Accented Philosophy

In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the recent debate about OnlyFans and whether online sex work is better or worse than conventional prostitution. What exactly are the moral problems of sites like OnlyFans, and how can and should this kind of work be regulated and controlled?Join us for your weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:57 What is OnlyFans?00:04:22 Should platforms be allowed to censor content?00:08:42 Should Facebook be run by the government?00:12:29 Is pornography immoral?00:17:09 Does pornography harm the performers?00:19:16 Is online sex different from offline prostitution?00:24:35 Can we ask platforms to regulate themselves?00:27:48 How to police social media?00:32:59 Labour laws and protections for online creators00:37:31 Freelancing: are delivery drivers different from poets?Next time: Online dating.Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Beauty discrimination onlineIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss beauty in online media and whether it is discriminatory to prefer beautiful actors and presenters in video material. Are we doing something morally bad when we watch Youtubers we find attractive? Should attractiveness have no influence on our viewing habits? Or are we free to watch whom we like?  Listen to find out!Please note that this episode begins with a different topic, "online prostitution," but we get stuck on the beauty topic before we ever get to prostitution. So the online sex topic is postponed to next time and don't get confused when I mention it in the beginning :)Join us for your weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:53 The role of bodies in social media00:03:28 Separating sexualised from non-sexualised body display00:05:41 What do we want in an actor?00:07:23 Is it wrong to judge actors by their looks?00:08:02 Does ugliness exist?00:12:04 Is it morally questionable to prefer “attractive” Youtubers?00:19:05 How can we act against “beauty discrimination”?00:22:22 Can we influence who we are attracted to?00:24:57 Is there a biological basis for beauty?00:27:44 Can we avoid beauty discrimination in every case?Next time: Online sex and the ethics of OnlyFans.Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Is prostitution morally right?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of prostitution, from issues of public health to exploitation and jobs that take over our bodies. Should we regulate sex work and how should we do it? Is the enforced sexual abstinence of priests comparable as a violation of sexual freedom to the job of a sex worker? Listen to find out!Join us for your weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:22 Moral problems of sex work00:02:20 Why are our societies so averse to nudity?00:08:04 The polarised public perception of sexuality00:10:09 Public health and public regulation00:13:17 Reasons for and benefits of drugs and sex consumption00:15:30 Sex work and the autonomy of the worker00:18:57 Sex work vs other kinds of jobs00:21:09 Sex work vs labour in general00:22:54 The association of sex with love00:26:15 Are workers used as mere means to an end?00:27:40 How to regulate sex work?00:30:25 Legalisation vs regulation00:32:06 Taxation, legalisation and social acceptance00:33:35 Promotion of military jobs, promotion of sex jobs00:39:52 The feminist perspective on sex work00:42:31 Sexual abstinence and the reproductive freedom of priests00:47:22 Sex work and human dignityAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Are come countries objectively better than others?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy finish their discussion of moral relativism. If we don't want to be relativists, what ways are there to know whether one country or system is better than another?Join us for your weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:16 Utilitarianism and consequentialism00:05:17 Is there a “mistaken” way to be happy? 00:08:30 Subjective vs objective evaluations of happiness 00:14:09 State paternalism00:17:37 Do restrictive dress codes actually increase freedom?00:20:18 Platonic ethics and how to apply it00:29:45 Virtue ethics00:32:10 How do we determine “true happiness”? (Are we truly happy?) Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

