Political Philosophy Podcast

Freedom. Radicalism. The Renaissance. Machiavellianism. Republicanism. Ideology. Interpretation. Class Conflict.

Why are so many of us unhappy? Peter Singer, ‘The world’s most influential philosopher’ joins the podcast to discuss the link between doing good and being happy, money and happiness, working for a charity, right-wing self-help guru’s, and his advice for living a happy life. For more on effective giving: https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org

In the second part of my conversation with professor Jacob T. Levy we look at the need people have for guarantees in their political and moral systems; guarantees that their will of the world will both be actualized and be morally correct. We ask what the world looks like in the absence of such certainty.

Can we know the nature of justice before confronting the conditions of injustice? I’m joined by Jacob T Levy to discuss his upcoming work Justice in Babylon, we cover Ideal theory, Rawls, the nature of politics and the nature of the human condition.

What is an ideology? What do intellectuals studying it in opinion polls, contemporary debates, and historical texts understand it to mean? I’m joined by the authors of a recent survey of the study of ideology in different disciplines, Matto Mildenberger and Jonathan Leader Maynard, to help make sense of it all.

IDEOLOGY & BREXIT A conversation with Helen Thompson by Toby Buckle

I’m joined by Brenden Weber, host of the Philosophy Guy podcast. We chat about the current state of public philosophy from the podcasting community to the intellectual dark web. We then go into depth on his analysis of the moral philosophy of Harry Potter: Is death part of life - and accepting it a part of a moral life – or is it a problem to be solved? You can check out his podcast at: https://thephilosophyguy.fireside.fm/hosts/brendenweber

I take questions from Facebook and twitter on Ancient Stoic Philosophers, J S Mill, randomization in democracy, ethical consumerism, futuristic concerns about body modification and if fascism is left wing or right wing.

In the finale I continue the story of liberalism vs libertarianism into the middle of the twentieth century. We explore the Keynes vs Hayek debate, the formulation of the modern welfare state and the 1945 general election. The finale also covers the different battlegrounds of ideological competition and ends by arguing for a particular understanding of what political change is and how it is possible.

What does Brexit mean for peace in Ireland, Parliamentary democracy, and the British constitution? How should we think about the motivations and actions of all involved? Is there any way forward from here? Cathy Barry joins the podcast to help me make sense of it all. Cathy is editor of the Irish philosophy blog www.irishphilosophy.com You can follow her on twitter @cathyby and @irishphilosophy You can support this podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast