Philosophy Bites

Robert B. Talisse on Pragmatism

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 19:05:00 GMT

In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Robert B. Talisse in discussion with Nigel Warburton explains what the philosphical movement of Pragmatism was, and some of the differences between the ideas of its founders Pierce, Dewey and James.

Thomas Pogge on Global Justice and Health

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:04:00 GMT

In this interview for the Philosophy Bites podcast Thomas Pogge, Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, explores the difficult issue of how we can achieve greater justice in the distribution of pharmaceutical products to countries which can't afford to pay the high prices sometimes demanded by manufacturers.

Tzvetan Todorov on the Englightenment Today

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:28:00 GMT

Tzvetan Todorov defends Englightenment values as important for us today in this episode of the philosophy podcast Philosophy Bites.

Don Cupitt on Jesus as Philosopher

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:10:00 GMT

Don Cupitt, controversial theologian and philosopher, argues that Jesus is best seen as a moralist and a radical secular humanist in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. The podcast is introduced by David Edmonds. Nigel Warburton is the interviewer.

A.C. Grayling on Bertrand Russell on Descriptions

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:12:00 GMT

How our words relate to objects is a thorny philosophical conundrum. In this episode of the philosophy podcast Philosophy Bites A.C. Grayling explains Bertrand Russell's Theory of Descriptions, an attempt to elucidate that relationship.

Catalin Avramescu on the Idea of Cannibalism

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 12:36:00 GMT

Catalin Avramescu discusses the fascinating topic of the part played by the idea of cannibalism in the history of philosophy in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Jeff McMahan on Killing in War

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:18:00 GMT

Jeff McMahan of Rutgers University discusses the morality of killing in war with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Richard Bradley on Understanding Decisions

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 12:31:00 GMT

What is involved in understanding a decision? Richard Bradley of the LSE addresses this question in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. As a decision theorist, he views decisions as gambles involving weightings of beliefs and desires.

Tony Coady on Dirty Hands in Politics

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:24:00 GMT

This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast focuses on the question of whether politicians need ever act immorally. Tony Coady (aka C.A.J. Coady), author of Messy Morality is in conversation with Nigel Warburton.

John Campbell on Berkeley's Puzzle

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:17:00 GMT

John Campbell explores Bishop Berkeley's puzzle about what our experience is of in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Brian Leiter on Nietzsche Myths

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Friedrich Nietzsche has been seen as the philosopher of the Overman, an anti-semite, and a precursor of postmodernist views about truth. But was he any of these? Brian Leiter explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

John Armstrong on What You Can Do With Philosophy

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:19:00 GMT

What can you do with Philosophy? Not very much, according to some people. John Armstrong disagrees. Find out why in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast

Walter Sinnott-Armstrong on Morality Without God

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:55:00 GMT

Walter Sinnott-Armstrong argues that God isn't necessary for morality in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Sabine Doring on Emotion

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:00:00 GMT

What is an emotion? How do emotions differ from moods? What part should the emotions play in our lives and in our understanding of what it is to be human? Sabine DÃring addresses these questions in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Ben Rogers on Pascal's PensÃ©es

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:37:00 GMT

Blaise Pascal's PensÃes is the subject of this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Few philosophers know the PensÃes well, apart from the passage in which Pascal set forth his famous 'wager' - the idea that agnostics should gamble on God existing. Here Ben Rogers explains who Pascal was, and why his book is worth reading.

Marilyn McCord Adams on Evil

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:53:00 GMT

The Problem of Evil is usually presented as a problem for believers. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Marilyn McCord Adams suggests that it is a problem for optimistic non-believers.

Luciano Floridi on the Fourth Revolution

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:51:00 GMT

New technology is changing our relationship to reality and in the process what we are, argues Luciano Floridi, in this episode of the philosophy podcast Philosophy Bites. This is the fourth revolution.