How bad is North Korea as a state?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss moral relativism and whether we can say that one society is "better" than another. Is the US better than North Korea? In what way? Is there an objective way to judge the "goodness" of a society?Join us for your weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:00 Introduction00:01:06 Is there non-rational ethics?00:02:01 Is incest always morally wrong?00:04:42 The value of moral intuitions00:08:17 How bad is North Korea as a state?00:09:52 Political systems and "true well-being"00:11:15 Poverty vs moral badness00:14:12 The responsibility of the international community00:16:49 The role of Consequentialism in moral arguments00:17:33 Deontological ethics vs consequentialism00:18:58 Plato (428-348 BC)00:19:41 Does capitalism make us happy?00:20:29 Amish society00:21:08 Epicurus, philosopher (341–270 BC)00:23:22 Being blind about one's own culture00:26:40 Judging values vs judging procedural aspects00:29:09 Jordan Peterson's interview with Yeonmi Park00:31:03 Are we in a position to criticise other cultures?00:35:27 Factual judgments vs moral judgmentsAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Moral relativismIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss moral relativism: the idea that other cultures may have their own values and moral rules that are different from ours. Do we have to respect them even if we disagree with them, or can we demand that all humans share some basic, common values? Join us for your weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:14 What is moral relativism?00:01:41 Parallel with language norms00:03:29 Societies and moral norms develop over time00:04:28 Do societies evolve to become better? GWF Hegel (1770-1831)00:09:23 Are we happier than societies in the past?00:12:30 Arguments in favour of moral relativism: Tolerance towards others00:13:31 The paradox in moral relativism00:14:45 The paradox of democracy00:17:55 Are there universal values?00:19:48 Are moral choices based on factual truths?00:22:06 Is all morality rational?00:28:57 Is all ethics ultimately about preferences?00:32:10 The moral complexities of incest00:38:18 Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): the “offices” in love00:38:40 The dynamics of power in love relationships00:39:04 The dynamics of power in Ancient Greek eros00:45:07 Are Western-style human rights universal?00:46:30 Moral rights as Platonic forms?00:47:09 Moral absolutism and the colonial attitudeAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Meritocracy and discriminationIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy continue their discussion of meritocracy. Do we really deserve the lives we have? And are we providing enough chances to those who need them?Join us for a weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:37 The paradox of meritocracy00:02:28 Random selection00:04:11 Should universities be so expensive?00:04:40 Should universities select their students? 00:09:04 Is it better to filter students earlier or later?00:12:25 Age discrimination00:14:17 Job interviews and soft skills00:18:09 Positions of power and the good life00:19:39 The "dark side" of meritocracy: merit and moral worth00:20:53 Everyone deserves a human life00:21:55 The Protestant roots of meritocracy00:23:08 Martin Luther (1483-1546), theologian 00:24:30 Do we deserve love? (Appraisal vs bestowal love; charity)00:26:00 Basic income must be unconditional00:27:49 Do we need to change the language of "merit"?00:29:11 "Deserving" and entitlement00:33:29 The value of small changes00:34:12 The wrong perception of one's own country00:36:09 Next week's topic: Cultural relativism and international politics.Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Meritocracy: Do we deserve our lives?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the idea that hard work (as well as laziness) eventually get their just rewards and that, therefore, people deserve the lives they have.  But is this true? Or do we all just rely on luck to achieve the positions in life that we have? Join us for a weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:24 What is meritocracy?00:01:34 Problems of meritocracy00:01:55 Meritocracy is not so different from elitist concepts 00:02:35 Absolute vs relative merit00:04:51 The problem of access to positions of power00:07:12 Michael Sandel, “The Tyranny of Merit.” Is merit just luck?00:08:13 How important is luck for merit?00:11:31 The perception of “deserving” one's achievements00:12:35 Is this only a debate about language use?00:14:19 “Merit” talk shifts blame away from society and onto the individual00:16:33 The value of work 00:18:24 Effort and result00:21:34 Privilege, entitlement and moral obligation00:25:24 Bill Gates and other successful people00:26:24 Robert Frank (2016): Success and Luck00:27:53 Should billionaires exist?00:31:34 Is it wrong to be a billionaire?00:35:24 Personal wealth and educational achievements00:38:52 The value of Ivy League universitiesAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

Sports and SocietyIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of sports in general. From whether sports benefit populations to drugs, doping and the problems of nationalism, it is surprising how many interesting moral issues are caused by sports!Join us for a weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:44 Do the Olympics promote sports in society?00:01:25 Are big sports events too competitive?00:03:57 Competing against one's previous self. Performance vs effort00:11:38 Single-dimensional and multi-dimensional performance in sports00:16:33 Doping and drugs in sport00:17:57 Drugs in bodybuilding00:20:39 Different kinds of drugs in sport00:23:03 What is a performance-enhancing drug?00:26:39 Hormone levels and transgender athletes00:34:36 Equality, interchangeability and inclusiveness00:39:04 Are big sports events good for the spectators?00:41:53 Nationalism and patriotism in sports00:45:18 Complicity through watching sportsAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts)

