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 theories of justice • Plato on law, self-interest, retribution • Utilitarianism: classical vs modern • Kantian ethics • Rawlsian distributive justice, fairness, bias, inequality • Nozickian libertarian justice, taxation, forced labourThis podcast introduces major philosophical approaches to justice and morality, focusing on how ethical assumptions shape ideas of fairness, rights, and the law across different societies and historical periods. It uses well-known debates in moral and political philosophy to examine why people obey laws, whether justice aligns with self-interest, and how moral motivation might depend on character versus fear of punishment.
Across the episodes, listeners encounter contrasting frameworks for evaluating actions and institutions. Utilitarianism is explored in both classical and modern forms, emphasizing how different versions assess consequences and the overall good. Kantian moral philosophy provides a duty-based alternative, examining morality in terms of principles and obligations rather than outcomes.
The podcast also turns to questions of distributive justice: how resources, opportunities, and social advantages should be arranged, and whether inequalities can be justified—especially if they benefit those who are worst off. Competing political theories are presented through influential modern thinkers, including egalitarian arguments for designing fair social rules that reduce bias, and libertarian critiques that prioritize individual rights and challenge the legitimacy of redistributive taxation.
Some entries provide transcripts of the audio discussions, indicating the material is also available in written form as part of an educational course on philosophy.
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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 |