RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
A show presenting the best new scholarship in political and social philosophy, featuring lively conversations with leading thinkers. Join hosts Jeffrey Howard and Emily McTernan as they explore some of the thorniest ethical questions of our time.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Political/social philosophy scholarship • Duties to global poor, future • AI predictive policing ethics • Discrimination law, privilege • Privacy, morally wrongful questioning • Political lying, democratic harmThis podcast features conversations with academic philosophers about recent scholarship in political and social philosophy, using contemporary controversies as entry points into larger ethical and institutional questions. The hosts speak with leading thinkers to unpack arguments, clarify key concepts, and test how different moral frameworks apply to real-world policy and public life.
Across the episodes, the discussions focus on duties and obligations in conditions of scarcity and uncertainty, including critiques of influential approaches to doing good and how we should think about responsibilities to the global poor and future generations. The show also examines the moral limits of state power and modern governance, especially where new technologies shape decision-making, such as the use of big data and AI to direct policing and the potential for these tools to intensify unfairness or undermine legitimacy.
Other recurring themes include equality, rights, and the boundaries of respectful civic interaction. The podcast explores how discrimination law should identify protected groups and whether social advantage changes what it means to be wrongfully discriminated against. It also considers interpersonal ethics in everyday communication, including when asking certain questions can infringe privacy or violate moral rights. Finally, it addresses political ethics and democratic culture by analyzing the harms of lying in public life and how certain forms of deception can damage shared institutions and trust.
Overall, listeners can expect careful argument-driven dialogue linking philosophical theory to pressing issues in law, technology, and politics.
| Episodes: |
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“Ineffective Altruism” with Leif Wenar 2026-Feb-25 34 minutes |
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"Predictive Policing in the Age of AI" with Renée Jørgensen 2026-Feb-18 36 minutes |
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“Discrimination and Privilege” with Cécile Laborde 2026-Feb-11 33 minutes |
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“Don’t Ask That!” with Sam Berstler 2026-Feb-04 41 minutes |
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"Trump’s Lies” with Jeremy Waldron 2026-Feb-04 35 minutes |
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Introducing Philosophically Speaking 2026-Feb-02 2 minutes |