing genes may enable us to eradicate cancer, obesity, or
depression before they ever develop. On the other hand, the idea that soon we could be
"designing" our progeny, choosing physical and psychological traits we deem desirable,
is fraught with deep moral complexities. But are these ideas realistic or just the
stuff of science fiction? What real ethical problems does the current state of human
genomics present? John and Ken map out the terrain with David Magnus, Director of the
Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and co-editor of Who Owns Life? This program was
recorded live at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley, California.
The Self
2013 Feb 24
The Self
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What is a self? Merely a human being? Or perhaps a soul? Hume claimed he could not
find a self when he looked within, only a succession of impressions. But other
philosophers seem to find transcendental selves, momentary selves, and objective
selves, among others. Do the modern physical and biological sciences shed light on the
self, or do they suggest there is no room – and no need – for such things? John and
Ken examine their selves and others with Jenann Ismael from the University of Arizona,
author of
The Situated Self.
The Psychology of Partisan Politics
2013 Mar 10
The Psychology of Partisan Politics
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Are you a tax-raising, soy latte-drinking, Prius-driving, New York Times-reading,
Daily Show-watching, corporation-hating liberal? Or a gun-toting, Bible-loving,
Walmart-shopping, homophobic, climate-change-denying, immigrant-hating conservative?
Why does it seem like all of American politics often boils down to these two absurd
positions? Is it because of our particular political system, our culture, or deeper
psychological impulses? John and Ken cross the aisle with Jonathan Haidt from NYU,
author of
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided By
Politics and Religion
.
God and the Fine-Tuned Universe
2013 Mar 17
God and the Fine-Tuned Universe
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If the precise value of many physical constants had been different, the universe
would not have supported life, human life, consciousness, philosophy and us. Is it
just luck – without which we wouldn't even be here to worry about it? Or is there a
Creator who wanted things to turn out the way they did, and fine-tuned the universe to
get that result? What if there were many universes, with many combinations of values
for the basic constants, and we just exist in the one with the improbable combination
for life? John and Ken fine-tune their arguments with Robin Collins from Messiah
College, author of many book chapters on the fine-tuning argument, with the most
extensive treatment in the
Blackwell Companion to Natural
Theology
.
Truth and Other Fictions
2013 Mar 31
Truth and Other Fictions
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Most of us think we know the truth when we see it. But what exactly is truth, anyway?
Philosophers have offered a blizzard of different answers, ranging from truth as
correspondence or coherence all the way to the view that truth is a matter of
pragmatic utility or just a compliment we pay to the things we're prepared to believe
or to say. But what is the truth about truth? Is there really such a thing? Or is
truth itself a fiction? John and Ken explore the fickle nature of truth with Alexis
Burgess from Stanford University, co-author of
Truth,
for a program recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley.
Dance as a Way of Knowing
2013 Apr 14
Dance as a Way of Knowing
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Whether it be rhythmic or shuffling, athletic or pedestrian, erotic or just social,
dance is an art form that utilizes movement of the body through space. Could the
aesthetic experience of being physically present and embodied in the world be
considered a way of knowing? Is there something in particular we can come to know by
watching or performing dance? And are there broader lessons that dance can teach us
about human perception and action? John and Ken hit the floor with Alva Noë from UC
Berkeley, author of Varieties of Presence. This program was recorded live at the Marsh
Theater in Berkeley.
The Demands of Morality
2013 Apr 28
The Demands of Morality
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We all want to lead a moral life. But even if we all agreed on what that would mean,
we still have to to balance our own self-interest with the competing demands of
morality. This becomes even more challenging when the decks are stacked against us, or
when everyone around us is only looking out for themselves. So in the real world, what
does it mean to live a moral life? Do we have a responsibility to act morally when
others around us are not? And what do we do if morality makes excessive demands of us?
John and Ken balance their own self-interests with Tamar Schapiro from Stanford
University, for a program recorded live as part of the Stanford Continuing Studies
course The Art of Living.
Good, Evil, and the Divine Plan
2013 May 5
Good, Evil, and the Divine Plan
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A theodicy is an explanation by a philosopher or theologian about why a world created
by a kind and all-powerful God contains so much suffering. It forces us to think about
the nature of good and evil, about whether the kind of knowledge an all-knowing God
has leaves room for human freedom. Why do people who suffer often find their faith in
God growing stronger? Is evil an illusion? Does God really need a defense attorney?
John and Ken search for insight with Andrew Pinsent, Research Director of the Ian
Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford University.
Faith, Reason and the Art of Living
2013 May 19
Faith, Reason and the Art of Living
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It sounds plausible to require that all our beliefs be based on evidence and sound
reasoning. Yet some people's most cherished beliefs, like their belief in a deity, are
based on faith alone. Does that make those beliefs fundamentally irrational, or could
there be some rational justification for such faith? And what about reason itself—are
there limits to what can be known rationally? Does our reliance on reason demand a
kind of faith of its own? Is there a way to reconcile faith and reason, or does the
well-lived life demand that we choose one over the other? John Ken put reasonable
faith in Howard Wettstein from UC Riverside, author of The Significance of Religious
Experience. This program was recorded live on campus as part of the Stanford
Continuing Studies course The Art of Living.
Summer Reading List 2013
2013 May 26
Summer Reading List 2013
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Summer is the perfect time to dig in to deep reading. Heidegger's
Being and Time may be a bit much to take to the beach, but
there are lots of readable classics that could make your summer reading a
transformative experience. John and Ken ask a few of their favorite past guests about
the book that has most transformed their life and thinking, and they take more
recommendations for philosophically-rich summer reading from listeners around the
country.
Physics, Philosophy, and Theology
2013 Jun 9
Physics, Philosophy, and Theology
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The world disclosed by the physical sciences can seem depressing. Modern physics, for
example, has undermined the religious idea that the universe has a spiritual
dimension. Quantum physics in particular seems to present the world as more
paradoxical than rational. Is there room within – or in addition to – the world
presented to us by the physical sciences for ideas such as freedom, dignity, justice,
and even God? Or should these all be regarded as useful illusions? John and Ken search
the heavens with Tim O'Connor from Indiana University, author of
Theism and Ultimate Explanation: The Necessary Shape of
Contingency
.
Education and the Culture Wars
2013 Jun 16
Education and the Culture Wars
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In contemporary democracies, the state is responsible for providing children with an
education. But parents surely have both the right and responsibility for instilling
appropriate morals and values in their children. How should we reconcile conflicts
between the state's responsibility to properly educate minors and the parents' rights
to influence their children's values and ideals? Should the government's approach to
education in areas such as history and science always trump that of the child's most
direct guardians? Or should parents hold some veto power when it comes to education
about evolution, sex, and other issues that bear on religious and personal values?
John and Ken do their homework with Stanford political scientist Rob Reich, co-editor
of
Education, Justice, and Democracy, for a program
recorded live at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco.
Nations and Borders
2013 Jun 23
Nations and Borders
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One's country of birth has a profound effect on life prospects. It's often best to go
elsewhere. But moving is not always so easy. Borders and immigration control restrict
people from going where they want to pursue a better life. On the one hand there is
the state's need for security, self-determination, and a functioning economy. But why
should arbitrary boundaries, based on past thefts of territory, limit a person's
opportunities? Are borders essential to nationhood, or do they form an exclusive club
that unfairly keeps certain people from pursuing a better life? John and Ken lift the
gate for UC Berkeley Law Professor Sarah Song, author of
Justice, Gender, and the Politics of Multiculturalism. This program was
recorded live at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco.
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
2013 Jul 7
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
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If the Ancients found themselves transported to the modern world, they would have
much to learn about science, technology, and human thinking. But is there something
the Ancients can still teach us about how to live a good life? What relevance do the
virtues – wisdom, courage, prudence, justice, and so on – have for our modern times?
Could these ancient values help solve some of the most challenging problems of
contemporary life? John and Ken talk old school with Melissa Lane from Princeton
University, author of
Eco-Republic: What the Ancients Can Teach
Us about Ethics, Virtue, and Sustainable Living
. This program was recorded
live on campus as part of the Stanford Continuing Studies series The Art of
Living.
Freedom and Free Enterprise
2013 Jul 21
Freedom and Free Markets
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"Freedom" means the human capacity to choose among options, based on one's own
preferences and reasoning. It also stands for the political status to exercise such
freedom on matters of conscience and to express opinions without interference from the
state. Enlightenment thinkers also included the right to buy and sell property in an
open market with minimal government interference. So is the justification for our
free-enterprise system a practical matter – an effective way of organizing resources
and the distribution of goods – or does it rest on deeper principles? John and Ken
test their entrepreneurial spirit with Shannon Stimson from UC Berkeley, co-author of
After Adam Smith: A Century of Transformation in Politics and
Political Economy
.
Scope and Contents
"Freedom" means the human capacity to choose among options, based on one's own
preferences and reasoning. It also stands for the political status to exercise such
freedom on matters of conscience and to express opinions without interference from the
state. Enlightenment thinkers also included the right to buy and sell property in an
open market with minimal government interference. So is the justification for our
free-enterprise system a practical matter – an effective way of organizing resources
and the distribution of goods – or does it rest on deeper principles? John and Ken
test their entrepreneurial spirit with Shannon Stimson from UC Berkeley, co-author
of
After Adam Smith: A Century of Transformation in Politics
and Political Economy
.
Finding Meaning in a Material World
2013 Aug 4
Finding Meaning in a Material World
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All there is in the world is physical stuff. That is the fundamental assumption of
the materialist standpoint, and the picture given to us by science. But if there is no
immaterial soul that survives the death of the body, no other realm to bestow meaning
on our lives, how can we avoid despairing in light of this apparent pointlessness? Is
there any way we can build meaning from the naturalistic building blocks that science
provides? John and Ken talk materially with Owen Flanagan from Duke University, author
of
The Really Hard Problem: Meaning in a Material
World
. Recorded live on campus as part of the Stanford Continuing Studies
series The Art of Living.
Life as a Work of Art
2013 Aug 18
Life as a Work of Art
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We know what it means for a painting to be beautiful. But what about a life? Like
great works of art, great people exhibit style, originality, and creativity. Maybe,
then, to live well is just to practice an ART of living. But what do the values that
are important to a good life – happiness, moral goodness, or friendship, for example –
have to do with aesthetic beauty? Aren't the qualities that make a work of art good
different from the qualities that make a life good? Is there really such thing as a
"beautiful" life? John and Ken paint their masterpiece with Lanier Anderson from
Stanford University, recorded live on campus as part of the Stanford Continuing
Studies series The Art of Living.
Memes: Viruses of the Mind?
2013 Aug 25
Memes: Viruses of the Mind?
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Gangnam style, Lolcats, and Chuck Norris' superhuman feats are all memes – units of
cultural transmission – that spread through the internet. But when the term was
originally coined, memes were posited as vehicles of a kind of evolution, similar to
genes and biological evolution. So are the memes that colonize our brains simply those
that survive natural selection? Don't we get any say in the viruses that populate our
minds? What happens if the fittest memes are also the most detrimental to us? John and
Ken spread ideas with Susan Blackmore from the University of Plymouth, author of
The Meme Machine.
Tenth Anniversary Special
2013 Sep 1
Tenth Anniversary Special
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Philosophy Talk debuted on KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco on August 20, 2003, with
regular broadcasts beginning a few months later. Over the course of a decade the
Philosophers, their guests, and their listeners have discussed and debated everything
from the meaning of life to pre-emptive military strikes and baseball. To celebrate
ten years on the air, John and Ken listen back to some of their favorite conversations
with the writers and thinkers who have joined them on the program, and they look ahead
to the ongoing challenges of thinking hard on the radio.
The Moral Lives of Animals
2013 Sep 15
The Moral Lives of Animals
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From Aristotle and Kant to Hume and Darwin, philosophers and scientists have long
denied the idea that animals are capable of acting for moral reasons. Yet empirical
evidence suggests that many animals have rich emotional lives, and some even
demonstrate distinctly altruistic or empathetic behavior. So how should we interpret
this behavior? Do the moral feelings of animals suggest they are capable of responding
to moral reasons? Or do they lack the cognitive capacity necessary for being truly
moral? John and Ken examine their animal nature with Mark Rowlands from the University
of Miami, author of C
an Animals Be Moral?
Ancient Cynicism
2013 Sep 22
Ancient Cynicism
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Today, the term 'cynic' brings to mind a person who has little or no faith in the
goodness of the human race. In ancient Athens, however, it meant something quite
different: one who rejects all social conventions in order to live in accordance with
nature. The Cynics believed that such a life was necessary for freedom and virtue. Why
did they think so? What are the most important tenets of Cynic philosophy? And are
there any reasons to live now as the Cynics once did? John and Ken sincerely welcome
Luis Navia from the New York Institute of Technology, author of
Diogenes the Cynic: The War Against the World.
The Limits of Self-Knowledge
2013 Oct 6
The Limits of Self-Knowledge
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Descartes considered the mind to be fully self-transparent; that is, he thought that
we need only introspect to know what goes on inside our own minds. More recently,
social psychology has shown that a great deal of high-level cognition takes place at
an unconscious level, inaccessible to introspection. How then do we gain insight into
ourselves? How reliable are the narratives that we construct about ourselves and our
internal lives? Are there other reliable routes to self-knowledge, or are we condemned
to being forever deluded about who we truly are? John and Ken look inward with Timothy
Wilson from the University of Virginia, author of
Strangers to
Ourselves: Discovering the Adaptive Unconscious
.
An Eye for an Eye: The Morality of Revenge
2013 Oct 13
An Eye for an Eye: The Morality of Revenge
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We are often taught that vengeance is a reprehensible or unworthy motivation and
that, as a result, pursuing revenge should not be the method of choice when meting out
punishment for crimes. Incarceration and other penalties, according to this view, can
only be justified in as much as they protect society, rehabilitate criminals, or deter
further crime. But are these approaches to punishment really more just than the
retributive or vengeance model? Don't the victims of crime deserve some kind of
payback for their suffering? Are justice and revenge in conflict with one another, or
do they actually go hand in hand? John and Ken trade favors with Thane Rosenbaum from
the Fordham Law School, author ofPayback: The Case For Revenge.
When Is It Wrong to Save a Life? Lessons from the Trolley Problem
2013 Oct 20
When Is It Wrong to Save a Life? Lessons from the Trolley Problem
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A trolley is approaching a track junction, and you happen to be standing by the
switch. If you do nothing, the trolley will kill a number of innocent children playing
on the tracks. If you throw the switch, it will kill only one fat man, who is sleeping
on the tracks. The so-called Trolley Problem sheds light on many claims in moral
philosophy: utilitarian positions (doing what's best for the greatest number), the
difference between doing and letting happen (being more obliged to not cause harm than
to prevent harm), and issues of "collateral damage" (killing one person to save
others). John and Ken ride the trolley with Thomas Cathcart, author of The Trolley
Problem, or Would You Throw the Fat Guy Off the Bridge: A Philosophical Conundrum.
