The Philosophy Society Podcast

In this episode of the Philosophy Society Podcast, Alexis interviews philosophy professor Dr. Kaz Bland on the topic of gender. The conversation covers a broad range of foundational questions of the discipline of gender studies including the nature of gender, the nature of biological sex, how these two concepts are related, and what it means to be a man or woman in our society. Whether you haven’t thought too much about gender or have read the complete works of Judith Butler, we think you will find this episode interesting. *Content warning: this episode contains some discussion of gendered violence.

In this episode of The Philosophy Society Podcast, Kate chats with Paydirt journalist Fraser Palamara about the current ESG landscape. Environmental, social and governance practices are a driving force in the corporate sector, pushed by investor and consumer demand for sustainability. But ESG industries are rife with greenwashing and limited regulation. So how much good are the companies touting ESG really doing?

Is pleasure all that is good in life?  In this episode of the Philosophy Society Podcast, Alexis explores hedonism as a theory of well-being. He outlines the ancient theory and responds to objections to it to assert that hedonism is not dead and ought to be taken seriously as an axiology. Further, the adoption of hedonism in bioethics is explored, specifically what it entails for conditions regarded as disabilities in medical practice. Tune in and form your own opinion on whether hedonism has any merit as a theory of well-being.

Praised as “the hottest thinker in the world right now“ and a “superhero of the mind“, Lebanese-American intellect Nassim Nicholas Taleb is well worth reading. He studied maths, applied his skills to the share market and now, financially stable, is free to feed his hungry mind. But in what sense can he be thought of as a philosopher? This is the central question that Lewis and I try to answer in this episode. 

Simone De Beauvoir is an important, and often downplayed, member of the philosophical tradition. She made several key contributions to feminism, existentialism and phenomenology. Engaged in an ongoing romantic relationship with another famous philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, she always thought of her work as an appendix to his. Her view could not be further from the truth. In this episode, Clancy and I try to bring into light some of De Beauvoir’s major insights and give you a sense of why she is a philosopher that requires attention.

Is there a taboo surrounding the discussion of religion as a topic within modern social discourse, and if so, why is that the case? Daniel discusses this topic with his guest Eroll, a Catholic seminarian.

Should philosophy play a big role in the education system? In this episode of the Philosophy Society Podcast, Kate Purnell and Linc Murray discuss the Community of Inquiry method, how it is used to sharpen students' critical thinking skills and why boosting access to philosophy is so important. 

What is going on when we use language? What is the connection between the name of something and the thing? What can we learn about the world and about our minds from language?