Philosophy For Our Times

Australian philosopher Peter Singer and Mary Midgley discuss animal rights, challenging human superiority and promoting utilitarianism. They debate animal pain perception, ethical treatment, species barriers, and valuing human life over animals.

Join leading minds in physics, Priyamvada Natarajan, Avshalom Elitzur, and Bernard Carr, as they discuss the enigma of energy. They explore the mystical nature of energy, its role in the universe, dark energy, and the embrace of mysticism in the search for truth. They also touch on energy's presence in ecology, biology, and its interplay with matter and antimatter.

Philosopher Michael Della Rocca challenges traditional philosophy by advocating for a radical interpretation that questions common sense. He explores the idea of reality as a total unity without distinctions or relationships, prompting us to question why we haven't challenged everything before. The podcast delves into the complexities of language, ethics, and the blurred lines between rationality, morality, and mysticism in philosophy.

Debate between Mearsheimer and Pinker on Enlightenment ideals and moral progress. Impact of reason, individualism, and tribalism on society. Challenges of state violence, multiculturalism, and minority rights. Liberalism's role in managing disagreements for progress. Quest for human flourishing and balancing individualism in a global context.

Philosopher Sophie Grace Chappell discusses the link between transgenderism and ancient philosophical queries. The podcast explores progress in ethics and gender, gender ideology's impact on oppression, erasing gender from society, and gender in ancient Greek myths.

Dostoevsky and Nietzsche clash on finding meaning in life - love and compassion vs. human creativity. Is meaning outside ourselves or in personal desires? Explore the controversy of compassion and philosophical views. Discover Nietzschean themes in society and hope in imperfection.

Comedian David Baddiel discusses the God desire with Chine McDonald, exploring atheism, Jewish identity, and human existential struggles. They delve into the interplay of religion, atheism, and belief in society, as well as dynamic conversations between friends with differing beliefs

Daniel Markovits, Martin Wolf, and Madeleine Pennington discuss the meaning of productivity in the 21st century, the correlation between productivity and well-being, the role of governments in increasing output, the impact of technology on productivity, the alternative to productivity, the importance of democracy, and the urgency of preserving democracy while creating a stronger and more inclusive society.

Renowned philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek discusses the apocalypse, ideology, freedom, and more. Topics include living in a time of dystopian fantasies, advancements in technology challenging subjectivity, and exploring the unconscious and the history of feminism.