"Why Ethics?" is a podcast episode that explores the necessity and complexity of studying ethics. The speaker, Marc Bobro, argues that relying solely on societal norms, the Golden Rule, or religious doctrines is insufficient for addressing intricate moral dilemmas. Bobro emphasizes the role of philosophy in critically examining beliefs and justifications. He introduces ethics as a philosophical pursuit that uses reasoned arguments and moral theories to analyze right and wrong. Finally, Bobro acknowledges the challenges of objectivity in ethical discussions while advocating for a fair and unbiased approach, particularly when addressing contentious issues. (Summary by NotebookLM)

Why Ethics?

In this podcast, I will look at John Finnis’ influential 1994 article titled, “Law, Morality, and ‘Sexual Orientation’.” I will go through his line of argument and then critique it. Thanks for listening!

Music by Department of Electrophilosophy.

Finnis On Law, Morality, And Sexual Orientation

This podcast episode deals with Robin West’s article about the harms of consensual sex. West tries to answer the following question: “Are consensual, non-coercive, non-criminal, and even non-tortious [that is, it does not violate any rights], heterosexual transactions ever harmful to women?”

The Harms Of Consensual Sex

This episode deals with sexual consent, wrongness, and harm. It generally follows the detailed analysis given by the philosopher Karamvir Chadha, with some of my own thoughts of course. Chadha’s paper, simply called “Sex and Consent,” reads like a summary of the current state of the debate over sexual consent, wrongness, and harm.

Music by Department of Electrophilosophy.

Sexual Consent, Wrongness, And Harm

Live jam on October 23, 2024 with Cedric Bobro. Instruments: Vermona DRM1, Elektron Octatrack, Dreadbox Abyss, Moog Etherwave theremin, and modular rig.

Hyperobjectivity Live

Even though it seems that we are in conscious control of our thoughts, they can take us in all sorts of unexpected directions. However, our unexpected thoughts are still fully determined by our past thoughts.

Fleeing Thoughts is an IDM song above all else, but with Post-Industrial/Electro-Industrial elements (such as noise looping) and some Electroacoustic ones as well. This is the first single off of our upcoming EP "Spin-oza" that is inspired by the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza.

Fleeing Thoughts

Podcast covering the debate on the ethics of the death penalty, featuring the work of Primoratz, Nathanson, van den Haag, Reiman, and Cholbi and Madva. 

Intro & Outro music from our upcoming single "Fleeing Thoughts."

Podcast_The Death Penalty

Believing that "everything happens for a reason" may be comforting. It may help up deal with painful truths. But Spinoza argues that this belief, especially if it involves an appeal to God's plan, is an illusion—a sanctuary of ignorance. The song "Sanctuary of Ignorance" may be uncomfortable but it tells it like it is. 

Microtonal modular, Vermona DRMI, Moog theremin. 

Second single off of our upcoming EP, "Spin-oza."

Sanctuary of Ignorance

Inspired by Spinoza's _Ethics_, which begins with definitions and axioms. We offer our own definitions and axioms about sound and music. Spoken word by Cedric.

Definitions and Axioms

Infinite modes are permanent and essential properties of attributes. Spinoza defines an attribute as what the intellect perceives as the essence of a substance. And each substance has infinite attributes, so you get the picture. 

Infinite Modes

Nothing is intrinsically good or bad, according to Spinoza. But we tend to apply these terms to anything and everything, typically to serve our own advantage. This track, inspired by the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza, as are the other tracks off our latest EP, strives to offer an unique soundscape, but in no way do we want to suggest that it is "good."

Nothing is good in and of itself

We may feel free, as if we can act other than we are now acting and did in the past. However, this is an illusion, according to Spinoza. All is necessitated, even the most "random" events.  

This "power electronics" track is microtonal, modular, and uses a theremin driven to almost unrecognizable lengths.

This is all necessitated

Imagine that you statistically analyzed human life within a single minute, quantifying human activities and experiences globally. Stanislaw Lem imagined this in his famous essay, “One Human Minute,” concluding that there is far more statistical evidence of human evil than of decency. However, he also claimed there is so much good that is unquantifiable and hidden from statistical modeling. This eponymous track, composed of many layers each recorded separately, presents a musical representation of human life in the span of a mere minute. It is a compressed symphony for the oppressed.

One Human Minute

For sexual encounters to be moral, at minimum both parties must consent. What exactly does this mean? This episode explores this question, especially from the perspective of the philosopher and ethicist Thomas Mappes.

Consent & Sexual Morality (Ethics Podcast)

Podcast on The Vatican Declaration on Some Questions of Sexual Ethics. Summary and criticism.

The Vatican Declaration (Ethics Podcast)

Podcast on John Corvino's comprehensive defense of homosexuality against the main objections to its morality. Originally published 2019; Latest update in 2025.

A Defense Of Homosexuality

Podcast on the morality of genetic enhancement—arguments for and against—based on essays by Michael Sandel and Francis Kamm.

Genetic Enhancement (Ethics Podcast)

Podcast about animal rights, specifically Peter Singer's defense and Carl Cohen's challenge. (Music intro and outro: some acid bass)

Animal Rights (Ethics Podcast)

Ethics podcast on vegetarianism and factory-farming. This will probably be the first of two installments on vegetarianism. (Acid bass intro and outro.)

Vegetarianism (Ethics Podcast)

Ethics podcast introducing the topic of abortion and discussing Mary Anne Warren's famous defense of abortion rights. This is the first installment of three.

Abortion—Intro & Warren (Ethics Podcast)

Ethics podcast on Judith Jarvis Thomson's defense of abortion rights and Don Marquis' argument that abortion is almost always seriously wrong. Second installment of two.

Abortion—Thomson & Marquis (Ethics Podcast)

Podcast on world aid. What, if anything, should we do about world poverty? This episode focuses on Garrett Hardin's argument against aid.

World Aid—Hardin (Ethics Podcast)

Second of two podcasts on world aid. What, if anything, should those of us not living in poverty do about world poverty? This episode focuses on Peter Singer's argument for aid. (Digital image created and copyright by David Revoy.)

World Aid—Singer (Ethics Podcast)

The study of ethics is not entirely preoccupied with argument, but it is probably an essential component. According to the discipline of philosophy, of which ethics is a part, what does it mean to argue? And what does it mean to argue well?

Philosophy With Argument (Ethics Podcast)

A short lecture on Aristotle's account of knowledge, including a discussion of his four "causes."

Aristotle On Knowledge

Here I talk about applying Virtue Ethics to the problem of abortion, through the lens of Rosalind Hursthouse.

Abortion & Virtue Theory

A short episode on the Stoic account of happiness, especially Cicero's account. Here I assume that you already have a basic understanding of the Stoic view of emotion. Either way, you should get something out of it.

Stoics On Happiness

This is a Crying 4 Kafka song that I've morphed and tripped out for any summertime raves that you might be having. My son Cedric Bobro is on drums. I am on a Dave Smith monosynth, plus homemade guitar and bass. No vocals. For that you'll have to wait for the real, punk version.

Disconcerting—instrumental (not to be listened to more than twice)

Philosophy and music. Marc Bobro for a philosophy podcast which focuses mainly on ethics. Marc and Cedric Bobro for music that has a philosophical dimension. Their focus is on live performance with electronic instruments, including modular racks, synthesizers, drum machines, and the theremin.
 
Any Department of Electrophilosophy music that is not available here can be found on Bandcamp. Merch is available only on Bandcamp.

Department of Electrophilosophy

Popular tracks