Description (podcaster-provided):
Practical Ethics Bites is a series of audio podcasts on practical ethics targeted specifically at pupils studying philosophy in UK schools. It is produced by the team behind the popular podcast Philosophy Bites, David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton. Philosophy Bites has had over 21 million downloads. David Edmonds is a Senior Research Associate at Oxford’s Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics and all the interviewees are academics linked to the Uehiro Centre. The series aims to be a free educational resource for teachers. Each interview is around 20 minutes long.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Ethics of sexual orientation • Genetic engineering on embryos • Just war theory • Abortion • Sex-selection ethics • Free will and moral responsibility • Euthanasia • Virtue ethics"Practical Ethics Bites" is a podcast series produced by David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton, who are also behind the well-known "Philosophy Bites" podcast. The series is particularly aimed at students in UK schools studying philosophy, providing a range of discussions on practical ethics. Each episode, lasting about 20 minutes, features interviews with academics associated with the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at Oxford University, focusing on various ethical dilemmas and considerations.
The podcast delves into a broad array of topics central to contemporary ethical debates. Sexual orientation and the ethics surrounding it are recurring themes, exploring questions about the nature of sexual preferences and the moral implications of sexual identities. Another significant focus is the ethics of reproductive technologies, such as genetic engineering on embryos and sex-selection practices, examining both the potential benefits and the moral controversies these technologies engender.
Moreover, the podcast addresses contentious issues like abortion and euthanasia, discussing the conflicting rights and interests involved and whether such practices should be legally permissible. The notion of moral responsibility is also a critical subject, with considerations of how free will might influence our blameworthiness for our actions.
The series explores fundamental ethical theories as well, including virtue ethics, elucidating their principles and applications. Additionally, it tackles complex questions about the morality of war, scrutinizing whether any form of warfare can ever be deemed just.
Overall, "Practical Ethics Bites" serves as an educational resource by presenting a robust analysis of current ethical challenges and debates, making them accessible and comprehensible for students and educators alike. The discussions are designed not just to inform but also to provoke thoughtful consideration and discussion among listeners, grounding theoretical ethics in pragmatic, real-world contexts.
Episodes: |
Can you choose to be gay? 2015-Jul-14 10 minutes |
The ethics of sexuality 2014-Nov-04 17 minutes |
Should we allow genetic engineering on embryos? 2014-Oct-28 19 minutes |
Is there such a thing as a just war? 2014-Oct-21 23 minutes |
The rights and wrongs of abortion 2014-Oct-14 18 minutes |
Choosing the sex of your child 2014-Oct-06 15 minutes |
Free will, and its connection to moral responsibility 2014-Sep-29 20 minutes |
Should euthanasia be legal? 2014-Jul-22 21 minutes |
What is virtue ethics? 2014-Sep-22 18 minutes |