The Dark Side of Science
2013 Oct 27
The Dark Side of Science
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Science aims tell us something about nearly everything, from the atoms in our cells
to the motions of the stars. It assumes that knowledge is good for its own sake, and
therefore takes as its sole purpose the acquisition of knowledge. But shouldn't
knowledge serve practical and ethical concerns, like ending conflict and feeding the
hungry? Could some knowledge be interesting, but ultimately irrelevant? And isn't
there some knowledge we might be better off without, such as how to build nuclear
weapons? John and Ken test their claims with UC Berkeley anthropologist Paul Rabinow.
This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco.
Dangerous Demographics: The Challenges of an Aging Population
2013 Nov 24
Dangerous Demographics: The Challenges of an Aging Population
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All over the world, people are living longer and having fewer children than ever
before. In less than two decades, one fifth of the US population will be over 65 years
old. So what do these radically changed demographics mean for how we re-imagine the
shape of a human life? Should we think of the rapidly increasing older population as a
blessing or a burden? And what kinds of changes should we make – both individually and
as a society – to adjust to this new world awash with old folks? John and Ken remain
young at heart with Laura Carstensen, Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, in
a program recorded live as part of the Bay Area Science Festival.
Do Religions Deserve Special Status?
2013 Dec 15
Do Religions Deserve Special Status?
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In most Western democracies, religions are exempt from certain rules and regulations
that most other organizations have to follow. For example, in the US, religious
organizations are not required to pay taxes or follow non-discrimination employment
laws. Some faithful go so far as to argue that their religious freedom means they
shouldn't have to provide birth control to their employees. But does religion truly
deserve this preferential treatment? Should the demands for legal exemption based on
religious freedom be treated any differently than those based on moral conscience?
What special status, if any, should religion have in the eyes of the law? John and Ken
grant guest status to Brian Leiter from the University of Chicago, author of Why
Tolerate Religions?
Trust and Mistrust
2013 Dec 29
Trust and Mistrust
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If we couldn't trust each other, our lives would be very different. We trust
strangers not to harm us, we trust our friends to take care of our most prized
possessions, we even trust politicians (sometimes) to come through on their campaign
promises. But trust may also come at a high cost: it can leave us vulnerable to lies,
deception, and blackmail. So is it reasonable for us to be so trusting? And how should
we treat those who trust us? John and Ken put their trust in Stanford philosopher
Jorah Dannenberg, in a program recorded live at the Marsh Theater in San
Francisco.
The Examined Year - 2013
2014 Jan 5
The Examined Year - 2013
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A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant events of the previous
year. But what ideas and events took shape over the past twelve months that have
prompted us to question our assumptions and to think about things in new ways? Join
John, Ken, and their special guests as they celebrate the examined year with a
philosophical look back at 2013.
• The Year in Philosophy and Gender: Linda Alcoff from City University of New York
looks at events in 2013 that have higlighted the evolving but still-fraught nature of
gender in academia. • The Year in Whistleblowing and Hacktivism: Peter Ludlow from
Northwestern University examines the ethics of leakers like Edward Snowden and Pvt.
Manning (sentenced in 2013) who have claimed the moral high ground in their actions. •
The Year in Dysfunctional Democracy: Jon Elster from Columbia University explores the
breakdown of democratic process in the US, including the work of political scientist
Juan Linz, who passed away in 2013.
Moral Luck
2014 Jan 12
Moral Luck
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It seems reasonable to believe that we can only be blamed or praised for actions that
are under our control. Nevertheless, in many concrete scenarios, we're inclined to
base our moral assessment of people on circumstances that are ultimately beyond their
control. Blind chance, or "moral luck," as philosophers call it, may determine the
difference between, say, murder and attempted murder. But do we think that a would-be
murderer whose attempts are foiled by chance is really less morally culpable than
someone who happens to succeed? How should moral luck affect our judgments of
responsibility? John and Ken welcome back Susan Wolf from UNC Chapel Hill, author of
Meaning in Life and Why It Matters.
Memory and the Self
2014 Jan 26
Memory and the Self
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Ever since John Locke, philosophers have wondered about memory and its connection to
the self. Locke believed that a continuity of consciousness and memory establish a
"self" over time. Now psychology is weighing in with new research suggesting that the
relationship between memory and the self is even more complicated than that. But
what's the connection between memory and the self? Can the self be explained strictly
in terms of memory? Or might the self be something over and above what memory
suggests? John and Ken remember to welcome Stan Klein from UC Santa Barbara, author of
The Two Selves: Their Metaphysical Commitments and Functional
Independence
.
The Legacy of Freud
2014 Feb 9
The Legacy of Freud
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Did you really want to eat that last piece of cake, or were you secretly thinking
about your mother? Sigmund Freud, who might have suggested the latter, established the
unconscious mind as a legitimate domain for scientific research. He was the first to
seriously study dreams and slips of the tongue, and he proposed that neurotic behavior
could be explained by beliefs and desires that we repress. However, many of Freud's
theories have been rejected as unscientific, and his particular brand of
psychoanalysis is all but obsolete. So why is Freud still worth remembering? John and
Ken get Oedipal with Stanford historian Paul Robinson, author of Freud and His
Critics, for a program recorded live at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley.
Science and Gender
2014 Mar 2
Science and Gender
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What does gender have to do with science? The obvious answer is 'nothing.' Science is
the epitome of an objective, rational, and disinterested enterprise. But given the
history of systemic under-representation of women in science, what does it mean that
science answers almost exclusively to the methodologies of men? Has male domination
contributed certain unfounded assumptions or cognitive biases to the 'objectivity' of
scientific inquiry? Is there any possibility of achieving a gender-neutral science,
and if so, what would that look like? John and Ken make room at the table for Stanford
historian Londa Schiebinger, author of
Gendered Innovations in
Science and Engineering
.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Schiebinger, Londa L.
Simone de Beauvoir
2014 Mar 9
Simone de Beauvoir
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Simone de Beauvoir is often cast as only a novelist or a mere echo of Jean-Paul
Sartre. But she authored many philosophical texts beyond The Second Sex, and the
letters between her and Sartre reveal that both were equally concerned with
existentialist questions of radical ontological freedom, the issue of self-deception,
and the dynamics of desire. This episode explores the evolution of de Beauvoir's
existential-ethical thinking. In what sense did she find that we are all radically
free? Are we always to blame for our self-deception or can social institutions be at
fault? John and Ken sit down at the café with Shannon Mussett from Utah Valley
University, co-editor of
Beauvoir and Western Thought from
Plato to Butler
.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Beauvoir, Simone de
Acting Together
2014 Mar 16
Acting Together
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Many goals are too complex for one person to accomplish alone. Every day, we pool
together our planning abilities with those around us to get things done. It's clear
that without shared agency, none of our familiar social institutions could exist.
However, philosophers are in disagreement about what shared agency actually entails.
What is it about collective action that's unique, and why does it come about? How is
acting together sometimes greater than the sum of its parts? John and Ken join forces
with Margaret Gilbert from UC Irvine, author of
Joint
Commitment: How We Make the Social World
.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
2014 Mar 30
Weapons of Mass Destruction
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The United States recently threatened military action against Syria in response to
the Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons. Similar threats have been
made against states suspected of trying to develop nuclear arsenals such as North
Korea and Iran. Yet the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia, and China have thousands of
active nuclear weapons of their own. Is there a morally significant difference between
nuclear or chemical weapons and conventional weapons? Should we work toward total
disarmament, or do we need these weapons as a deterrent to rogue states? What steps
must we take to secure peace in a world rife with weapons of mass destruction? John
and Ken go nuclear with Stanford political scientist Scott Sagan, co-author of
The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: An Enduring Debate, for a
program recorded live at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley.
Conspiracy Theories
2014 Apr 20
Conspiracy Theories
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Some claim that the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11 was actually caused
by a controlled demolition orchestrated by the U.S. government. Dramatic conspiracy
theories of this kind are all over the place, but they are often dismissed as crazy.
Sometimes, however, they turn out to be true: the NSA, as we have learned, conducted
secret surveillance of millions of people for more than ten years. Does this show that
we shouldn't be so dismissive of conspiracy theories after all, or that we simply
refuse to accept the existence of coincidence? What is a conspiracy theory, anyway,
and how is it different from other kinds of theories? John and Ken form a cabal with
Brian Keeley from Pitzer College, author of "On Conspiracy Theories."
Risky Business: The Business of Risk
2014 Apr 27
Risky Business: The Business of Risk
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There is an element of risk – either to ourselves or to others – in almost everything
we do. By deciding to go to the grocery store, for example, we take a (very small)
risk of getting into a car accident. Many risks are acceptable, of course, but how do
we know when a risk is worth taking? The most important decisions, after all, are
often risky ones. What about risks to others' welfare? How do we, and should we, take
risk into account when we make decisions? John and Ken take their chances with Lara
Buchak from UC Berkeley, author of
Risk and
Rationalit
y.
Seeing Red: The World in Color
2014 May 4
Seeing Red: The World in Color
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Is the red you see indeed the very same red that anyone else does? What is the
redness of red even like? These sorts of questions are not just amusing, if worn-out,
popular philosophical ponderings. Thinkers in the philosophy of perception take such
questions as serious windows into the nature of the world and of the mind. Although we
are constantly surrounded by colors, the experience of perceiving them – what it is
like to see red, for example - remains a mysterious phenomenon. Where are colors: in
objects, or in our minds? Could color experiences ever be explainable in terms of raw
physical facts? Or is there something about color that goes beyond what science can
teach us? John and Ken go full spectrum with Jonathan Cohen from UC San Diego, author
of
The Red and the Real: An Essay on Color
Ontology
.
The Reality of Time
2014 May 18
The Reality of Time
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St. Augustine suggested that when we try to grasp the idea of time, it seems to evade
us: "What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it
to him who asks, I do not know." So is time real or merely an artificial construct? Is
time a fundamental or emergent property of our universe or a part of our cognitive
apparatus? Do we live in a continuum with a definite past and present, or do we live
in a succession of 'Nows', and if the latter is the case, how does it affect our
perception of memory or recollection? John and Ken take their time with Julian Barbour
from the University of Oxford, author of
The End of Time: The
Next Revolution in Physics
.
Am I Alone?
2014 Jun 1
Am I Alone?
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A popular theme in science fiction is the eerily lifelike robot: a piece of machinery
so well engineered that its outputs pass for genuinely human behaviors. Technology is
not yet so advanced, but these robots might cause us to wonder how we could possibly
justify our belief in the minds of others. You're most likely sure that your family,
friends, and boss are really people just like you, with similarly rich inner mental
lives. But how can you be so sure? If we only have access to our own private thoughts,
can we ever know that our minds are not unique? I think, therefore I exist – but what
about everybody else? John and Ken step outside themselves with Anita Avramides, from
the University of Oxford, author of
Other Minds.
Summer Reading List 2014
2014 Jun 8
Summer Reading List 2014
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What philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues would you like to read up on
over the summer? John and Ken discuss one of this year's most talked-about books,
Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty, with political scientist Shannon
Stimson. They also get summer reading suggestions from author Rebecca Newberger
Goldstein, whose new book is Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away,
and Yale University philosopher Jason Stanley, author of the forthcoming Why
Propaganda Matters. Plus more suggestions from members of our Community of
Thinkers.
Art and Obscenity
2014 Jun 15
Art and Obscenity
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What do Marcel Duchamp, Damien Hirst, and Andres Serrano have in common? They've all
created modern works of art that have shocked and outraged the general public, causing
many to question whether these works have any artistic value at all. But isn't it the
purpose of art to incite inquiry and question conventional moral wisdom? If so, then a
strong public reaction would seem to prove the artistic merit of these works. So, is
there a clear line to be drawn between genuine art and mere obscenity? Or has shock
value simply replaced cultural value in the world of contemporary art? John and Ken
curate their conversation with Stanford art historian Richard Meyer, author of
What Was Contemporary Art?
Anatomy of a Terrorist
2014 Jun 29
Anatomy of a Terrorist
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Since George W. Bush first declared a "war on terror," the US has been engaged in a
global campaign to rid the world of terrorists. But what exactly is a "terrorist," and
how do we distinguish illicit terrorist organizations from legitimate freedom
fighters? Do terrorists exhibit particular psychological patterns of behavior, or are
there some tactics that only terrorists use? And what is the most effective way to
combat terrorism – by waging war, engaging in "de-radicalization" processes, or some
other means? John and Ken agree to negotiate with Stanford political scientist Martha
Crenshaw, author of
Explaining Terrorism: Causes, Processes,
and Consequences
, for a program recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in
Berkeley.
Tainted by the Sins of Our Fathers?
2014-07-20
Tainted by the Sins of Our Fathers?
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Imagine discovering that your grandfather was a serial killer. Would you feel guilty
about it? Would you be at all tempted to contact the families of his victims?
Philosophers have long thought that we can only be responsible for what is under our
voluntary control, but sometimes we feel guilty about events we didn't bring about,
simply because we are connected in some way to those who did. Many Germans, for
instance, feel guilty about their ancestors' participation in the Nazi regime. Can we
really be responsible for things outside of our control? Or are these feelings just
vestiges of a more primitive moral outlook? John and Ken play innocent with Larry May
from Vanderbilt University, author of
Sharing
Responsiblity
.
The New Surveillance Society - Big Brother Grows Up
2014-07-27
The New Surveillance Society
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Recent revelations confirm what many already suspected: not only is Big Brother
watching you, he is also potentially reading your emails, listening to your phone
calls, mapping your personal networks, and tracking your every move. While many see
whistleblowers as heroes, others see them as criminals who ought to be severely
punished. So, how should we treat whistleblowers who break the law for moral or
political ends? How do we adjudicate between national or corporate security and
individual rights? And what kind of rights and responsibilities does a proactive
citizenry have when confronted with injustices committed by the state? John and Ken
blow the whistle with Christopher McKnight Nichols from Oregon State University,
author of
Promise and Peril: America at the Dawn of a Global
Age
. This program was recorded live at OSU in Corvallis.
Captivity
2014-08-10
Captivity
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Whether it's people incarcerated in prisons, or animals confined in zoos, aquariums,
laboratories, farms, and in our own homes, millions of upon millions of sentient
creatures live in captivity. To be held captive, some might say, is to be denied basic
rights of autonomy. But physical captivity, others might say, can have significant
social benefits. So under what conditions could it be morally justified to hold a
creature in captivity? Should we think of humans and animals differently? And in a
civil society, is captivity a necessary harm, or should we work towards eradicating
it? John and Ken have a captivating conversation with Lori Gruen from Wesleyan
University, editor of
The Ethics of Captivity.
Remixing Reality - Art and Literature for the 21st Century
2014-08-17
Remixing Reality - Art and Literature for the 21st Century
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For decades, literary critics have been questioning the relevance of the novel as a
literary form, with some going so far as to declare its death. But if the novel is
dead, it's not clear what new form can take its place. Should we treat the popularity
of the memoir as a sign that what readers want is more truth, less fiction? Or is the
memoir, like 'reality TV,' mostly just fiction dressed up as fact? In these fragmented
times, when everything has already been said or done before, can there be any truly
original innovations in art and literature? Or is the demand for originality itself an
antiquated idea? John and Ken mix it up with David Shields, author of
Reality Hunger: A Manifesto. This program was recorded live
at the First Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon.
