Philosophy For Our Times

Renowned philosopher Slavoj Žižek, political philosopher Maria Balaska, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and anthropologist Richard Wrangham discuss the nature of good and evil. They explore the complexity of human nature and argue against oversimplification. The panel examines the definition of good and evil, their relativity, and their relationship with power. They also discuss the concept of evil and its disruption of the moral fabric. Overall, the podcast delves into the multifaceted nature of humans and challenges traditional categorizations of good and evil.

Acquisition of knowledge and its limits are debated by Rupert Sheldrake, Suchitra Sebastian, and Tommy Curry. They challenge the Western view of knowledge, discuss alternative ways of knowing, and emphasize the importance of questioning and embracing discomfort in science.

Oxford scholar and polymath Iain McGilchrist discusses the nature of truth and the cosmos, the danger of delusional thinking, and the approximate nature of belief. McGilchrist and post-postmodern philosopher Hilary Lawson also explore the intersection of philosophy and neuroscience, their perspectives on reality, consciousness, and the divine, and the dominance of the left hemisphere in understanding the world.

Nolen Gertz, Betty Sue Flowers, and Joscha Bach explore the relationship between language and reality, discussing metaphors, AI, and the limitations of neuroscience. They also highlight the role of language in shaping culture and reflect on the potential dangers associated with AI.

Renowned scientists, Michael Shermer and Rupert Sheldrake, engage in a head-to-head debate on accessing scientific knowledge. They discuss the limits of human understanding, rationality, materialism, prejudice, integrating alternative theories of physics, and the burden of proof in scientific debates.

Rebecca Roache, Simon Baron-Cohen, and Hilary Lawson discuss the ethics of lying and the value of honesty. They explore the relationship between honesty and other virtues, the role of lies in politics, and the impact of consistent lying on communication. They also delve into the concept of judgment and the importance of understanding different perspectives before labeling someone as a liar.

Renowned guests Joanna Kavenna, Rory Sutherland, and Rebecca Roache debate the importance of reason in an increasingly chaotic modern age. They question its value in decision-making, explore the complexity of human behavior, discuss the role of serendipity in discovery, and highlight the unintended consequences of pushing rationality to extremes. The podcast explores the balance and limits of reason, reflecting on the parallels between science and the online world, and the value of embracing irrationality.

Join fearless professor Katarina Schwarz as she explores how we can free the oppressed of our world. An eye-opening discussion on the different dimensions of slavery, including its historical and contemporary forms. The chapter discusses different forms of modern slavery and provides concrete examples of individuals being forced into exploitation. Exploring the global production of cobalt and the dark reality behind its mining, including hazardous conditions, child labor, and extreme poverty. The chapter discusses the acceptance of exploitative work and the conditions that arise from it, highlighting the scale of profits made by multinational corporations.

Evolutionary biologist Sunetra Gupta, neuroscientist Anders Sandberg, and psychologist Subrena Smith discuss the compatibility of our neurobiology with the modern world. They explore topics like the impact of storytelling and virtue signaling, the inadequacy of neurobiology in dealing with 21st-century challenges, the relevance of evolution in humans, and the tension between biology and human values. The panel debates whether our ancient traits are now risking our species and if we can change our behavior before it's too late.

Renowned physiologist Denis Noble argues that free will is not an illusion, challenging the materialist view. He explores the connection between free will, physiology, and philosophy, discussing the role of empirical investigation in understanding decision-making processes. Noble also examines the complexity of life, highlighting the unique properties of water and the role of chemistry in supporting organisms. He explores stochasticity and errors in DNA replication, questioning the assumptions of the selfish gene theory. Finally, he discusses the interplay between choices, genetics, and physiology, using examples to explore the relationship between free will and physiological processes.