Michael Munger on How Adam Smith Solved the Trolley Problem

EconTalk | 18 September 2023 | 1h 11m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with Michael Munger about his article Adam Smith Discovered (and Solved!) the Trolley Problem. Argues that Adam Smith anticipated and answered the classic trolley thought experiment about diverting a runaway trolley to save five people, at the expense of killing an innocent person. Along the way, discusses effective altruism, the moral claims of Peter Singer, what the trolley problem really tells us, if anything, and how our moral choices differ according to context.

Posted on by

David Edmonds on Derek Parfit

Ben Yeoh Chats | 2 July 2023 | 1h 35m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with David Edmonds about his book Parfit: A Philosopher and His Mission to Save Morality. Discusses “trolley problems” and the ethical implications of choosing between lives now and in the future; the usefulness of thought experiments; Derek Parfit’s life – his personality and obsessions, whether he might have been a good historian (vs philosopher), the pros and cons of All Souls College, and if an autistic cognitive profile mattered.

Posted on by

Peter Singer on Utilitarianism, Influence, and Controversial Ideas

Conversations with Tyler | 7 June 2023 | 0h 52m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with Peter Singer discussing utilitarianism, the meat-eater problem, why he might side with aliens over humans, at what margins he would police nature, the utilitarian approach to secularism and abortion, the Journal of Controversial Ideas, Effective Altruism, Derek Parfit, to what extent we should respect the wishes of the dead, why professional philosophy is so boring, how to enjoy our lives, and more. Draws from his book Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed.

Posted on by

John Peter DiIulio on Completely Free: The Moral and Political Vision of John Stuart Mill

Princeton UP Ideas Podcast | 21 September 2022 | 1h 37m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with John Peter DiIulio about his book Completely Free: The Moral and Political Vision of John Stuart Mill. Dissects critiques of Mill’s social and political thought and argues that Mill believed that society should aim for zero-tolerance of arbitrary power and strive to promote and preserve individual freedom. Discusses how Mill freed himself of the mechanistic aspects of Benthamite Utilitarianism in favour of a richer vision of human happiness that was friendlier to intellectual autonomy and love of the arts while simultaneously demanding of the individual the pursuit of virtue and good character.

Posted on by

Peter Boettke on F. A. Hayek

New Books in Economics | 24 September 2022 | 0h 49m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with Peter Boettke about his book F. A. Hayek: Economics, Political Economy and Social Philosophy. Explores the life and work of Austrian-British economist, political economist, and social philosopher, Friedrich Hayek.

Posted on by

Against Fairness feat. Stephen Asma

unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc | 16 September 2022 | 1h 09m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with Stephen Asma discussing utilitarian values nepotism, the value and contracts of kith & kin, the costs of tribalism, and the decline of standardised religion. Argues that while Western societies profess hostility to nepotism, we all practice and benefit from nepotism. Draws from his book Against Fairness.

Posted on by

Scott Hershovitz on Nasty, Brutish, and Short

Books on Pod with Trey Elling | 19 May 2022 | 0h 59m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with Scott Hershovitz about his book Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids. Uses the perspective of children to explore philosophy. Covers punishment, authority, sex, gender, race, and more.

Posted on by

Animal Minds and Animal Morality

Many Minds | 27 April 2022 | 1h 34m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
Interview with Kristin Andrews and Susana Monsó discussing the study of animal minds in general and the animal morality debate in particular. Covers rats and empathy; the role of philosophy in the cross-disciplinary study of animal cognition; how scientists are trained to study animals; animals’ understandings of death; whether animals should be considered moral beings; and the connection between social norms and morality.

Posted on by