Jainism, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, is one of India's great dharmic traditions – though far less well known than its siblings. Emerging around the second century BCE, it is best-known for valuing ahimsa in pursuit of liberation – a devout practice of non-violence. Yet there is far more to Jain philosophy than liberation and ahimsa. Jainism offers a rich way of understanding the self, the cosmos, and the divine. It's a philosophy with a vision of reality that continues to challenge Western preconceptions on, well, just about everything: from the nature of souls and knowledge to the meaning of life and the origin of the universe.

Today, we'll be exploring Jainism with Dr Marie-Hélène Gorisse. Dr Gorisse is currently Dharmanath Assistant Professor in Jain Studies at the University of Birmingham, where she's co-project lead of the Global Philosophy of Religion Project 2. Marie-Hélène's work explores South Asian philosophy of religion and, most specifically, she is a world-leading expert on Jaina philosophy.

In this episode, we'll trace how Jainism arose, how its sages taught that the self can escape the cycle of rebirth, and the purpose of the universe. And perhaps more importantly, we'll explore how Jainism can help us all live better lives for the sake of ourselves, and the world around us.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Links

Marie-Hélène Gorisse, University of Birmingham

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project 2, Website

Most people believe in moral facts – that is, there's something about torturing and murdering innocent people that makes it wrong, which goes beyond just a feeling. Yet it's hard to locate morality anywhere in the natural world. For this reason, many have understood God to be the source and arbiter of moral truth. But can morality depend on divine decree – or would that make goodness a matter of celestial whim?

In this episode, we'll be discussing the nature of moral obligation with Paul Taylor, doctoral candidate in philosophy at the University of Liverpool. There, as a university teacher, he specialises in ethics, political philosophy, and – our topic for today – philosophy of religion. As the recipient of the Robbins Rotblat Scholarship, Paul's research examines one of the oldest and most perplexing questions in moral philosophy – first posed by Plato over two thousand years ago: does God decide what is moral, or merely report moral facts?

In search of the best answer, we've been diving into Paul's unpublished work – pieces that ask not just the big meta-ethical questions, but the practical ones: what are we obliged to do, and why are we obliged to do it. As we'll discover, Taylor's work – and contemporary discussion on the Euthyphro dilemma – pushes us to think again about where morality comes from and whether we, and even God, must answer to it.

This is a live recording from our recent show – The Future of Humanity – held on 3 June 2025 at London's Royal Institution Theatre.

The event was a conversation between psychologist Steven Pinker and biologist Richard Dawkins – both previous guests on The Panpsycast – exploring the evolution of human beings and the challenges we face in the future. Richard leads the discussion, questioning Steve about his extensive catalogue of books and his contributions to psychology, sociology, and evolutionary theory. They focus a lot on the past but, eventually, get on to the future. It's a brilliant exchange, covering a wide range of topics and packed with some of Pinker's most important insights.

The first part of this podcast special is their free-flowing conversation; the second is a Q&A with the audience, hosted by Jack. Thank you to everyone who came along and made the show possible. Without further ado, here's the audio from our live show – we hope you enjoy the conversation.

Links

Steven Pinker, Website

Richard Dawkins, Website

Introduction

Given the choice, who wouldn't increase the balance in their bank account, switch into a fit and healthy body, find themselves in a meaningful career, and cultivate happiness and love in their relationships? These are preferences we all share, but few of us achieve them. Perhaps we could, if only we made better choices. We all want to make better decisions – the salad over the burger, the restful night's sleep over 'one more episode' – yet we continue to succumb to our desires. Perhaps we need some help: maybe we need something to nudge us in the right direction?

In this episode, we'll be discussing the philosophy of nudges with Professor Thomas Schramme. Chair of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool, Thomas's research focuses on moral and political philosophy and the philosophy of health and medicine. With over one hundred publications and heading several innovative projects – including 'How Does it Feel? Interpersonal Understanding and Affective Empathy' – Professor Schramme is not only an expert in his field but always communicates his ideas through accessible and engaging prose.

As we'll find in this interview, Schramme challenges some of the most prominent ideas in contemporary politics and psychology. According to Daniel Kehneman, nudges 'have changed the world'… but, asks Schramme, do they always change it for the better?

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Public Health

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Schramme, University Profile.

Thomas Schramme, Publications.

Thomas Schramme, Free-riders, collective benefit and the philosophy of mandatory vaccination.

Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, The Final Edition.

Introduction

Given the choice, who wouldn't increase the balance in their bank account, switch into a fit and healthy body, find themselves in a meaningful career, and cultivate happiness and love in their relationships? These are preferences we all share, but few of us achieve them. Perhaps we could, if only we made better choices. We all want to make better decisions – the salad over the burger, the restful night's sleep over 'one more episode' – yet we continue to succumb to our desires. Perhaps we need some help: maybe we need something to nudge us in the right direction?