The Olympic GamesIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of the Olympics. From environmental problems to the protection of underage athletes, the Olympic Games cause a number of ethical problems that are worth discussing.Join us for a weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:28 The cost of the Olympics00:05:34 The infrastructure argument00:07:24 The “white elephant” problem00:08:27 The humanitarian costs of the Olympics00:10:30 Olympics vs evacuation after floods00:13:04 Who benefits from a forced relocation?00:13:41 Justifications for paternalism00:14:41 The undemocratic character of the Olympics00:16:41 Equal access to benefits?00:18:44 The invisible harm of the Olympics00:20:37 The environmental costs00:27:01 Decentralised or virtual Olympics?00:29:39 International unity and cooperation?00:31:19 The ethics of underage athletes and children celebrities00:36:29 Competition, rewards and happiness00:38:42 Paternalism and young athletes00:49:33 The rational vs the right choicePhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:13:41 Justifications for paternalism00:36:29 Competition, rewards and happiness00:38:42 Paternalism and young athletesAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday

Human autonomyIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy ask what autonomy really is. What does it mean to be "free"? Are drug addicts free? And what is unique about human beings?Join us for a weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:47 What is unique about humans?00:06:39 Is everybody special?00:08:51 Deontological ethics00:09:27 Uniqueness and dignity 00:14:08 Are religious societies better?00:15:59 Is freedom the absence of obstacles? 00:16:50 Meritocracy00:19:08 Protestant work ethic00:20:59 Autonomy00:21:16 Harry Frankfurt (1929-) on autonomy00:22:49 Addiction and freedom 00:26:47 Ronald Dworkin (1931-2013)00:28:06 Autonomy as the capacity to question one's will00:28:45 Orthonomy (Pettit and Smith 1993)00:32:20 Relational autonomy00:34:50 Autonomy and the technological world00:36:52 Is capitalism the real problem?00:39:20 What is the human brain for?Philosophers and theories mentioned:00:08:51 Deontological ethics00:16:50 Meritocracy00:21:16 Harry Frankfurt (1929-) on autonomy00:26:47 Ronald Dworkin (1931-2013)00:28:45 Orthonomy (Pettit and Smith 1993)00:32:20 Relational autonomyAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts :))

Technology and FreedomIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy ask how technology affects our freedom. Are we free to choose particular technologies? Are we free to reject them? And is democracy powerful enough to deal with technology?Join us for a weekly dose of Daily Philosophy!Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:52 What is technology?00:02:21 Gutenberg's printing press (~1440) and its effects00:02:45 Ian Mortimer: Human Race: 10 Centuries of Change on Earth00:04:48 Plato, ancient Greek philosopher (428-348 BC) on writing00:05:06 Plato, Pheadrus (on writing)00:07:55 Can we predict the effects of technologies?00:09:15 Obvious and non-obvious effects00:11:56 Precautionary principle00:15:06 Technology itself vs its use00:16:29 What is a technology?00:20:37 Tools vs machines00:22:26 E.F. Schumacher: Small is Beautiful00:22:49 Lewis Mumford (1895-1990)00:25:54 Becoming a slave to the machine00:26:59 Machines and social power00:28:01 Bruno Latour (1947-)00:28:39 Invisible regulation and democracy00:30:58 Machines as unyielding and blind agents00:32:03 Ransomware00:34:15 The blindness of bureaucracy00:39:06 The importance of social reputation00:43:11 The inhumanity of supermarkets00:45:21 Charlie Chaplin: Modern times (movie)Philosophers and theories mentioned:00:02:45 Ian Mortimer: Human Race: 10 Centuries of Change on Earth00:04:48 Plato, ancient Greek philosopher (428-348 BC) on writing00:05:06 Plato, Pheadrus (on writing)00:11:56 Precautionary principle00:22:26 E.F. Schumacher: Small is Beautiful00:22:49 Lewis Mumford (1895-1990)00:28:01 Bruno Latour (1947-)Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (or thereabouts :)).