Is Intuition a Guide to Truth?
2014-08-31
2014-08-31
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Turns out that Galileo was right and Aristotle was wrong: in a vacuum, a feather and
a bowling ball will fall from a tall building at exactly the same speed. This is not
to say that Aristotle wasn't a brilliant thinker; empirical evidence shows he just had
a wrong intuition. Even the most powerful intuitions we have can be misleading. Why is
it, then, that many philosophers treat them as crucial when arguing for a conclusion?
Can intuitions lead us to important truths about the world, or do they merely teach us
about ourselves? John and Ken trust their instincts with Alvin Goldman from Rutgers
University, author of
Knowledge in a Social World.
Babies and the Birth of Morality
2014-09-14
Babies and the Birth of Morality
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Doing the right thing is often an extremely difficult task. Yet psychological
research indicates that infants as young as 21 months old have a crude sense of what
is right and wrong. This capacity is reflected by infants' decisions to reward or
punish characters in social scenarios. But surely a genuine, robust, mature moral
compass is much more complicated than that. So what can babies tell us about adult
morality? How much of morality is innate, and how much must we develop as moral
thinkers? John and Ken talk infant morality with Paul Bloom from Yale University,
author of
Just Babies: The Origins of Good and
Evil
.
Machiavelli
2014-09-21
Machiavelli
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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
.
Second-Guessing Ourselves
2014-09-28
Second-Guessing Ourselves
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We like to think of ourselves as self-aware, reflective beings, but psychological
studies demonstrate that we're usually overconfident in the accuracy of our own
beliefs. Memory, for example, can be extremely unreliable, even when we feel certain
we know what happened. Surprisingly, when we're made aware of this, we adjust our
level of confidence in ourselves only slightly. How, then, can we doubt ourselves in a
rational and efficient manner to bring our beliefs closer to reality? And, just as
importantly, how do we prevent ourselves from falling into the other extreme of
constant second guessing? John and Ken don't think twice with Sherri Roush from UC
Berkeley, author of
Tracking Truth: Knowledge, Evidence, and
Science
. This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley,
California.
Racial Profiling and Implicit Bias
2014-10-05
Racial Profiling and Implicit Bias
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Whether for counterterrorism measures, street level crime, or immigration, racial
profiling of minorities occurs frequently. However, racial profiling is illegal under
many jurisdictions and many might say ineffective. Is racial profiling ever moral or
is it always an unjustified form of racism? Is there any evidence that certain races
or ethnic groups have a tendency to behave in particular ways? Or is racial
stereotyping a result of deeply-held biases we're not even aware of? John and Ken
share their profiles with Linda Alcoff from the City University of New York, author of
Visible Identities: Race, Gender, and the Self.
Philosophy as Therapy
2014-10-26
Philosophy as Therapy
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From Plato and Sextus Empiricus to Wittgenstein, many important thinkers have thought
of philosophy as a type of therapy. By looking at our way of life through a
philosophical lens, we can achieve a particular kind of understanding that can bring
us peace of mind. But can philosophy really help those who experience mental anguish?
Don't we have shrinks and medication for that? If philosophy is more likely to raise
more questions than it offers answers, how could it help us overcome suffering? What
would it mean for an emotional or psychological problem to have a philosophical cure?
John and Ken seek solace with David Konstan from NYU, author of
The Emotions of the Ancient Greeks: Studies in Aristotle and Classical
Literature
.
The Fairness Fixation
2014-11-02
The Fairness Fixation
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magine that your eight-year-old son arrives home boasting that he won the race that
day in gym class. Right as your heart begins to swell with pride, he reveals that he
wasn't the only winner—the whole class won the race. The gym teacher, it turns out,
thought that naming just one winner would be unfair. If our obsession with fairness
leads to absurdities like this, why should we be so committed to being fair? Why not
reserve the best we have to offer for those who actually deserve it? Can there be
justice, kindness, and compassion in a world without fairness? John and Ken play
favorites with Stephen Asma from Columbia College Chicago, author of
Against Fairness: In Favor of Favoritism.
Transformative Experiences
2014-11-16
Transformative Experiences
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We are faced with decisions all the time in life. Normally, we think about the
possible outcomes and chose a course of action that matches what we take to be of most
value to us. However, one might think that some decisions—like whether or not to have
a child—can so profoundly transform our lives that we cannot possibly know what the
outcome will be like until it actually happens. Are these the kind of decisions in
which our regular approach to decision-making becomes useless? Can life-changing
decisions ever be made rationally? If not, can we still make good choices? John and
Ken make some major decisions with Laurie Paul from UNC Chapel Hill, author of
Transformative Experience.
The Lure of Immortality
2014-12-07
The Lure of Immortality
Scope and Contents
Would you want to live forever? It's a tempting notion that has been explored and
imagined for centuries. Immortality may be desirable, but it may also be that death is
a significant part of what gives meaning to life. So what would a society of immortal
individuals look like? What might some of the challenges or rewards of an immortal
life be? How would living forever affect our relationships with one another, our life
goals, or simply the way we perceive time? Would the impacts of immortality ultimately
be beneficial or detrimental to us? John and Ken tempt fate with John Fischer from UC
Riverside, author of
Our Stories: Essays on Life, Death, and
Free Will
.
Humanity Violated
2014-12-21
Humanity Violated
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People tend to treat other people who differ from them, even in seemingly small and
insignificant ways, as less than fully human. Our tendency to dehumanize the "other"
has sometimes led to great atrocities like the Holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda, and
the slave trade. It is arguably responsible for such widespread social ills as racism,
sexism, and xenophobia. Where does our tendency to dehumanize others come from? Is it
based on bad arguments hat can be rationally refuted, or are its origins deeper in the
human psyche? Are we bound to see the "other" as less than fully human? John and Ken
take a human approach with David Livingstone Smith from the University of New England,
author of Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others.
The Examined Year - 2014
2015-01-04
The Examined Year - 2014
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"The unexamined year is not worth reviewing. But what ideas and events that took
shape over the past year have prompted us to question our assumptions and to think
about things in new ways? What significant events – in politics, in science, and in
philosophy itself – have called into question our most deeply-held beliefs? John and
Ken celebrate the examined year with a philosophical look back at the year that was
2014:
• The Year in Academic Freedom with Katherine Franke, Professor of Law at Columbia
University and Director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law • The Year in Race
and Justice with Chris Lebron, Professor of Philosophy and African-American Studies at
Yale University and author of The Color Of Our Shame: Race and Justice In Our Time •
The Year in Neuroscience and the Brain with Rudolph Tanzi, Professor of Neurology at
Harvard University and Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at
Massachusetts General Hospital"
What's Next? Death and the Afterlife
2015-01-11
What's Next? Death and the Afterlife
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The question of what happens to us after we die remains as mysterious now as it
always was. Some think that death amounts to total annihilation of the self; others
adhere to certain religious traditions, which teach that the immaterial soul (and, in
some traditions, the resurrected body) can ultimately survive death. So how are we to
judge between these radically different views of what happens to us in death? What
would it mean for the self to persist beyond the destruction of the body? Is there
room in a scientific account of the mind for the existence of an immaterial soul? John
and Ken see the light with Richard Swinburne from the University of Oxford, author of
Mind, Brain, and Free Will.
Anarchy: Utopian Dream or Dystopian Nightmare?
2015-01-25
Anarchy: Utopian Dream or Dystopian Nightmare?
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Anarchism says there's no need for a state, that it would be better to have a society
without central government. Anarchists dislike the often heavy-handed authority that
government brings. Yet the dream of the stateless society is not a simple one. How can
we have law and order without government? What's involved in a self-governed society,
free from authority? And how could we ever peacefully transition from central
governance to anarchy? John and Ken question authority with James Martel from San
Francisco State University, editor of
How Not To Be Governed:
Readings and Interpretations from a Critical Anarchist Left
. This program
was recorded live at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco.
Food Justice
2015-02-01
Food Justice
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The number of chronically hungry people in the world is over 800 million, yet
developed countries are facing health challenges from rising rates of obesity. The
growing problems of food security and water scarcity seem an issue of distribution
rather than availability. But other factors also influence the status of food and
water security worldwide. So where does the problem with food and water security lie?
Do developed countries – or any other entities or individuals – have any moral
obligations to ensure a global network of water and food security? What practical,
policy-oriented action can fulfill any moral obligations that might exist? John and
Ken grab a bite with Tim Benton, Professor of Population Ecology at the University of
Leeds and UK Champion for Global Food Security.
Cyber-activism
2015-02-15
Cyber-activism
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Whether it's making donations and signing petitions online, or using social media to
highlight political causes, cyber-activism has never been easier. With a few clicks,
we can make our voices heard around the globe. But who's listening, and is anything
actually changing? Does cyber-activism mobilize real-world action on the ground, or
does it reduce political engagement to simple mouse-clicking and ultimately threaten
the subversive nature of change? John and Ken get active with Lucy Bernolz from the
Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, co-author of
Disrupting Philanthropy: Technology and the Future of the Social Sector
.
This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco.
Camus and the Absurd
2015-03-01
Camus and the Absurd
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Albert Camus is most famous for his existential works of fiction including The
Stranger as well as his philosophical essay The Myth of Sisyphus. He led the French
resistance press during Nazi Occupation and became one of the youngest Nobel laureates
in literature. His contemporary, Hannah Arendt, described him as "head and shoulders
above the other intellectuals." How does Camus' philosophy of Absurdism compare and
contrast with Sartre's popular existentialism, especially in their conceptions of
freedom? What political and philosophical issues of his time were he deeply involved
in, and what relevance does his thinking still hold for the problems of contemporary
life? John and Ken remain sensible with Robert Zaretsky from the University of
Houston, author of
A Life Worth Living: Albert Camus and the
Quest for Meaning
.
Diseases of the Mind: Philosophy of Psychiatry
2015-03-08
Diseases of the Mind: Philosophy of Psychiatry
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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is the primary reference catalog for mental
health illnesses. But whereas a medical textbook will show you the picture of a broken
bone or a tumor, leaf through the DSM and you will find just one thing: lists of
symptoms. Who creates these lists, and based on what criteria? Do such lists really
capture the nature of a mental illness? What does it mean to be a disease of the mind
versus a disease of the body? Does our classification system construct mental illness,
or does it reveal underlying facts from genetics or neuroscience? John and Ken
diagnose the issues with Jerome Wakefield from NYU, co-author of
The Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow Into
Depressive Disorder
.
Democracy in Crisis
2015-03-22
Democracy in Crisis
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Democratic systems of government are supposed to reflect the interests of ordinary
citizens, and not some shadowy political elite. But more and more, we see the
influence of big money and special interest groups in so-called democratic politics,
while income inequality and voter suppression grow. With millions convinced that
politicians don't speak for them, is there a "crisis of representation" in the US? Are
these problems a result of political decay in our institutions, or is democracy in
trouble everywhere? How can we achieve an efficient and prosperous democracy in which
the average citizen is truly represented? Should we consider a radically different
system of government? John and Ken keep calm with renowned political scientist Francis
Fukuyama, author of
Political Order and Political Decay: From
the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy
. This program
was recorded live on the Stanford University campus.
Morality in a Godless World
2015-03-29
Morality in a Godless World
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Belief in God is thought by many to be the only possible source of morality, such
that without a God, "everything is permitted." Yet godlessness is on the rise in the
West, with figures like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Lawrence Krauss leading the
"New Atheism" movement. But if atheism is defined by its lack of belief, where do
these non-believers find their guiding moral principles? Are there any positive
beliefs or values that atheists have in common? If so, are they based on a rational,
scientific framework, or must non-believers, like believers, ultimately rely on faith?
John and Ken welcome John Figdor, a Humanist chaplain at Stanford University and
co-author of
Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart: Rewriting the Ten
Commandments for the Twenty-First Century
, for a program recorded live on
campus.
The Art of Non-Violence
2015-04-12
The Art of Non-Violence
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We all hope for peace. Yet in the face of violence, it often seems the only recourse
is more violence. Advocates of non-violence claim it's not necessary to respond to war
in kind, and that responding violently, even in self-defense, just perpetuates the
cycle of violence. So how can we practice non-violence under the direct threat of
violence? Can non-violent acts be spread to stop aggression and war? And are there
times when violence is, in fact, necessary? John and Ken keep the peace with renowned
cultural critic Judith Butler, for a program recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in
Berkeley.
When Democracies Torture
2015-04-26
When Democracies Torture
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Torture is prohibited under international law and is widely considered a human rights
violation. But despite the fact that 157 countries ratified the UN Convention Against
Torture, it is still practiced in many states to this day. Moreover, while we might
associate torture with dictatorships, liberal democracies pioneered the modern
techniques that leave no physical trace. So why do democracies torture? Can calling
torture by other names, such as "enhanced interrogation," really resolve the deep
conflict between what we say and what we do? Or has the taboo against torture finally
been broken? John and Ken enhance their interrogation of Darius Rejali from Reed
College, author of
Torture and Democracy.
Reincarnation - Past Lives, Future Selves
2015-05-03
Reincarnation--Past Lives, Future Selves
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According to Buddhist tradition, all people must suffer illness, aging, and death.
Yet the universe is seen as a vast living entity, in which cycles of individual life
and death are repeated without cease. Therefore death is a necessary part of the
process of life, making renewal and new growth possible. So what does this view mean
about the eternality of the self? Is there a single subject or consciousness that
persists through all the cycles of death and rebirth? What are the karmic consequences
of one's moral acts for future lives? And how can the view of endless death and
rebirth lead to greater compassion for all life? John and Ken revisit their past with
Robert Thurman from Columbia University, author of
Infinite
Life: Awakening to Bliss Within
.
How Words Work--From Noise to Meaning 376
2015-05-10
How Words Work--From Noise to Meaning
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Humans have an amazing capacity to communicate. By uttering sounds we are able to
convey meaning to those around us. These noises we make take on properties – they mean
certain things, they are true or false, etc. Some animals also use forms of language:
bees, for example, use dances and pheromones to communicate with each other. What
gives these signals – words and movements – their linguistic meaning? How is it
possible to communicate complex propositions simply by making sound? John and Ken cut
through the noise with celebrated philosopher of language John Searle, in a program
recorded live at the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley.
Why Propaganda Matters 377
2015-05-17
Why Propaganda Matters
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Governments and other political institutions employ propaganda to sway public
opinion, instill ideas, and exert a degree of control over people. While totalitarian
regimes have been known to do this explicitly, democratic governments often disguise
their propaganda with persuasive rhetoric. So what exactly constitutes propaganda and
how does it work? Does it always involve lies or falsehoods? Can propaganda ever be
morally justified or is it a pernicious form of communication? John and Ken trade
slogans with Jason Stanley from Yale University, author of
How
Propaganda Works
.
Science and Politics - Friends or Foes?
2015-05-17
Science and Politics - Friends or Foes?
