This is not an episode

In this episode we get down to trust and robots, spending a lot of time on a recent in-class experiment we did with our students: could we get them to trust a robot to teach them philosophy? #trust #philosophy #robot #education

In this episode we dig into why robots can be culturally insensitive, the value of the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy and the philosophical backdrop to imposter syndrome. https://theconversation.com/why-robots-can-be-culturally-insensitive-and-how-scientists-are-trying-to-fix-it-227610https://plato.stanford.eduhttps://kylevo.substack.com/p/imposter-syndrome-is-a-conspiracy#philosophy #impost...

In this episode, we explore what it means to have a transformative experience — moments that permanently alter how we understand ourselves and the world. From forests to philosophy, we also trace the question of consciousness in unexpected directions: Do trees think? Can our encounter with nature change the way we define mind, agency, and moral worth? We also turn to philosopher Havi Carel’s work...

In this episode, we explore how laughter can open the door to serious thought. From classroom jokes at Rutgers–Camden to the psychology of better choices, we trace how humor disarms us, helping philosophy land where it matters most — in everyday life. The conversation then turns to belief and reason: what’s the difference between a religious and a philosophical exemption — and why does even the la...

In this episode we dive into what might be the single most crucial skill for college students in today’s rapidly changing world. Drawing on ideas from recent pieces like  “The Philosophical Bet in the Age of AI”  (Time), we explore why preparing for an AI-transformed future is not just a tech issue but a moral and philosophical one.   We also examine  “5 Great Thinkers Who Rejected Their Own Ideas...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to  think well  in the age of AI and appearances. We discuss new research showing that philosophy majors outperform every other discipline on critical thinking tests—why might that be, and what does it say about the future of higher education? And we also discuss the claim that evidence of objective morality is “hidden in plain sight,” asking whethe...

Welcome to This is Not an Episode! This ... episode... takes us down the rabbit hole of applied philosophy. We begin by being as boring as we can be—in the name of art. Then we move to something less or more boring, depending on your view of Manchester United, and get stuck into what it means to have a sporting philosophy. A touch of extremism and responsibility is up third before we close of with...

Welcome to This is Not an Episode! This ... episode... takes us into some of the most provocative frontiers of philosophy today. We begin inside the prison walls, asking what it means to teach philosophy in a world where truth and lies carry life-changing weight. Then we shift gears: should philosophers take drugs? Could altered states open new doors to insight, or is that a dangerous distraction...