Paul Snowdon on Persons and Animals

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:13:00 GMT

What is a person and what makes me the same person over time despite change? John Locke emphasized that continuity of memory makes us the same person over time. In contrast Paul Snowdon argues that we should see persons as animals.

Michael Sandel on What Shouldn't Be Sold

Thu, 28 May 2009 22:58:00 GMT

Michael Sandel. 2009 Reith Lecturer, discusses the moral limits of markets. You can follow Nigel Warburton discussing Sandel's first Reith lecture on Twitter on www.twitter.com/philosophybites from 10.15 p.m UK time on the 13th June as this lecture is broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Add '#goodradio' or '#Reith2009' to any comments you make on Twitter.

Allen Buchanan on Enhancement

Sat, 16 May 2009 07:58:00 GMT

Philosophy Bites looks at ethical questions raised by enhancement. Technological developments have opened up many new opportunities for intervening in biological processes to improve ourselves. Allen Buchanan of Duke University discusses some of these and their implications in conversation with Nigel Warburton.

Walter Sinnott-Armstrong on Moral Psychology

Sat, 2 May 2009 13:29:00 GMT

Moral psychology is the empirical study of how people make moral judgements. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Walter Sinnott-Armstrong discusses the relevance of psychological research to moral philosophy.

Thomas Hurka on Pleasure

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:55:00 GMT

Pleasure is something we all want. But is it, and should it be the only thing that we want? Is pleasure all the same kind of thing? Philosopher Thomas Hurka explores the concept of pleasure in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites.

Terence Irwin on Aristotle's Ethics

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 20:11:00 GMT

This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast focuses on Aristotle's Ethics. In conversation with Nigel Warburton, Terence Irwin of Oxford University explains the key features of this influential work.

Raymond Tallis on Assisted Dying

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:08:00 GMT

Assisted dying, providing a patient with the means to kill themselves, is a highly controversial issue. For this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Raymond Tallis, who is both an eminent gerontologist and philosopher, discusses this topic and some of the moral issues surrounding it with interviewer Nigel Warburton.

Julian Savulescu on the 'Yuk' Factor

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 08:56:00 GMT

Should we base our morality on our emotional reactions of disgust? We all have a sense of 'yuk' at some activities or situations. Julian Savulescu of Oxford University discusses the relevance of revulsion to our moral judgements in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Sebastian Gardner on Sartre on Bad Faith

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:34:00 GMT

Jean-Paul Sartre's notion of Bad Faith lies at the core of his existentialist classic Being and Nothingness. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Sebastian Gardner explains what Sartre meant by Bad Faith.

Keith Ward on Idealism in Eastern and Western Philosophy

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Questions about the nature of reality are at the heart of all philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions. Keith Ward gives an overview of the idealist tradition in some Indian philosophy and draws parallels between this tradition and some Western thinkers.

David Papineau on Scientific Realism

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Scientists talk about sub-atomic particles which are invisible to the eye. Do such particles really exist? Or are they simply convenient fictions that, for the moment at least, explain the observable phenomena? David Papineau discusses and defends scientific realism in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Kate Soper on Alternative Hedonism

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:29:00 GMT

Kate Soper believes that we need to rethink how we live in the light of impending environmental catastrophe. She maintains that alternative ways of living can be more enjoyable than consumerism.

Chandran Kukathas on Genocide

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:57:00 GMT

Genocide is, at first glance, a straightforward term. We understand what it is and why it is such an evil. But, as Chandran Kukathas of the London School of Economics argues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, perhaps the received definition of this term needs refinement.

M.M. McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:17:00 GMT

How do we learn anything? This isn't a puzzle until you start thinking hard about it. In his dialogue The Meno, Plato presented an apparent paradox about inquiry. M.M. McCabe discusses this paradox and its continuing relevance.