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The ideal of science is objectivity in the service of advancing knowledge. We tend to
assume that to be objective, scientists must keep their politics from influencing
their work. But time and time again we see that science, even some of our best
science, is awash in political influences. Could politics sometimes have a positive
effect on objectivity in science? If so, which kinds of politics might have a positive
effect and which might not? What criteria could we use to make the distinction? And
does 'objectivity' still have meaning in this context? John and Ken take all sides
with Sharyn Clough from Oregon State University, author of
Beyond Epistemology: A Pragmatist Approach to Feminist Science Studies.
Summer Reading List 2015
2015-06-21
Summer Reading List 2015
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Summer is here – what philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues do you want
to read up on? Heidegger's Being and Time may not be the obvious choice to take on
vacation, but there are lots of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to
add philosophical depth to your summer reading. John and Ken take suggestions from
listeners and special guests: Lars Iyer, author of Wittgenstein Jr (A Novel); Berit
Brogaard, author of
On Romantic Love: Simple Truth About a
Complex Emotion
; and Jane Hirshfield, author of
The
Beauty and Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World
.
Heidegger
2015-06-28
Heidegger
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Best known for his work Being and Time, Martin Heidegger has been hailed by many as
the greatest philosopher of the twentieth century. He has also been criticized for
being both nearly unreadable and a Nazi. Yet there is no disputing his seminal place
in the history of Western thought. So what did Heidegger mean when he wrote about
world, being, and time? What significance does he still hold as a thinker today,
especially as a philosopher of modern technology? Should we even read the works of a
Nazi? John and Ken are present and ready with Thomas Sheehan from Stanford University,
author of
Making Sense of Heidegger: A Paradigm
Shift
.
The Ethics of Whistleblowing with Edward Snowden
2015-07-12
The Ethics of Whistleblowing with Edward Snowden
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You might think we each have a moral duty to expose any serious misconduct,
dishonesty, or illegal activity we discover in an organization, especially when such
conduct directly threatens the public interest. However, increasingly we are seeing
whistleblowers punished more harshly than the alleged wrongdoers, who often seem to
get off scot-free. Given the possibility of harsh retaliation, how should we
understand our moral duty to tell the truth and reveal wrongdoing? Should we think of
whistleblowers as selfless martyrs, as traitors, or as something else? Do we need to
change the laws to provide greater protection for whistleblowers? John and Ken welcome
our era's most renowned whistleblower, former CIA analyst Edward Snowden, for a
program recorded as part of the Stanford Symbolic Systems Program Distinguished
Speaker series.
Neuroscience and Free Will
2015-07-19
Neuroscience and Free Will
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We like to think of ourselves as rational agents who exercise conscious control over
most of our actions and decisions. Yet in recent years, neuroscientists have claimed
to prove that free will is simply an illusion, that our brains decide for us before
our conscious minds even become aware. But what kind of evidence do these scientists
rely on to support their sweeping conclusions? Is the "free will" they talk about the
same kind of free will that philosophers have puzzled about for millennia? And could
science ever prove that we lack the kind of freedom needed for moral responsibility?
John and Ken free their minds with Daniel Dennett from Tufts University, author of
Freedom Evolves and Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for
Thinking
. This program was recorded live at the 19th annual Undergraduate
Philosophy Conference at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
The Power and Peril of Satire
2015-07-26
The Power and Peril of Satire
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Satire is everywhere – in conversations with friends, in books, on television, and
online. When used effectively, it can be a very powerful form of social commentary.
But what happens when someone goes too far, or even worse, when some publication
repeatedly goes too far? Aside from taking offense, can we reasonably demand that they
pull their article from publication or issue an apology? Are there topics we should
never satirize? Is there a well-defined line between satire and hate speech? John and
Ken resist parody with Jane Kirtley, Director of the Silha Center for the Study of
Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota.
Leibniz 384
2015-08-16
Leibniz
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The intellectual domain of Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz cannot be captured in a
single word. For most of his life, he was a jurist, a courtier, a diplomat, and a
librarian; he also made huge contributions to the study of logic, geometry, physics,
botany, physiology, linguistics, and of course, the infinitesimal calculus. And yet,
many of his ideas remain obscure to the modern reader. What in the world is a Monad?
Why does Leibniz care so much about the so-called Principle of Sufficient Reason? And
how could he claim that this is the Best of all Possible Worlds? John and Ken discuss
the most important philosopher you know the least about with Daniel Garber from
Princeton University, author of
Leibniz: Body, Substance,
Monad
.
The Ethics of Drone Warfare
2015-09-13
The Ethics of Drone Warfare
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The Changing Face of Feminism 386
2015-09-20
The Changing Face of Feminism
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The Technology of Immortality 387
2015-09-27
The Technology of Immortality
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Some futurists believe we are not far from a time when technology and medicine will
be so advanced that humans need no longer die of old age or other natural causes.
Eventually, not only will we be able to replace our natural body parts, but we might
even be able to "download" our selves into a new cybernetic body. But is this a
realistic possibility or just a confused fantasy? Is the self the kind of thing that
can be downloaded and persist through radical changes in its "hardware"? And if it
were possible for people to indefinitely extend their biological lives, what would the
moral implications be for social inequality and distribution of the planet's finite
resources? John and Ken look beyond the mortal coil with Kevin O'Neill from the
University of Redlands, author of
Internet Afterlife: Virtual
Salvation in the Twenty-First Century
(forthcoming).
The Logic of Regret 388
2015-10-18
The Logic of Regret
In Praise of Love: Plato's Symposium Meets Bernstein's Serenade
2015-10-25
In Praise of Love: Plato's Symposium Meets Bernstein's Serenade
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Plato's Symposium is arguably the most memorable philosophical work ever written on
the subject of love. It is also the inspiration for Leonard Bernstein's gorgeous
violin concerto, the Serenade. What would Plato think of Bernstein's Serenade,
especially given his criticism of art and poetry? Is Bernstein more interested in what
one of Plato's drunken characters calls "vulgar love"? Or is he inspired by Platonic
love – the highest form of love? How does Bernstein explore these themes through his
music? In this special episode featuring violin virtuoso Anne Akiko Meyers and the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, John and Ken talk to Brandi Parisi from All Classical
Portland radio about love – its nature, its origin and its purpose – and music
Living On Through Others 390
2015-11-01
Living on Through Others
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Imagine that the world will end in thirty days. Would your life have meaning anymore?
Would anyone's? It seems that there would no longer be any point to making
technological or medical advances, developing new forms of art, or even taking good
care of ourselves. Imagining the doomsday scenario shows that there is something
particularly disturbing about the prospect that not only we, but also everyone else,
will die. Why is this? Would our lives be nearly as meaningful if others did not live
on after our death? Could our "collective afterlife" through the lives of others
actually be more important than the "personal afterlife" with which we are so often
preoccupied? John and Ken live on through Samuel Scheffler from NYU, author of
Death & the Afterlife.
Spinoza 391
2015-11-10
Spinoza
Scope and Contents
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
.
Will Innovation Kill Us? 392
2015-11-15
Will Innovation Kill Us?
Scope and Contents
Innovation, be it social, economic, or technological, is often hailed as the panacea
for all our troubles. Our obsession with innovation leads us to constantly want new
things and to want them now. But past innovations are arguably the main reason for
many of our current predicaments, which in turn creates a further need to innovate to
solve those problems. So is innovation – and our obsession with it – ultimately a
force for good or ill? Is our constant need to innovate a function of our biology, or
just a product of various cultural forces? Can we ever escape the innovation loop?
Should we try before it kills us? John and Ken find new ways to talk to Christian
Seelos, author of
Innovation and Scaling for Impact: How Effective Social
Enterprises Do It
(forthcoming).
Your Lying Eyes - Perception, Memory, and Justice 393
2015-11-29
Your Lying Eyes - Perception, Memory, and Justice
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The criminal justice system often relies on the testimony of eyewitnesses to get
convictions. Yet more and more, psychological science demonstrates how unreliable
eyewitness reports can be. Moreover, jurors have all kinds of cognitive biases and
unconscious influences, and they rely on dubious folk psychological theories when
assessing evidence. So, how should psychological science be used to improve our
justice system? Is there a way to figure out whether a particular eye witness report
is reliable? Or for a truly just system, must we forbid all testimony that depends on
the capricious faculty of memory? John and Ken take the stand with Daniel Reisberg
from Reed College, author of
The Science of Perception and Memory: A Pragmatic
Guide for the Justice System
.
Self and Self-Presentation 395
2015-12-06
Self and Self-Presentation
Physical Description: 1 computer
file(s) (mp3)
Scope and Contents
We craft personal brands or images to accompany or represent ourselves in various
situations. These personas are malleable – how we portray ourselves online differs
from how we act at an event, which differs from the workplace or in the privacy of the
home. Social media and the possibility of creating an online 'self' exacerbate this
situation. We may wonder: who is the true self if we have the power change selves
given various circumstances? Is there such a thing as 'one true self', or is the self
merely a conglomerate of 'mini-selves' shaped by cultural and societal forces? Could
it be detrimental to think of a self as socially constructed? John and Ken put their
best face on for Susan Hekman from the University of Texas at Arlington, author of
Private Selves, Public Identities: Reconsidering Identity
Politics
.
The Examined Year - 2015 397
2016-01-03
The Examined Year - 2015
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant events of the previous
year. But what ideas and events took shape over the past twelve months that challenged
our assumptions and made us think about things in new ways? Join John, Ken, and their
special guests as they celebrate the examined year with a philosophical look back at
the year that was 2015:
• The Year in Campus Culture Wars with Kate Manne from Cornell University, co-author
of "When Free Speech Becomes a Political Weapon" • The Year in Refugees and Migration
with Beverly Crawford from UC Berkeley, author of Power and German Foreign Policy:
Embedded Hegemony in Europe • The Year in Science and Climate Change with Allen
Thompson from Oregon State University, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of
Environmental Ethics (forthcoming)
Dignity Denied: Life and Death in Prison 398
2016-01-10
Dignity Denied: Life and Death in Prison
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, there are more people living with mental
illness in prisons than in psychiatric hospitals across the country. Despite the fact
that prisoners can have significant medical needs, healthcare services are often
woefully inadequate, which can turn a minor sentence into a death sentence. And for
those dying in prison, few receive any hospice or palliative care. So what kinds of
patients' rights should prisoners have? Could improved healthcare in prisons actually
reduce recidivism rates? How can we ensure dignity for prisoners in the age of
for-profit prisons? John and Ken maintain their dignity with filmmaker Edgar Barens,
whose documentary Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall was nominated
for an Academy Award.
Jean-Paul Sartre 399
2016-01-17
Jean-Paul Satre
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Scope and Contents
Jean-Paul Sartre was one of the first global public intellectuals, famous for his
popular existentialist philosophy, his works of fiction, and his rivalry with Albert
Camus. His existentialism was also adopted by Simone de Beauvoir, who used it as a
foundation for modern theoretical feminism. So what exactly is existentialism? How is
man condemned to be free, as Sartre claimed? And what's so hellish about other people?
John and Ken speak in good faith with Thomas Flynn from Emory University, author of
Sartre: A Philosophical Biography.
White Privilege and Racial Injustice 400
2016-02-14
White Privilege and Racial Injustice
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
"White privilege" has become a buzzword in discussions about racial inequality and
racial justice. The call to "check your privilege" appeals to those privileged to
acknowledge the various ways they receive special treatment that others don't. But
when white people explicitly acknowledge their privilege, does this do anything to
further racial equality? Is talking about "white privilege" just a way to assuage
white liberal guilt? Instead of unequal privilege, should we be more focused on equal
rights? What kind of theory of justice is required to improve black lives? John and
Ken check their privilege with Naomi Zack from the University of Oregon, author of
White Privilege and Black Rights: The Injustice of U.S. Police Racial
Profiling and Homicide
.
The Ethics of Debt 401
2016-02-28
The Ethics of Debt
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
According to a report from the Jubilee Debt Campaign, there are currently 24
countries facing a full-blown debt crisis, with 14 more on the verge. Globally, there
is about $200 trillion of debt on the books. Although the poor and disenfranchised of
the world play no role in negotiating these loans, in debt crises they usually end up
paying the price. So when a country borrows money, who or what is the "economic agent"
responsible for taking on the debt? Can traditional economic theory explain why we
face debt crises and how we can get out of them? Or do we need a new economic model
that dispels some of the myths of the traditional model and offers a more ethical
solution to the global debt crisis? John and Ken are held to account with Julie Nelson
from the University of Massachusetts Boston, author of Economics For Humans.
The Science of Happiness 402
2016-03-20
The Science of Happiness
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
Positive psychology is an emerging science that investigates the qualities,
attitudes, and practices that enable people to thrive and be happy. So what does this
research reveal about human happiness? Are some of us just born with happier
dispositions than others? How (if at all) do health, wealth, family relations, and
community ties affect our happiness? Do happy people have a better or worse grip on
reality than unhappy people? And is happiness something really worth pursuing? John
and Ken get happy (scientifically) with Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Science Director of the
Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.
Gun Control 403
2016-03-27
Gun Control
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
The right to bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment, is at once both
distinctly American and highly controversial. Incidents such as the Sandy Hook school
shooting force the nation to think hard about how the law should balance gun ownership
with the risk these deadly weapons present to society. What kind of right is the right
to bear arms, if it is a right at all? What responsibilities ought to come with gun
ownership? And what can philosophical thinking contribute to such delicate policy
decisions? John and Ken stand their ground with Hugh LaFollette from the University of
South Florida, author of
The Practice of Ethics.
Extreme Altruism 404
2016-04-03
Extreme Altruism
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Scope and Contents
We can all agree that helping others is great, a deed worth doing. But devoting too
much to helping others – too much time, too many resources – may get you labelled an
oddity, a freak. How much can morality demand of us? Is it good to live as moral a
life as possible, or do we lose something – devotion to one's family, for example – by
adhering to extreme moral principles? Can somebody be both fully rational and also a
saintly type? John and Ken lend a hand to New Yorker writer Larissa MacFarquhar,
author of Strangers Drowning: Grappling with Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and
the Overpowering Urge to Help.
Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing? 405
2016-04-10
Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?
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Scope and Contents
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.
One Child Too Many 406
2016-05-01
One Child Too Many
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
The United Nations predicts human population growth will surpass 9 billion around
2050. We know the consequences of overpopulation have the potential to be catastrophic
in terms of our continued existence on the planet, with negative environmental effects
already visible. Limiting the number of children we have seems like one obvious way to
tackle the problem. But is there a moral imperative to limit reproduction? Is having
multiple children a right, and if so is it one we should give up for the greater good?
What can we do ethically about controlling population? John and Ken have more than a
word with Sarah Conly from Bowdoin College, author of
One Child: Do We Have a
Right to More?
Affirmative Action - Too Little or Too Much? 407
2016-05-08
Affirmative Action - Too Little or Too Much?
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Scope and Contents
Addressing our nation's history of racial injustice can be a truly backbreaking
endeavor. Race-based affirmative action is usually thought of as one such effort, and
colleges and universities often use it in their admissions process. However,
affirmative action does seem to lower standards for certain under-represented
minorities like Blacks and Hispanics. Should we think of affirmative action as
patronizing those minorities, or rectifying the injustices they face? Is affirmative
action enough to redress racial injustice, or is it simply the best we can do for the
time being? John and Ken welcome Glenn Loury from Brown University, author of
The Anatomy of Racial Inequality.
