Five Minute Philosophy

In this episode, Fred introduces how to think philosophically about the laws of nature. Laws are typically taken to relate somehow to stable and exceptionless regularities in the philosophical literature, and this thought is explicated using examples. How exactly laws relate to these exceptionless regularities is then asked, triggering the schism in views about laws of nature, Humean and non-Humea...

In this episode, Archie Fletcher discusses G.E. Moore’s (1939) famous paper ‘Proof of an External World’ and investigates how hands can be used to counter the external-world sceptic. If you’ve ever wondered, “How can I prove that the world is real?” this episode explains Moore’s argument that the world is real, shows why hands might serve as evidence for this, and sheds light on what this reveals...

In this episode, Finn Thwaite introduces our mini-series on consciousness. We hear about the “hard problem of consciousness”, the subjective certainty of our own point of view, our confidence in the completeness of physics, and how this extrinsic, behavioural story relates to intrinsic, subjective experience. Enjoy! If you want to get in touch to suggest a topic, or apply to record an episode your...

In this episode, Archie Fletcher guides us through a brief history of Analytic Philosophy. We hear about the key figures that shaped this style of Philosophy, which itself can be understood in terms of its method and aims, namely: clarity, rigour and logical argumentation. Enjoy! If you want to get in touch to suggest a topic, or apply to record an episode yourself, please email us at fiveminuteph...

In this episode, guest contributor Yolanda discusses Standpoint Theory - the idea that your experience of reality can vary depending on your standpoint. This is particularly salient when applied to the experiences of marginalised groups, Yolanda argues, and by drawing on this theory we can better understand the members of these groups and their unique standpoints. Enjoy, and thank you Yolanda for...

In this episode, I'll be talking all about the theory of Possible Worlds, with a particular emphasis on David Lewis' Modal Realism. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

In this episode, guest contributor Mark Bowker (Marie Skłodowska–Curie Fellow in Philosophy at Lund University) discusses his current area of research - generalisations about social groups, particularly when these generalisations include certain types of prejudices (racism, sexism, homophobia etc). He also explores ideas quantification, asking the question: how many instances of something must the...

In this episode, I go through the claims Hume makes about causation in 'An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding', and why he takes causal inference to be an unreliable model for making rational claims about the world. Enjoy!  If you'd like to get in contact, message me on Twitter (@fiveminutephil1) or Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy). 

After a 6 month hiatus, I'm back! In this episode, I talk about Aristotle's 'Golden Mean' - a commentary about virtue, found in his 'Nicomachean Ethics'. Enjoy! 

In this episode, guest contributor Will Hathaway and I discuss how culture would be different humans didn't have to eat - would culture have to centre around something different, and if so, what? Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, we'll be talking about the three main approaches to the topic of self-knowledge: acquaintance theory, inner-sense theory and rationalist theory. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, we'll be running through a brief history of logic, focusing on the 3 major periods in the discipline: ancient, medieval and modern logic. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, I'll be talking all about the subfield of aesthetics known as 'everyday aesthetics', or 'aesthetics of the familiar', in which the boundaries of aesthetic appreciation are broadened to make room for everyday experiences in the realm of what is considered to be 'aesthetic'. Enjoy!  If you'd like to do a guest contribution, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy)...

In this episode, I'll be talking about Mariology - the theological study of the Virgin Mary. This includes her role as the Mother of God, the immaculate conception and issues surrounding the notion of her 'perpetual virginity'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In today's episode, guest contributor Msaa Mugavana explains why secularism might be considered to be a threat to today's youth, as well as the benefits of religion as a guiding force, particularly for the young. Enjoy!  If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, I'll be talking about the 'Paradox of Fiction', as well as how some scholars have responded to the paradox. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, I'll be talking all about Naturalism, as well as how it links to other areas of philosophy like epistemology and ethics. Enjoy!  If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, Dr Peter West talks all about Berkeley and his philosophical standpoint known as 'idealism'. Enjoy, and thank you to Peter for doing this episode!  If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).  

In this episode, I'll be discussing Genevieve Lloyd's feminist work 'The Man of Reason' and its discussion of the gendering of 'Reason' as male throughout the history of Western philosophy, with a particular emphasis on the works of Plato and Descartes. Enjoy!  If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitte...

In this episode, I'll be talking all about Baruch Spinoza and his ideas on God, ethics and perspective. Enjoy! 

In this episode, I'll be talking about the gendering of God as male in the Christian tradition, and whether it would be so controversial to switch up the language used to describe this God to make it more female-oriented. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, I'll be talking all about Paul Ricoeur's approach to texts known as his 'hermeneutics of suspicion'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

Today I'll be talking about logical atomism, its metaphysical and methodological application, as well as how it differs from the idealism of the time. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, I'll be going through the key ideas in T.M. Scanlon's book, 'What We Owe to Each Other'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). 

In this episode, I'll be talking about Process Philosophy, and also how it links to Process Theology. Enjoy!  If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).