Forum for Philosophy

Beverley Clack / Molly Macdonald / John Skorupski Listen here or on YouTube There is a rich tradition of claiming therapeutic powers for philosophy, but if philosophy is the love of wisdom, is ignorance bliss? Is philosophy only about sharp arguments and subtle distinctions, or can it help us find better ways to live? Join us as we discuss whether […]

Christine Battersby/ Christopher Janaway/ Christopher Ryan Listen here or on YouTube Schopenhauer’s work prefigured important developments in philosophy, psychology, and political thought. On the two-hundredth anniversary of the publication of his The World as Will and Representation, we examine the life and work of Arthur Schopenhauer. How can we better understand his relationship with Eastern philosophy? How can his work help us […]

Christine Battersby/ Christopher Janaway/ Christopher Ryan   Listen here or on YouTube   Schopenhauer’s work prefigured important developments in philosophy, psychology, and political thought. On the two-hundredth anniversary of the publication of his The World as Will and Representation, we examine the life and work of Arthur Schopenhauer. How can we better understand his relationship with Eastern … Continued

Liam Kofi Bright/ Brian Kelly/ Meera Sabaratnam Listen to the recording here or on YouTube W. E. B. Du Bois is usually remembered as a sociologist and civil rights campaigner, and his analysis of race and racism continues to shape the way social scientists think about these issues today. But a genuine polymath, he was also a skilled philosopher and […]

Liam Kofi Bright/ Brian Kelly/ Meera Sabaratnam   Listen to the recording here or on YouTube   W. E. B. Du Bois is usually remembered as a sociologist and civil rights campaigner, and his analysis of race and racism continues to shape the way social scientists think about these issues today. But a genuine polymath, … Continued

Ian Ground/ Stephen Mulhall/ Chon Tejedor Watch the video or listen to the recording One of the twentieth century’s greatest philosophers, Wittgenstein published only one book. To celebrate its centenary, we revisit Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. An unusual work of philosophy by any standard, it was written on the front lines during World War I and purported to distinguish sense from nonsense. Wittgenstein felt that […]

Ian Ground/ Stephen Mulhall/ Chon Tejedor   Watch the video or listen to the recording   One of the twentieth century’s greatest philosophers, Wittgenstein published only one book. To celebrate its centenary, we revisit Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. An unusual work of philosophy by any standard, it was written on the front lines during World War I and purported to … Continued

Julian Baggini/ Jesper Kallestrup/ Chris Norris/ Sarah Sawyer Brain in a Vat and Other Stories: A Celebration of Hilary Putnam Listen to the recording here Does perception give me any reason to believe in an external world, or could I be a ‘brain in a vat’ that is fed information by a malicious (or benevolent) scientist? And if I were such […]

Julian Baggini/ Jesper Kallestrup/ Chris Norris/ Sarah Sawyer   Listen to the recording here   Does perception give me any reason to believe in an external world, or could I be a ‘brain in a vat’ that is fed information by a malicious (or benevolent) scientist? And if I were such a brain, could I … Continued