Philosopher's Zone

This podcast discusses the unfair and punitive nature of the Robodebt Scheme, negative public attitudes towards those living in poverty, the burdensome obligations imposed on welfare recipients, the morality of low payments for the unemployed, the impact of poverty on self-control, the financial barriers faced by low-income individuals, and the perpetuation of negative stereotypes against welfare recipients.

Daniel Dennett, a leading philosopher and cognitive scientist, discusses the influence of Gilbert Ryle, the possibility of conscious machines, the compatibility of free will with determinism, and the complexities of free will and responsibility in old age.

French philosopher René Girard discusses the prevalence of victim politics, his theory of collective violence and scapegoating, the impact of culture on politics, the role of narrative and myth in victimhood, the influence of social media, and the portrayal of victimhood on Instagram.

AI-powered beauty apps and the troubling ethical concerns they raise, including the use of scraped datasets and the low-wage crowd workers responsible for labeling. The implications of labeling individuals without consent or awareness, biases in AI systems impacting beauty standards and perpetuating inequality. The misleading nature of 'artificial intelligence' and the need for skepticism and consideration of potential discrimination.

Exploring the pathologization of ugliness and its connection to the cosmetic surgery industry. Discussing the neglect of beauty and ugliness in the field of philosophy of medicine. Investigating the historical connection between health and beauty and the conflation of health and beauty norms. Analyzing aesthetic deviation and the establishment of ideal appearance.

Explore the contributions and challenges faced by women philosophers in 19th century Germany, including education, opposition from male philosophers, and alternative means of communication. Discover the connection between romanticism and socialism through the works of Brantana von Arnem, and the feminism and Nietzschean alliance. Examine the education and feminist critique of a prominent female philosopher, and the conflicts in mother-child relationships and the role of mothers in shaping their children's lives.

Exploring police abolition, this podcast discusses the historical roots of militarized policing, the connections between police force and colonialism/slavery, the concept of police and prison abolition, the relevance of police abolition in a neoliberal society, and the motivations behind creating alternative structures for community protection.

This podcast explores the concept of neofeudalism and discusses the differences between feudalism and capitalism. It delves into the connection between the absence of competition and neofeudalism, and explores arguments made in favor of monopolies. The podcast also examines the role of big tech companies in the neofeudal order and the state's involvement. It concludes with a discussion on rebuilding institutions and solidarity to mitigate the challenges of neofeudalism.

Mary Astell, an early modern English philosopher, discusses friendship and challenges Aristotle's views on women's capacity for friendship. The podcast explores women's involvement in salons and intellectual circles, the emergence of women's voices in philosophy, and the value of actively choosing and cultivating friendships.

Gaslighting is explored in this podcast, discussing its origins, what it is not, its connection to epistemic injustice, and the possibility of gaslighting extending to structural levels. Examples are provided to illustrate the manipulation involved and the impact on credibility, beliefs, and behavior.