Philosophy Talk Starters

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/dignity-and-end-life.

Is physician assisted suicide morally okay? What about active euthanasia for patients suffering terminal illnesses? If we begin traveling down this path, how do we put a break to our slide down the slippery slope toward a world in which we license physicians to kill or assist the suicide of severely depressed but not terminally ill patients? John and Ken have a dignified discussion with Margaret Battin from the University of Utah, author of "Ending Life: Ethics and the Way We Die."

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/dignity-and-end-life.

Is physician assisted suicide morally okay? What about active euthanasia for patients suffering terminal illnesses? If we begin traveling down this path, how do we put a break to our slide down the slippery slope toward a world in which we license physicians to kill or assist the suicide of severely depressed but not terminally ill patients? John and Ken have a dignified discussion with Margaret Battin from the University of Utah, author of "Ending Life: Ethics and the Way We Die."

We like to think that terrorism is always wrong. But what if the cause is just? Do the ends ever justify the means? And how do we define "terrorism" anyway?

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/terrorism

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/terrorism.

We like to think that terrorism is always wrong. But what if the cause is just? Do the ends ever justify the means? And how do we define "terrorism" anyway?

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/meaning-life.

Does life have a meaning? If we were created by a powerful God, would that give our lives meaning? Who gave God's existence meaning? What if we were created by a crazy scientist wholly for the purpose of irritating their spouse? John and Ken search for meaning with Howard Wettstein from UC Riverside.

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/meaning-life.

Does life have a meaning? If we were created by a powerful God, would that give our lives meaning? Who gave God's existence meaning? What if we were created by a crazy scientist wholly for the purpose of irritating their spouse? John and Ken search for meaning with Howard Wettstein from UC Riverside.

We shouldn't be mean to animals. Is that because animals have rights, like people do? Or is it just because people care about animals? Is it intrinsically worse to step on dog than on a spider? John and Ken play nice with Lori Gruen from Wesleyan University, author of Ethics and Animals: An Introduction.

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/animal-rights-0

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/animal-rights.

We shouldn't be mean to animals. Is that because animals have rights, like people do? Or is it just because people care about animals? Is it intrinsically worse to step on dog than on a spider? John and Ken play nice with Lori Gruen from Wesleyan University, author of "Ethics and Animals: An Introduction."

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/whose-language-it.

Is there a right and a wrong way to speak English? Is there really something wrong with saying, "Hopefully, we'll have a good century," or "Where is the library at?" or "There is no way to correctly split an infinitive"? Is grammatical purity just snobbism? John and Ken don't hold their tongues with linguist and NPR commentator Geoff Nunberg.

Is there a right and a wrong way to speak English? Is there really something wrong with saying, "Hopefully, we'll have a good century," or "Where is the library at?" or "There is no way to correctly split an infinitive"? Is grammatical purity just snobbism? John and Ken don't hold their tongues with linguist and NPR commentator Geoff Nunberg.

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/whose-language-it