In this episode, we'll be discussing the philosophy of nudges with Professor Thomas Schramme. Chair of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool, Thomas's research focuses on moral and political philosophy and the philosophy of health and medicine. With over one hundred publications and heading several innovative projects – including 'How Does it Feel? Interpersonal Understanding and Affective Empathy' – Professor Schramme is not only an expert in his field but always communicates his ideas through accessible and engaging prose.

As we'll find in this interview, Schramme challenges some of the most prominent ideas in contemporary politics and psychology. According to Daniel Kehneman, nudges 'have changed the world'… but, asks Schramme, do they always change it for the better?

This episode is produced in partnership with the Philosophy and the Future project at the University of Liverpool. For more information about philosophy at Liverpool, head over to www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy.

Contents

Part I. Public Health

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Thomas Schramme, University Profile.

Thomas Schramme, Publications.

Thomas Schramme, Free-riders, collective benefit and the philosophy of mandatory vaccination.

Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, The Final Edition.

The existence of God is the most discussed, and perhaps the most important, question in philosophy. For the majority of the world's population, God provides meaning, morality, metaphysics, and hopefully, salvation.

A rich history of scholarship defending God's existence has meant theism has long been considered to be a reasonable worldview; however, with the rise of secularism and the new atheist movement, a fiery and passionate debate has ensued: one of science vs. religion. Our question: can the two be reconciled?

In this episode, we'll be discussing God's existence with one of contemporary philosophy's most influential thinkers, Professor Richard Swinburne. Best known for his great trilogy of books – The Coherence of Theism, The Existence of God, and Faith and Reason – Professor Swinburne's impact on philosophy of religion has been enormous... from high school classrooms to university halls, every teacher knows his name and every student must wrestle with his work.

According to Swinburne, theism is the friend – and not the enemy – of science; for God 'explains everything that we observe', from the universe's existence and the scientific laws which operate within it, to its extraordinary miracles and conscious creatures. 'If we want a complete explanation of the universe', says Swinburne, 'then science needs God.'

Contents

Part I. Is there a God?

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Existence of God, Richard Swinburne (book).

Is There a God?, Richard Swinburne (book).

More books by Richard Swinburne.

The existence of God is the most discussed, and perhaps the most important, question in philosophy. For the majority of the world's population, God provides meaning, morality, metaphysics, and hopefully, salvation.

A rich history of scholarship defending God's existence has meant theism has long been considered to be a reasonable worldview; however, with the rise of secularism and the new atheist movement, a fiery and passionate debate has ensued: one of science vs. religion. Our question: can the two be reconciled?

In this episode, we'll be discussing God's existence with one of contemporary philosophy's most influential thinkers, Professor Richard Swinburne. Best known for his great trilogy of books – The Coherence of Theism, The Existence of God, and Faith and Reason – Professor Swinburne's impact on philosophy of religion has been enormous... from high school classrooms to university halls, every teacher knows his name and every student must wrestle with his work.

According to Swinburne, theism is the friend – and not the enemy – of science; for God 'explains everything that we observe', from the universe's existence and the scientific laws which operate within it, to its extraordinary miracles and conscious creatures. 'If we want a complete explanation of the universe', says Swinburne, 'then science needs God.'

Contents

Part I. Is there a God?

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Existence of God, Richard Swinburne (book).

Is There a God?, Richard Swinburne (book).

More books by Richard Swinburne.

Imagine the smile on your parent's face as you rush to meet them at the school gates, the soft heat of the sand between your toes on a first holiday, waking up in the haze of a late afternoon after dancing all night, the drop in your stomach when you realize you'll never hear their voice again. These are conscious experiences. Without them, what is there to life? In this sense, we all know what consciousness is – there's nothing we know more intimately – yet it remains one of life's greatest mysteries. Despite the incredible advances made in physical science, it doesn't seem like we're any closer to an explanation of where consciousness comes from. How is it, exactly, that the brain's 86 billion neurons give rise to conscious experience? As we'll see, our answer to this question will not only shape our understanding of the human mind, but the fabric of reality itself. – Extract from Philosophers on Consciousness

Introduction

Imagine the smile on your parent's face as you rush to meet them at the school gates, the soft heat of the sand between your toes on a first holiday, waking up in the haze of a late afternoon after dancing all night, the drop in your stomach when you realize you'll never hear their voice again. These are conscious experiences. Without them, what is there to life? In this sense, we all know what consciousness is – there's nothing we know more intimately – yet it remains one of life's greatest mysteries. Despite the incredible advances made in physical science, it doesn't seem like we're any closer to an explanation of where consciousness comes from. How is it, exactly, that the brain's 86 billion neurons give rise to conscious experience? As we'll see, our answer to this question will not only shape our understanding of the human mind, but the fabric of reality itself. – Extract from Philosophers on Consciousness

Contents

Part I. The Fabric of Reality

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Philosophers on Consciousness: Talking about the Mind (Bloomsbury; Jack Symes).