Work, Leisure and FulfilmentIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy continue their discussion of topics from E. F. Schumacher's famous 1973 book "Small is Beautiful". We unpack the main theses of the book that relate to the effects of technology on work, leisure and meaning and look whether they are still valid 50 years later.Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and explore with us one of the most influential books of the 70s.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:02 E.F. Schumacher: Small is Beautiful00:01:15 Schumacher on developmental aid00:05:18 Is developmental aid colonialist?00:08:54 Localisation instead of globalisation00:10:56 Do we always know what's good for us?00:13:19 Do technologies force us to use them?00:16:19 Frankfurt: Second-order desires00:22:58 Does technology deprive us of meaning?00:23:19 E.F. Schumacher: Small is Beautiful00:23:45 Buddhist economics00:25:55 Do we naturally enjoy working?00:28:06 Luddism: rejection of technologies00:30:02 Is an easier life always good?00:35:03 David Graeber (2018): Bullshit Jobs00:38:47 Unemployment and shorter work00:48:41 The imperative to be productive00:49:42 Erich Fromm (1900-1980)00:50:30 Different kinds of leisure activities00:53:37 Virtue ethics00:53:54 What are “valuable” leisure activities?01:03:13 Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)01:04:11 Epicurus: Trouble in the soul (see article on daily-philosophy.com!)Philosophers and theories mentioned:00:01:02 E.F. Schumacher: Small is Beautiful00:16:19 Frankfurt: Second-order desires00:23:45 Buddhist economics00:35:03 David Graeber (2018): Bullshit Jobs00:49:42 Erich Fromm (1900-1980)01:03:13 Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)01:04:11 Epicurus: Trouble in the soul (see article on daily-philosophy.com!)Next episode: Technology and FreedomAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday (almost).

Small is Beautiful - Economics as if people matteredIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss E. F. Schumacher's famous 1973 book "Small is Beautiful". We unpack the main theses of the book and look whether they are still valid 50 years later.Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and explore with us one of the most influential books of the 70s.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:31 Globalisation and its effects00:02:28 Types of globalisation00:05:05 “Monoculture” argument00:08:42 Can we justify economic inequality?00:10:45 Robert Nozick (1938-2002)00:12:26 Earth's resources are limited00:13:01 Small countries and globalisation00:14:31 Globalisation threatens diversity00:15:39 The lost diversity of languages00:17:56 How language influences content00:20:50 Big countries are more dangerous00:22:55 Globalisation and peace00:24:31 Does globalisation help the poor?00:29:28 Media monopolies00:34:38 Problems of foreign aid00:38:05 City life and individualism00:42:33 Labourers and digital nomads00:47:05 The meaning of work00:47:22 Karl Marx: Alienation00:50:57 Universal Basic Income00:53:40 Meaning and work01:02:11 The power of corporationsPhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:10:45 Robert Nozick (1938-2002)00:47:22 Karl Marx: AlienationNext episode: Can we Control Technology?Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

What is Deep Ecology?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss Deep Ecology. What is it, where does the idea come from, and is it always clear what the theory demands of us?Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and explore with us the philosophical issues surrounding deep ecology.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:11 Deep ecology00:00:36 Shallow and deep ecology 00:02:33 Anthropocentrism00:05:26 Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) 00:07:37 Arne Naess (1912-2009)00:08:08 Self-realisation00:13:04 The myth of Prometheus00:17:35 Fair consumption of resources00:20:20 Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) 00:21:49 Peter Singer00:22:48 Utilitarianism 00:23:37 Life's will to survive -- life vs consciousness00:25:27 Is there a “right to life”?00:26:09 “Chimeras”: see prev. episode of this podcast!00:27:07 The eight principles of Deep Ecology00:29:58 Speciesism00:31:30 Preserving diversity 00:36:43 What are “vital human needs”?00:42:19 The need to decrease the human population00:44:12 Deontological ethics00:46:26 Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)00:48:01 Population control policies 00:48:18 China's one-child policy00:52:51 Quality of life vs material standard of life00:55:30 Maslow's hierarchy of needs00:56:54 Do we have an obligation to act?00:58:14 Peter Singer: Drowning child argument01:01:45 Eco-feminism01:02:00 Rationalism and false dichotomies Philosophers and theories mentioned:00:00:36 Shallow and deep ecology 00:02:33 Anthropocentrism00:05:26 Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) 00:07:37 Arne Naess (1912-2009)00:13:04 The myth of Prometheus00:20:20 Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) 00:21:49 Peter Singer00:22:48 Utilitarianism 00:29:58 Speciesism00:44:12 Deontological ethics00:46:26 Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)00:55:30 Maslow's hierarchy of needs00:58:14 Peter Singer: Drowning child argument01:01:45 Eco-feminismNext episode: Small is Beautiful - Sustainable EconomicsAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

