Philosophy For Our Times

Join happiness expert Paul Dolan, Professor of Behavioural Science, as he shares tips on finding and maintaining happiness. Topics include the misconception of success and happiness, determinants of happiness like income and attention, and ways to find happiness through music, laughter, and new experiences. The chapter also explores the personal benefits of acts of kindness and the impact of anticipation and memory on overall happiness.

Psychologist Eileen Hall, philosopher Julian Baggini, and researcher James Rucker discuss the nature of psychedelic experiences and their impact on mental health treatments. Topics include the link between reality and delusion, the role of psychedelics in revealing truth, the connection between perception and reality, the subjective nature of mental health, and the impact of poverty on mental health in Ecuador.

Is thought a distraction from reality?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom the birth of reason to Descartes' "I think, therefore I am"; Western culture has placed thought at the centre of what it is to be human. We spend much of our time planning the future, reflecting on the past, puzzling about what to do, and talking about it with others. But might this be a mistake? Should culture, as Nietzsche proposes, 'free itself from the seduction of words and thought'? Should we focus on experience, and live a bit more? Or is this romantic nonsense?Bestselling author Miranda Keeling, psychologist Steve Taylor and prison philosopher Andy West decide: to think, or not to think? Janne Teller hosts. There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=the-seduction-of-thoughtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is language a flawed prism standing in the way of our understanding of the world?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFor much of the 20th century language was seen as central to our understanding of the world. 'The limits of my language mean the limits of my world', argued Wittgenstein. 'There is nothing outside of the text' claimed Derrida. But now it seems language is being jettisoned by philosophers as either containing puzzles that are insoluble, or irrelevant to the real issues facing us. The American philosopher, Hilary Putman, went as far as to say "the project to describe the relationship between language and the world is a shambles". Should we conclude that the puzzle of language and its relation to the world is not solvable? Or is it essential we crack the problem and not give up? Or should we focus, not on the medium but, on the message and return to an era before the so-called 'linguistic turn' when language was largely seen as a transparent vehicle of our beliefs?There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=a-world-by-any-other-nameSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is behind the polarising debate on gender? How can we navigate the new politics of gender identity... if at all?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesGender identity is the hot topic, but many argue that we must remain grounded in biological sex. Join philosopher Kathleen Stock as she seeks collaboration between trans rights activists and feminists to move towards less polarised future.Kathleen Mary Linn Stock OBE is a British philosopher and writer. She was a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex until 2021. She has published academic work on aesthetics, fiction, imagination, sexual objectification, and sexual orientation.Explore more thought-provoking debates, talks, articles, and podcasts at IAI.tv: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=material-girlsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a world that places a premium on independence, are we undervaluing the power of community?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn this engrossing debate, we examine the societal shift towards solo living and ask critical questions about its impacts. Has our pursuit of independence led to a higher incidence of depression? Have we sidelined the significance of community, and in turn, our inherent need for interconnectedness?We navigate the merits and potential pitfalls of intergenerational living and the rise of co-living spaces as modern answers to societal disconnection. However, the risk of oppressive and stifling hierarchies in these close-knit communities is not overlooked.Join us as we unravel the complexities of independence versus community and reconsider the societal norms that we've come to accept.Explore more thought-provoking debates, talks, articles, and podcasts at IAI.tv: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=being-ourselves-and-being-with-othersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a fascinating conversation, renowned theoretical physicist Marika Taylor and acclaimed philosopher Julian Baggini explore the history and evolving relationship between these two disciplines. Listen in as they delve into the intricacies of how science and philosophy have been intertwined, only to diverge since the Enlightenment. Can they be reconciled?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesJoining the debate are Professor Marika Taylor, the Head of School within Mathematical Sciences at University of Southampton with a focus on string theory, quantum field theory, and gravitational physics, and Julian Baggini, a celebrated philosopher, journalist, and the co-founder of The Philosopher's Magazine. The conversation is expertly hosted by Güneş Taylor.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=head-to-head-philosophy-vs-scienceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are we bound by traditional rules for life or is it time for a new playbook? Tune in to find out!Seeking the link mentioned in this episode? It's right here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn this thought-provoking discussion, our distinguished panelists delve into the foundations of moral codes and rules for living. Sophie-Grace Chappell, Professor of Philosophy at the Open University, Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, and Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, wrestle with the question: Can life be reduced to a rulebook? They debate the influence of religious commandments, the rise of self-help books like Jordan Peterson's 'The 12 Rules for Life', and whether such codes are inherently flawed. Our panelists also ponder the role of these frameworks in upholding social order and institutions. This insightful conversation is moderated by journalist and broadcaster Myriam François.The PanelSophie-Grace Chappell, Massimo Pigliucci, and Simon Baron-Cohen, all respected philosophers and psychologists, bring their deep insights to this critical discussion, posing thought-provoking questions about the nature of life's rules and moral codes. Myriam François, a seasoned journalist and broadcaster, expertly guides the conversation.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=the-new-10-commandmentsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could it be that the world's true essence is beyond our comprehension? And what if this isn't a drawback, but an advantage? Explore this paradox in this interview with Hilary Lawson. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe tend to think the world is divided into bits, and we spend time trying to define those bits. But what if this metaphysical approach is false? In this interview, we sit down with the post-postmodern philosopher Hilary Lawson who walks us through his theory of Closure, a non-realist view which describes the world as an open, unreachable 'other', and provides an account of how we enclose the world with our language, thoughts and categories.Hilary Lawson is a philosopher and a renowned critic of philosophical realism. He is best known for his work on reflexivity and his theory of Closure, which puts forward a non-realist metaphysics arguing that we close the openness of the world with our thought and language.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=the-making-of-reality-hilary-lawsonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can you understand a novel - or a life - before you know how it ends?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom Beethoven's 5th to Batman, Harry Potter to Hamlet, we want and expect satisfying endings that tie up loose ends and provide resolution. But real life doesn't often come tied up so neatly. Relationships and careers often evolve in tangled confusion with transitions that can leave messy legacies. And, as TS Eliot said, often things end "not with a bang but a whimper."                     Is it that our stories and narratives are in error, or the way we run our lives? Academy award nominee David Hare, critically acclaimed writer Janne Teller and director-producer Sophie Fiennes talk endings. Hosted by Barry Smith, Director of the Institute of Philosophy.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=after-happily-ever-afterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.