Philosophy
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Full Podcast Archive, Philosophy
EP13: What if There’s No Meaning to Life? (On Benatar’s The Human Predicament)
Listen nowThis week we ask probably the most commonly uttered philosophical question: is there a meaning to life? To help us approach an answer, we read the first few chapters of philosopher David Benatar’s The Human Predicament.
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Full Podcast Archive, Philosophy, Science
EP11: Is Post-Truth Actually Good? (On Fuller’s Post-Truth as Power Game)
Listen nowWe revisit a curious academic debate in science and technology studies, or STS. After 2016, some claimed that leftist humanities scholars played a role in creating the post-truth moment. And Steve Fuller argued that there’s nothing wrong with that.
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Full Podcast Archive, Philosophy, Political Theory
EP8: Should the Knowledgable Rule? (On Jason Brennan’s “Against Democracy”)
Listen nowOn this week’s episode, we read Jason Brennan’s 2016 book, “Against Democracy”. In it, Brennan offers a controversial argument for replacing democracy with an “epistocracy” – rule by the knowledgeable.
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Ethics, Full Podcast Archive, Philosophy
EP7: Should We Support Affirmative Action? (On Pojman’s Case Against Affirmative Action)
Listen nowOn this episode, we read Louis Pojman’s 1998 article, “The Case Against Affirmative Action”. We debate whether any of his arguments against the practice of affirmative action have any merit from the perspective of left politics. We also consider whether class-based affirmative action is preferable.
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Ethics, Full Podcast Archive, Philosophy
EP4: Is it Morally Wrong to Prefer Attractive Partners? (On ‘Lookism’ and William D’Alessandro)
Listen nowIf your partner is attractive, then you might be part of the problem. At least, that’s what one edgelord philosopher is suggesting. We discuss William D’Alessandro’s forthcoming paper, “Is It Bad to Prefer Attractive Partners?” (in the Journal of the American Philosophical Association). Is this “lookism” a kind of unjustified and harmful discrimination? If it is, is it realistic to expect us to modify our personal preferences for justice-oriented reasons?