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 • Plato on law, self-interest, and compliance • utilitarianism (classical vs modern) • Kantian ethics • distributive justice and fairness (Rawls) • libertarian justice, taxation, rights (Nozick)This podcast introduces major philosophical approaches to morality and justice and examines how ethical assumptions shape ideas of fairness, law, and social order. Drawing on influential thinkers in the Western tradition, it explores how moral principles might justify or criticize legal and political arrangements, and how different theories explain why people should act justly.
Across the discussions, the podcast contrasts competing answers to questions such as whether obedience to laws stems from genuine virtue or from self-interest and fear of punishment, and what it would mean for a society to be fair. It surveys utilitarian reasoning, including distinctions between classical and more recent forms, and considers how assessing actions by their consequences differs from duty-based ethics. It also examines Kant’s moral philosophy, focusing on the idea that morality is grounded in rational principles rather than contingent outcomes.
The podcast then turns to modern political philosophy, addressing disputes about distributive justice and the legitimacy of inequality. It considers arguments for designing social institutions to minimize bias and arbitrariness in the distribution of advantages, as well as libertarian critiques that emphasize individual rights and strong limits on state redistribution. Questions about taxation, entitlement, and the moral status of coercion are used to illustrate broader disagreements about what justice requires and what governments may permissibly do.
Some items provide transcripts alongside the audio, indicating an educational format connected to an Open University philosophy course.
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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 |