The Panpsycast is now five years old. In which time, we have never failed to release a weekly instalment of the show. We're exceptionally proud of what we've accomplished with your support. From our audiobook and upcoming book series to our big interviews and collaborations with leading organisations – it's incredible that so many of you tune in week in, week out and support us on Patreon.

Producing the podcast takes a lot of work, and every project has its peaks and valleys. The beginning of the pandemic marked a difficult time for us behind the scenes, and we've reached a point where we need to take a short step back.

So, The Panpsycast will be taking a break; set to return on November 7th, 2021. 

Throughout our hiatus, we'll be pausing all Patreon payments. So, for August, September, and October, you won't be charged anything if you've already pledged your support. We hope that you'll stick around so we can keep producing the show when we return, and we're incredibly grateful for your patience and understanding.

If you're missing us over the next three months, we've got over 250 instalments of the show in our back-catalogue, a 24-chapter Christianity audiobook on our website, and absolutely loads of bonus content over on our Patreon – including heaps of After Shows and insider interviews. If you've already been through our content… then, wow! You should really check out Philosophy Bites… just kidding. We're incredibly grateful for your support and hope the content we've released will inspire you to hit the book shops whilst we're away.

We know how much the show means to so many of you, and we haven't taken this decision lightly. Producing the show means so much to all of us, and we can't wait to get back. 

We'll see you back here on November 7th, 2021.

___

'The Cave', written and performed by Andrew Horton.

A philosophical education can feel like a long and arduous path. Sometimes you think you have seen the light; you think that you have knowledge, only to discover you knew nothing. It is times like this where the learner must examine their blind spots and begin their path to understanding once again while accepting that the next attempt might too end where it began.

The philosopher Plato likened this path to the ascent from a dark cave up into the light of the sun. He also said that those who have seen the illuminated world above have a responsibility to go back to show others the way. Today we go back, not because we have seen the sun, but because we have travelled the path enough to know we can do a little better than we did before. The blind leading the blind? Perhaps, but we might stumble into something interesting along the way.

With special thanks to the following creators for their sound samples.

InspectorJ, InspectorJ(2), InspectorJ(3), InspectorJ(4), straget, jameswrowles, JG_Booysen, ethang, womb_affliction, bennychico11, HerbertBoland, ShadyDave, and 3bagbrew.

Contents

Part I. Forms

Part II. Souls

Links

Plato, The Republic (Online).

Plato, The Republic (Book).

A philosophical education can feel like a long and arduous path. Sometimes you think you have seen the light; you think that you have knowledge, only to discover you knew nothing. It is times like this where the learner must examine their blind spots and begin their path to understanding once again while accepting that the next attempt might too end where it began.

The philosopher Plato likened this path to the ascent from a dark cave up into the light of the sun. He also said that those who have seen the illuminated world above have a responsibility to go back to show others the way. Today we go back, not because we have seen the sun, but because we have travelled the path enough to know we can do a little better than we did before. The blind leading the blind? Perhaps, but we might stumble into something interesting along the way.

With special thanks to the following creators for their sound samples.

InspectorJ, InspectorJ(2), InspectorJ(3), InspectorJ(4), straget, jameswrowles, JG_Booysen, ethang, womb_affliction, bennychico11, HerbertBoland, ShadyDave, and 3bagbrew.

Contents

Part I. Forms

Part II. Souls

Links

Plato, The Republic (Online).

Plato, The Republic (Book).

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their 'moral concerns'. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we've shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn't gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we'd all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carl Cohen, 'Why Animals Have No Rights'.

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Peter Singer, Animal Liberation.

Welcome to Episode 144 (Part I of II), where Richard Dawkins interviews Steven Pinker on the past and future of humanity.

This is a live recording from our recent show – The Future of Humanity – held on 3 June 2025 at London's Royal Institution Theatre.

The event was a conversation between psychologist Steven Pinker and biologist Richard Dawkins – both previous guests on The Panpsycast – exploring the evolution of human beings and the challenges we face in the future. Richard leads the discussion, questioning Steve about his extensive catalogue of books and his contributions to psychology, sociology, and evolutionary theory. They focus a lot on the past but, eventually, get on to the future. It's a brilliant exchange, covering a wide range of topics and packed with some of Pinker's most important insights.

The first part of this podcast special is their free-flowing conversation; the second is a Q&A with the audience, hosted by Jack. Thank you to everyone who came along and made the show possible. Without further ado, here's the audio from our live show – we hope you enjoy the conversation.

Links

Steven Pinker, Website

Richard Dawkins, Website

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their 'moral concerns'. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we've shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn't gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we'd all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carl Cohen, 'Why Animals Have No Rights'.

