Name: The Necessity of Morality | Justin Smith, Jason Alexander McKenzie, Barry C. Smith by Philosophy For Our Times
Duration: 43 min 13 s
Description: Many philosophers have concluded that morality is a subjective human invention. Should we then simply encourage and argue for acts we support and do without morality altogether? Or is the authority of morality the tenuous thread that holds society together? In this episode of Philosophy for our Times, Justin Smith, Jason Alexander McKenzie and Barry C. Smith question the necessity of morality.

17-year-old Stella from Camden interviews Robert Eaglestone, Professor in English Literature at Royal Holloway. Stella is hoping to study Zoology at university but has always had a variety of interests including science, art and literature. In their interview, the two discuss literary theory, the similarities of the Science and English as fields of study, and how the stories we read shape how we are in the world.

E02 | The Word and the World | Professor Robert Eaglestone

Sixth form student Riley interviews Professor Tara Shears, a world leading particle physicist at Liverpool University and researcher at the Large Hadron Collider in CERN. Riley is preparing to study Chemistry in the hopes of becoming a Forensic scientist. He asks what it really takes to be a great scientist, how to cope with the disappointment of failed experiments and what in the world bananas have to do with antimatter.

UniTalks

E03 | Bananas and Antimatter | Professor Tara Shears

Sixth Form students, Simran and Kimjeet travel to King’s College London to interview Eleanor Knox. Simran and Kimjeet are hoping to study Law or Psychology somewhere in London, but after talking to Eleanor, they question whether to study something vocational rather than what they are passionate about. They also discover the connection between Physics and Philosophy and some of the weirder parts of Eleanor’s work which studies some of the deepest, longest, most complex puzzles in our world.

Unitalks

E04 | The Matrix and the Manifest Image | Dr Eleanor Knox

Sixth Form student Charlie from Newport interviews Professor of Music and international concert pianist, Kenneth Hamilton. Though she wants to study Physics at University, Charlie plays the clarinet and the Saxophone, and quizzes Kenneth on the link between music and physics, Chopin, and what makes a good piano player.

E05 | The Meaning of Music | Professor Kenneth Hamilton

Sixth former Raihana from London interviews Anne Phillips, Graham Wallace Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics. A science student with a keen interest in politics and feminism, Raihana quizzes Anne on glass ceilings, fighting inequality, and surviving and succeeding in a male-dominated field.

E06 | Government and Glass Ceilings | Professor Anne Phillips

Christian from London interviews Christopher Hamilton, a senior lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion at King's College London. Despite being passionate about pursuing a career in Marine Biology, Christian isn't afraid to quiz Christopher on philosophy's toughest questions: What is the meaning of life? What's more important, pain or pleasure? Our agony aunts answer questions you've sent in on typical anxieties and apprehensions you might face at university.

E07 | Pleasure, Pain and Nietzsche | Dr Christopher Hamilton

Zaid from Tower Hamlets visit Queen Mary University in East London to interview Shahidha Bari, a lecturer there in Romanticism. Zaid is deciding whether to study English or Marketing at University, and speaking to Shahidha on her passion for Keats and her love of libraries might just persuade him. Our agony aunts answer questions you’ve sent in on careers and employability after you’ve left university.

E08 | John Keats and Majestic Trainers | Dr Shahidha Bari

Can philosophy help us make real life decisions? Can actions speak louder than words? Our producer interviews philosophers Bence Nanay, Angie Hobbs, Christopher Hamilton, Barry Smith, Shahidha Bari, and performance artist Emma Sulkowicz about the power of ideas in their lives.

Bonus Episode: The Philosophy of Action

Is it better for us to resist temptations or avoid them altogether? Philosopher of perception and action Bence Nanay argues that our ability to say no is connected with the fragmentation of our minds.

The Fractured Mind | Bence Nanay

https://soundcloud.com/dinamarca117 - Sol De Mi Vida (Vocalized) out July 26th
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Sol De Mi Vida (Vocalized)

Dinamarca - Campana (feat COUCOU CHLOE)

Many philosophers have concluded that morality is a subjective human invention. Should we then simply encourage and argue for acts we support and do without morality altogether? Or is the authority of morality the tenuous thread that holds society together? In this episode of Philosophy for our Times, Justin Smith, Jason Alexander McKenzie and Barry C. Smith question the necessity of morality.

The Necessity of Morality | Justin Smith, Jason Alexander McKenzie, Barry C. Smith

Philosophy for our Times is a free philosophy podcast bringing you the latest talks and debates from the world’s leading thinkers. We host weekly episodes on today’s biggest ideas in news, society, culture, politics, science and arts. Subscribe today to never miss an episode.

The Necessity of Morality | Justin Smith, Jason Alexander McKenzie, Barry C. Smith

Philosophy For Our Times

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