Philosophy Bites Janet Radcliffe Richards on What is Philosophy?
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Jan 24, 2026 Janet Radcliffe Richards, philosopher and author known for work in ethics and philosophy of science. She discusses how spotting contradictions defines philosophical thinking. She applies this to medical ethics, including the organ-selling puzzle. She also stresses clear reasoning, logical skills, and how philosophy clarifies debates like women's rights.
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Philosophy Is About Consistency
- Philosophy targets internal consistency among our ideas rather than only matching ideas to the world.
- Janet Radcliffe Richards contrasts philosophy's role with science: philosophy gets ideas to match each other.
Organ-Selling Scandal Reveals a Moral Puzzle
- Janet describes the 1980s scandal where Turkish patients sold kidneys in Britain and public outcry led to prohibition.
- She noticed the ban conflicted with ethical principles allowing autonomous altruistic donations and thus exposed an inconsistency.
When Principles Collide, Reassess Foundations
- Pointing out that banning paid organ donations clashes with respecting individuals' autonomy exposes conflicting foundational principles.
- Richards argues you must either revise the prohibition or rethink commitments about personal autonomy.