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Peter Singer, Animal Liberation.

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their 'moral concerns'. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we've shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn't gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we'd all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carl Cohen, 'Why Animals Have No Rights'.

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Peter Singer, Animal Liberation.

Introduction

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their 'moral concerns'. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we've shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn't gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we'd all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Carl Cohen, 'Why Animals Have No Rights'.

David DeGrazia, Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction.

Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals.

Lori Gruen, Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for Our Relationships with Animals.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals.

Philip Lymbery, Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost of Cheap Meat.

Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion.

Peter Singer, Animal Liberation.

Introduction

Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable?

Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig's work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world's most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, 'It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.'

Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return.

Global Philosophy of Religion

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Reasonable Faith

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

William Lane Craig, Popular Books.

William Lane Craig, Academic Books.

_

Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig (website).

Reasonable Faith (Facebook).

Reasonable Faith (Twitter).

_

'William Lane Craig and A. C. Grayling Debate on God & Evil'.

Introduction

Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable?

Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig's work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world's most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, 'It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.'

Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return.

Global Philosophy of Religion

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Reasonable Faith

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

William Lane Craig, Popular Books.

William Lane Craig, Academic Books.

_

Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig (website).

Reasonable Faith (Facebook).

Reasonable Faith (Twitter).

_

'William Lane Craig and A. C. Grayling Debate on God & Evil'.

Introduction

Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we've longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We've hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they?

What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change.

Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi's work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most.

Contents

Part I. The Pandemic

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Website.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Twitter.

Introduction

Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we've longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We've hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they?

What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change.

Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi's work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most.

Contents

Part I. The Pandemic

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Website.

Vittorio Bufacchi, Twitter.

Introduction

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil's turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I'm asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we've become something we'd rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it's imperative that we understand their nature.

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book)

Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book)

Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book)

Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper)

Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper)

Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One's Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper)

Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Introduction

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil's turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I'm asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we've become something we'd rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it's imperative that we understand their nature.

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book)

Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book)

Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book)

Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper)

Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper)

Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One's Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper)

Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Introduction

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil's turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I'm asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we've become something we'd rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it's imperative that we understand their nature.

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book)

Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book)

Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book)

Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper)

Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper)

Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One's Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper)

Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

We're living through a mental health crisis. In Europe, use of antidepressant has more than doubled in the past twenty years, and one in five children are now living with a recognised mental health condition. These numbers are striking, and the suffering they reflect personal, and clouded in mystery. But have we always been like this? Or has something shifted – in our politics, our culture, or perhaps in our understanding of what it means to be a person? Is the rise in mental health disorders a product of modern life, or are we simply more willing to talk about them? And what happens when system, designed to help us, ends up making us feel more broken, more stuck, and more alone?

In this episode, we'll discussing these questions with Rose Cartwright – best-known as the author of Pure, a raw and radical memoir about living with OCD, which went on to become a popular Channel 4 television drama. Today, Rose is a screenwriter on the Netflix show 3 Body Problem, and her latest book, The Maps We Carry, takes a deep dive into the territory of trauma, healing, and the limits of the medical model.

As shall see, Rose's work explores how our distress is shaped by the stories we tell – and the stories we're told – about our minds. She asks whether we need new narratives, new frameworks, and even new states of consciousness to understand and transform our inner lives. Drawing on her own experiences – talking therapies, medications, psychedelic journeys, and the spaces in between – Rose invites us to imagine a more expansive approach to mental health. What does that expansive model look like? And is it really necessary? Well – lie back on the couch, take a deep breath… and let's find out.

Links

Rose Cartwright, Website.

Rose Cartwright, The Maps We Carry.

Rose Cartwright, Pure.

Pure – TV Show.

3 Body Problem – TV Show.

Introduction

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don't we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for 'seeing things as they really are' only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean 'that's exactly how they want you to think'?

Who are 'they'?

Ah, I see.

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book)

Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book)

Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book)

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook)

Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube)

Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Introduction

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don't we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for 'seeing things as they really are' only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean 'that's exactly how they want you to think'?

Who are 'they'?

Ah, I see.

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book)

Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book)

Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book)

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook)

Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube)

Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Introduction

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don't we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for 'seeing things as they really are' only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean 'that's exactly how they want you to think'?

Who are 'they'?

Ah, I see.

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book)

Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book)

Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book)

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook)

Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube)

Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Introduction

Western civilisation is the most successful in history. Built on the shoulders of science, industry and democracy, enlightenment philosophy gave birth to the scientific revolution that has increased the quality of life for millions. The Western political drive for democracy has given rise to the largest political representation of people in history, and supranational bodies like the United Nations ensure that inequality and injustice are a thing of the past. Shortly, a Green New Deal and universal basic income will solve the remaining of society's problems.

For Kehinde Andrews, Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University, nothing could be further from the truth. In his eyes, Western civilisation is built not on Enlightenment ideals, but on the shoulders of genocide, slavery and colonialism. Since 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the West has systematically murdered, exploited, and hoarded the wealth of black and brown nations.