Altered States 408
2016-05-22
Altered States
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
Aldous Huxley explains his conception of the brain as a "reducing valve" of
consciousness in his provocative book, The Doors of Perception. His famous experiment
with the psychedelic substance mescaline was an attempt to open this valve and expand
his capacity for knowledge. However, many drugs and psychedelics today are seen as
simply tools for pleasure or the source of bad habits. Do drugs possess the capability
to expand our consciousness and provide meaningful insight? Or are they nothing more
than a route to empty delirium? Ken and guest co-host Alison Gopnik take a trip with
artist, scientist, and founder of the Beckley Foundation, Amanda Feilding.
Philosophy of Sleep 409
2016-06-12
Philosophy of Sleep
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Scope and Contents
"Blessed are the sleepy ones," write Nietzsche, "for they shall soon drop off." Sleep
is an extraordinarily, albeit profoundly odd, phenomenon, yet we seem to accept
prolonged nightly blackouts without question. Still, sleep has played a major role in
philosophical thought, with the likes of Aristotle, Locke, and Leibniz putting forth
theories about just what exactly sleep and dreams are. So what is the purpose of
sleeping and dreaming? How can we distinguish wakefulness from sleep, as Descartes
wondered? Do we experience dreams consciously? And do we sleep to live, or live to
sleep? Ken and guest co-host Jorah Danenberg stay up with Deirdre Barrett from the
Harvard Medical School, co-author of
The Encyclopedia of Sleep and
Dreams
.
The Philanthropy Trap 410
2016-06-19
The Philanthropy Trap
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
Many of us generally admire people who donate large sums of money to charity. Yet
people donate for all sorts of reasons – some selfless, some not so much. Should we
consider philanthropy as mere ego expression for the wealthy, or is it genuinely
altruistic behavior? If philanthropists are so concerned with having an impact on
society, how should we think about "measuring" this impact? Are there better ways than
philanthropy to achieve positive social change? John and Ken donate their time to
Bruce Sievers from the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University.
The Radical Democracy Movement 411
2016-07-03
The Radical Democracy Movement
Physical Description: 1 computer
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Scope and Contents
Liberal democracy has its problems, including the fact that in trying to build
consensus, it often ends up oppressing minorities or those who dissent. Radical
democracy, on the other hand, tries to build consensus around difference, and
challenge oppressive power relationships. But what are the risks of radical democracy?
Is it really possible to have a democratic nation state without social conformity? How
do we ensure both freedom and equality for all citizens in a society? And how does the
anti-colonial tradition help us rethink what a modern democracy might be like? John
and Ken join the struggle with Stanford historian Aishwary Kumar, author of
Radical Equality: Ambedkar, Gandhi, and the Risk of Democracy, in a
program recorded live at Stage Werx Theatre in San Francisco.
More Than Pun and Games 414
2016-07-31
More Than Pun and Games
The Big Bang - Before and After 415
2016-08-14
The Big Bang - Before and After
Election Special 2016 417
2016-11-06
Election Special 2016
Scope and Contents
John and Ken look beyond the horse race at some of the bigger questions raised by
this year's campaign:
• Do we always have a duty to vote? with Stanford political scientist Emilee Chapman
• Can our democracy survive the amount of money in politics? with former Labor
Secretary Robert Reich • How do we justify the two-party system? with Elaine Kamarck
from the Brookings Institution.
John Dewey and the Ideal of Democracy 419
2016-09-25
John Dewey and the Ideal of Democracy
Scope and Contents
John Dewey is regarded by some as the American philosopher. In the first half of the
20th century, he stood as the most prominent public intellectual whose influence
reached into intellectual movements in China, Japan, and India. Although we hear less
of Dewey nowadays, his pragmatic political philosophy has influenced the likes of
Richard Rorty and other political thinkers. What were the basic ideas in his
philosophy of democracy? Does America have a public sphere? If not, how might we
recreate a public necessary for democracy? And does the rise of the internet and
social media fit into Dewey's ideal democracy? John and Ken idealize a conversation
with Melvin Rogers from UCLA, author of The Undiscovered Dewey: Religion, Morality,
and the Ethos of Democracy.
Matter and Energy - The Dark Side 420
2016-10-09
Matter and Energy - The Dark Side
Scope and Contents
All the matter we have ever observed accounts for less than 5% of the universe. The
rest? Dark energy and dark matter: mysterious entities that we only know about from
their interactions with other matter. We infer their existence to satisfy our laws—but
are we justified in making conclusions about what we cannot directly measure? How far
can we trust our scientific laws? Where do we cross the line from theoretical science
to metaphysics, and can the two overlap? John and Ken see the light with Priya
Natarajan from Yale University, author of Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific
Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos.
The Mystery of the Multiverse 421
2016-10-23
The Mystery of the Multiverse
Scope and Contents
At the foundation of modern theoretical physics lie the equations that define our
universe, telling us of its beginnings, evolution, and future. Make even minor
adjustments to the fundamental laws of the universe, and life as we know it would not
exist. How do we explain this extraordinary fact that our universe is so uniquely
fine-tuned for life? Could our universe may be just one of infinitely many in a vast
multiverse? Does it make sense to talk about other universes if they can never be
detected from this one? Can science ever prove or disprove the multiverse theory? Or
does the theory make some testable predictions about our finely-tuned universe? John
and Ken multiply their thoughts with George Ellis from the University of Cape Town,
author of How Can Physics Underlie the Mind?
Part of our series A Philosophical Guide to the Cosmos.
The Examined Year - 2016 422
2017-01-08
The Examined Year - 2016
The Value of a College Education 423
2017-01-22
The Value of a College Education
Reparations 424
2017-02-05
Reparations
Philosophy Behind Bars 425
2017-02-12
Philosophy Behind Bars
Scope and Contents
In 1994, Congress eliminated federal funding for college education in prisons. It
was, they argued, unjust for prisoners to be eligible for Pell grants when ordinary
citizens could not afford higher education. However, research suggests that education
in prisons has positive consequences, such as lower recidivism rates and an improved
prison environment. So should we have education programs in prisons? Or is the point
of prison to punish inmates for their crimes rather than giving them the education
many non-felons never receive? John and Ken take a lesson from Jennifer Lackey, who
teaches philosophy at Northwestern University and at Stateville Correctional Center
near Chicago.
Freedom of Speech on Campus 426
2017-02-26
Freedom of Speech on Campus
Scope and Contents
In the last few years, conservatives and liberals alike have accused activists on
college campuses of silencing contrary opinions. Many have argued—quite
vociferously—that activists' unwillingness to hear from people with opposing opinions
endangers freedom of speech in higher education. But is there really an Orwellian
threat to free speech on college campuses? Are activists' demands for respect actually
quashing freedom of thought? And when does one person's freedom of speech impinge on
another's? John and Ken create a safe space for Greg Lukianoff, co-author of "The
Coddling of the American Mind."
Queerness 427
2017-06-04
Queerness
Scope and Contents
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual… it is safe to say that new ideas of
gender and sexuality have broken into mainstream consciousness within the past few
decades. What underlies each of these identities, however, is the notion of Queerness.
But what defines what it means to be queer? Is it as much a political identity as it
is a sexual or gender identity? How does 'queerness' subvert or challenge our notions
of gender and sexuality? John and Ken welcome Susan Stryker from the University of
Arizona, editor of The Transgender Studies Reader.
Knowing What We Know - And What We Don't 428
2017-03-19
Knowing What We Know - And What We Don't
Scope and Contents
It seems like we know many facts about ourselves and the world around us, even if
there vastly many others we know that we don't know. But how do we know if what we
believe to be true is really knowledge? Can our beliefs be both justified and true,
yet still not count as genuine knowledge? If so, then how much confidence should we
really have in our beliefs? Is there a way to strike a balance between paralyzing
skepticism, on the one hand, and dogmatic conviction, on the other? John and Ken know
that their guest is Baron Reed from Northwestern University, author of "The Long Road
to Skepticism."
The Space-Time Continuum 429
2017-04-02
The Space-Time Continuum
Scope and Contents
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.
Remixing Reality - Art and Literature for the 21st Century 430
2017-04-16
Remixing Reality - Art and Literature for the 21st Century
Scope and Contents
For decades, literary critics have been questioning the relevance of the novel as a
literary form, with some going so far as to declare its death. But if the novel is
dead, it's not clear what new form can take its place. Should we treat the popularity
of the memoir as a sign that what readers want is more truth, less fiction? Or is the
memoir, like 'reality TV,' mostly just fiction dressed up as fact? In these fragmented
times, when everything has already been said or done before, can there be any truly
original innovations in art and literature? Or is the demand for originality itself an
antiquated idea? John and Ken mix it up with David Shields, author of Reality Hunger:
A Manifesto. This program was recorded live at the First Congregational Church in
Portland, Oregon.
The Phenomenology of Lived Experience
2017-04-23
The Phenomenology of Lived Experience
Scope and Contents
Phenomenology is the philosophical study of experience and consciousness, performed
by philosophers ranging from Sartre and Heidegger to contemporary analytic
philosophers of mind. But what methods do phenomenologists use to study the mind and
experience in general? How can phenomenology help us understand a range of human
experiences from agency to awe? And why does neuroscience and cognitive science need
phenomenology? John and Ken learn what it's like to talk to Shaun Gallagher from the
University of Memphis, author of How the Body Shapes the Mind.
The Limits of Medical Consent 431
2017-05-07
The Limits of Medical Consent
Should Beliefs Aim at Truth? 432
2017-05-14
Should Beliefs Aim at Truth?
Scope and Contents
If beliefs can be described as having a goal or purpose, then surely that is
something like aiming at the truth. Yet we all hold many false beliefs too. Do these
false beliefs fail to meet their goal? Or are there some things we believe simply
because they make us feel good? Could the goal of beliefs sometimes be to provide
comfort? Or must all beliefs—unlike, say, desires and wishes—be based on some kind of
justification or evidence? Our host philosophers truly believe their guest is Ray
Briggs from Stanford University.
Nonhuman Rights 433
2017-05-28
Nonhuman Rights
Scope and Contents
Human rights—like freedom from discrimination and slavery— are fundamental rights and
freedoms that every person enjoys simply because they're human. But what about other
animals, like monkeys, elephants, and dolphins? Should they enjoy similar fundamental
rights? If we can extend the legal notion of personhood to inanimate, abstract objects
like corporations, then shouldn't we also extend it to other sentient creatures? How
should we understand the concept of a "person" when it's applied to nonhumans? What
kind of cognitive and emotional complexity is required for nonhuman personhood? John
and Ken extend rights to their human guest, Steven Wise, author of Rattling The Cage:
Toward Legal Rights For Animals.
Habermas and Democracy 434
2017-06-25
Habermas and Democracy
Scope and Contents
Jürgen Habermas is regarded as one of the last great public intellectuals of Europe
and a major contributor to the philosophy of democracy. A member of the Frankfurt
School, Habermas argues that humans can have rational communication that will lead to
the democratization of society and consensus. But should we be so optimistic? Why does
Habermas have faith in our ability to establish this so-called rational communication
and to reach consensus? And how should we reform our liberal democracies to make them
more democratic? John and Ken reach for consensus with Matthew Specter from Central
Connecticut State University, author of Habermas: An Intellectual Biography.
Summer Reading List 2017 435
2017-07-02
Summer Reading List 2017
Scope and Contents
"Summer is the perfect time to dig in to deep reading. Hannah Arendt's The Origins of
Totalitarianism may be a bit much for the beach, but there are lots of readable
classics and new titles that could make your summer reading a transformative
experience.
Stanford literature professor Josh Landy on Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon
Philosophy Talk's film blogger, #FrancisOnFilm (aka Leslie Francis from the University
of Utah), on Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and the new TV series based on it
Roving Philosophical Reporter Holly J. McDede investigates the graphic novel behind
this summer's blockbuster Wonder Woman movie Other recommendations from the Community
of Thinkers"
Cognitive Bias 436
2017-07-16
Cognitive Bias
Scope and Contents
Aristotle thought that rationality was the faculty that distinguished humans from
other animals. However, psychological research shows that our judgments are plagued by
systematic, irrational, unconscious errors known as 'cognitive biases.' In light of
this research, can we really be confident in the superiority of human rationality? How
much should we trust our own judgments when we are aware of our susceptibility to bias
and error? And does our awareness of these biases obligate us to counter them? John
and Ken shed their biases with Brian Nosek from the University of Virginia, co-Founder
and Executive Director of the Center for Open Science.
Driverless Cars at the Moral Crossroads 437
2017-07-30
Driverless Cars at the Moral Crossroads
Scope and Contents
Autonomous vehicles are quickly emerging as the next innovation that will change
society in radical ways. Champions of this new technology say that driverless cars,
which are programed to obey the law and avoid collisions, will be safer than human
controlled vehicles. But how do we program these vehicles to act ethically? Should we
trust computer programmers to determine the most ethical response to all possible
scenarios the vehicle might encounter? And who should be held responsible for the bad
− potentially lethal − decisions these cars make? Our hosts take the wheel with
Harvard psychologist Joshua Greene, author of "Our Driverless Dilemma: When Should
Your Car be Willing to Kill You?"
Recorded live at Cubberly Auditorium on the Stanford campus with support from the
Symbolic Systems Program and the McCoy Center for Ethics in Society.
Could the Laws of Physics Ever Change? 438
2017-08-13
Could the Laws of Physics Ever Change?
Scope and Contents
From airplanes flying overhead to the cellular activity inside us, all events that
take place in the world obey the laws of physics. Physicists seem to be getting closer
and closer to understanding the physical laws that govern our universe. But what if
our physical laws changed? Could that even be possible? How might changing of physical
laws affect us? Or is just that what we take to be laws changes over time? Should we
still call the laws of physics "laws"? The philosophers conserve mass with Massimo
Pigliucci from the City University of New York, author of Nonsense on Stilts: How to
Tell Science from Bunk.
Part of our series A Philosophical Guide to the Cosmos.
Polyamory 439
2017-08-27
Polyamory
Scope and Contents
In most if not all modern Western societies, monogamy is the dominant form of
romantic relationship. In polyamorous or "open" relationships, however, each person is
free to love multiple partners at once. Just as our friendships are non-exclusive,
advocates of polyamory believe our romantic relationship should be too. So why do so
many people find polyamory distasteful, or even despicable? Is it immoral to love more
than one person at a time? Or is our society's commitment to monogamy simply a fossil
of tradition that could one day be obsolete? The Philosophers welcome back Carrie
Jenkins from the University of British Columbia, author of What Love Is: And What It
Could Be.
Post-Truth Politics 440
2017-09-10
Post-Truth Politics
A World Without Work 441
2017-09-24
A World Without Work
Scope and Contents
Work: a lot lot of people do it, and a lot of people don't seem to like it very much.
But as computers and artificial intelligence get increasingly sophisticated, more and
more of our workers will lose their jobs to technology. Should we view this
inevitability with hope or with despair? Without the order and purpose that meaningful
work provides in our lives, would we end up bored and restless? What obligations does
government have to deal with these changes? What about providing all citizens with a
basic income? The Philosophers work hard with Juliana Bidadanure from Stanford
University, Faculty Director of the Stanford Basic Income Lab.
