TrueSciPhi

Podcast Profile: Interviews with Philosophers

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5 episodes
2008
Median: 31 minutes
Collection: Philosophy

Description (podcaster-provided):

Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):

This podcast presents brief interviews with philosophers affiliated with Oxford, offering accessible introductions to a range of philosophical topics through conversation. Across the episodes, the focus is on clarifying core concepts, outlining how particular areas of philosophy are defined, and identifying questions that continue to shape contemporary debate.

Several interviews address foundational issues in theoretical philosophy, including what metaphysics is, where it comes from, and why classic metaphysical problems persist. Another recurring theme is rationality: what it means to have reasons, how rational requirements relate to decision-making and belief, and how philosophers frame “the normative question” about what one ought to do or believe.

The podcast also extends into forward-looking and applied areas. It examines global catastrophic risks and the kinds of large-scale threats that might endanger humanity, alongside discussion of influential arguments such as simulation theory. Ethical inquiry is explored both through historical engagement and modern practical dilemmas. One strand considers ancient moral philosophy via Aristotle, introducing central ideas in virtue and ethical theory. Another looks at applied ethics in light of developments in the biosciences, including debates about human enhancement and the moral questions raised by emerging technologies.

Overall, listeners can expect succinct, interview-based explanations from academic specialists, combining conceptual overview with examples of enduring and timely philosophical problems in metaphysics, rationality, risk, and ethics.