Unfortunately, this is not a thing of the past. Today we live not only with the legacy of Empire, but firmly within it! The age of Empire is alive and well, and its colonial, racist, white supremacist logic shapes every part of our lives today. Although the prospects look bleak, a revolution is possible. As Andrews says, Malcolm X was right: 'the ballot or the bullet, liberty or death, freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody'.

Contents

Part I. The Logic of Empire

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Kehinde Andrews, The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World.

Kehinde Andrews, Back to Black: Black Radicalism for the 21st Century.

Kehinde Andrews, Birmingham City University.

Kehinde Andrews, Twitter.

Introduction

Western civilisation is the most successful in history. Built on the shoulders of science, industry and democracy, enlightenment philosophy gave birth to the scientific revolution that has increased the quality of life for millions. The Western political drive for democracy has given rise to the largest political representation of people in history, and supranational bodies like the United Nations ensure that inequality and injustice are a thing of the past. Shortly, a Green New Deal and universal basic income will solve the remaining of society's problems.

For Kehinde Andrews, Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University, nothing could be further from the truth. In his eyes, Western civilisation is built not on Enlightenment ideals, but on the shoulders of genocide, slavery and colonialism. Since 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the West has systematically murdered, exploited, and hoarded the wealth of black and brown nations.

Unfortunately, this is not a thing of the past. Today we live not only with the legacy of Empire, but firmly within it! The age of Empire is alive and well, and its colonial, racist, white supremacist logic shapes every part of our lives today. Although the prospects look bleak, a revolution is possible. As Andrews says, Malcolm X was right: 'the ballot or the bullet, liberty or death, freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody'.

Contents

Part I. The Logic of Empire

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Kehinde Andrews, The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World.

Kehinde Andrews, Back to Black: Black Radicalism for the 21st Century.

Kehinde Andrews, Birmingham City University.

Kehinde Andrews, Twitter.

Introduction

Hinduism is the world's oldest living religion, and it won't be disappearing any time soon. This ancient worldview currently boasts over one billion devotees, making it the third most popular religion in the world. Despite its popularity, scholarship in philosophy of religion continues to ignore its influence, with academic papers on the Abrahamic faiths vastly outnumbering those devoted to Hinduism. Our classrooms don't paint a prettier picture. In UK schools, Hinduism is scarcely taught in comparison to the other major world religions, with reports showing that educators lack the confidence and subject knowledge to teach Hinduism properly. Fortunately, thanks to the work of scholars such as Jessica Frazier, things are changing.

Jessica Frazier is Lecturer in Theology and Religion at Trinity College, Oxford and Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Frazier is one of the world's leading experts on Hindu philosophy, reshaping and globalising philosophy of religion for the 21st century. As well as being the founding editor of the Journal of Hindu Studies, she is best known for her books Reality, Religion and Passion, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies, and most recently, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality. Far from your ivory tower academic, Jessica is a committed public philosopher, broadening the horizons of academics and the general public through her captivating writing style and regular media appearances. 

As we will see, Frazier's work demonstrates Hinduism's rich and insightful philosophical tradition; a tradition that can shed light on life's greatest questions: from the nature of life, god and suffering, to the fundamental structure of reality.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Fundamental Reality

Part II. Death, Evil, and Suffering

Links

Jessica Frazier, About (webpage).

Jessica Frazier, Reality, Religion, and Passion (book).

Jessica Frazier, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (book).

Jessica Frazier, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (book).

Jessica Frazier, Categorisation in Indian Philosophy: Thinking Inside the Box (book).

Jessica Frazier, BBC In Our Times: Hindu Creation (podcast).

Jessica Frazier, History of Philosophy without Any Gaps (podcast).

Introduction

Hinduism is the world's oldest living religion, and it won't be disappearing any time soon. This ancient worldview currently boasts over one billion devotees, making it the third most popular religion in the world. Despite its popularity, scholarship in philosophy of religion continues to ignore its influence, with academic papers on the Abrahamic faiths vastly outnumbering those devoted to Hinduism. Our classrooms don't paint a prettier picture. In UK schools, Hinduism is scarcely taught in comparison to the other major world religions, with reports showing that educators lack the confidence and subject knowledge to teach Hinduism properly. Fortunately, thanks to the work of scholars such as Jessica Frazier, things are changing.

Jessica Frazier is Lecturer in Theology and Religion at Trinity College, Oxford and Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Frazier is one of the world's leading experts on Hindu philosophy, reshaping and globalising philosophy of religion for the 21st century. As well as being the founding editor of the Journal of Hindu Studies, she is best known for her books Reality, Religion and Passion, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies, and most recently, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality. Far from your ivory tower academic, Jessica is a committed public philosopher, broadening the horizons of academics and the general public through her captivating writing style and regular media appearances. 

