Philosophy Briefings

Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University, presents some of the key arguments for and against utilitarianism. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resour...

Dr Steph Rennick, Lecturer in Interactive Media at the University of Stirling, looks at what is involved in knowing something. This is Part One of her talk. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to...

Dr Steph Rennick, Lecturer in Interactive Media at the University of Stirling, looks at what is involved in knowing something. This video is the second part. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed t...

Robert Stern (1962-2024), late Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, asks how Kant identifies the supreme principle of morality. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a reso...

Robert Stern (1962-2024), late Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, asks how Kant identifies the supreme principle of morality. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a reso...

Anil Gomes, Professor of Philosophy at Oxford University and Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, looks at a central topic in the philosophy of mind: eliminative materialism. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each on...

Michael Lacewing, Senior Head of Department and Head of Psychology at Christ’s Hospital School, asks whether all knowledge comes from experience. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resou...

Professor Bill Brewer, Susan Stebbing Professor of Philosophy, King’s College London, asks whether we perceive the physical world directly. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource fo...

Mihretu P. Guta, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Biola University, looks at mind-body identity. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to k...

Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, looks at Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. This episode is one of a pair of videos on Virtue Ethics, although both can be viewed independently. The other episode, Aristotle: Human Nature and the Good Life, can be found in this playlist and provides a more general introduction on the topic. This is one of the...

Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, looks at Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. This episode is one of a pair of videos on Virtue Ethics, although both can be viewed independently. The other episode, Aristotle: Ethics and the Virtues, can be found in this playlist and provides a more general introduction on the topic. This is one of the Royal In...

Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University, asks 'what is functionalism?'. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to...

Stephen Law, Director of Certificate of Higher Education, University of Oxford, looks at the problem of evil. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to know mor...

Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of Philosophy and Kingfisher College Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at the University of Oklahoma., looks at the evidence for the existence of God. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible l...

Sarah Sawyer, Professor of Philosophy, University of Sussex, answers the question 'what is epistemology?'. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to k...

Glenn Skelhorn, Philosophy in Schools Tutor for the Royal Institute of Philosophy and Member of Council, looks at the limits of knowledge. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for...

Dr Emily Thomas, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University, looks at John Locke and how perception works. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to...

Dr Emily Thomas, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University, asks whether we should be Cartesian dualists. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to...

In the second part of his talk, Dr Robert Cowan, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Glasgow, asks if anything is really wrong. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for a...

In the first part of his talk, Dr Robert Cowan, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Glasgow, asks if anything is really wrong. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resource for an...

John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading and Honorary Fellow at St. John’s College, Oxford, looks at Descartes’ journey from Self to God. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each...

In this video Patricia Churchland, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego, looks at Frank Jackson's "Mary Argument". This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is desig...

David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University and co-director of NYU’s Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, looks at property dualism. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Eac...

David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University and co-director of NYU’s Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, looks at whether there exist philosophical zombies. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and...

Julian Baggini, philosopher, writer and co-founder of The Philosophers’ Magazine, talks about the cosmological argument for the existence of God. This is one of the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s 15-minute Philosophy Briefings, a series in which eminent philosophers provide their own view of a key philosophical topic, in straightforward and accessible language.  Each one is designed to be a resou...