Thoughts: Philosophy Untangled

In this episode, Keir and Jasmine explore Underdetermination and what it’s all about. Speaking to JB Manchak, from the University of California, Irvine, We discuss the limits of scientific research, conspiracy theories and time travel. We also discuss Buddhism and the idea of the non-self.

In this episode Alex and Ross are joined by Dr. Simon Hope of Stirling University to discuss the role and scope of political philosophy; what do we do when we do political philosophy and whose viewpoint gets to count?

In this episode co-hosts Alice and Katie delve into the complex nature of voting systems with senior lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, Dr Adam Rieger. The episode focuses on first past the post, preference voting, and the alternative voting method – with Adam helping us to untangle some of the key criticisms of each.

Hamish and Alexandros delve deep into the world of Miracles with Timothy McGrew. They discuss Hume’s argument against Miracles. Join us in this discussion about human testimony, the limits of inquiry and bizarre animals.

This is our second episode devoted to the philosophy of law. We discuss the function of law in our society and where our legal system is misaligned with our political and economic systems. We hear about when Coca Cola took on the Bolivian government, and won. Finally, Emilios gives us a brief history of our rights and we take a moment to think about what our rights may look like in the 22nd century.

This episode is one of two which looks at the philosophy of law. We discuss 'what is the law?', we look at the connection between law and justice, and between law and morality (legal Positivism vs. Natural law). We visit the peculiarities of legal reasoning, the connection to rights and values, and with an emphasis on the philosophy of language also on how the law both abhors and deploys ambiguity.

In this New Year’s special episode, Professor Ben Colburn joins Ross and Alexandros in an in-depth discussion of the meaning of autonomy in Moral and Political Philosophy. What does it mean to be autonomous and ultimately why is it a good thing? Join us in in contemplating these and many more questions in this special episode of Thoughts.

What does it mean for a category to be socially constructed? Are we wronged when we are cast into a social category that doesn’t characterise us? How does Gender relate to all this? Dr. Katharine Jenkins, lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, joins Ross and Alexandros to discuss these questions and many more in this episode of Thoughts.

!Content Warning: Sexual Assault! Why do we believe what we are told? When should we believe what we are told? And why is it so often the case that we suspend our belief exactly when others need it the most? Dr Mona Simion – Deputy Director of COGITO (and so much more) – is going to dissect these questions for us and explain to Ruaridh and Arianna why she thinks that, when it comes to cases of sexual allegation, we should (most of the time) believe the victim.

In this episode co-hosts Katie and Hamish are joined by Charlotte Kleine and Belen De Bacco from the Glasgow University Art Appreciation Society (GUAAS). They find out about some of GUAAS’s upcoming events and discuss Walter Benjamin’s essay, “The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility”, and the body in modern and postmodern space.