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Although what constitutes justice may vary depending on culture or historical context, all forms of justice are built on a foundation of moral assumptions that include ideas about ethics, fairness and the law. Philosophers have often debated the nature of both morality and justice and their relationship with each other and in this collection we explore some of the most influential ideas on the topics from Kant to Bentham and investigate problems such as can inequalities be justified, provided they are to the benefit of the worst off?Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ moral philosophy and justice • Plato on law and self-interest • utilitarianism debates • Kantian ethics • distributive justice, fairness and inequality (Rawls) • libertarian entitlement, taxation and coercion (Nozick)This podcast introduces major philosophical debates about morality and justice, focusing on how ethical assumptions shape ideas of fairness, law, and political obligation. Drawing on influential thinkers from the history of philosophy and modern political theory, it examines why people obey laws and whether justice is grounded in genuine moral character or in self-interest and fear of punishment.
Across the episodes, the show surveys prominent approaches to moral reasoning, including utilitarian views that assess actions and institutions by their consequences, and Kantian ethics, which emphasizes duty and principles in determining what morality requires. It also explores competing theories of distributive justice—how benefits, burdens, and opportunities should be shared within a society. Questions about whether and when social and economic inequalities can be justified are considered, including proposals that aim to remove the effects of bias when designing social rules.
The podcast contrasts egalitarian arguments for structuring society to protect those who are worst off with libertarian critiques that prioritize individual rights and property, including challenges to redistributive taxation. Overall, the series frames justice as an ongoing philosophical problem connecting personal morality, political legitimacy, and the design of social institutions, presented as part of an academic philosophy course context.
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Plato on justice and self interest 2011-Jun-13 17 minutes |
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Transcript -- Plato on justice and self interest 2011-Jun-13 |
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Classical and modern utilitarianism 2011-Jun-13 17 minutes |
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Transcript -- Classical and modern utilitarianism 2011-Jun-13 |
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Kant's moral philosophy 2011-Jun-13 13 minutes |
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Transcript -- Kant's moral philosophy 2011-Jun-13 |
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Rawls on distributive justice 2011-Jun-13 8 minutes |
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Transcript -- Rawls on distributive justice 2011-Jun-13 |
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Nozick on Libertarian theories of justice 2011-Jun-13 7 minutes |
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Transcript -- Nozick on Libertarian theories of justice 2011-Jun-13 |