In this episode we explore the thought of ethicist and philosopher Mary Midgley. Midgley was a key scholar of common-sense morality, and the most important ethicist of animals in the last century. Her ideas have enduring significance for people, animals and nature today.

GUEST and Host

Greg McElwain is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the College of Idaho. He is a leading expert on the thought of Mary Midgley, and author of Mary Midgley: An Introduction (Bloomsbury, 2020), https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/mary-midgley-9781350047563/. His forthcoming book is Mary Midgley on What Matters: Conversations on Science, Ethics, and Nature (Bloomsbury, 2026).

William S. Lynn, PhD (Bill) is the founder of PAN Works and host of the PAN Thinks podcast. https://panworks.io/team/name/william-lynn/

Production is by Gary Sheer. https://garysheerphotography.com/

FROM THIS EPISODE

Clare Mac Cumhaill and Rachael Wiseman, Metaphysical Animals:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617233/metaphysical-animals-by-clare-mac-cumhaill-and-rachael-wiseman/

Benjamin Lipscomb, The Women Are Up to Something:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-women-are-up-to-something-9780197541074?cc=us&lang=en&

Notes from a Biscuit Tin:

https://www.notesfromabiscuittin.com/

Greg McElwain’s work:

https://gregorysmcelwain.academia.edu/

Nat Dyer’s Obituary of Mary Midgley

https://philosophynow.org/issues/140/Mary_Midgley_1919-2018

***

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pan-thinks/id1870689174

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@panworksio

🌐 Learn More: https://panworks.io/

🐾 Support: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-for-animal-wellbeing