The Good Fight

T. M. Scanlon on What We Owe to Each Other

Apr 2, 2022

T. M. Scanlon, a renowned moral philosopher and former Harvard professor, dives deep into the essence of our moral obligations. He discusses how to navigate moral dilemmas using contractualism and the importance of justifying our ethical decisions. Scanlon also explores the often-overlooked question of free will, arguing it's less critical than commonly believed. The conversation further addresses the balance of self-interest and societal responsibilities, emphasizing the significance of tolerance and understanding in complex, modern discussions on equality.

01:01:25

Episode guests

T. M. Scanlon

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Exploring Moral Obligations

7min

Exploring Moral Obligations and Societal Expectations

6min

Navigating Moral Philosophy and Sociopathy

5min

Examining Reasonable Objections in Moral Philosophy

2min

Understanding Reasonableness in Ethics and Society

10min

Navigating Moral Dilemmas and Societal Principles

5min

Navigating Moral Choices and Community Responsibility

21min

Exploring the Significance of Equality in Society

2min

T. M. Scanlon, one of the world's preeminent moral philosophers, was Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity at Harvard University until his retirement. In his seminal work, What We Owe to Each Other, Scanlon gives a liberal account of how to reason through what it takes to act justly in matters of morality as well as politics.

In this week’s conversation, T. M. Scanlon and Yascha Mounk discuss the true meaning of tolerance, how to decide whether an action is morally right or wrong, and why the question of free will isn’t as important as you might think.

This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

Please do listen and spread the word about The Good Fight.

If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone.

Email: podcast@persuasion.community

Website: http://www.persuasion.community

Podcast production by John Taylor Williams, and Brendan Ruberry

Connect with us!

Spotify | Apple | Google

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk & @joinpersuasion

Youtube: Yascha Mounk

LinkedIn: Persuasion Community

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.