As we will see, Frazier's work demonstrates Hinduism's rich and insightful philosophical tradition; a tradition that can shed light on life's greatest questions: from the nature of life, god and suffering, to the fundamental structure of reality.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Fundamental Reality

Part II. Death, Evil, and Suffering

Links

Jessica Frazier, About (webpage).

Jessica Frazier, Reality, Religion, and Passion (book).

Jessica Frazier, The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (book).

Jessica Frazier, Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (book).

Jessica Frazier, Categorisation in Indian Philosophy: Thinking Inside the Box (book).

Jessica Frazier, BBC In Our Times: Hindu Creation (podcast).

Jessica Frazier, History of Philosophy without Any Gaps (podcast).

In Plato's ideal state, the wisest amongst the populous would be selected to rule. These rulers, who could see beyond the shadows to glimpse the light of truth, would be trusted to make choices to the benefit of all. The gender of these leaders, said Plato, was not to matter – despite him labelling them 'the philosopher kings'.

That ideal was never realised but the conversation started by Plato and his contemporaries inspired what many think of as the birth of 'Western Philosophy'. The central tenets being: the nature of reality, truth and knowledge, how to live the good life, and most importantly, the practice of prudence and the pursuit of justice.

To the Ancient Greeks, Prudence and Justice were personified as females. The term 'philosophy' itself contains the Greek word 'Sophia' meaning wisdom – which was also personified in the female form. Thus, it is a great irony that much of the history of philosophy has focused on the achievements of men: at its lowest points using its own intellectualising to oppress women. Prudence and justice seemed only to exist for men.

However, there have always been women concerning themselves with the big questions, seeing beyond the darkness and shadows that kept their societies stuck in male-centric thinking. Now more than ever, there are people dedicated to pointing the spotlight on women's ideas, women's lives, and women's achievements. Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting call them, 'the philosopher queens'.

Contents

Part I. Women in Philosophy

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (IndieBound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Unbound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Amazon).

In Plato's ideal state, the wisest amongst the populous would be selected to rule. These rulers, who could see beyond the shadows to glimpse the light of truth, would be trusted to make choices to the benefit of all. The gender of these leaders, said Plato, was not to matter – despite him labelling them 'the philosopher kings'.

That ideal was never realised but the conversation started by Plato and his contemporaries inspired what many think of as the birth of 'Western Philosophy'. The central tenets being: the nature of reality, truth and knowledge, how to live the good life, and most importantly, the practice of prudence and the pursuit of justice.

To the Ancient Greeks, Prudence and Justice were personified as females. The term 'philosophy' itself contains the Greek word 'Sophia' meaning wisdom – which was also personified in the female form. Thus, it is a great irony that much of the history of philosophy has focused on the achievements of men: at its lowest points using its own intellectualising to oppress women. Prudence and justice seemed only to exist for men.

However, there have always been women concerning themselves with the big questions, seeing beyond the darkness and shadows that kept their societies stuck in male-centric thinking. Now more than ever, there are people dedicated to pointing the spotlight on women's ideas, women's lives, and women's achievements. Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting call them, 'the philosopher queens'.

Contents

Part I. Women in Philosophy

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (IndieBound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Unbound).

The Philosopher Queens, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting (Amazon).

'History has ended, and capitalism is the last man standing. The innovations and freedoms enjoyed by the Global North have shown that the free market is the only viable economic system; it is almost impossible to imagine a coherent alternative.'

This was certainly the view of Margaret Thatcher, who was elected as Prime Minister amidst the turbulence of 1980s' Britain. For many, unleashed from the shackles of pre-1970s' economics, Thatcher restored order and long-term prosperity to a country in crisis: solving industrial disputes, taking on the unions, cutting income tax, and creating a nation of entrepreneurs and homeowners.

As we will hear, economic commentator Grace Blakeley has little sympathy for this view. For Blakeley, neoliberalism was a system geared towards maximising share profits over goods and services: a dangerous economic model that puts shareholders first, customers second, and workers last.

As we left 'the golden age of capitalism', the rising tides of climate catastrophe, global poverty, and vast increases in income inequality eventually came knocking at the doors of world governments... but nobody answered. As prime ministers and presidents pretended they weren't home, a guest arrived who hadn't the courtesy of knocking. In 2008, the world watched on as the market collapsed in the biggest economic crash since 1929. The house of cards had fallen – the contradictions of Western, free market economics had caught up with us. After the crash, governments announced £500bn in spending as they bailed out the world's banks. Now, history repeats itself once more in the wake of the Corona Crash.

