Philosophy Talk

 Infinity is a puzzling concept. Mathematicians say there are as many odd numbers as there are numbers altogether. That seems like saying there are as many men as there are people altogether – which we know is untrue. And if you subtract infinity from infinity, you are still left with infinity – but which infinity? Some infinities are larger than others – how can this be? John and Ken unravel the...

Does the human mind work like a computer? If so, what kind of computer? A theory known as connectionism offers a revolutionary perspective on these issues. Ken and John delve into cutting-edge cognitive science with Jay McClelland from Stanford University, an architect of the connectionist view.

The philosopher Saint Augustine of Hippo is one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity. His efforts against the Manichean, Arian and Pelagain heresies shaped the fundamentals of Christian doctrine. His Confessions tells the story of his own conversion from Manicheanism to Christianity. His philosophical ideas anticipated Saint Thomas Aquinas and Descartes. His three-volume Ci...

Can a self, a consciousness, an “I” arise out of mere matter? If it cannot, then how can you or I be here? And if it can, how does THAT work? These and other questions of identity are central to I Am A Strange Loop, the latest book by Indiana University Philosopher Douglas Hofstadter, author of the acclaimed Godel, Escher, Bach. He joins John and Ken for a probing discussion of the self, the soul,...

There is something deeply mysterious about music. Why does it affect us so powerfully? Is it like a language, telling us something? A subtle form of communication? Are there universal interpretations of the emotions that various pieces of music expresses? Or does one need to be part of a music “community” in order to appreciate musical expression? John and Ken explore how music matters with musici...

Is work the curse of the working class? Or a human’s best opportunity for happiness and meaning? What is work, and what is leisure? Are you what you do? And how does American society differ in its attitude towards work, and holidays, from others? John and Ken discuss these issues and more with Al Gini from Loyola University Chicago, author of My Job, My Self: Work and the Creation of the Modern In...

What is necessary for a person to survive over time?  Is it the continued existence of the living body?  Or is it just the living brain?  Or is it one’s psychology, which might persist even without one’s original brain in a computer or in an entirely new brain?  How important are questions of personal identity for ethics and rationality? John and Ken are joined by Raymond Martin, Professor of Phil...

What does “God” mean?  Is God a concrete thing like a chair or a human; or is it an abstract thing, like love or goodness?  Is there something that all concepts of God have in common, some feature that all cultures attribute to God?  Richard Swinburne, Emeritus Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the University of Oxford, joins John and Ken to explore the many ways in...

What is political correctness?  Has it always existed?  What’s “political” about it?  Some people think that concerns over being PC lead to censorship and the stifling of free debate.  Others think the label “politically correct” is nothing but a demeaning term for values we should espouse anyway, like appropriateness, politeness, fairness, and respectfulness.  Is “politically correct” just a nast...

Some of the many topics discussed in Islamic philosophy are the Qur’an, knowledge, dreams, justice, poetry, reality, prophethood, peace, and the State.  How has Islamic philosophy interacted historically with other philosophical traditions?  How has philosophy influenced the popular practice and interpretation of Islam?  When has Islamic philosophy melded with or clashed with Islam’s religious tea...

What are the effects of immigration on culture in America?  Does it promote homogenization, diversity, or both?  Cultural enrichment, or assimilation? What challenges does immigration raise?  What immigration policies should the American government adopt, with respect to economics, culture, and ethics?  How can we justify denying privileges and protections to people based simply upon where they we...

What can we learn from studying philosophy?  What can we learn from reading great (or not-so-great) literature?  Some philosophers and literary theorists believe that philosophy and literature converge in a number of places.  Great literature is often deeply philosophical, and great philosophy is often great literature, sometimes in the form of fictional narrative.  Perhaps we can learn many of th...

People who predict the future well are sometimes said to be psychic. But we all make predictions about the future, with more or less success. We confidently predict the sun will rise tomorrow, that ice will be cold, etc. But maybe we’re not quite as good at predicting the future as we think. Is the stock market predictable? The weather? Political upheavals? Or is life just too random to make good...

Does faith obscure reason? Does reason obscure faith? Or perhaps their subject matters are different. Faith might address one area of our lives and reason and science another. Faith may allow us to see meaning, values, and God, while reason sees everything else, whatever that may be. Or perhaps faith and reason are fundamentally intertwined. Is faith void of reason? Is it irrational to be faithful...

For Plato, love and philosophy were closely related. Love of beauty causes one to contemplate the whole sea of beauties, including beautiful systems of justice and beautiful scientific theories. But Plato wasn’t such a fan of poetry, arguing that it merely evoked strong emotions in a way contrary to reason. Noted poet Troy Jollimore, winner of the 2006 National Book Critics Circle Award, disagrees...

How does a bunch of grey matter in our skulls have the ability to solve mathematical problems? Are we the only species that can? Does catching a baseball require doing calculations? Join John, Ken, and their guest, noted cognitive scientist and NPR’s “Math Guy” Keith Devlin, as they discuss the many ways our minds can do the math.

An art lover will argue that art brings beauty to our surroundings and provides occasions for intellectual and emotional reflection. But those who don’t appreciate art see it as unnecessary and frivolous – at any rate, certainly not something that tax dollars should go to support. In a time when school budgets for art programs are dwindling, John and Ken are joined by Cynthia Freeland, Chair of th...

In art, architecture, music, film, literature, sociology, communications, fashion and philosophy there is a contrast between “the modern” and “the post-modern.” But just what are the main hallmarks of the postmodern? How does the “postmodern” differ from the “modern?” Is the postmodern an improvement over the modern? John and Ken are joined by Gary Aylesworth, Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Il...

What is flirting? Can you flirt without intending to? Can you flirt by dressing a certain way, by walking a certain way? Is flirtatious behavior culturally relative? Could you flirt with a robot? With your own long-term partner? With an idea? Join John and Ken as they plumb the philosophical depths of flirting with Carrie Jenkins from the University of Nottingham, author of “The Philosophy of Flir...

Why did Nietzsche cross the road? To get beyond good and evil! How is a good joke like a good philosophical argument? Are philosophical tenets at the core of much of humor? To find out, join the philosophers and their guests, Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein, authors of Plato and A Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes.

The death penalty: An effective deterrent? A just retribution for horrendous crimes? Or a racist, classist form of state-sanctioned murder? Join John and Ken and their guest, Robert Weisberg, Director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, as they discuss the philosophical pros and cons of capital punishment.

Time is the most familiar thing in the world, and yet philosophically one of the most puzzling. Is the present what’s left when you subtract what has already happened, and what is yet to happen? Then it seems to vanish into a mere instant.  Are future events completely unreal? Or are they just the things we can’t know yet? Is time unreal, as many philosophers have thought? Columbia’s Dave Albert j...

Are there philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues you want to read up on over the summer? Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason probably isn’t the obvious choice to take to the beach (though it does make great radio), but there are a lot of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to add philosophical depth to your Summer Reading. Plus, new and classic fiction books with a philosoph...

Aging is a physical process that will always be with us.  But conceptions of aging, views about the contributions older people can make to society, and what society owes them change from era to era and differ from culture to culture. In conjunction with the Stanford Humanities Center, John and Ken explore the issues involved in growing older with their guest, Stanford University psychologist Laura...

At least some versions of artificial intelligence are attempts not merely to model human intelligence, but to make computers and robots that exhibit it: that have thoughts, use language, and even have free will. Does this make sense? What would it show us about human thinking and consciousness? John and Ken uncover the philosophical issues raised by artificial intelligence with Marvin Minksy from...