Nudges - The Hidden InfluencersIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss nudges, hidden, often subconscious forces that try to steer our decisions. What really are nudges? What is the relationship of nudges to freedom of choice and human autonomy? Are nudges making us unable to navigate our own decisions?Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and explore with us the philosophical issues surrounding human decision-making.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:20 What are nudges?00:05:28 Soft and hard nudges00:07:25 Are nudges good for us?00:11:01 Individual vs population-level nudges00:12:14 The idea of a general “good”00:13:14 Resisting nudges 00:14:40 Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein00:16:42 Manipulation in supermarkets00:17:21 Product design as a nudge00:20:53 Greenwashing00:22:58 Do we know what is “good”?00:24:49 Libertarian paternalism00:27:27 Nudges help us make rational choices00:28:50 Democratic regulation of nudges00:32:25 Is there a right to make bad decisions?00:32:40 Moral atrophy00:35:05 Deterrence as nudging00:36:25 Libertarian paternalism's “third way”00:37:15 Paternalism00:38:37 Rational decision-making00:40:22 Are we ever free from nudges?00:42:37 Better alternatives to nudging?00:43:15 Nudges don't address the root problem00:45:35 Structural changes instead of nudges?00:46:44 Are prohibitions desirable?00:48:52 Are we rational enough?00:49:22 Human ethology, Konrad Lorenz (1903-1989)00:52:28 Is the right choice always rational? 00:57:16 Immanuel Kant, Enlightenment00:58:49 Visit us at daily-philosophy.com!Philosophers and theories mentioned:00:14:40 Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein00:24:49 Libertarian paternalism00:36:25 Libertarian paternalism's “third way”00:37:15 Paternalism00:49:22 Human ethology, Konrad Lorenz (1903-1989)00:57:16 Immanuel Kant, EnlightenmentNext episode: Deep EcologyAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

What is anarchism?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss anarchism. What does the word really mean? What is the relationship of anarchism to liberalism, free markets and the visions of communism? And is an anarchist state compatible with personal freedom and flourishing?Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and explore with us the philosophical issues surrounding anarchism and the ideal society.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:30 What is anarchism?00:03:25 Marxism and anarchism00:05:20 Self-determination and rules00:06:06 Was the Wild West an anarchist society?00:06:45 The problem of justice, vigilantism00:08:17 Is the free market an anarchist model?00:10:05 Policing the anarchist society00:12:20 The anarchy of the Internet00:17:40 Free speech in the anarchist society00:25:42 What is anarchist education?00:31:42 Discuss with us! Leave a comment!00:32:42 History of anarchism00:32:51 Social contract00:33:49 Pierre-Joseph Proudhon00:34:00 Is property theft?00:34:45 Jean-Jacques Rousseau00:40:25 Darwinism and cooperation00:41:00 Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin00:42:18 Are we cooperative by nature?00:43:40 Confucianism00:45:15 Kantian argument for anarchism00:48:08 Anarchism and libertarianism00:51:40 Examples of anarchic societies00:52:52 Paris commune (1871), Amish and monks00:58:17 What is the point of anarchism?01:02:26 Autonomy and second-order autonomy01:04:05 Autonomy vs freedom: Odysseus and the SirensPhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:32:51 Social contract00:33:49 Pierre-Joseph Proudhon00:34:45 Jean-Jacques Rousseau00:40:25 Darwinism and cooperation00:41:00 Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin00:43:40 Confucianism00:45:15 Kantian argument for anarchismNext episode: Technological nudges and human flourishingAccented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