Contents

Part I. A World in Crisis

Part II. A Green Future, Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Grace Blakeley, Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation

Grace Blakeley, The Corona Crash: How the Pandemic Will Change Capitalism

We're living through a mental health crisis. In Europe, use of antidepressant has more than doubled in the past twenty years, and one in five children are now living with a recognised mental health condition. These numbers are striking, and the suffering they reflect personal, and clouded in mystery. But have we always been like this? Or has something shifted – in our politics, our culture, or perhaps in our understanding of what it means to be a person? Is the rise in mental health disorders a product of modern life, or are we simply more willing to talk about them? And what happens when system, designed to help us, ends up making us feel more broken, more stuck, and more alone?

In this episode, we'll discussing these questions with Rose Cartwright – best-known as the author of Pure, a raw and radical memoir about living with OCD, which went on to become a popular Channel 4 television drama. Today, Rose is a screenwriter on the Netflix show 3 Body Problem, and her latest book, The Maps We Carry, takes a deep dive into the territory of trauma, healing, and the limits of the medical model.

As shall see, Rose's work explores how our distress is shaped by the stories we tell – and the stories we're told – about our minds. She asks whether we need new narratives, new frameworks, and even new states of consciousness to understand and transform our inner lives. Drawing on her own experiences – talking therapies, medications, psychedelic journeys, and the spaces in between – Rose invites us to imagine a more expansive approach to mental health. What does that expansive model look like? And is it really necessary? Well – lie back on the couch, take a deep breath… and let's find out.

Links

Rose Cartwright, Website.

Rose Cartwright, The Maps We Carry.

Rose Cartwright, Pure.

Pure – TV Show.

3 Body Problem – TV Show.

'History has ended, and capitalism is the last man standing. The innovations and freedoms enjoyed by the Global North have shown that the free market is the only viable economic system; it is almost impossible to imagine a coherent alternative.'

This was certainly the view of Margaret Thatcher, who was elected as Prime Minister amidst the turbulence of 1980s' Britain. For many, unleashed from the shackles of pre-1970s' economics, Thatcher restored order and long-term prosperity to a country in crisis: solving industrial disputes, taking on the unions, cutting income tax, and creating a nation of entrepreneurs and homeowners.

As we will hear, economic commentator Grace Blakeley has little sympathy for this view. For Blakeley, neoliberalism was a system geared towards maximising share profits over goods and services: a dangerous economic model that puts shareholders first, customers second, and workers last.

As we left 'the golden age of capitalism', the rising tides of climate catastrophe, global poverty, and vast increases in income inequality eventually came knocking at the doors of world governments... but nobody answered. As prime ministers and presidents pretended they weren't home, a guest arrived who hadn't the courtesy of knocking. In 2008, the world watched on as the market collapsed in the biggest economic crash since 1929. The house of cards had fallen – the contradictions of Western, free market economics had caught up with us. After the crash, governments announced £500bn in spending as they bailed out the world's banks. Now, history repeats itself once more in the wake of the Corona Crash.

Contents

Part I. A World in Crisis

Part II. A Green Future, Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Grace Blakeley, Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation

Grace Blakeley, The Corona Crash: How the Pandemic Will Change Capitalism

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will's ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation. 

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. 'The Will' will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer's Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, Essay and Aphorisms (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will's ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation. 

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. 'The Will' will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer's Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, Essay and Aphorisms (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will's ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation. 

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. 'The Will' will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer's Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, Essay and Aphorisms (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will's ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation. 

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. 'The Will' will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer's Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, Essay and Aphorisms (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Introduction

I am Ixion, strapped to the burning wheel of fire in the underworld that is my life. A bleak assessment to be sure, but I put it to you that it is the truth. For what is life if not an ever-swinging pendulum of pain and boredom, kept in motion by the insatiable will? I constantly strive for the things that I want, but what I want is never enough; long-term satisfaction is tedium elegantly veiled. This alone is a cruel trick to the individual, but in a world of many, it is the ultimate tragedy.

The wills of the multitude cannot avoid the inevitable conflict, as one will's ends treats another as its means. The tiger feasts on the wild dog, who feasts on the baby turtle, all to propagate life so that future generations can play out this tragic scene ad infinitum. In human life - save rare moments of true compassion - we are little better. Yet, there is a hint of salvation. 

What if we all realised that, at our core, we are the same will? What if we could make the wheel of Ixion stand still, if only for a moment? Would it be possible to see beauty? Would it be possible to see to fellow sufferers rather than fellow egos? I suspect it might, but I am afraid that I, and many others, are easily fooled. 'The Will' will do as it pleases, and not what pleases us.

Contents

Part I. The Life of Arthur Schopenhauer

Part II. The World as Representation

Part III. The World as Will

Part IV. Suffering, Aesthetics, and Ethics

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer's Metaphysics (book)

Christopher Janaway, Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction (book)

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, Essay and Aphorisms (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation — Vol. 1 (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics (book)

Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason and Other Writings (book)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Intern Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer (online)

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don't listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky (pdf).

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time (Joseph Frank).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don't listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky (pdf).

