Philosophy For Our Times

Is rationality as vital as we think? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Philosophers from Spinoza and Hegel to Bertrand Russell argued that logic and reason are the key to understanding the world. But is this a fundamental error? After all, recent studies show that reason does not lead to more successful outcomes in business or pe...

What does modern-day slavery look like? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes The past centuries have seen rapid improvements in health, poverty, literacy and violence. Yet despite this progress, few are aware that 50 million globally still live in modern slavery, the largest group ever in human history. Join fearless professor Katarina Schwar...

Is our neurobiology at odds with the modern world? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We see the remarkable evolution of the human brain as one of the driving factors behind our success as a species. Our neurobiology evolved though to solve challenges in a drastically different world than we find ourselves in today. Might our evolved traits...

Biology against determinism! Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We all feel like we have free will. That our decisions are our own and that we could have chosen otherwise. But today, many prominent figures argue free will is an illusion. Join groundbreaking biologist Denis Noble as he argues that, in fact, our bodies hold the key to our fre...

Is collective experience a myth? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We see experience as quintessentially subjective. But while we take this for granted might it be an error? From parliament and politics, festivals and football stadiums, to weddings and funerals, some of our most significant experiences occur in moments shared in collective...

What is the architecture of a sustainable world? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We are living in environmental crisis. But the solution might be closer to home than we think. Join Nottingham University Professor Lucelia Rodriguez as she sets out her vision for the cities of the future. In association with University of Nottingham. Lucel...

Is internet anonymity causing social breakdown? Should we do anything about it? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Anonymity was the gift that was going to give everyone a voice, free from the oversight of institutions and government control. Yet critics claim the dream has turned into a nightmare. For the anonymous world turns out to be on...

Is the academy and our culture as a whole in need of newer, bigger ideas? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes In the first half of the twentieth century radical thinkers, from Einstein to Schrödinger, Russell to Wittgenstein, Woolf to de Beauvoir, were transforming ideas. But many wonder where the equivalents are today and point to a deep seate...

Can we rely on science for the answers? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts' argued Richard Feynman. He held that the best science respects no authority and is not a learnt set of facts, but a rigorous method of questioning in search of a better account. Yet in the pandemic governments and co...

Are we overlooking the profound mystery of life and death in a secular age? Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes In a scientific, secular age, narratives of the afterlife often appear to many as empty and anachronistic wish fulfillment. However, this podcast episode invites listeners to delve deeper into this topic, pondering the unexplained phenom...

Can we have objective morality without metaphysics? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Join Simon Blackburn, renowned philosopher at Cambridge University, as he discusses navigating heated moral discussions, the play of perspective on moral dilemmas, and his notable disagreements with Richard Rorty. From understanding contentious topics to gaining i...

Is human agency a fantasy? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We may not always agree on questions of morality, but whatever standards we adopt we apply them to human action. We are less inclined to take a moral stance on human inaction and failure to act. Many would argue that Putin's attack on the Ukrainian people is morally evil, but there is les...

Is our future reality a digital utopia or impending nightmare? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes As tech giants promise a lavish digital existence and unparalleled virtual experiences, there's a rising concern. Will we be trading real-life relationships for virtual ones? Substituting nature for mere simulation? And at the forefront, will control re...

Should we seek to fulfill our needs with multiple partners? Does dissecting a rat brain count as philosophy? Are we entering the age of corporate authoritarianism? Listen as Zizek guides us through these and other major questions of our time.  Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Slavoj Žižek provides a Hegelian insight into historical and curren...

Want lasting happiness? Paul Dolan reveals the secret: it's all about where you direct your attention to on a daily basis.  Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Happiness isn't about what you think, it's about what you do. And you're more in control than you'd imagine. Join happiness expert and LSE Professor of Behavioural Science, Paul Dolan, as...

Are psychedelics the lens to reality or the key to delusion? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes With a resurgence in the cultural zeitgeist, psychedelics are now at the forefront of debates about mental health treatments. Critics challenge the efficacy of these substances, but are they missing a broader truth? Join Anne Katrin Schlag, Julian B...

Is thought a distraction from reality? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes From the birth of reason to Descartes' "I think, therefore I am"; Western culture has placed thought at the centre of what it is to be human. We spend much of our time planning the future, reflecting on the past, puzzling about what to do, and talking about it with others. But...

Is language a flawed prism standing in the way of our understanding of the world? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes For much of the 20th century language was seen as central to our understanding of the world. 'The limits of my language mean the limits of my world', argued Wittgenstein. 'There is nothing outside of the text' claimed Derrida. But now...

What is behind the polarising debate on gender? How can we navigate the new politics of gender identity... if at all? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Gender identity is the hot topic, but many argue that we must remain grounded in biological sex. Join philosopher Kathleen Stock as she seeks collaboration between trans rights activists and feminis...

In a world that places a premium on independence, are we undervaluing the power of community? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes In this engrossing debate, we examine the societal shift towards solo living and ask critical questions about its impacts. Has our pursuit of independence led to a higher incidence of depression? Have we sidelined the sign...

In a fascinating conversation, renowned theoretical physicist Marika Taylor and acclaimed philosopher Julian Baggini explore the history and evolving relationship between these two disciplines. Listen in as they delve into the intricacies of how science and philosophy have been intertwined, only to diverge since the Enlightenment. Can they be reconciled? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here:...

Are we bound by traditional rules for life or is it time for a new playbook? Tune in to find out! Seeking the link mentioned in this episode? It's right here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes In this thought-provoking discussion, our distinguished panelists delve into the foundations of moral codes and rules for living. Sophie-Grace Chappell, Professor of Philosophy at the Open University,...

Could it be that the world's true essence is beyond our comprehension? And what if this isn't a drawback, but an advantage? Explore this paradox in this interview with Hilary Lawson. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We tend to think the world is divided into bits, and we spend time trying to define those bits. But what if this metaphysical a...

Can you understand a novel - or a life - before you know how it ends? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes From Beethoven's 5th to Batman, Harry Potter to Hamlet, we want and expect satisfying endings that tie up loose ends and provide resolution. But real life doesn't often come tied up so neatly. Relationships and careers often evolve in tangl...

Is "truth" a redundant concept? Listen as Simon Blackburn grapples with the topic. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Truth has had a difficult century. More than ever we are lost as to both 'what truth is' and 'what is true'. Should we instead turn to pragmatism? Join Simon Blackburn to explore why truth and pragmatism may be more aligned than at f...