Five Questions

I ask the philosopher Havi Carel five questions about herself. Havi Carel is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol and the author of “Illness: The Cry of the Flesh” (2008) and “Phenomenology of Illness” (2016).

I ask the philosopher Mark Wilson five questions about himself. Mark Wilson is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of “Wandering Significance: An Essay on Conceptual Behavior” (2006) and “Physics Avoidance and other Essays in Conceptual Strategy” (2017).

I ask the philosopher Seana Shiffrin five questions about herself. Seana Shiffrin is Professor of Philosophy and Pete Kameron Professor of Law and Social Justice at UCLA. She is the author of “Speech Matters: On Lying, Morality, and the Law” (2014).

I introduce the second season of Five Questions, a podcast in which I ask philosophers five questions about themselves. New episodes post on Tuesday mornings.

I ask the philosopher Rae Langton five questions about herself. Rae Langton is Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of “Kantian Humility” (1998) and “Sexual Solipsism” (2009).

I ask the philosopher Sophie Grace Chappell five questions about herself. Sophie Grace Chappell is Professor of Philosophy at the Open University. She is the author of several books, including “Knowing What To Do” (2014) and the forthcoming “Epiphanies.”

In this conversation, Jonathan Lear, the John U. Nef Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and a renowned author, shares his philosophical journey. He discusses how philosophy shapes personal temperament and highlights Aristotle’s naturalism as a lens for understanding life's complexities. Lear reflects on his intertwined experiences in philosophy and psychoanalysis, including pivotal moments with the Crow Indians. He also touches on cultural representation through the 'Upsalika Women and Warriors' exhibition, showcasing the celebration of indigenous history and heritage.

I ask the philosopher Alice Crary five questions about herself. Alice Crary is University Distinguished Professor at the New School for Social Research and a Visiting Fellow at Regent’s College, Oxford. She is the author of "Beyond Moral Judgment" (2007) and "Inside Ethics: On the Demands of Moral Thought" (2016).

Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor of Philosophy and Law at NYU and author of "The Lies That Bind," shares insights on navigating identity and ethics. He reflects on his experiences as an openly gay man in 1970s Cambridge, highlighting the cultural acceptance of the time. Appiah discusses the influence of philosopher Frank Ramsey on modern thought and expresses concerns about intellectual stagnation and societal divisions. His journey emphasizes the transformative power of philosophy in understanding ourselves and bridging divides.

I ask the philosopher Gabriel Richardson Lear five questions about herself. Gabriel Richardson Lear is Professor of Philosophy and in the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago.  She is the author of "Happy Lives and the Highest Good: An Essay on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics" (2004) as well as several articles on the importance of beauty, poetry, and love in Plato’s ethics.