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time (Joseph Frank).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don't listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky (pdf).

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time (Joseph Frank).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don't listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky (pdf).

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time (Joseph Frank).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Food is one of the most universal and essential parts of human life. From gourmet steaks to the everyday, humble, packet of crisps, food consumption is everywhere. But what do we actually know about how our food is grown? How is it processed? And how does it ends up on our supermarket shelves or in our restaurants and takeaways? While we may look back and think traditional food customs are more often in harmony with the natural environment, most of us today rely on a complex global food web of production, distribution, consumption and disposal. But how does it work, and what can philosophy say about food?

Joining our discussion on food philosophy today is philosopher Julian Baggini. Baggini is an expert in popular philosophy with Sunday Times best-selling books such as How the World Thinks, How to Think Like a Philosopher and The Pig That Wants to be Eaten. He has served as the academic director of the Royal Institute of philosophy and is a member of the Food Ethics Council. He has written for The Guardian, the Times Literary Supplement, the Financial Times, and Prospect Magazine, as well as a plethora of academic journals and think tanks.

In his wide-ranging and definitive new book, How the World Eats, Baggini argues that the need for a better understanding of how we feed ourselves has never been more urgent. Baggini delves into the best and worst food practises around the world in a huge array of different societies, past and present-exploring cutting edge technologies, the ethics and health of ultra processed food and the effectiveness of our food governance. His goal: to extract a food philosophy of essential principles, on which to build a food system fit for the 21st century and beyond. What is that food philosophy? Let's tuck in, and find out.

Links

Julian Baggini, Website

Julian Baggini, How the World Eats: A Global Food Philosophy

Introduction

I write this in secret, hoping that these notes be passed on outside Russia. The author of the diary and the diary itself may, of course, be imaginary. Nevertheless, it is clear that such persons as the Underground Man do exist in our society.

We have tried to expose him to the public but so far there has been no luck. If only people knew of the power of the Underground. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living, a generation waiting patiently for the right moment. His notes were discovered long after his passing, written on tatty paper in cheap ink, covered in cigarette burns and dust….

Don't listen to the ants who would rather slave over the anthill than accept the truth. These notes are yours now, spread them to every corner of the globe. Long live the Underground!

Contents

Part I. The Life of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Part II. Underground

Part III. Apropos of the Wet Snow

Part IV. Body and Blood

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky (pdf).

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature (book).

Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time (Joseph Frank).

The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, James P. Scanlan (paper).

Symbolism of Rats and Mice in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, Michael Haltresht (paper).

Notes from Underground, Dostoevsky - Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (book).

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore. 

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners. 

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, "we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!" His head against the pavement, he didn't move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, "sorry, I don't have any change." The man replied, "It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha."

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Book.

Buddhist Ethics: A Very Short Introduction. Book.

Why Buddhism Is True, Robert Wright. Book.

The Foundations of Buddhism, Rupert Gethin. Book.

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

What the Buddha Taught, Walpola Rahula. Pdf.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Introduction

Jack was walking down a street. It was a day like any other. As ever, his mind was a flurry of thoughts, worries, and anxieties, stimulated by coffee and the bright light of his phone. In a bid to relieve his stress, he put his phone in his pocket, and tried to notice the details he would usually ignore. 

As he walked past the pharmacy, he saw a sick man coughing and spluttering; he was throwing medication back to stop his disease from decaying his body. Jack kept walking and came across an old woman waiting at a bus stop. She was fragile, crooked, and anxious; clearly age had taken much from her. Crossing the road away from the bus stop, he waited for the traffic to pass. Driving slowly past him was a hearse: a coffin on full display, surrounded by flowers, proceeded by a stream of weeping mourners. 

Jack fell to his knees, overwhelmed with despair, "we all get sick, we all age, and we all die. We cannot escape this fate!" His head against the pavement, he didn't move for almost an hour. When he got up, he was approached by a homeless man, to whom he said, "sorry, I don't have any change." The man replied, "It is you who needs a little change, young monk. I know why you fall to your knees in despair: the inescapable suffering of life weighs on us all. Let me tell you of someone who was once like you, who tried to remove suffering from our minds… let me tell you the story of Siddhartha Gotama, The Buddha."

Contents

Part I. The Life of Siddhārtha Gautama

Part II. The Four Noble Truths

Part III. The Cycle of Life

Part IV. The Eightfold Path

Part V. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Book.

Buddhist Ethics: A Very Short Introduction. Book.

Why Buddhism Is True, Robert Wright. Book.

The Foundations of Buddhism, Rupert Gethin. Book.

Buddhism, The Great Courses. Lecture series.

What the Buddha Taught, Walpola Rahula. Pdf.

The Problem of Mindfulness, Sahanika Ratnayake. Online essay.

Buddha, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.

Buddha, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Webpage.