Philosophy Talk

Positive psychology is an emerging science that investigates the qualities, attitudes, and practices that enable people to thrive and be happy. So what does this research reveal about human happiness? Are some of us just born with happier dispositions than others? How (if at all) do health, wealth, family relations, and community ties affect our happiness? Do happy people have a better or worse grip on reality than unhappy people? And is happiness something really worth pursuing? John and Ken get happy (scientifically) with Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Science Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.

Even in ancient Greek society, philosopher-scientists engaged in heated debate about the origin, composition, and structure of our universe. Tracking our understanding of cosmology from then until now shows monumental shifts in thinking. So what did the Ancients think was the fundamental nature of the cosmos, and what kind of evidence did they use to support their theories? How did Copernicus provoke such a radical shift in cosmology? And what should we think about the status of scientific theories if they can be subject to such massive conceptual shifts? John and Ken ponder the cosmos with Carlo Rovelli from Aix-Marseille University, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics. Part of our series A Philosophical Guide to the Cosmos

Public Radio Show ‘Philosophy Talk’ Wins Bronze at the 2016 New York Festivals® International Radio Program Awards Nationally Syndicated show “Edward Snowden and the Ethics of Whistleblowing” is recognized in the Social Issues category for its insight, creativity and engagement. Philosophy Talk, “the program that questions everything… except your intelligence” received a 2016 Bronze award from the New York Festivals® International Radio Program Awards in the category of Social Issues. The specific episode, “Edward Snowden and the Ethics of Whistleblowing” was Snowden’s first radio interview and was recorded as part of the Stanford Symbolic Systems Program Distinguished Speaker series. In this first national radio appearance, Edward Snowden, turned inward to reveal the process of becoming a whistleblower. First aired on July 12th, 2015, the show’s in-depth investigation into the ethics of whistleblowing with the most renowned whistleblower of our era created lively discussion on this topic, which continues today. Excerpts from the winning episode can be found at http://j.mp/Snowden_and_Ethics. Philosophy Talk was selected as one of the 296 Finalists from submissions from 30 countries around the world by the New York Festivals Grand Jury. As one of 12 Social Issues Finalists, Philosophy Talk is pleased to be recognized for its conversations on a wide variety of issues ranging from popular culture to our most deeply-held beliefs about science, morality, and the human condition. The hosts of Philosophy Talk, Stanford Professors Ken Taylor and John Perry, challenge listeners to identify and question their assumptions and to think about things in new ways. More on the award winning Philosophy Talk programs can be found at http://www.philosophytalk.org/. PHILOSOPHY TALK, “The program that questions everything… except your intelligence,” is now in its 12th season and can be heard weekly in over 350 regions nationwide. Broadcast from the studios of KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco, the program is produced by Ben Manilla Productions on behalf of Stanford University as part of its Humanities Outreach Initiative. FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Dave McAllister, Director of Marketing Email: davemc@philosophytalk.org Phone: 408-239-7117 Host Bios: Ken Taylor is the current Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. He is also director of Stanford’s interdisciplinary program in Symbolic Systems. His work lies at the intersection of the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, with an occasional foray into the history of philosophy. (Photo: http://www.philosophytalk.org/sites/default/files/Taylor%20bio%20pic-1.jpg) John Perry is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of California at Riverside, and Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Stanford University. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a recipient of many honors and awards, including the Nicod and Humboldt Prizes. A popular lecturer, in 1990 he was awarded the Dinkelspiel Award for undergraduate teaching. (Photo: http://www.philosophytalk.org/sites/default/files/Perry%20bio%20pic-1.jpg)

According to a report from the Jubilee Debt Campaign, there are currently 24 countries facing a full-blown debt crisis, with 14 more on the verge. Globally, there is about $200 trillion of debt on the books. Although the poor and disenfranchised of the world play no role in negotiating these loans, in debt crises they usually end up paying the price. So when a country borrows money, who or what is the “economic agent” responsible for taking on the debt? Can traditional economic theory explain why we face debt crises and how we can get out of them? Or do we need a new economic model that dispels some of the myths of the traditional model and offers a more ethical solution to the global debt crisis? John and Ken are held to account with Julie Nelson from the University of Massachusetts Boston, author of Economics For Humans.

“White privilege” has become a buzzword in discussions about racial inequality and racial justice. The call to “check your privilege” appeals to those privileged to acknowledge the various ways they receive special treatment that others don’t. But when white people explicitly acknowledge their privilege, does this do anything to further racial equality? Is talking about “white privilege” just a way to assuage white liberal guilt? Instead of unequal privilege, should we be more focused on equal rights? What kind of theory of justice is required to improve black lives? John and Ken check their privilege with Naomi Zack from the University of Oregon, author of White Privilege and Black Rights: The Injustice of U.S. Police Racial Profiling and Homicide.

Jean-Paul Sartre was one of the first global public intellectuals, famous for his popular existentialist philosophy, his works of fiction, and his rivalry with Albert Camus. His existentialism was also adopted by Simone de Beauvoir, who used it as a foundation for modern theoretical feminism. So what exactly is existentialism? How is man condemned to be free, as Sartre claimed? And what’s so hellish about other people? John and Ken speak in good faith with Thomas Flynn from Emory University, author of Sartre: A Philosophical Biography.

According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, there are more people living with mental illness in prisons than in psychiatric hospitals across the country. Despite the fact that prisoners can have significant medical needs, healthcare services are often woefully inadequate, which can turn a minor sentence into a death sentence. And for those dying in prison, few receive any hospice or palliative care. So what kinds of patients’ rights should prisoners have? Could improved healthcare in prisons actually reduce recidivism rates? How can we ensure dignity for prisoners in the age of for-profit prisons? John and Ken maintain their dignity with filmmaker Edgar Barens, whose documentary Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall was nominated for an Academy Award.

A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant events of the previous year. But what ideas and events took shape over the past twelve months that challenged our assumptions and made us think about things in new ways? Join John, Ken, and their special guests as they celebrate the examined year with a philosophical look back at the year that was 2015: • The Year in Campus Culture Wars with Kate Manne from Cornell University, co-author of “When Free Speech Becomes a Political Weapon” • The Year in Refugees and Migration with Beverly Crawford from UC Berkeley, author of Power and German Foreign Policy: Embedded Hegemony in Europe • The Year in Science and Climate Change with Allen Thompson from Oregon State University, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Environmental Ethics (forthcoming)

Taoism (sometimes Daoism) is one of the great philosophical traditions of China. Lao-Tzu, who is commonly regarded as its founder, said that “Those who know, do not speak; those who speak, do not know.” The arguments that Taoist texts offer for skepticism may seem surprisingly modern. Yet these same texts also offer recommendations for certain ways of life over others. So what exactly is Taoism, and what are its main tenets? Is it a religion, a philosophy, or a way of life? How do Taoists reconcile endorsing a specific way of life with skepticism about human thinking? John and Ken go east with Bryan Van Norden from Vassar College, author of numerous translations and books on Chinese thought, including Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy.

We craft personal brands or images to accompany or represent ourselves in various situations. These personas are malleable – how we portray ourselves online differs from how we act at an event, which differs from the workplace or in the privacy of the home. Social media and the possibility of creating an online ‘self’ exacerbate this situation. We may wonder: who is the true self if we have the power change selves given various circumstances? Is there such a thing as ‘one true self’, or is the self merely a conglomerate of ‘mini-selves’ shaped by cultural and societal forces? Could it be detrimental to think of a self as socially constructed? John and Ken put their best face on for Susan Hekman from the University of Texas at Arlington, author of Private Selves, Public Identities: Reconsidering Identity Politics.