Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
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 theories • Plato on law, self-interest, retribution • Kantian ethics • Utilitarianism: classical vs modern • Distributive justice (Rawls) • Libertarian justice, taxation debates (Nozick)This podcast explores major philosophical approaches to justice and morality, treating questions about fairness and the law as grounded in underlying ethical assumptions. Drawing on material associated with an Open University philosophy course, it introduces influential thinkers and contrasts their views on why people obey laws, what makes actions right or wrong, and how societies should distribute benefits and burdens.
Across the episodes, the discussion moves between ancient and modern perspectives. It considers whether justice is pursued for its own sake or primarily out of self-interest and fear of punishment, and how that debate shapes ideas about civic life and legal authority. The podcast also examines utilitarianism, comparing classical and later versions of the theory and using that comparison to clarify how consequences, happiness, and overall welfare are weighed in moral decision-making.
A further theme is duty-based ethics, with attention to Kant’s moral philosophy and the attempt to ground morality in principles that apply universally rather than in outcomes. From there, the focus shifts to political philosophy and distributive justice, exploring how a fair society might be designed to reduce bias and arbitrariness in social arrangements, including advantages linked to talent or circumstance. It also presents libertarian critiques of redistributive policies, raising questions about individual rights, entitlement, and whether taxation can be understood as a form of coercion.
Some entries provide transcripts of the audio discussions, indicating that the same core content is available in both spoken and written form.
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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 |