Philosophy Overdose

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  Language, Thought, and Politics 19.08.2026 1Std. 1Min.

  John Searle (the University of California, Berkeley) and Michael Silverstein (the University of Chicago) discuss George Orwell on the relation between language, thought, and politics with host Gretchen Helfrich in an episode of Odyssey from Chicago Public Radio back in 2003. #philosophy #orwell #language #politics
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  What Is Probability? Difficulties Understanding Probability 19.08.2026 36Min.

  Professor David Wallace discusses the nature of probability and some of the philosophical puzzles that arise regarding how to understand and make sense of probability. He begins by distinguishing between subjective probabilities (which are about our beliefs) and objective probabilities (which are about the world itself). He then goes on to discuss various interpretations of probability and some of the difficulties that arise for each. This comes from a talk given in a series on the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics back in 2015 at Oxford.00:00 Concepts of Probability01:04 Subjective Probability02:14 More-Objective Probabilities03:49 Very Objective Probabilities05:52 Two Questions about Objective Probability08:40 Frequentism13:52 Probability from Symmetry16:59 Probability as Primitive18:10 The "Why" Question20:10 The Principal Principle24:43 A Dearth of Solutions to the Why Question#philosophy #probability #epistemology #philosophyofscience #historyofphilosophy
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  Words and Philosophy - Hugh Mellor (1978) 19.08.2026 41Min.

  Audio recording of a series of six short ratio talks by Hugh Mellor back in 1978 on the use of words in philosophy. Among other things, he dispells the myth that important issues can be settled merely by definitions. He goes on to consider the abuse of words, as well as logical argument, jargon, and the liar paradox. These talks were given by D. H. Mellor (David Hugh Mellor) and originally broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 1978. 00:00 It All Depends What You Mean 05:15 Define Your Terms 10:18 Fictional Documentaries 15:19 What's Wrong With Jargon 20:08 On Being Illogical 25:07 The Liar Paradox #philosophy #language #epistemology #philosophyoflanguage #rationality
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  The Legacy of John Rawls 18.08.2026 1Std. 4Min.

  The legacy of the political philosopher John Rawls is discussed by Michael Sandel (Harvard University), Steve Macedo (Princeton University), and Anthony Laden (the University of Illinois Chicago) with host Gretchen Helfrich in an episode of Odyssey from Chicago Public Radio back in 2002. #philosophy #politicalphilosophy #politicaltheory #rawls #johnrawls #ethics
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  The Absurdity of Moral Relativism and Subjectivism - A Polemic 18.08.2026 15Min.

  Skeletons will dance, positions will be refuted. This is a re-upload from the previous channel. It was made in 2016. You may also like the following: https://youtu.be/DFHPH3m-KR8#philosophy #relativism #ethics #postmodernism #historyofphilosophy
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  Karl Popper on Observation and Induction (1989) 18.08.2026 22Min.

  A reupload of audio recording of Karl Popper discussing his views on observation and induction, specifically how knowledge and science do not start from observation, but that all observation itself is theory-laden. Indeed, as he explains, the view that all knowledge and science rests on observation leads to induction, which Popper famously rejected due to the so-called problem of induction, first formulated by David Hume. As such, Popper didn't think that induction played any justificatory role in science at all, which is precisely why he ended up with his famous falsificationist view that theories and hypotheses can only be refuted or falsified (i.e. via deduction), but they can never be proven true or positively supported with observational evidence (i.e. via induction). These clips all come from a 1989 interview on falsificationism and some of the main criticisms. It is a re-upload of something that I put together a while ago. More details will be added later. #philosophy #karlpopper #epistemology #science #philosophyofscience
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  Russell-Copleston Debate on God's Existence (1948) 18.08.2026 24Min.

  Bertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston debate the existence of God in this famous radio debate from 1948. Copleston here presents the argument from contingency, which is a kind of cosmological argument for God's existence. It is now in the public domain. Note, the audio has been improved. Frederick Copleston on Schopenhauer: https://youtu.be/6x8ydL5Jp70Peter Millican on God & Morality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOTvCtv9ht8Simone de Beauvoir on God & Existentialism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJnWHVwvYSQ#philosophy #bertrandrussell #theism #atheism #god #philosophyofreligion #historyofphilosophy #debate
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  The Making of a Philosopher - What is Meant by 'Can't'? (Isaiah Berlin) 18.08.2026 3Min.