Terrorism and violence in politicsIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss politically motivated violence. Is there ever a justification for terrorism? Does the state have a right to use violence against its citizens? Does the end justify the means? And what can we learn from the "yellow vest" protests in France?Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and explore with us the philosophical issues surrounding terrorism and violence in politics.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:14 Collective vs individual use of violence00:02:16 Terrorism vs wars00:03:45 Definition of terrorism00:05:16 Does the state have a right to employ force?00:06:27 Thomas Hobbes on violence00:07:32 Hobbes and violent uprisings00:10:38 John Locke on resistance00:11:48 Jean-Jacques Rousseau on natural rights00:12:57 Thomas Jefferson on rebellion00:13:30 US gun debate00:16:14 Mistrust towards the government00:19:04 John Stuart Mill on freedom and political violence00:21:00 Limits of democracy00:23:31 Yellow vests protests in France00:27:04 Marx on violence and harm00:27:48 Innocent victims vs symbols of oppression00:32:16 Are agents of the state legitimate targets?00:34:11 The state should have higher moral standards00:36:49 Justification from necessity and JS Mill00:40:17 Means and ends in ethics00:42:12 Oppressive violence and freeing violence00:45:21 Extinction rebellion, Greenpeace00:50:02 Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski and eco terrorism00:53:34 Does the end justify the means?00:55:23 Environmental protection and social justice00:58:00 Nonviolent protest and Mahatma Gandhi01:02:44 Can people be symbols of oppression?01:03:47 Kant: Treating persons as ends01:04:09 Conclusion: Making sure that we don't need violencePhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:06:27 Thomas Hobbes on violence00:07:32 Hobbes and violent uprisings00:10:38 John Locke on resistance00:11:48 Jean-Jacques Rousseau on natural rights00:12:57 Thomas Jefferson on rebellion00:19:04 John Stuart Mill on freedom and political violence00:27:04 Marx on violence and harm00:36:49 Justification from necessity and JS Mill00:50:02 Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski and eco terrorism00:58:00 Nonviolent protest and Mahatma Gandhi01:03:47 Kant: Treating persons as endsNext episode: What is Anarchism?Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

Death Penalty: Is It Morally Right?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of the death penalty, and particularly the question whether other countries have the right to withhold the drugs used in US executions.Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and take part in a thrilling exploration of the philosophical issues surrounding the death penalty.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:00:44 Intro00:02:19 Interference in internal affairs of other countries 00:06:14 Respecting the democratic will of others 00:07:44 Relativism  00:09:44 Is there intrinsic value in democratic decisions? 00:12:32 Are we biased when judging other countries?00:13:09 Comparison with euthanasia 00:15:00 Should companies have all rights to their own products?00:18:10 Democratic decisions and social media manipulation00:21:00 The choice of the prisoner on how to die00:23:30 Asking prisoners how they want to die: is it cruel?00:28:33 Can governments kill their own citizens?00:31:00 John Rawls, original position, veil of ignorance00:36:32 Is death worse than lifelong imprisonment?00:40:55 Should people decide how they want to die?00:43:05 Flourishing makes a life worth living00:47:30 Arguments in favour of death penalty: Retribution00:48:04 Retribution vs vengeance00:52:14 Effect of death penalty on crime00:54:58 Do people have a right to life?00:56:15 Deontological (Kantian) ethics. Autonomy00:58:03 Should societies have higher moral standards?00:59:10 The irreversibility of death penalty01:00:40 The utilitarian argument01:03:20 The value of life and the possibility of redemption01:04:36 How can prisoners lead a flourishing life?01:05:15 A voluntary death penalty?Philosophers and theories mentioned:00:07:44 Relativism 00:28:33 Social contract00:31:00 John Rawls, original position, veil of ignorance00:48:04 Retribution vs vengeance00:56:15 Deontological (Kantian) ethics. Autonomy01:00:40 The utilitarian argumentNext episode: Is terrorism for a good cause ever justifiable?Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