The Internet of Things 442
2017-10-15
The Internet of Things
Scope and Contents
Smart TVs, refrigerators, cars, and houses—the internet of things refers to the
networking of all the devices in our lives, as they gather data and interact with one
another, apparently to make our lives easier. How will this augmented connectivity
affect the way we live? If government agencies or hackers can potentially access the
data our devices gather, what will become of privacy? Josh and Ken get smart with
renowned computer scientist Carl Hewitt, editor of Inconsistency Robustness (Studies
in Logic).
Race Matters 443
2017-10-29
Race Matters
Scope and Contents
Started in the wake of George Zimmerman's 2013 acquittal in the death of Trayvon
Martin, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has become a powerful campaign demanding
redress for the mistreatment of African-Americans by law enforcement in the United
States. But it has also inspired deep antipathy from those who claim it overemphasizes
racial issues. So how much does – and should – race matter? Does #BlackLivesMatter
speak for all black people? How should we respond to counter-movements like
#AllLivesMatter? Ken and Debra discuss matters with Chris Lebron from Johns Hopkins
University, author of The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an
Idea.
Philosophy of Trash 444
2017-11-05
Philosophy of Trash
Scope and Contents
"One man's trash is another man's treasure," or so the saying goes. But what makes
something trash to begin with? The word can be used to describe disposable objects,
pieces of culture, or even people. Underlying each of these uses, however, are
feelings of indifference, disdain, or disgust. How do the things that we call trash
reflect our values, as individuals, and as a society? What can we learn about
ourselves by examining the things we deem worthy of throwing away? The Philosophers go
dumpster diving with Elizabeth Spelman from Smith College, author of Trash Talks:
Revelations in the Rubbish.
Midlife and Meaning 445
2017-12-03
Midlife and Meaning
Scope and Contents
At some point or another, the midlife crisis comes for us all. But what is it really
about? Is it a sense of our mortality, the fear of not achieving what we hoped to, or
the sinking feeling that we've been spending our whole adult lives chasing our tails?
And what is the solution: a new car, a new life goal, or the choice to give up goals
altogether? Ken and Josh entertain the possibilities with Kieran Setiya from MIT,
author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide.
Can Speech Kill? 446
2017-12-10
Can Speech Kill?
Scope and Contents
Free speech is one of the core tenets of our democracy. We're inclined to think that
more speech is always better. Although the Supreme Court has outlined some minor
restrictions to our right to free speech, the most courts are willing to admit is that
speech can lead to violence—it cannot itself do violence. But is it possible for
speech to do both? If hate speech is used against a marginalized group, couldn't the
speech act literally do harm? And how does the answer to this question affect our
commitment to free speech in a liberal democracy? The Philosophers do no harm with
Lynne Tirrell from the University of Connecticut, author of "Genocidal Language
Games."
The Examined Year: 2017 447
2017-12-31
The Examined Year: 2017
Scope and Contents
"A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant events of the
previous year. But what ideas and events took shape over the past twelve months that
challenged our assumptions and made us think about things in new ways? Join Ken and
Josh as they celebrate the examined year with a philosophical look back at the year
that was 2017, featuring a roundtable discussion with host emeritus John Perry, as
well as conversations with special guests:
• The Year in Gender Relations with Laura Kipnis from Northwestern University,
author of Unwanted Advances: Sexual Paranoia Comes to Campus • The Year in Democracy
and Social Media with Larry Kramer, President of the Hewlett Foundation
Because the unexmained year is not worth reviewing!"
The Philosophy of Retirement 448
2018-01-08
The Philosophy of Retirement
Scope and Contents
Many of us look forward to retirement, that time in life when we stop working for a
living. But what exactly is retirement and why do we retire? Does retirement always
mean an end to work, or can it sometimes just mean a shift to a different kind of
work? Ought we retire for purely selfish reasons, such as to give ourselves more
leisure time? Or ought we retire for the public good, to give younger people greater
opportunities for employment?
Fractured Identities 449
2018-01-21
Fractured Identities
Scope and Contents
Despite tremendous strides made towards civil and political rights in the United
States, discrimination and exclusion based on race, class, gender, and sexuality are
still pervasive. As a result, individuals seen as "the other" often experience a
painful inner fracturing W.E.B. Du Bois called "double consciousness." So, how does
one shape a coherent identity in a world where one is considered "other"? What effects
do micro aggressions have on the ability to develop a unified self? And what role
might community play in helping heal fractured identities? The Philosophers identify
with Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of Real American: A Memoir.
Frantz Fanon and the Violence of Colonialism 450
2018-01-28
Frantz Fanon and the Violence of Colonialism
Scope and Contents
Frantz Fanon is a thinker who has inspired radical liberation movements in places
ranging from Palestine to South Africa to the United States. Most famous for his work
The Wretched of the Earth, Fanon is often understood as a proponent of revolutionary
violence. But is this a fair characterization of Fanon, or is it an oversimplification
of a deeper and richer body of work? What exactly is Fanon's philosophy of violence,
and how does it relate to his philosophy and psychology of the colonial subject? How
has Fanon shaped how we think of identity politics? The Philosophers welcome Nigel
Gibson from Emerson College, author of Fanon: The Postcolonial Imagination.
Baldwin, Truth, and Social Justice 451
2018-02-11
Baldwin, Truth, and Social Justice
Scope and Contents
Sometimes, we struggle to tell the truth -- especially when it's the truth about
ourselves. Why did James Baldwin, a prominent Civil Rights-era intellectual and
novelist, believe that telling the truth about ourselves is not only difficult but can
also be dangerous? How can truth deeply unsettle our assumptions about ourselves and
our relations to others? And why did Baldwin think that this abstract concept of truth
could play a concrete role in social justice? The Philosophers seek their own truth
with Christopher Freeburg from the University of Illinois, author of Black Aesthetics
and the Interior Life.
The Fifth (Mostly) Annual Dionysus Awards 452
2018-02-18
The Fifth (Mostly) Annual Dionysus Awards
Scope and Contents
Josh and Ken talk to philosophers, film critics, and listeners in presenting their
fifth (mostly) annual Dionysus Awards for the most philosophically compelling movies
of the past year. Categories include:
• Most Searing Depiction of Humankind's Propensity to Dehumanize the Other • Most
Philosophically Absurdist and Cinematically Transgressive Film • Richest Investigation
of the Drivers of History
Misogyny 453
2018-02-25
Misogyny
Scope and Contents
With the recent #MeToo viral campaign, along with the wave of prominent male figures
toppled for being serial sexual harassers or worse, the topic of misogyny has come
into sharp focus. But what exactly is misogyny? And how does it differ from sexism?
What set of beliefs or attitudes makes someone a misogynist? And why does misogyny
persist despite the fact that traditional gender roles are being abandoned more and
more? Ken and Debra explore the trials of the second sex with Kate Manne from Cornell
University, author of Down, Girl: The Logic of Misogyny.
How to Humbly Disagree 454
2018-03-11
How to Humbly Disagree
Scope and Contents
People like to argue, especially Philosophy Talk listeners! But no matter how hard we
try to resolve disputes through rational discourse, sometimes we may still disagree
about important issues. One response to this predicament is simply to agree to
disagree. But should the mere fact of disagreement lower our confidence in our views?
Should we change how we judge our own beliefs when we realize that other people
disagree? Or do we only have reason to doubt our beliefs when we learn that experts
disagree with us? The Philosophy Talk hosts humbly welcome Nathan Ballantyne from
Fordham University, author of Knowing Our Limits (forthcoming).
Part of a six-part series on Intellectual Humility.
The Culture Industry 455
2018-03-25
The Culture Industry
Scope and Contents
What's your favorite movie? Did you watch that season finale last night? No spoilers!
Popular cultures pervades modern life. But what if pop culture was actually more
pernicious than we ordinarily think? Could it be systematically deceiving us—eroding
our ability to think for ourselves and fight for change? That's what the 20th century
German philosopher Theodor Adorno thought. The Philosophers get cultured on Adorno's
life and thought with Adrian Daub from Stanford University, co-author of The James
Bond Songs: Pop Anthems of Late Capitalism.
Monstrous Technologies? 456
2018-04-08
Monstrous Technologies?
Scope and Contents
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? Josh and Ken have a monstrously fun conversation with Persis Drell, Provost
and former Dean of Engineering from Stanford University.
This program was recorded live on the Stanford campus as part of the university's
Frankenstein@200 project.
Trolling, Bullying, and Flame Wars: Humility and Online Discourse 457
2018-04-15
Scope and Contents
Open up any online comments section and you'll find them: internet trolls, from the
mildly inflammatory to the viciously bullying. It seems that the ease of posting
online leads many to abandon any semblance of intellectual humility. So can we have
intellectual humility on an anonymous forum with little oversight and accountability?
Does current online behavior portend the end of humility in the public domain? How do
we encourage greater humility and less arrogance in any public discourse? The
Philosophers open up the comments section for Michael Lynch from the University of
Connecticut, author of The Internet of Us: Knowing More and Understanding Less in the
Age of Big Data.
Part of a six-part series on Intellectual Humility.
Are We Alone?
2018-04-29
Are We Alone?
Scope and Contents
News that life might exist or have existed on Mars or somewhere else in our universe
excites many. But should we really be happy to hear that news? What are the
philosophical implications of the possibility of extraterrestrial life? If life can
blossom in our own cosmic backyard, then that means that the universe is most likely
saturated with life forms. And if that's the case, why haven't we found any evidence
of other civilizations? Is it because all civilizations are prone to suicidal
destruction at a certain point in their development? If so, how might we avoid this
fate? The Philosophers search for life with Paul Davies from Arizona State University,
author of The Eerie Silence: Renewing Our Search for Alien Intelligence.
Faith and Humility
2018-05-06
Faith and Humility
Scope and Contents
Some would argue that faith requires that one blindly—rather than rationally—
believe. Faith in one 'true' religion often entails rejection of all others. Given
this, can there ever be humility when it comes to religious faith? How unwavering
should the faithful be when it comes to their religious convictions, attitudes, and
actions? Should we encourage religious humility, or would it taint the very concept of
faith? Can religious faith and intellectual humility ever be reconciled? The
Philosophers humbly believe in talking to Joshua Hook from the University of North
Texas, co-author of Cultural Humility: Engaging Diverse Identities in Therapy.
Repugnant Markets: Should Everything Be for Sale?
2018-06-03
Repugnant Markets: Should Everything Be for Sale?
Scope and Contents
We might ban buying or selling horse meat in the US not for the protection of horses,
but because we find it morally repugnant. Yet this moral repugnance is clearly not
universal, and on some level may even be arbitrary, given France's attitude towad
horse meat. What role, if any, should moral repugnance play in determining the rules
of our marketplaces? Even if we want to eliminate the influence of moral repugnance,
can we? Debra and Ken hold their noses with Nobel Prize-winning economist Al Roth,
author of Who Gets What ― and Why: The New Economics of Matchmaking and Market
Design.
The Value of Care: Feminism and Ethics
2018-06-10
The Value of Care: Feminism and Ethics
Scope and Contents
We sometimes think of the domains of ethics and morality as divorced from feeling and
emotion. You keep your promises because it maximizes good. But what if care were
thought of as the bedrock of morality? While we know that more care work is performed
by women, would a care-based approach to ethics be feminist, or merely feminine? What
would it look like for us to build our institutions around the goal of promoting care?
Debra and Ken take care to welcome Joan Tronto from the University of Minnesota,
author of Who Cares?: How to Reshape a Democratic Politics.
Summer Reading List 2018
2018-07-01
Summer Reading List 2018
Scope and Contents
Summer is here – what philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues do you want
to read up on? Heidegger's Being and Time may not be the obvious choice to take on
vacation, but there are lots of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to
add philosophical depth to your summer reading. Host emeritus John Perry joins Debra
and Ken to think about which classics of political philosophy to dig into this summer,
and Josh and Ken talk to a couple of past guests with new books, and take suggestions
from the Community of Thinkers.
Radical Markets: Solutions for a Gilded Age?
2018-07-15
Radical Markets: Solutions for a Gilded Age?
Scope and Contents
Many people think that growing inequality, the rise of populism and nativism, and the
decay of democratic institutions all have the same cause—the overreach of markets. The
solution, they believe, is to limit the market through regulation. But what if rather
than shrinking the market, the answer lies in expanding the market? Is it possible
that we haven't let markets go far enough? Do our current regulations lead to too many
monopolies? And could turning more things into assets that are for sale to the highest
bidder actually be the solution to our new gilded age? Debra and Ken buy and sell with
Glen Weyl from Yale University, co-author of Radical Markets: Uprooting Capitalism and
Democracy for a Just Society.
Does Science Over-reach?
2018-07-22
Does Science Over-reach?
Scope and Contents
We've all heard the phrase, "You can't argue with science." Appealing to scientific
fact as a way to settle a question makes sense given the amazing advancements science
has brought us in understanding how the world works. But should we take the
accomplishments of science as evidence for scientism—the view that science is the best
and only way to acquire genuine knowledge? Does faith in science require that we
disregard all non-scientific viewpoints? Are there important questions that science
cannot answer? Josh and Ken collect their data with Massimo Pugliucci from the CUNY
Graduate Center, editor of Science Unlimited?: The Challenges of Scientism.
The Ethics of Algorithms
2018-08-12
The Ethics of Algorithms
Scope and Contents
Recent years have seen the rise of machine learning algorithms surrounding us in our
homes and back pockets. They're increasingly used in everything from recommending
movies to guiding sentencing in criminal courts, thanks to their being perceived as
unbiased and fair. But can algorithms really be objective when they are created by
biased human programmers? Are such biased algorithms inherently immoral? And is there
a way to resist immoral algorithms? Josh and Ken run code with Angèle Christin from
Stanford University, author of "Algorithms in Practice: Comparing Web Journalism and
Criminal Justice."
The Athlete as Philosopher
2018-08-26
The Athlete as Philosopher
Scope and Contents
For the ancient Greeks, sport was an integral part of education. Athletic programs
remain in schools today, but there is a growing gap between the modern sports
experience and enduring educational values such as self-discovery, responsibility,
respect, and citizenship. Is there a way to bridge this gap? Can sports be a means to
teach values such as these? Josh and Ken try out with Heather Reid from Morningside
College, author of The Philosophical Athlete.
The Psychology of Cruelty
2018-09-16
The Psychology of Cruelty
Scope and Contents
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.
The New Golden Age of Television
2018-09-30
The New Golden Age of Television
Scope and Contents
They called it a "vast wasteland" in the 1960s, but TV is very different today.
Freedom from the broadcast schedule means TV makers can create longer, more complex,
more philosophical stories, while binge-watching and on-demand viewing have changed
the way we see those stories. Josh and Ken talk to philosophers and others about
television's new golden age.
Can Reason Save Us?
2018-10-21
Can Reason Save Us?
