Philosophy Bites

John Campbell discusses the insights that schizophrenia provides for psychologists and philosophers, including thought insertion, immediate knowledge of thoughts, mechanisms of thoughts and speech, philosophical problems in schizophrenia, and the relationship between language and schizophrenia.

In this podcast, philosopher Kendall Walton discusses the unique characteristics of photography, such as its transparency and the impact of the photographic process on the final image. He also explores the invasion of privacy and evidential value in photography, as well as the challenges and advancements brought by digital technology.

Alan Ryan, a political philosopher, discusses the differences between ancient and modern concepts of freedom. Topics include slavery, autocracy, political participation, individual liberty, and the importance of political engagement. The podcast also explores different interpretations of freedom, including the absence of constraints and the mastery of one's own life. It concludes with an exploration of ancient liberty and the need for citizen involvement in decision-making processes.

Philosophy professors discuss their favorite philosophers such as David Hume, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Locke, Sartre, and Kant. They highlight their insights, contributions, and personal admiration for their work.

Avicenna's Flying Man thought experiment challenges our understanding of self-awareness and the immateriality of the soul; its contemporary relevance and implications for materialist philosophers; exploring the value of thought experiments and their impact on self-awareness and personal identity.

Philosopher of mind Tim Bayne discusses the different types of unity relations in consciousness, explores the unity of phenomenal consciousness, examines evidence from split brain syndrome, explores the significance of consciousness unity, and discusses the importance of understanding the structure of consciousness.

Psychologist and philosopher Liane Young discusses her experiments on moral intentions, exploring outcome-based vs intention-based moral judgments and the impact on moral psychology. The podcast also touches on the perception of moral transgressions based on intention and adaptive functions, and the importance of understanding moral psychology and different stances people take on the world.

Gary Francione, advocate for animal abolitionism, challenges the animal welfare approach, arguing for the end of all animal exploitation. He discusses the flaws in valuing certain animals over others and argues that all exploited animals are sentient beings who value their lives. The podcast also explores different viewpoints on minimizing animal suffering, ethical considerations of feeding pets a vegan diet, and the practicality of animal welfare reforms.

Richard Sorabji, a philosopher, discusses Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence, exploring his commitment to subjecting arguments to criticism and his acceptance and disagreements with Tolstoy's theory of compassion. The podcast also examines the ethics of killing and moral dilemmas, Mahatma Gandhi's flexible approach to individual duty, and the objection to non-violence by discussing potential consequences and the connection between Gandhi and the Stoics.

Philosopher Tim Crane discusses the concept of non-existence and its implications in thought and language, including the truth behind fictional creations, mistaken beliefs about non-existent objects, the existence of God, the nature of the mind, and the relationship between thought and its objects.