This week on Thoughts we're getting political as Nora and Liz delve into the world of political philosophy with Calum Hodgson. In this episode, they discuss the ways in which democracy and civil disobedience interact with and influence one other, and the role that activists play in this process.

Many past lives of the Buddha are said to be known. From lives as a tree spirit to an elephant to humans just before achieving enlightenment, the stories of these lives can offer much in pastoral value. These are the Jataka Stories. They are a method for teaching Ethics and warning against taboos, practical handbooks through memorable folklore. As some of the oldest surviving remnants of ancient cultures they also serve as brilliant material for understanding the everyday beliefs of people in lost worlds. Here is a conversation with Naomi Appleton from Edinburgh University, an expert in Buddhist stories and early Indian religion in general.

Our third Leverhulme episode discusses the Philosophy of Birth with this week's guest, Alison Stone. Make sure you join Beni and Laura in this thought-provoking episode!

In this episode, Margot and Tinka interview Benjamin Lipscomb on his new book: 'The Women Are Up To Something'. Follow along as we learn about the lives of Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midley and Iris Murdoch who revolutionised the study of ethics.

Photo credit: Amy Tetta

Join us as Adam and Tinka interview our very own host Nicky Brown on his dissertation: Love enhancement. Can love be enhanced? If so, what aspects of it? And how should we value such 'enhanced' love? Tune in to discover the answer to these questions, and many more!

Join Nicky and Jonah as they dive into a discussion about the ethics of war with this week’s guest, Helen Frowe. In this episode, we look at how a war starts and when if ever this justifies the killing of those affected; what makes it okay to harm someone, and propaganda used in war and how it affects liability.

Tune in this week as Alex and Adam talk with Tuomas Takho from Bristol University about how science categorizes things in nature. Join as they discuss the concept of "natural kinds" and why it's not always straightforward.

The Leverhulme Series is an exciting new project, where we'll interview philosophers and interdisciplinary thinkers, who are pushing the boundaries of original work through funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

In the first episode, Isabel and Constantinos explore Stoicism with Dr. Christopher Gill. They unpack what Stoicism is, dispelling myths in 'self-help' circles and delving into Stoicism's interesting take on our relationship with nature.

For more information on the Leverhulme Trust, visit: https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/

This week, Adam and Calum are joined by Professor Robert McKenna from the University of Liverpool. Tune in as they delve into the depths of non-ideal epistemology, explore unconventional knowledge structures, the impact of biases, and more!

Join hosts Margot Leys Johnston and Tinka Bruneau as they chat with James Humphries, a political philosophy lecturer at the University of Glasgow. In this episode, they delve into the concept of anarchism: its meaning, the appeal of living in an anarchist society, and how anarchist thinkers address potential challenges. Get ready to explore these intriguing questions and more on another episode of Thoughts!

Links to organisations mentioned by James:

Glasgow mutual aid network

https://www.mutualaid.co.uk/area/glasgow

Glasgow anarchist federation

https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/

Various politically minded resources and essays

https://libcom.org/