Chimeras: Animals as hosts for human organs?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the complex ethics of growing human organs in animal hosts. Are we in danger of creating human-like animals? Could such animals claim human rights? And are we sufficiently respecting the dignity of such animal hosts?Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and take part in a thrilling exploration of the philosophical issues surrounding  modern transplantation medicine.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.Please note that we had some technical issues recording this episode, which resulted in us re-recording a few minutes of the episode at a different date. This is why a handful of short snippets of the recording sound a bit different from the rest. Don't worry, your ears are fine.00:00:35 Intro 00:01:30 Chimeras: Monkeys as hosts for human organs 00:02:42 What is new about chimeras? 00:04:00 The word “chimera” 00:06:06 Overview of the moral issues00:07:45 The need for organs 00:09:35 Intentions vs outcomes in ethics00:13:04 Is it ethical to kill anyone for their organs?00:14:10 The “trolley problem”00:15:30 The doctrine of double effect 00:17:16 The “humanity” of chimeras00:19:32 Do monkeys have different moral status from pigs?00:21:00 The problem of animal suffering00:22:21 The analogy to meat production00:24:36 Jeremy Bentham on animal suffering00:24:59 Peter Singer on speciesism00:30:08 Aristotle and the flourishing of humans and animals00:31:19 Kant: Autonomy and human dignity00:37:57 Deontological arguments00:39:15 Do pigs have dignity?00:40:13 Being human vs being a person00:42:16 Mary Anne Warren on personhood 00:44:20 The danger of creating human-like life accidentally00:49:30 Manipulating animal development00:50:21 The Christian argument00:56:02 The dignity of animals 01:00:01 Is high-tech medicine ethical?01:03:20 ConclusionPhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:14:10 The “trolley problem”00:15:30 The doctrine of double effect 00:24:36 Jeremy Bentham on animal suffering00:24:59 Peter Singer on speciesism00:30:08 Aristotle and the flourishing of humans and animals00:31:19 Kant: Autonomy and human dignity00:37:57 Deontological arguments00:42:16 Mary Anne Warren on personhood 00:50:21 The Christian argumentNext episode: The ethics of exporting deadly drugs for US executions.Accented Philosophy - Every Tuesday.

Who Owns Space?In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ownership of resources in space. Is space the new frontier of colonialism? Is it likely that we will explore space peacefully and in a civilised way, or are we about to repeat the mistakes of the past? And who owns the night sky? From the Tragedy of the Commons to whether we need to ditch capitalism in order to become a space-faring civilisation.Come along for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and understand the arguments surrounding the exploration and exploitation of space.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:10 Parallel to history of colonisation00:03:34 Space treaties, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, Bogota declaration, Artemis accords00:05:46 Is space still in the State of Nature?00:07:13 Social contract theories00:07:26 Aristotle00:09:03 Thomas Hobbes00:10:31 John Locke's theory of property rights00:14:03 Perpetuating earthly inequality in space00:16:05 Space resources are not necessarily unlimited00:17:10 G. Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons00:18:02 Starlink satellites and the night sky00:19:13 The utilitarian argument for Starlink's internet00:20:20 Does nature have intrinsic value?00:22:53 Who is “we” when we talk of space? Relativism and access00:26:13 Can the UN regulate access to space?00:29:44 Rousseau and the “general will”00:32:45 Tragedy of the Commons, part 2: solutions?00:36:38 Why do we want to go to space?00:38:05 Exploration or exploitation?00:40:29 Is capitalism to blame?00:45:01 Local regulation, global effects00:47:48 Should we divide up space?00:49:45 What drives us to explore space?00:51:44 Panspermia hypothesisPhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:07:26 Aristotle00:09:03 Thomas Hobbes00:10:31 John Locke's theory of property rights00:17:10 G. Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons00:29:44 Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the “general will”Next episode: Should we create genetic hybrids of humans and other species? Accented Philosophy -- Every Tuesday.