Scope and Contents
To an optimist, things are constantly getting better: disease and extreme poverty are
down; life expectancy, literacy, and equality are up; and it's all thanks to the glory
of human reason. But a pessimist would point to the continuing presence of injustice,
oppression, and war, and the dangers of global warming and nuclear annihilation. So
who's right? Are we really living in an age of progress? And can reason really save
us? Josh and Ken try to reason with renowned cognitive scientist Steven Pinker, author
of Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.
Does Reputation Matter?
2018-11-11
Does Reputation Matter?
Scope and Contents
We think about about our own reputation all the time, and we constantly reference the
reputations of the people we meet and interact with. But why do we care so much about
reputation? Is it rational for us to rely on reputation so heavily in our day-to-day
lives? Are judgments about reputation just a handy social screening mechanism or
something much more nefarious? Josh and Ken manage their reputations with Gloria
Origgi from the Institut Jean Nicod, author of Reputation: What It Is and Why It
Matters.
The Creative Life
2018-11-25
The Creative Life
Scope and Contents
Parents and students alike often think that a college major defines possible career
options. Yet what distinguishes today's work world from bygone times is that it's
quite common for adults to have a variety of different careers in a single lifetime.
So what can students do now to ensure happiness and fulfillment in all possible future
careers? Are there some majors that cultivate greater creativity in our career
choices? And what unique life skills can an education in the humanities offer those
about to embark on adult life? Josh and Ken get creative with Scott Forstall, inventor
of the iPhone and a Tony award-winning Broadway producer, in a program recorded live
at Stuyvesant High School in New York City.
Foucault and Power
2018-12-02
Foucault and Power
Scope and Contents
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.
Foreign Aid--Or Injury?
2018-12-16
Foreign Aid--Or Injury?
Scope and Contents
Many of us might think that developed nations should lead the effort to end global
poverty. But decades of foreign aid—from governments and non-governmental
organizations—has failed to produce sustainable growth in the developing world. How
can we empower local actors to become self-sufficient rather than dependent on foreign
aid? Is there a way to help those in the developing world without inadvertently giving
more power to corrupt dictators? Do developed nations have an obligation to fight
global poverty the right way? Debra and Ken enlist the aid of Dartmouth economist John
Welborn.
The Examined Year: 2018
2018-12-30
The Examined Year: 2018
Scope and Contents
A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant events of the previous
year. So what happened over the past twelve months that challenged our assumptions and
made us think about things in new ways? Join the Philosophers as they celebrate the
examined year with a philosophical look back at the year that was 2018.
Envy: Vice or Virtue?
2019-01-27
Envy: Vice or Virtue?
Scope and Contents
Bertrand Russell said that envy was one of the most potent causes of unhappiness, and
it's well known as one of the seven deadly sins. But is envy always a bad thing? Is it
simply a petty emotion we should try to avoid, or could envy help us understand
ourselves more? Is envy rooted in unhealthy comparison with others, or does it come
from our own vision of excellence? Could envy even be used to improve ourselves? Josh
and Ken consider whether to envy their guest, Sara Protasi from the University of
Puget Sound.
What Do We Owe Future Generations?
2019-02-10
What Do We Owe Future Generations?
Scope and Contents
We talk about owing future generations a better world. We might also think that we
should do things for future generations even if our actions might not benefit
present-day people. But is it possible to have obligations to people who are not yet
born? Can people who do not exist be said to have rights that we should respect? And
if they do, what do we do if our rights and theirs conflict? Josh and Ken are obliged
to welcome Rahul Kumar from Queen's University, editor of Ethics and Future
Generations.
The 2019 Dionysus Awards
2019-02-17
The 2019 Dionysus Awards
Scope and Contents
We talk about owing future generations a betteWhat movies of the past year challenged
our assumptions and made us think about things in new ways? Josh and Ken talk to
philosophers, film critics, and listeners as they present their sixth (mostly) annual
Dionysus Awards for the most thoughtful films of the past year, including:
Immigration and Multiculturalism
2019-03-10
Immigration and Multiculturalism
Scope and Contents
Whether for economic reasons or to flee violence and persecution, immigration rates
continue to climb globally. At the same time, opposition to immigration and
intolerance of multiculturalism is also growing. Should cultural or ethnic identity
ever be a factor in immigration policy? Do immigrants have an obligation to assimilate
to the dominant culture? Or should we make cultural accommodations for immigrants who
don't share our values and traditions? Do the answers vary depending on how culturally
diverse or homogenous the host country already is? The Philosophers lift the gate for
Sarah Song from the UC Berkeley School of Law, author of Immigration and
Democracy.
Promotional material
2003
Scope and Contents note
Audio CDs of pilot #1, Can Machines Think, and pilot #2, Terrorism, 2002; promotional
statement, 2003; and copies of two articles on the program.
box 3, folder 1
Philosophy Talk
promotional material
2003
Additional program audio Accession ARCH_2015_121
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Paul Franks, Jewish philosophy 2015_121_b1_33
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Lera Boroditsky, Mental imagery 2015_121_b1_47
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Colin Allen, Animal minds 2015_121_b1_48
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David Luban, Legal ethics 2015_121_b1_51
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Jeremy Bailenson, Digital selves 2015_121_b1_57
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Rob Reich, The morality of giving and keeping 2015_121_b1_68
2008 Jul 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Richard Hanley, Philosophy and pop culture 2015_121_b1_69
2008 Aug 3
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
David Thomson, Philosophy and film 2015_121_b1_70
2008 Jul 6
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Kimberley Brownlee, Civil disobedience 2015_121_b1_71
2009 Jan 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Margaret Boden, Creativity 2015_121_b1_72
2009 Jan 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
The movie show 2015_121_b1_73
2009 Feb 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Hazel Markus, Different cultures, different selves 2015_121_b1_74
2009 Feb 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Michele Elam, Biracial identities 2015_121_b1_75
2009 Mar 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Manuel Vargas, Challenges to free will 2015_121_b1_76
2009 Mar 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
David Weinberger, Too much information 2015_121_b1_77
2009 Apr 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
William Irvine, Desire 2015_121_b1_78
2009 Apr 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Michael Philips, Beliefs gone wild 2015_121_b1_79
2009 May 3
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Daniel Speak, Worship 2015_121_b1_80
2009 May 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Al Gini, Lincoln 2015_121_b1_81
2009 May 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Howard Robinson, The mind and the world 2015_121_b1_82
2009 Jun 7
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Christopher Miya, Summer reading list 2015_121_b1_83
2009 Jun 14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Malcolm Parks, Social networking 2015_121_b1_84
2009 Jul 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Kara Dansky, The prison system 2015_121_b1_85
2009 Jul 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Neil Malhotra, Money and morality 2015_121_b1_86
2009 Aug 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Rae Langton, Pornography 2015_121_b1_87
2009 Aug 30
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Geoffrey Nunberg, What are words worth? 2015_121_b1_88
2009 Sep 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Judith Butler, War, sacrifice, and the media 2015_121_b1_89
2009 Oct 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
John Campbell, Schizophrenia and the mind 2015_121_b1_90
2009 Oct 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Laurence Baker, Health care: right or privilege? 2015_121_b1_91
2009 Nov 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Philosophy talk's 200th episode 2015_121_b1_92
2009 Nov 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Alison Gopnik, From the minds of babies 2015_121_b1_93
2009 Nov 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Andrew Fiala, How relevant is Jesus? 2015_121_b1_94
2009 Dec 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Daniel Dennett, The philosophical legacy of Darwin 2015_121_b1_95
2009 Dec 6
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Kathleen Dean Moore, Is it wrong to wreck the earth? 2015_121_b1_96
2010 Jan 3
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Lanier Anderson, Kierkegaard 2015_121_b1_97
2010 Jan 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Hubert Drefus, Nihilism and meaning 2015_121_b1_98
2010 Jan 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, Philosophy in fiction 2015_121_b1_99
2010 Feb 7
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Shaun Nichols, Mind reading 2015_121_b1_100
2010 Feb 21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
The movie show 2015_121_b1_101
2010 Feb 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Charles Scott, What is 'normal?' 2015_121_b1_102
2010 Mar 14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Corey Robin, Fear 2015_121_b1_103
2010 Mar 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Marilyn Yalom, What is a wife? 2015_121_b1_104
2010 Apr 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Nancy Sherman, The ethics of torture 2015_121_b1_105
2010 Apr 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Paul Ekman, Faces, feelings and lies 2015_121_b1_106
2010 Apr 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Rebecca Goldstein, Alexandr Nehamas, Marilyn Yalom, Summer reading
list
2015_121_b1_107
2010 May 23
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Robert Monks, The corporation as person 2015_121_b1_108
2010 Jun 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Helen Stacy, What are human rights? 2015_121_b1_109
2010 Jun 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Leslile Griffith, Democracy and the press 2015_121_b1_110
2010 Jul 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Troy Jollimore, Loyalty 2015_121_b1_111
2010 Jul 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
John Searle, Social reality 2015_121_b1_112
2010 Aug 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Jennifer Bardi, Humanism 2015_121_b1_113
2010 Aug 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 1
Frank Deford, Philosophy of hoops 2015_121_b1_114
2008 Mar 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Michael Cholbi, Suicide 2015_121_b2_1
2007 Aug 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Gary Aylesworth, Postmodernism 2015_121_b2_2
2007 Aug 19
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Carrie Jenkins, Flirting with philosophny 2015_121_b2_3
2007 Aug 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lanier Anderson, Existentialism 2015_121_b2_4
2007 Aug 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lucius Outlaw, W. E. B. DuBois 2015_121_b2_5
2007 Jul 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Tom Cathcart Dan Klein, Philosophy through humor 2015_121_b2_6
2007 Jul 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Peter Godfrey-Smith, Philosophy of science 2015_121_b2_7
2007 Jul 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Robert Weisberg, Capital Punishment 2015_121_b2_8
2007 Jul 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Alex Miller, Where does morality come from? 2015_121_b2_9
2007 Jul 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Anna Eshoo, Legislating values 2015_121_b2_10
2007 Jun 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Daniel Dennett, Intelligent design 2015_121_b2_11
2007 Jun 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Danielle Marshall, Summer reading list 2015_121_b2_12
2007 Jun 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Peter Gilgen, Kant 2015_121_b2_13
2007 Jun 3
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Laura Carstensen, Aging and the well-lived life 2015_121_b2_14
2007 May 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Marvin Minsky, Artificial intelligence 2015_121_b2_15
2007 May 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Ronald Atlas, Science, ethics and censorship 2015_121_b2_16
2007 May 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Christman, Autonomy 2015_121_b2_17
2007 May 6
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Dale Jacquette, Ethics in journalism 2015_121_b2_18
2007 Apr 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Martha Nussbaum, Friendship 2015_121_b2_19
2007 Apr 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Joseph Levine, Can science explain consciousness? 2015_121_b2_20
2007 Apr 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
David Hilbert, Berkeley 2015_121_b2_21
2007 Apr 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Terry Tamminen, Progress and the environment 2015_121_b2_22
2007 Apr 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Greco, Skepticism 2015_121_b2_23
2007 Mar 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Anne AshbAug h, Immortality and the afterlife 2015_121_b2_24
2007 Mar 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Animal minds` 2015_121_b2_25
2007 Mar 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jul iet Floyd, Wittgenstein 2015_121_b2_26
2007 Mar 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Joshua Landy, The language of fiction 2015_121_b2_27
2007 Feb 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Daniel Herwitz, Reconciliation 2015_121_b2_28
2007 Feb 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Larry Kramer, The judiciary in democracy 2015_121_b2_29
2007 Feb 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lera Boroditsky, Mental imagery 2015_121_b2_30
2007 Feb 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Harry Frankfurt, If truth is so valuable, why is there so much
BS?