  A very short clip of Isaiah Berlin in conversation with Bryan Magee from a 1977 program on philosophy which can be found here: https://youtu.be/RDgw6ydB6lU#philosophy #isaiahberlin #bryanmagee #historyofphilosophy
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  The Loss of Absolute Authority - Hannah Arendt (1972) 18.08.2026 4Min.

  Hannah Arendt believed that the will of the totalitarian ruler occupied the place left vacant by the absolute authority over the world attributed to God during the Middle Ages. With the collapse of the divinely ordained Kingships and the authority exercised by the Catholic church in the name of God, what would replace the authority of God in the world? How would such authority be constituted, who would act in its name, and what rules would it follow? Arendt believed that these questions missed the point. She welcomed the disappearance of absolute authority from the world in the name of the plurality of citizens whose power could now come forward. Only the power created by the collective decisions of citizens coming together to act on matters of public interest could establish a valid and just authority. Of course, this meant that there could be no return to the stability of the past. But it also meant that, as citizens, we assume responsibility ourselves for what happens in the world.These clips come from a 1972 conference on Arendt's work at York University. #philosophy #hannaharendt #politicaltheory #totalitarianism #authority
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  Intro to the Philosophy of Mathematics (Ray Monk) 18.08.2026 47Min.

  A good introduction to the philosophy of mathematics by Ray Monk. He considers the issue of the nature of mathematical truth - what mathematics is actually about - and discusses the views of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Frege and Russell. What is mathematics about? Is mathematics something discovered or is it something invented or constructed by us? If numbers and mathematical objects are mere mental constructs, something invented by us, then why does mathematics work so well and seem to describe the world? On the other hand, if mathematical entities are "out there" in some sense waiting to be discovered, then what is their status and how do we get knowledge of them? After all, you can't see or touch numbers and other mathematical objects. And unlike ordinary empirical truths, mathematical truths seem to have a quite different and special status: they are a priori, necessary, eternal, universal, and absolutely certain. And this is why from the time of Plato onward, people have regarded mathematical truths as an ideal. In this talk, some of the ways in which philosophers have tried to account for the special nature of mathematical truth. (My Summary)Another good introduction to the philosophy of mathematics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyXWnGFKTkgMore advanced talk on philosophy of mathematics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucPhfzCvKnE#philosophy #epistemology #mathematics #kant #historyofphilosophy #metaphysics #philosopher #wittgenstein
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  Theories of Welfare - Ethics and Society Course 18.08.2026 1Std. 7Min.

  The nature of well-being is discussed in this introductory lecture from a 2023 course on Ethics and Society by Professor Samuel Zincke Elgin at UCSD, the University of California (UC San Diego). #philosophy #ethics #moralphilosophy #utilitarianism #hedonism
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  Pragmatism and Truth - Rorty, Putnam, and Conant (2002) 18.08.2026 1Std. 5Min.

  Audio recording of a discussion between Richard Rorty, Hilary Putnam, and James Conant on pragmatism and truth. This comes from an episode of Odyssey on WBEZ Chicago from back in 2002 with host Gretchen Helfrich. Note, this is a reupload. #philosophy #epistemology #rorty #pragmatism #historyofphilosophy #debate
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  Knowledge and Scepticism - General Philosophy (Peter Millican) 18.08.2026 1Std. 12Min.

  In this lecture on General Philosophy, Professor Peter Millican discusses the traditional analysis of knowledge, Gettier cases, externalism, scepticism, and the ethics of belief. This comes from a 2010 series on General Philosophy. The slides have been added.This series of lectures was delivered by Peter Millican to first-year philosophy students at the University of Oxford. The lectures comprise of the 8-week General Philosophy course, delivered to first year undergraduates. These lectures aim to provide a thorough introduction to many philosophical topics and to get students and others interested in thinking about key areas of philosophy. Taking a chronological view of the history of philosophy, each lecture is split into 3 or 4 sections which outline a particular philosophical problem and how different philosophers have attempted to resolve the issue. Individuals interested in the 'big' questions about life such as how we perceive the world, who we are in the world and whether we are free to act will find this series informative, comprehensive and accessible. Source: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/general-philosophyMore lectures on General Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhP9EhPApKE_xo2wvkm6qPZrUlAiRNHXb#philosophy #epistemology #skepticism #historyofphilosophy
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  Free Will - General Philosophy (Peter Millican) 18.08.2026 1Std. 9Min.