Raymond Tallis on Parmenides

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 18:08:00 GMT

Parmenides was one of the most important pre-Socratic philosophers. Raymond Tallis discusses his ideas and influence in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Don Cupitt on Non-Realism about God

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:09:00 GMT

Don Cupitt, a controversial theologian and philosopher, whose BBC television series and book The Sea of Faith was extremely influential, giving birth to a theological movement, believes that most religion is too anthropomorphic. In this interview for the Philosophy Bites podcast he explains his non-realist approach to God.

Wendy Brown on Tolerance

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:16:00 GMT

Tolerance is usually thought of as the great virtue of democratic societies. Wendy Brown of UC Berkeley asks some sceptical questions about the concept of tolerance and how it can be used to express power relationships in this interview for Philosophy Bites.

Anne Phillips on Political Representation

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:42:00 GMT

Political representation in a democracy doesn't necessarily reflect the variety of people within a society. Most noticeably, there is a much lower percentage of women acting as representatives than there is in the wider population. Does this matter? Anne Phillips believes it does. She explains why in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Anthony Grayling on Bombing Civilians in Wartime

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 23:23:00 GMT

Anthony Grayling argues that bombing civilians in Dresden and other German cities in the Second World War was morally wrong.

Christopher Shields on Personal Identity

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 06:48:00 GMT

What makes anyone the same person over time? In this interview for Philosophy Bites Christopher Shields addresses this question of personal identity, one which, as he points out, has perplexed philosophers since antiquity.

Alexander Nehamas on Friendship

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:24:00 GMT

Alexander Nehamas explores the value of friendship in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Raymond Geuss on Real Politics

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:12:00 GMT

Raymond Geuss wants political philosophers to focus on real politics rather than abstract notions. In this interview with Nigel Warburton for Philosophy Bites he explains why he believes philosophers such as Robert Nozick and John Rawls were fundamentally misguided in the way they approached political philosophy.

Roger Crisp on Virtue

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Roger Crisp discusses the nature of virtue in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Anthony Appiah on Experiments in Ethics

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 18:54:00 GMT

Anthony Appiah makes the case for the relevance of psychological experiments to our ethical reasoning in this interview for the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Christopher Janaway on Nietzsche on Morality

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:05:00 GMT

Friedrich Nietzsche's The Genealogy of Morality provides a radical view of the origins of our values. Nigel Warburton interviews Christopher Janaway about this important book in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Peter Cave on Paradoxes

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:15:00 GMT

Philosophers have been fascinated by paradoxes since ancient times. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Nigel Warburton interviews Peter Cave about paradoxes and their relevance to philosophy.

Adrian Moore on Kant's Metaphysics

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:45:00 GMT

Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is a notoriously difficult work. In this interview for Philosophy Bites A.W. Moore of Oxford University gives a succinct account of this complex and influential attempt to clarify the limits of human understanding.

Barry C. Smith on Neuroscience

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 13:16:00 GMT

Philosophers of mind have traditionally introspected sitting alone in their rooms. Now new developments in neuroscience are producing surprising results, some of which are relevant to philosophy. Phenomena such as blind sight and mirror neurones suggest that we would be foolish to decide what is possible a priori. Barry C. Smith gives an insight in to this intriguing area in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Ray Monk on Philosophy and Biography

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:46:00 GMT

Ray Monk discusses the relationship between philosophy and biography in this interview with Nigel Warburton for the Philosophy Bites podcast. Can an understanding the life of a philosopher help us understand that philosopher's work? Is there anything that philosophers can learn from biography? Monk as author of biographies of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell, two very different personalities, is well-placed to address these questions.

M.M. McCabe on Socratic Method

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:39:00 GMT

Philosophy began in earnest with Socrates. He asked impertinent questions. In this interview with M.M. McCabe, Philosophy Bites explores the nature of Socratic Method and Socrates' claim that the unexamined life is not worth living.

Aaron Ridley on Nietzsche on Art and Truth

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:16:00 GMT

Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas about art and truth run through much of his philosophical writing, but are most apparent in his first book, The Birth of Tragedy. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Nigel Warburton interviews Aaron Ridley about this topic.

