Five Questions

Barry Lam is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Vassar College and the creative mind behind the podcast Hi-Phi Nation. He shares his journey into philosophy, emphasizing the critical role of mentorship and the complexities of personal identity. The discussion meanders through career aspirations tied to 'possible worlds' and the common academic challenge of unread philosophical classics. Lam also opens up about the fears that come with parenthood and personal growth, highlighting the transformative power of self-awareness.

I ask the philosopher Nancy Bauer five questions about herself. Nancy Bauer is Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. She is the author of "Simone de Beauvoir, Philosophy, and Feminism" (2001) and "How to Do Things with Pornography" (2015).

I ask the philosopher Tommie Shelby five questions about himself. Tommie Shelby is the Caldwell Titcomb Professor of African and African American Studies and Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University. He’s the author of “Dark Ghettos: Injustice, Dissent, and Reform” (2016) and “We Who Are Dark: The Philosophical Foundations of Black Solidarity” (2005).

I ask the philosopher Gideon Rosen five questions about himself. Gideon Rosen is Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University. He works in the philosophy of mathematics, metaphysics, and moral philosophy, and is the author, with John Burgess, of "A Subject with No Object" (2000).

I ask the philosopher Scott Shapiro five questions about himself. Scott Shapiro is the Charles F. Southmayd Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at Yale Law School. His areas of interest include jurisprudence, international law, constitutional law, criminal law and cybersecurity; and he is the author of "Legality" (2011) and, with Oona Hathaway, of "The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World" (2017).

Zena Hitz, a Tutor at St. John's College and author of "Lost in Thought," shares her insights on the joy of intellectual exploration. She discusses how temperament shapes philosophical inquiry, mixing seriousness with playful argumentation. Zena recounts her transformative journey after leaving academia, finding freedom outside competitive pressures. The conversation delves into existential fears and authenticity, linking personal values to broader philosophical themes. Listeners are invited to explore these ideas further through literature and her new book.

I ask the philosopher Béatrice Longuenesse five questions about herself. Béatrice Longuenesse is Silver Professor of Philosophy at New York University. Among her recent publications are "I, Me, Mine: Back to Kant and Back Again" (2017) and "The First Person in Cognition and Morality" (2019), her 2017 Spinoza Lectures at the University of Amsterdam.

I ask the philosopher Richard Moran five questions about himself. Richard Moran is Brian D. Young Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University.  He is the author of Authority and Estrangement: "An Essay on Self-Knowledge" (2001), "The Exchange of Words: Speech, Testimony, and Intersubjectivity" (2018), and "The Philosophical Imagination" (2017).

I ask the philosopher Susan Wolf five questions about herself. Susan Wolf is Edna J. Koury Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.  Her works include "Freedom Within Reason" (1993), "Meaning in Life and Why It Matters" (2010), and "The Variety of Values: Essays on Morality, Meaning and Love" (2014).

I ask the philosopher David Velleman five questions about himself. David Velleman is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at New York University and Miller Research Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. His new book is "On Being Me: A Personal Invitation to Philosophy."