  In this lecture on General Philosophy, Professor Peter Millican discusses free will and the problem of moral responsibility. This comes from a 2010 series on General Philosophy. The slides have been added.This series of lectures was delivered by Peter Millican to first-year philosophy students at the University of Oxford. The lectures comprise of the 8-week General Philosophy course, delivered to first year undergraduates. These lectures aim to provide a thorough introduction to many philosophical topics and to get students and others interested in thinking about key areas of philosophy. Taking a chronological view of the history of philosophy, each lecture is split into 3 or 4 sections which outline a particular philosophical problem and how different philosophers have attempted to resolve the issue. Individuals interested in the 'big' questions about life such as how we perceive the world, who we are in the world and whether we are free to act will find this series informative, comprehensive and accessible.More lectures on General Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhP9EhPApKE_xo2wvkm6qPZrUlAiRNHXbSource: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/general-philosophy#philosophy #freewill #determinism #causality #causation #mind #metaphysics #psychology
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  Rawls vs Nozick (Ronald Dworkin) 18.08.2026 28Min.

  Ronald Dworkin gives a very brief, introductory overview of John Rawls' "A Theory of Justice" and Robert Nozick's "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" in an interview with Bryan Magee from 1977. Although both wrote very influential works of political philosophy, they came to quite different conclusions. Rawls famously put forward a novel argument for his position which made use of a thought experiment involving a hypothetical contract. Unlike other social contract theories though, Rawls added the further twist that the bargainers must be ignorant about certain facts about themselves which could bias them in their own favor (e.g. their race, gender, class, age, talents, etc.). In this way, ignorance is used as a device to guarantee impartiality in deciding how societies should be structured. After all, one cannot rig things to benefit oneself at the expense of others if one doesn't know what one's personal interests are or what one's position in society will be. Rawls argued that behind this so-called "veil of ignorance" people would agree to two principles, the most interesting being the difference principle, which states that economic inequalities can only be justified if they are to the benefit of the worst off in society. However, such a view was rejected by Nozick, who argued from a starting point of absolute rights of property which cannot be violated without one's consent. Despite such a strong principle, Nozick argued that there can still be a kind of minimal state, what he called a "night-watchman state", which protects property and person. One way to think of the difference in views between Rawls and Nozick (albeit this may be overly simplistic and even misleading in certain respects) is that while Nozick privileges liberty and rights over equality and fairness, Rawls instead privileges that of equality and fairness. (My Summary)This clip is of Ronald Dworkin discussing the political thought of John Rawls and Robert Nozick in a 1977 interview with Bryan Magee. It is an upload from the previous channel.The full interview can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gySLm3Z1OvA 00:00 John Rawls12:13 Robert Nozick#philosophy #politicalphilosophy #politicaltheory #rawls #bryanmagee #historyofphilosophy
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  Hannah Arendt on Power and Violence (1968) 18.08.2026 1Std. 15Min.

  Audio recording of part of 1968 lecture by Hannah Arendt at Bard College on power and violence. Note, the beginning of the lecture is missing. 00:00 Talk 18:46 Q&A You can find more Arendt here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhP9EhPApKE-07vAVTFEuiDvqli1y8f0U#philosophy #hannaharendt #politicaltheory #politicalphilosophy
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  The Experience Machine 18.08.2026 7Min.

  A clip of professor Shelly Kagan discussing the famous thought experiment of the experience machine which comes from Robert Nozick and which serves as an argument against hedonism about well-being. This comes from a lecture on death given at the Southern Methodist University back in 2013. More on the nature of well-being: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/well-being/#philosophy #hedonism #ethics #nozick #moralphilosophy
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  Karl Popper on the Open Society (1974) 18.08.2026 5Min.

  A short of clip of Karl Popper discussing the Open Society from a 1974 interview. The translation is mine. For more Popper: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhP9EhPApKE_VarWCx1d_Uogn_GxsVf-o#philosophy #karlpopper #politicaltheory #politicalphilosophy #opensociety
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  Reason and Feeling in Ethics - Brand Blanshard (1966) 18.08.2026 1Std.

  Audio recording of a 1966 lecture by Brand Blanshard on reason and ethics given at Wheaton College (Massachusetts). #philosophy #ethics #moralphilosophy #utilitarianism #historyofphilosophy
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  The Romantic Revolution in Politics and Morals - Isaiah Berlin (1969) 18.08.2026 1Std. 33Min.

  Audio recording of a 1969 lecture by Isaiah Berlin on the romantic revolution in politics and morals at Washington University in St Louis as part of the Assembly lecture series. #philosophy #romanticism #isaiahberlin #intellectualhistory #history