2015_121_b2_31
2007 Jan 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
David Luban, Legal ethics 2015_121_b2_32
2007 Jan 21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Geoffrey Nunberg, We've been framed: How language shapes politics 2015_121_b2_33
2007 Jan 14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Genomics 2015_121_b2_34
2007 Jan 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Confucius 2015_121_b2_35
2006 Dec 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Moral dilemmas and moral ambiguity 2015_121_b2_36
2006 Dec 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
David Thomson, Philosophy and film 2015_121_b2_37
2006 Dec 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Patricia Churchland, Philosophy and neuroscience 2015_121_b2_38
2006 Dec 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John McDermott, American pragmatism 2015_121_b2_39
2006 Dec 3
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Martha Nussbaum, The indispensable emotions 2015_121_b2_40
2006 Nov 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Tamar Schapiro, What is a child? 2015_121_b2_41
2006 Nov 19
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Dreaming 2015_121_b2_42
2006 Nov 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Kathleen Sullivan, Separation of powers 2015_121_b2_43
2006 Nov 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Philip Clayton, Believing in God 2015_121_b2_44
2006 Oct 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lera Boroditsky, Language and thought 2015_121_b2_45
2006 Oct 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jenann Ismael, The strange world of quantum reality 2015_121_b2_46
2006 Oct 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Denis Philips, Karl Popper 2015_121_b2_47
2006 Oct 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Paul Franks, Jewish philosophy 2015_121_b2_48
2006 Oct 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Charles Griswold, Forgiveness 2015_121_b2_49
2006 Sep 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Irv Yalom, Schopenhauer 2015_121_b2_50
2006 Sep 19
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Peter Singer, Global poverty 2015_121_b2_51
2006 Sep 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Stephen Holmes, Liberty vs. security 2015_121_b2_52
2006 Sep 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Philosophy Talk's 100th episode 2015_121_b2_53
2006 Aug 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Dan Sperber, Pragmatics: language in action 2015_121_b2_54
2006 Aug 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Hans Gumbrecht, Athletic beauty 2015_121_b2_55
2006 Aug 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Elizabeth Kiss, Race, class, and inequality 2015_121_b2_56
2006 Aug 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Liz Haman, Brian Weatherson, and Sean Kelly, The future of
philosophy
2015_121_b2_57
2006 Aug 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Cooper, Stoicism 2015_121_b2_58
2006 Jul 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Leda Cosmides, The evolution of the human mind 2015_121_b2_59
2006 Jul 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Deborah Rhode, Leadership 2015_121_b2_60
2006 Jun 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Debra Satz, Prostitution 2015_121_b2_61
2006 Jun 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Robert Scharf, Zen 2015_121_b2_62
2006 Jun 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Allen Wood, Hegel 2015_121_b2_63
2006 Jun 6
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Alison Gopnik, The nature of imagination 2015_121_b2_64
2006 May 30
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Fischer, Is free will an illusion? 2015_121_b2_65
2006 May 23
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Ashley Wallingford, Summer reading 2015_121_b2_66
2006 May 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Sam Barondes, Neurocosmetology 2015_121_b2_67
2006 May 2
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Alexander Nehamas, What is Art? 2015_121_b2_68
2006 Apr 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Robert Audi, Religion and the secular state 2015_121_b2_69
2006 Apr 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jul es Coleman, Philosophy and the law 2015_121_b2_70
2006 Apr 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Chris Bobonich, Aristotle 2015_121_b2_71
2006 Apr 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Michael Cholbi, Suicide 2015_121_b2_72
2006 Mar21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Gideon Rosen, What is number 2015_121_b2_73
2006 Mar14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lanier Anderson, Existentialism 2015_121_b2_74
2006 Mar7
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Tony Veale, The science of humor 2015_121_b2_75
2006 Feb 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Helen Fisher, Marriage and monogamy 2015_121_b2_76
2006 Feb 14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lucius Outlaw, W. E. B. DuBois 2015_121_b2_77
2006 Feb 7
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Anna Eshoo, Legislating values 2015_121_b2_78
2006 Jan 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Peter Godfrey-Smith, Philosophy of science 2015_121_b2_79
2006 Jan 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Daniel Dennett, Intelligent design 2015_121_b2_80
2006 Jan 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Searle, Mystery of mind 2015_121_b2_82
2006 Jan 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Terry Tamminen, Progress and the environment 2015_121_b2_82
2006 Jan 3
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Alexander Nehamas, What is beauty? 2015_121_b2_83
2005 Dec 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Peter Gilgen, Kant 2015_121_b2_84
2005 Dec 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Geoffrey Stone, Freedom of speech in times of war 2015_121_b2_85
2005 Dec 6
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Martha Nussbaum, Friendship 2015_121_b2_86
2005 Nov 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Anne Fausto-Sterling, Gender 2015_121_b2_87
2005 Nov 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Josh Ober, Is this any way to run a democracy? 2015_121_b2_88
2005 Nov 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
David Hilbert, Berkeley 2015_121_b2_89
2005 Nov 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Steven Meyer, Art and the suspension of disbelief 2015_121_b2_90
2005 Oct 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Daniel Herwitz, Reconciliation 2015_121_b2_91
2005 Oct 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Christopher lehrich, The occult philosophy 2015_121_b2_92
2010 Oct 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Bargaining with the Devil 2015_121_b2_93
2010 Oct 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jack Bowen, Philosophy for the young: corrupting or empowering? 2015_121_b2_94
2010 Nov 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Neil van Leeuwen, Self-Dec eption 2015_121_b2_95
2010 Aug 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jenann Ismael, The strange world of quantum reality 2015_121_b2_96
2005 Oct 4
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Debra Satz, The moral costs of free markets 2015_121_b2_97
2011 Jan 2
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jan a Mohr Lone, Philosophy for children 2015_121_b2_98
2010 Dec 19
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Steven Pinker, The power of thought 2015_121_b2_99
2010 Dec 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jennifer Lackey, Disagreement 2015_121_b2_100
2010 Dec 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Joshua Landy, Reading, narrative and the self 2015_121_b2_101
2010 Nov 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Bill Uzgallis, John Locke 2015_121_b2_102
2011 Feb 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
The 2011 Dionysus awards 2015_121_b2_103
2011 Feb 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Timothy Pychyl, Procrastination 2015_121_b2_104
2011 Jan 30
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Joshua Kates, Derrida and Dec onstruction 2015_121_b2_105
2011 Jan 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Cynthia Gorney, Abortion 2015_121_b2_106
2011 Jan 9
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Frederic Stout, Cities, gentrification, and inequality 2015_121_b2_107
2011 May 8
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Tamara Metz, Should marriage be abolished? 2015_121_b2_108
2011 May 1
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
George Lakoff, The extended mind 2015_121_b2_109
2011 Apr 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Ethan Watters, What is an adult? 2015_121_b2_110
2011 Apr 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Paul Boghossian, Is it all relative? 2015_121_b2_111
2011 Mar20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Simon Baron-Cohen, The psychology of evil 2015_121_b2_112
2011 Jul 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Louise Antony, Atheism and the well-lived life 2015_121_b2_113
2011 Jul 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Lera Boroditsky, Whodunit: the language of responsibility 2015_121_b2_114
2011 Jun 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Gilbert Herdt, Gay pride and prejudice 2015_121_b2_115
2011 Jun 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John McMurthe, Irv Yalom, Helen Fisher, Geoff Nunberg, Summer reading
list
2015_121_b2_116
2011 May 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Rowland Smith, Philosophy and everyday life 2015_121_b2_117
2011 Jul 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Margaret Battin, Dignity and the end of life 2015_121_b2_118
2005 Sep 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jonathan Wolf, Marx 2015_121_b2_119
2005 Sep 6
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Susan Wolf, Saints and heroes 2015_121_b2_120
2005 Aug 30
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Jul ia Driver, Virtue 2015_121_b2_121
2005 Aug 23
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Anita Silvers, Disability 2015_121_b2_122
2005 Aug 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Larry Goulder, Global injustice and the environment 2015_121_b2_123
2005 Aug 9
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Ronald Rubin, Descartes 2015_121_b2_124
2005 Aug 2
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Martha Nussbaum, The indispensable emotions 2015_121_b2_125
2005 Jul 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Dave Albert, Time 2015_121_b2_126
2005 Jul 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Helen Longino, Truth and relativism 2015_121_b2_127
2005 Jul 5
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Robert Scharf, Zen 2015_121_b2_128
2005 Jun 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Peter Singer, Global poverty and international aid 2015_121_b2_129
2005 Jun 21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Norman Daniels, Intergenerational obligations 2015_121_b2_130
2005 Jun 7
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Robert Solomon, Happiness 2015_121_b2_131
2005 May 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Leda Cosmides, Evolution of mind 2015_121_b2_132
2005 May 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Paul Kjellberg, Confucius 2015_121_b2_133
2005 May 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Debra Satz, Prostitution 2015_121_b2_134
2005 May 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Charles Griswold, Forgiveness 2015_121_b2_135
2005 Mar 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Sam Barondes, Neurocosmetology 2015_121_b2_136
2005 Mar 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Alexander Nehamas, Beauty 2015_121_b2_137
2005 Mar 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Anne AshbAug h, The erotic v. the pornographic 2015_121_b2_138
2005 Feb 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Perry Ken Taylor, Pilot #2: Terrorism 2015_121_b2_139
undated
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
John Perry Ken Taylor, Pilot #1: Can machines think? 2015_121_b2_140
circa 2002
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
box 2
Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, The state of public philosophy 2015_121_b2_141
2011 Aug 7
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (cd)
Website
2017-2020
Website
Additional Papers ARCH-2021-004
Box 1, Folder 3
Belief in God - Research Papers
2006
Box 1, Folder 4
Terrorism - Research
2004
Box 1, Folder 5
Athletic Beauty - Research
Box 1, Folder 6
Skepticism Episode - Research
2005
Box 1, Folder 8
Language of Fiction - Research
2005
Box 1, Folder 9
B.S (Bullshit) - Research
Box 1, Folder 10
Language of Politics - Research
Box 2
"Prediciting the Future" with Nassim Taleb 2_01
2009 August 23
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"War, Sacrafice, and the Media" with Judith Butler 2_02
2009 October 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
Oregon State University 2_03
2011 April 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Summer Reading List" with John McMurthe, Irv Yalom, Helen Fisher, Geoff
Nunberg
2_04
2011 May 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Psychology of Evil" with Simon Baron-Cohen 2_05
2011 July 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The State of Public Philosophy" with Haris Gumbrecht 2_06
2011 August 07
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Deconstructing the College Admissions Rat Race" with Mitchell
Stevens
2_07
2011 September 04
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Wisdom" with Valerie Tiberius 2_08
2011 September 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Thinking Inside the Box" with Walter Podrazik, Richard Hanley, Joshua Landy,
and Joanne Ostrow
2_09
2011 October 23
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Miracles" with Peter Graham 2_10
2011 November 06
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Forgive and Forget" with Paul Hughes 2_11
2011 December 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Examined Year: 2011" with Mark Schroeder, Debra Satz, and Lisa
Randall
2_12
2012 January 08
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Is Democracy a Universal Value?" with Larry Diamond 2_13
2012 January 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Pantheism" with Philip Clayton 2_14
2012 February 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Epicurus and the Good Life". with David Konstan 2_15
2012 March 04
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Corporations and the Future of Democracy" with Russ Feingold 2_16
2012 March 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Poetry as a way of Knowing" with Jane Hirshfield 2_17
2012 April 01
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"What Are Leaders Made of?" with Deborah Rhode 2_18
2012 April 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"What Is Love?" with Troy Jollimore 2_19
2012 April 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Freedom, Blame, and Ressentment" with Pamela Hieronymi 2_20
2012 May 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Summer Reading List 2012" with Rebecca Goldstein, Hilton Oberzinger, tim
Phycyl, and Alison Lopnik
2_21
2012 May 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Bioethics: Myths and Realities" with David Magnus 2_22
2013 February 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Self" with Jenann Ismael 2_23
2013 February 24
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Memes: Viruses of the Mind?" with Susan Blackmore 2_24
2013 August 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Tenth Anniversary Special" with Laurie Paul, Lynn Underwood, Cecile Fabre,
Michele Elam, Alison Gopnik
2_25
2013 September 01
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Moral Lives of Animals" with Mark Rowlands 2_26
2013 September 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Ancient Cynicism" with Luis Navia 2_27
2013 September 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Limits of Self-Knowledge" with Timothy Wilson 2_28
2013 October 06
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"An Eye for an Eye: The Morality of Revenge" with Thane Rosenbaum 2_29
2013 October 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"When Is It Wrong to Save a Life: Lessons from the Trolley Problem" with
Thomas Cathcart
2_30
2013 October 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Dark Side of Science" with Paul Rabinow 2_31
2013 October 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Do Religions Deserve Special Status?" with Brian Leiter 2_32
2013 December 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Tenth Anniversary Special" 2_33
2013 December 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Trust and Mistrust" 2_34
2013 Decemeber 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Examined Year: 2013" with Linda Alcoff, Peter Ludlow, and Jon
Elster
2_35
2014 January 05
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Moral Luck" with Susan Wolf 2_36
2014 January 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Memory and the Self" with Stan Klein 2_37
2014 January 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Legacy of Freud" with Paul Robinson 2_38
2014 February 09
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Science and Gender" with Londa Schiebinger 2_39
2014 March 02
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Simone de Beauvoir" with Shannon Mussett 2_40
2014 March 09
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Acting Together" with Margaret Gilbert 2_41
2014 March 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Weapons of Mass Destruction" with Scott Sagan 2_42
2014 March 30
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Conspiracy Theories" with Brian Keeley 2_43
2014 April 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Risky Business: The Business of Risk" with Lara Buchak 2_44
2014 April 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Seeing Red: The Metaphysics of Color with Jonathan Cohen" 2_45
2014 May 04
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Reality of Time" with Julian Barbour 2_46
2014 May 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Am I Alone?" with Anita Avramides 2_47
2014 June 01
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Summer Reading List" with Shannon Stimson, Rebecca Goldstein and Jason
Stanley
2_48
2014 June 08
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Art and Obscenity" with Richard Meyer 2_49
2014 June 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Anatomy of a Terrorist" with Martha Crenshaw 2_50
2014 June 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Tainted by the Sins of Our Fathers?" with Larry May 2_51
2014 July 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The New Surveillance Society: Big Brother Grows Up" with Christopher
McKnight Nichols
2_52
2014 July 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Captivity" with Lori Gruen 2_53
2014 August 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Remixing Reality: Art and Literature for the 21st Century" with David
Shields
2_54
2014 August 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Is Intuition a Guide to Truth?" with Alvin Goldman 2_55
2014 August 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Babies and the Birth of Morality" with Paul Bloom 2_56
2014 September 14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Machiavelli" with Maurizio Viroli 2_57
2014 September 21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Second Guessing Ourselves" with Sherri Roush 2_58
2014 September 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Racial Profiling and Implicit Bias" with Linda Alcoff 2_59
2014 October 05
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Philosophy as Therapy" with David Konstan 2_60
2014 October 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Fairness Fixation" with Stephen Asma 2_61
2014 November 02
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Transformative Experiences" with Laurie Paul 2_62
2014 November 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Humanity Violated" with David Livingstone Smith 2_63
2014 December 21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Lure of Immortality" with John Fischer 2_64
2014 December 07
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Examined Year: 2014" with Katherine Franke, Christopher Lebron, and
Randolph Tanzi
2_65
2015 January 04
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"What's Next? Death and the Afterlife" with Richard Swinburne 2_66
2015 January 11
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Anarchy: Utopian Dream or Dystopian Nightmare?" with James
Martel
2_67
2015 January 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Food Justice" with Time Benton 2_68
2015 February 01
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Cyber-Activism" with Lucy Bernholz 2_69
2015 February 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Camus and the Absurd" with Robert Zaretsky 2_70
2015 March 01
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Diseases of the Mind: Philosophy of Psychiatry" with Jerome
Wakefield
2_71
2015 March 08
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Democracy in Crisis" with Francis Fukuyama 2_72
2015 March 22
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Morality in a Godless World" with John Figdor 2_73
2015 March 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Art of Non-Violence" with Judith Butler 2_74
2015 April 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"When Democracies Torture" with Darius Rejali 2_75
2015 April 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Reincarnation: Past Lives, Future Selves" with Robert Thurman 2_76
2015 May 03
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"How Words Work: From Noise to Meaning" with John Searle 2_77
2015 May 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Why Propoganda Matters" with Jason Stanley 2_78
2015 May 31
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Science and Politics: Friends or Foes?" 2_79
2015 June 14
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Heidegger" with Thomas Sheehan 2_80
2015 June 28
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Ethics of Whistleblowing" with Edward Snowden 2_81
2015 July 12
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Neuroscience and Free Will" with Daniel Dennett 2_82
2015 July 19
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Power and Peril fo Satire" with Jane Kirtley 2_83
2015 July 26
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Will Innovation Kill Us?" with Christain Seelos 2_84
2015 November 15
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Spinoza" with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein 2_85
2015 November 08
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Changing Face of Feminism" with Christina Hoff Sommers 2_86
2015 September 20
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Ethics of Drone Warfare" with Bradley Strawse 2_87
2015 September 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Leibniz" with Daniel Garber 2_88
2015 August 16
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Technology of Immortality" with Kevin O'Neill 2_89
2015 September 27
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Logic of Regret" with Jay Wallace 2_90
2015 October 18
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"In Praise of Love: Plato's Symposium Meets Bernstein's Serenade" with Brandi
Parisi
2_91
2015 October 25
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Living On Through Others" with Samuel Scheffler 2_92
2015 November 01
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Your Lying Eyes: Perception, Memory, and Justice" with Daniel
Reisberg
2_93
2015 November 29
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Self and Self-Presentation" with Susan Hekman 2_94
2015 December 06
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Taoism" with Bryan Van Norden 2_95
2015 December 13
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Summer Reading List" with Lars Iyer, Jane Hirshfield, and Berit
Brogaard
2_96
2015 June 21
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Examined Year: 2015" with Kate Manne, Beverly Crawford, and Allen
Thompson
2_97
2016 January 06
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Dignity Denied: Life and Death in Prison" with Edgar Barens 2_98
2016 January 10
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Jean-Paul Sartre" with Thomas Flynn 2_99
2016 January 17
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"The Art of Living" 2_100
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
"Philosophy Talks Highilight Pledge Drive Special" 2_101
Physical Description: 1 optical
disc(s) (dvd)
Box 2
Philosophy Talk Volume 1 Box Set Hosted By John Perry and Ken
Taylor
2_102
2016
Physical Description: 10 optical
disc(s) (dvd)