Clare Carlisle on Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:48:00 GMT

Soren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling retells and interprets the story of Abraham and Isaac. In Kierkegaard's hands the story becomes a model for the human predicament. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Clare Carlisle provides an interesting overview of some of Kierkegaard's themes in this book.

Alex Neill - the Paradox of Tragedy

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 18:47:00 GMT

How can we enjoy watching tragedy when it is a genre that deals with suffering and pain? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Alex Neill explains what the paradox of tragedy is, and shows how he thinks it can be dissolved. He also relates this discussion to related questions about our experience of horror movies.

Quentin Skinner on Machiavelli's The Prince

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince is one of the most notorious works of political philosophy ever written. Quentin Skinner sets it in its historical context and explains its key themes in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Peter Adamson on Plotinus on Evil

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:18:00 GMT

Plotinus, who lived in the 3rd Century A.D., was the founder of neo-platonism. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Peter Adamson explains what Plotinus had to say about evil.

Matthew Kramer on Legal Rights

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:17:00 GMT

What precisely is a legal right? Matthew Kramer discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Melissa Lane on Rousseau on Civilization

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 21:34:00 GMT

Civilization is for most people synonymous with progress. Not for the eighteenth century thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau believed that civilization corrupts us in certain ways. Melissa Lane explains Rousseau's views on progress in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

John Broome on Weighing Lives

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:10:00 GMT

How do we weigh lives one against another? Governments frequently have to make life and death decisions that take in to account such issues as the quality of life compared to the length of a life. In this episode of Philosophy Bites John Broome presents his view of how such decisions should be taken.

Robert Rowland Smith on Derrida on Forgiveness

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:37:00 GMT

Jacques Derrida, father of deconstructionism, divided philosophers. For some he was a genius; for others a charlatan. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites Robert Rowland Smith defends Derrida's views about the concept of forgiveness.

John Dunn on Locke on Toleration

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:17:00 GMT

John Locke, writing in the Seventeenth Century, argued for religious toleration, though stopped short of toleration of atheists. In this episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites, Nigel Warburton interviews Locke expert John Dunn on this topic.

Will Kymlicka on Minority Rights

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 12:52:00 GMT

Should minority groups such as recent immigrants or those who have suffered historic injustice be given rights that other citizens don't have? Will Kymlicka believes they should. Listen to his arguments in defence of this position in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Jennifer Hornsby on Human Agency

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 19:28:00 GMT

What goes on when someone does something deliberately? Jennifer Hornsby discusses this difficult philosophical question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Tim Scanlon on Free Speech

Fri, 30 May 2008 10:23:00 GMT

In this bonus episode produced in association with the Open University, Tim Scanlon discusses the limits of free speech with Nigel Warburton. A transcript of this episode is available from www.open2.net/ethicsbites/

Donna Dickenson on Body Shopping

Sun, 25 May 2008 19:36:00 GMT

Do you own your body? If not, who does? These are important questions in an age in which there is extensive trade in body parts. Donna Dickenson, author of Body Shopping, discusses this issue with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Mary Warnock on the Right to Have a Baby

Thu, 22 May 2008 08:37:00 GMT

In this bonus episode produced in association with The Open University, Mary Warnock, a philosopher who also sits in the House of Lords, addresses the question 'Do we have a right to have babies?' A transcript of this episode is available at http://www.open2.net/ethicsbites/right-have-babies.html

Anthony Kenny on Aquinas' Ethics

Sun, 18 May 2008 09:08:00 GMT

Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth century Dominican is the subject of this episode of Philosophy Bites. Anthony Kenny explains the key features of Aquinas' ethics in conversation with Nigel Warburton.

Michael Sandel on Genetic Enhancement in Sport

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:37:00 GMT

In this bonus episode of Philosophy Bites made in association with the Open University, Michael Sandel addresses the question of whether we should allow genetic enhancement of athletes. Drawing on themes from his recent book, The Case Against Perfection, he discusses the ethical issues at stake. A transcript of this episode is available at www.open2.net/ethicsbites/

Jonathan Wolff on Marx on Alienation

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:07:00 GMT

Karl Marx's theory of alienated labour is the topic of this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Jonathan Wolff, author of Why Read Marx Today? explains what Marx meant by alienation. He also sheds light on Marx's controversial description of what non-alienated labour would be like.

Peter Singer on Human Use of Animals

Thu, 8 May 2008 09:48:00 GMT

In this bonus episode produced in association with the Open University as part of the Ethics Bites series, Peter Singer, perhaps the world's best known living philosopher, discusses how we treat animals. A transcript of this episode is available from www.open2.net/ethicsbites/

Chandran Kukathas on Hayek's Liberalism

Sun, 4 May 2008 16:56:00 GMT

Friedrich Hayek was a major figure in Twentieth Century economics and political philosophy, but his ideas are sometimes caricatured, not least because Margaret Thatcher approved of his work. Chandran Kukathas explains the key features of his liberalism in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Richard Reeves on Mill's On Liberty

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:29:00 GMT

In this episode of Philosophy Bites Richard Reeves, author of a recent biography of John Stuart Mill sheds light on Mill's classic defence of individual freedom, On Liberty.

David Miller on National Responsibility

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Can a nation be collectively responsible for actions? And how should apologies and reparations be handled when the perpetrators of injustice may be dead? David Miller, author of a recent book on this topic, explores the kinds of responsibility that nations can have.

Peter Millican on Hume's Significance

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:20:00 GMT

David Hume is probably the greatest English-speaking philosopher to date. In this interview for Philosophy Bites. Peter Millican, a Hume specialist, explains why his philosophy was so important.

Janet Radcliffe Richards on Men and Women's Natures

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 17:37:00 GMT

Are men and women different by nature? And if so, what follows? Janet Radcliffe Richards, author of The Sceptical Feminist and Human Nature After Darwin, examines questions about human nature, focusing on John Stuart Mill's important book The Subjection of Women. David Edmonds is the interviewer for this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Raimond Gaita on Torture

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:36:00 GMT

Is it immoral even to consider the use of torture in some circumstances? If the State is threatened, should we be prepared to shelve human rights for an end we consider worthwhile? Raimond Gaita discusses a range of arguments about torture in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Derek Matravers on the Definition of Art

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:17:00 GMT

What is art? Can anything be a work of art? Derek Matravers, author of Art and Emotion, explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites (www.philosophybites.com).

Melissa Lane on Plato and Totalitarianism

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:54:00 GMT

Was Plato's ideal state a totalitarian one? Karl Popper, thought so, and made his case in The Open Society and Its Enemies. Melissa Lane, author of Plato's Progeny, reassesses Popper's critique of Plato in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Thomas Pink on Free Will

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 11:19:00 GMT

We often blame people for what they do or fail to do. But that implies that they were free to choose whether or not to act in the way they did. At the same time science seems to reveal prior causes of all our actions. There seems little or no room for free will. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Thomas Pink, author of Free Will: A Very Short Introduction, discusses the Free Will Problem and outlines his own approach to it.

Anthony Appiah on Cosmopolitanism

Sun, 2 Mar 2008 21:41:00 GMT

Is it possible to be a citizen of the world while maintaining your own distinctive identity? Anthony Appiah defends the ethical position he dubs cosmopolitanism (which for him is universalism combined with a recognition and celebration of diversity) in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

A.C. Grayling on Descartes' Cogito

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:57:00 GMT

A.C. Grayling, author of a recent biography of RenÃ Descartes, explores Descartes' Cogito argument, the pivotal argument of the Meditations, in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Hugh Mellor on Time

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:32:00 GMT

Events happen in time. And time is essentially tensed: there is past, present, future. D.H. Mellor, author of Real Time (and Real Time 2) suggests otherwise. In this podcast for Philosophy Bites he explains why time isn't tensed.

Richard Tuck on Free Riding

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:19:00 GMT

If what I do has only a negligible impact on events, why should I bother doing it at all? Why not 'free ride' on other people's contributions? Richard Tuck explores these questions in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Stephen Mulhall on Film as Philosophy

Sun, 3 Feb 2008 10:42:00 GMT

Most philosophers who consider the movies focus on the nature of the cinematic medium. Stephen Mulhall argues for a different approach. He thinks that a film such as Bladerunner can actually be philosophy.

Richard Norman on Humanism

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:25:00 GMT

How can non-believers make sense of the world? How can there be morality without God? In this episode of Philosophy Bites philosopher Richard Norman explains how it is possible to lead a good life without religion.

Richard Bourke on Edmund Burke on Politics

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:32:00 GMT

The eighteenth century thinker and politician Edmund Burke was one of the founders of modern conservativism. In his Reflections on the Revolution in France he attacked the revolution. For this episode of Philosophy Bites Richard Bourke of Queen Mary, London, puts Edmund Burke in his historical context and outlines his key ideas.

Angie Hobbs on Plato on War

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:49:00 GMT

What causes human agression? For Plato's Socrates it comes from innate tendencies nurtured in the wrong way. And that's where war comes from. Angie Hobbs gives a fascinating introduction to this aspect of Plato's Republic in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Barry Smith on Wittgenstein's Conception of Philosophy

Sun, 6 Jan 2008 21:13:00 GMT

Ludwig Wittgenstein was one of the great figures of Twentieth Century Philosophy. Part of his originality lay in his view of what Philosophy was and how it ought to be done. For this episode of Philosophy Bites Barry Smith of Birkbeck College London gives a lucid account of Wittgenstein's conception of Philosophy.

Mark Vernon on Friendship

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:40:00 GMT

What is friendship? Is it a suitable subject for Philosophy? Mark Vernon, author of The Philosophy of Friendship, explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

G.A. Cohen on Inequality of Wealth

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:30:00 GMT

Can differences in income be morally justified? Should we expect rich people to give their money to the poor? G.A. Cohen, author of a book with the provocative title If You're An Egalitarian, How Come You're So Rich? addresses these questions in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Barry Stroud on Scepticism

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:39:00 GMT

Can I trust my senses? Can I tell that I'm not now dreaming? Some philosophical sceptics have maintained that we can't know anything for certain. Barry Stroud discusses the challenge posed by such sceptics in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Julian Baggini on Thought Experiments

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 12:33:00 GMT

Philosophers often use elaborate thought experiments in their writing. Are these anything more than rhetorical flourishes? Or do they reveal important aspects of the questions under discussion. Julian Baggini, editor of The Philosophers' Magazine and author of a book which surveys some of the most interesting and imaginative thought experiments philosophers have used discusses thought experiments with Nigel Warburton for this episode of Philosophy Bites. David Edmonds introduces the interview.

Susan James on Spinoza on the Passions

Sun, 2 Dec 2007 17:12:00 GMT

What are the passions and what role do they play in human life? These fundamental questions fascinated Baruch de Spinoza who in his book Ethics gave a highly original account of what it is to be human. In this episode of Philosophy Bites, Susan James explains Spinoza's thought in conversation with Nigel Warburton. David Edmonds introduces the discussion.

Henry Hardy on Isaiah Berlin's Pluralism

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:48:00 GMT

Is there a common currency in which we can compare the various ways in which people choose to live? Isaiah Berlin thought not. He argued that fundamental values may be incommensurable. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Henry Hardy in conversation with Nigel Warburton explains what Berlin meant by this. He also reveals in passing that Tony Blair once wrote to Berlin hoping to find an intellectual ally..

Myles Burnyeat on Aristotle on Happiness

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:01:00 GMT

What is happiness? Is it a matter of blissful mental states subjectively experienced, or is it, as Aristotle believed, more about a successful life? In this episode of Philosophy Bites Myles Burnyeat in conversation with Nigel Warburton gives a lucid explanation of how he reads Aristotle on happiness.

Alain de Botton on Philosophy Within and Outside the Academy

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:43:00 GMT

What is philosophy? Does academic philosophy squeeze the life out of some of the most important questions we can ask? Alain de Botton, author of the bestseller The Consolations of Philosophy, discusses his conception of philosophy and the importance of literary style with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Angie Hobbs on Plato on Erotic Love

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 11:01:00 GMT

Plato's Symposium is the most famous philosophical discussion of love, its joys, risks and pleasures. In this episode of Philosophy Bites Angie Hobbs gives a lively account of what Plato thought about erotic love.

Stewart Sutherland on Hume on Design

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:08:00 GMT

Is there evidence of intelligent design in the Universe? In the Eighteenth Century David Hume presented a series of powerful arguments against the Argument from Design. In this interview for Philosophy Bites Stewart Sutherland outlines these arguments and demonstrates their continuing relevance.

Onora O'Neill on Medical Consent

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:21:00 GMT

What do we mean by 'consent' in a medical context? Is it reasonable to ask for informed consent before performing medical procedures? Is consent even the most important issue. Onora O'Neill challenges some widely-held assumptions in this area in this interview for Philosophy Bites.

Quentin Skinner on Hobbes on the State

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 05:06:00 GMT

What is the state? How do individuals combine to lend legitimate authority to those who act on the state's behalf? These are fundamental questions in political philosophy that Thomas Hobbes addressed in the seventeenth century. In this interview Quentin Skinner gives a fascinating account of Hobbes' ideas about the state.

Anthony Kenny on his New History of Philosophy

Mon, 8 Oct 2007 08:53:00 GMT

Anthony Kenny has recently published a major new four-volume history of philosophy. Nigel Warburton interviews him about this project for this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Tim Crane on Mind and Body

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:35:00 GMT

What is the mind and how does it relate to our bodies? How can something physical think? These are fundamental questions in the philosophy of mind. Tim Crane addresses these difficult issues in this interview for Philosophy Bites.

Jonathan Ree on Philosophy as an Art

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:57:00 GMT

Some people see Philosophy as close to science. In this episode of the podcast Philosophy Bites Jonathan RÃe explores the idea that Philosophy is an art.

Mary Warnock on Sartre's Existentialism

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:08:00 GMT

What is existentialism? Is it still relevant to us? Sartre believed that we are free to choose what we make of our lives. Was he right? In this interview for Philosophy Bites Mary Warnock gives her views on Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialism.

Peter Adamson on Avicenna

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:36:00 GMT

In this week's episode of Philosophy Bites Nigel Warburton interviews Peter Adamson about Avicenna (born in 973) whom he describes as the greatest philosopher in the history of Islamic thought. The discussion focusses on Avicenna's argument for God's existence.

Brad Hooker on Consequentialism

Mon, 3 Sep 2007 18:50:00 GMT

What makes an action a good one? According to consequentialists this question is decided by the action's actual or likely consequences. In this episode of Philosophy Bites the moral philosopher Brad Hooker explains what consequentialism is and defends it against possible criticism.

Simon Blackburn on Moral Relativism

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:42:00 GMT

Are moral choices simply relative, a matter of culture or taste? Are genuine moral disagreements possible? Should we just tolerate different ways that people choose to live? Nigel Warburton interviews Simon Blackburn on these important questions. In the course of the discussion Blackburn outlines his own quasi-realist position.

Jonathan Wolff on Disadvantage

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:32:00 GMT

What is disadvantage? How can we identify the most disadvantaged in society and what should we or governments do about it? Jonathan Wolff, co-author of a new book on the topic, outlines his answers to these questions in this interview for Philosophy Bites.

