Philosophy For Our Times

Is thought a distraction from reality?

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From the birth of reason to Descartes' "I think, therefore I am"; Western culture has placed thought at the centre of what it is to be human. We spend much of our time planning the future, reflecting on the past, puzzling about what to do, and talking about it with others. But might this be a mistake? Should culture, as Nietzsche proposes, 'free itself from the seduction of words and thought'? Should we focus on experience, and live a bit more? Or is this romantic nonsense?

Bestselling author Miranda Keeling, psychologist Steve Taylor and prison philosopher Andy West decide: to think, or not to think? Janne Teller hosts. 

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Is language a flawed prism standing in the way of our understanding of the world?

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For much of the 20th century language was seen as central to our understanding of the world. 'The limits of my language mean the limits of my world', argued Wittgenstein. 'There is nothing outside of the text' claimed Derrida. But now it seems language is being jettisoned by philosophers as either containing puzzles that are insoluble, or irrelevant to the real issues facing us. The American philosopher, Hilary Putman, went as far as to say "the project to describe the relationship between language and the world is a shambles". 

Should we conclude that the puzzle of language and its relation to the world is not solvable? Or is it essential we crack the problem and not give up? Or should we focus, not on the medium but, on the message and return to an era before the so-called 'linguistic turn' when language was largely seen as a transparent vehicle of our beliefs?

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What is behind the polarising debate on gender? How can we navigate the new politics of gender identity... if at all?

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Gender identity is the hot topic, but many argue that we must remain grounded in biological sex. Join philosopher Kathleen Stock as she seeks collaboration between trans rights activists and feminists to move towards less polarised future.

Kathleen Mary Linn Stock OBE is a British philosopher and writer. She was a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex until 2021. She has published academic work on aesthetics, fiction, imagination, sexual objectification, and sexual orientation.

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In a world that places a premium on independence, are we undervaluing the power of community?

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In this engrossing debate, we examine the societal shift towards solo living and ask critical questions about its impacts. Has our pursuit of independence led to a higher incidence of depression? Have we sidelined the significance of community, and in turn, our inherent need for interconnectedness?

We navigate the merits and potential pitfalls of intergenerational living and the rise of co-living spaces as modern answers to societal disconnection. However, the risk of oppressive and stifling hierarchies in these close-knit communities is not overlooked.

Join us as we unravel the complexities of independence versus community and reconsider the societal norms that we've come to accept.

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In a fascinating conversation, renowned theoretical physicist Marika Taylor and acclaimed philosopher Julian Baggini explore the history and evolving relationship between these two disciplines. Listen in as they delve into the intricacies of how science and philosophy have been intertwined, only to diverge since the Enlightenment. Can they be reconciled?

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Joining the debate are Professor Marika Taylor, the Head of School within Mathematical Sciences at University of Southampton with a focus on string theory, quantum field theory, and gravitational physics, and Julian Baggini, a celebrated philosopher, journalist, and the co-founder of The Philosopher's Magazine. The conversation is expertly hosted by Güneş Taylor.

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Are we bound by traditional rules for life or is it time for a new playbook? Tune in to find out!

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In this thought-provoking discussion, our distinguished panelists delve into the foundations of moral codes and rules for living. Sophie-Grace Chappell, Professor of Philosophy at the Open University, Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, and Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, wrestle with the question: Can life be reduced to a rulebook? They debate the influence of religious commandments, the rise of self-help books like Jordan Peterson's 'The 12 Rules for Life', and whether such codes are inherently flawed. Our panelists also ponder the role of these frameworks in upholding social order and institutions. This insightful conversation is moderated by journalist and broadcaster Myriam François.

The Panel

Sophie-Grace Chappell, Massimo Pigliucci, and Simon Baron-Cohen, all respected philosophers and psychologists, bring their deep insights to this critical discussion, posing thought-provoking questions about the nature of life's rules and moral codes. Myriam François, a seasoned journalist and broadcaster, expertly guides the conversation.

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Could it be that the world's true essence is beyond our comprehension? And what if this isn't a drawback, but an advantage? Explore this paradox in this interview with Hilary Lawson.

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We tend to think the world is divided into bits, and we spend time trying to define those bits. But what if this metaphysical approach is false? In this interview, we sit down with the post-postmodern philosopher Hilary Lawson who walks us through his theory of Closure, a non-realist view which describes the world as an open, unreachable 'other', and provides an account of how we enclose the world with our language, thoughts and categories.

Hilary Lawson is a philosopher and a renowned critic of philosophical realism. He is best known for his work on reflexivity and his theory of Closure, which puts forward a non-realist metaphysics arguing that we close the openness of the world with our thought and language.

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Can you understand a novel - or a life - before you know how it ends?

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From Beethoven's 5th to Batman, Harry Potter to Hamlet, we want and expect satisfying endings that tie up loose ends and provide resolution. But real life doesn't often come tied up so neatly. Relationships and careers often evolve in tangled confusion with transitions that can leave messy legacies. And, as TS Eliot said, often things end "not with a bang but a whimper."                     

Is it that our stories and narratives are in error, or the way we run our lives?

Academy award nominee David Hare, critically acclaimed writer Janne Teller and director-producer Sophie Fiennes talk endings. Hosted by Barry Smith, Director of the Institute of Philosophy.

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Is "truth" a redundant concept? Listen as Simon Blackburn grapples with the topic.

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Truth has had a difficult century. More than ever we are lost as to both 'what truth is' and 'what is true'. Should we instead turn to pragmatism? Join Simon Blackburn to explore why truth and pragmatism may be more aligned than at first it may seem.

Author of Think and Truth: A guide for the perplexed, Simon Blackburn has worked to bring philosophy to a wider audience. He was a Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge University and Vice President of the British Humanist Association.

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Is our focus on happiness making us unhappy?

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"Oh happiness! Our being’s end and aim!” claimed Alexander Pope. Now, a few centuries later, it's not just smiling faces on billboards, some governments have made happiness measures a central goal. 89% of young people in their twenties think life has no purpose other than happiness. But might this be a fundamental error? Income in the West has gone up three fold since the 1950's, but those who say they are unhappy has not fallen, instead it is up 50%. Countries, like New Zealand, that target a happiness index have some of the highest rates of depression and suicide.

Should we see happiness not as the goal, but as the outcome of other actions and focus instead on purpose and achievement, both individual and collective? Or is the notion of an end or purpose to life, be it happiness or anything else, the fundamental mistake?

Cofounder of Novara Media Aaron Bastani, behavioural scientist Paul Dolan and multi-award-winning author Joanna Kavenna debate the the role of happiness in life. Rana Mitter hosts.

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