The Ethics and Politics of Drug LegalisationIn this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss whether we should legalise (or de-criminalise?) the use of recreational drugs. What are the arguments in favour of and against legalising drugs? What about coffee and tobacco? And is there perhaps a value in exploring altered states of mind?Come along for an hour-long dose of your daily philosophy and understand the arguments surrounding drugs legalisation.Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com. Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.00:01:03 Examples of drug legalisation00:03:17 Netherlands: drug tourism and organised crime00:08:46 Different forms of legalisation00:12:15 Consequentialism: Benefits of legalising drugs?00:15:05 Downsides of legalising drugs00:16:02 Social determinism: are we free to choose?00:20:20 US opioid epidemic00:21:46 Libertarian argument against drug regulation00:23:25 The role of state regulation00:24:56 Sugar, coffee and tobacco00:27:35 Are drug users free to choose?00:29:11 Autonomy and second order volitions00:33:27 Positive freedom00:34:45 Can we avoid state involvement?00:38:00 Parallels to abortion00:38:59 Safe drug taking infrastructure00:39:32 Does the state need to support BASE jumping?00:42:40 Will outlawing drugs drive down consumption?00:45:48 Alcohol, tobacco and other legal drugs00:48:15 Do we have a duty to stay healthy?00:49:00 The normative force of widespread practices00:54:58 Are there benefits to drug use?00:55:42 Drugs as exploration of inner spaces00:56:56 Good Friday experiment00:59:07 Griffiths experiment00:01:02 Should we have access to hidden inner worlds?01:03:30 Are drug experiences anti-social?01:06:58 ConclusionsPhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:12:15 Consequentialism: https://daily-philosophy.com/classic-utilitarianism/00:16:02 Social determinism00:21:46 Libertarian argument00:29:11 Autonomy, Harry Frankfurt and second order volitions00:31:37 Charles Taylor: Hierarchy of desires00:31:52 Isaiah Berlin: Negative freedom00:48:43 Virtue ethics: https://daily-philosophy.com/how-to-live-an-aristotelian-life/00:55:42 Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary and Ernest Hemingway00:56:20 Shamanism, entheogens00:56:56 Good Friday experiment (1963)00:59:07 Roland R Griffiths01:06:30 Utilitarianism: https://daily-philosophy.com/classic-utilitarianism/

The Ethics of Vaccination PassportsIn this first episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of vaccination passports. Is it morally right for the state to require citizens to vaccinate or is it discriminating against those who don't want to get vaccinated? Come along for an hour-long dose of your daily philosophy and understand the arguments surrounding vaccination ethics. Brought to you by daily-philosophy.com.Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: pixabay.com/music00:00:38 Israel's “Green pass” and other countries' plans00:02:42 Opposition to vaccination passports00:03:00 WHO recommendation against vaccination passports00:05:50 Comparison to mandatory education00:09:15 Vaccinations and freedom00:10:10 Positive and negative freedom00:10:40 Thomas Hobbes and the Social Contract00:15:41 The role of the state for human flourishing00:17:15 Individualist vs collectivist cultures00:19:55 Confucianism, Aristotle, Utilitarianism00:21:16 Personal autonomy vs society00:25:00 Autonomy, drug addiction and second-order wishes00:27:20 Paternalism of the state and car seat belts00:32:50 Are vaccines beneficial?00:33:50 Trust in the government00:40:10 Libertarianism00:41:49 A duty to benefit others?00:42:30 Kant's Categorical Imperative00:46:10 Which restrictions to life can be justified?00:48:00 What makes a human life worth living?00:54:10 Do we need to respect every preference someone has?00:57:12 Is democracy justifiable?01:03:13 Conclusions and Martha Nussbaum's capabilities approachPhilosophers and theories mentioned:00:10:40 Thomas Hobbes00:11:00 Social contract in vaccination ethics00:19:55 Confucianism00:20:25 Aristotle00:20:39 Utilitarianism00:21:16 Kant on autonomy00:42:30 Kant's Categorical Imperative00:43:28 Dignity00:59:03 Plato (427-347 BC)01:04:07 Martha Nussbaum's capabilities theory