Timothy Williamson on Vagueness

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:59:00 GMT

Philosopher Timothy Williamson explains how we can make sense of such vague concepts as 'heap' or 'red' or 'bald' in the process outlining his own solution to what are usually known as Sorites Paradoxes. Williamson gives a precise account of what 'vagueness' means, how it differs from ambiguity, and why this matters.

David Papineau on Physicalism

Tue, 7 Aug 2007 08:37:00 GMT

Are all our thoughts simply physical events in our bodies? Can we give a purely physical account of the conscious human mind? David Papineau believes that we can. In this interview for Philosophy Bites he explains what physicalism is, why he believes it to be true, and how it can be defended against a range of criticisms.

Anthony Grayling on Atheism

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:50:00 GMT

Is belief in the existence of a God or gods the equivalent of believing that there are fairies at the bottom of the garden? Or can it be defended on the basis of reason or evidence? In this interview for Philosophy Bites Anthony Grayling gives a philosophical defence of atheism and explains why he believes it to be a well-grounded and ultimately life-affirming position to hold.

Adrian Moore on Infinity

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:24:00 GMT

Infinity is a difficult concept to grasp and one that introduces several paradoxes. In this interview for Philosophy Bites, Adrian Moore, author of an important book on the subject, gives a clear and stimulating introduction to the philosophy of infinity.

Roger Crisp on Utilitarianism

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:18:00 GMT

How should we live? John Stuart Mill, one of the great thinkers of the nineteenth century thought that we should maximise happiness. Here Roger Crisp, author of an acclaimed book on Mill, explains Mill's utilitarian ethical theory.

Edward Craig - What is Philosophy?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:36:00 GMT

Edward Craig, editor of the Routledge Encylopedia of Philosophy and author of Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction gives an interesting angle on the nature of philosophy, how it relates to other kinds of thinking, and what makes good philosophy good.

Anne Phillips on Multiculturalism

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 10:32:00 GMT

Should members of a minority group be left to lead their lives as they see fit, even where their values differ from those of the majority? Anne Phillips, author of a recent book on multiculturalism, addresses the difficult question of how people from different cultures can live together without conflict.

Alain de Botton on The Aesthetics of Architecture

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:21:00 GMT

How important is beauty in architecture? Is a concern with beauty mere asetheticism? Alain de Botton, author of The Architecture of Happiness, discusses the nature and value of architectural beauty in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Barry Smith on Wine

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:55:00 GMT

Is wine tasting a purely subjective matter? Why should we value the experience of drinking wine? Philosopher Barry Smith, editor of a new book on the philosophy of wine, Questions of Taste, explores these and related issues in this interview.

Miranda Fricker on Epistemic Injustice

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:46:00 GMT

Testimonial injustice occurs when others fail to treat you seriously as a source of knowledge. In this interview Miranda Fricker, author of a recent book on the topic, explains this concept which lies at the intersection between epistemology and political philosophy.

John Cottingham on The Meaning of Life

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:19:00 GMT

What is the meaning of life? This is a basic question for all of us. There is also the possibility that life has no meaning whatsoever. In this interview John Cottingham explains his vision of the kinds of meaning that we can find in our lives.

Stephen Law on The Problem of Evil

Sat, 9 Jun 2007 08:57:00 GMT

What is evil? Is it consistent with the existence of a benevolent God? In this interview Stephen Law gives an original take on this traditional philosophical problem.

Mary Warnock on Philosophy in Public Life

nigelwarburton@aol.com — Sat, 2 Jun 2007 22:03:00 GMT

What can philosophers contribute to public life? Mary Warnock who sits in the House of Lords and has chaired two important commissions discusses how her training in philosophy prepared her for these roles.

Simon Blackburn on Plato's Cave

nigelwarburton@aol.com — Sat, 2 Jun 2007 21:32:00 GMT

What is the nature of reality? Is the world as it appears, or is there something timeless behind the world of appearances? Simon Blackburn discusses one of the most famous images in Philosophy: Plato's cave.