Five Minute Philosophy

Follow Five Minute Philosophy
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

A philosophy podcast with simple five minute lessons, making philosophy accessible for all ages, backgrounds and experience!

Lottie Pike


    • May 21, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 5m AVG DURATION
    • 93 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Five Minute Philosophy with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Five Minute Philosophy

    Applying Standpoint Theory (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2023 7:03


    In this episode, guest contributor Yolanda discusses Standpoint Theory - the idea that your experience of reality can vary depending on your standpoint. This is particularly salient when applied to the experiences of marginalised groups, Yolanda argues, and by drawing on this theory we can better understand the members of these groups and their unique standpoints. Enjoy, and thank you Yolanda for your contribution! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please get in touch via email (fiveminutephilosophyemail@gmail.com), Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Possible Worlds

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 6:24


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about the theory of Possible Worlds, with a particular emphasis on David Lewis' Modal Realism. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Generalisations about Social Groups (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 4:56


    In this episode, guest contributor Mark Bowker (Marie Skłodowska–Curie Fellow in Philosophy at Lund University) discusses his current area of research - generalisations about social groups, particularly when these generalisations include certain types of prejudices (racism, sexism, homophobia etc). He also explores ideas quantification, asking the question: how many instances of something must there be for me to be warranted in making a generalisation about it, and does this change depending on the thing we are making a generalisation about? Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1). Link to Mark's website: http://markbowker.xyz

    Hume on Causation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 6:53


    In this episode, I go through the claims Hume makes about causation in 'An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding', and why he takes causal inference to be an unreliable model for making rational claims about the world. Enjoy! If you'd like to get in contact, message me on Twitter (@fiveminutephil1) or Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy).

    The Golden Mean

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 5:40


    After a 6 month hiatus, I'm back! In this episode, I talk about Aristotle's 'Golden Mean' - a commentary about virtue, found in his 'Nicomachean Ethics'. Enjoy!

    Culture without Food (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2021 5:49


    In this episode, guest contributor Will Hathaway and I discuss how culture would be different humans didn't have to eat - would culture have to centre around something different, and if so, what? Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Self-Knowledge

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2021 5:35


    In this episode, we'll be talking about the three main approaches to the topic of self-knowledge: acquaintance theory, inner-sense theory and rationalist theory. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    The History of Logic

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2021 5:34


    In this episode, we'll be running through a brief history of logic, focusing on the 3 major periods in the discipline: ancient, medieval and modern logic. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Everyday Aesthetics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 3:55


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about the subfield of aesthetics known as 'everyday aesthetics', or 'aesthetics of the familiar', in which the boundaries of aesthetic appreciation are broadened to make room for everyday experiences in the realm of what is considered to be 'aesthetic'. Enjoy! If you'd like to do a guest contribution, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Mariology

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2021 5:01


    In this episode, I'll be talking about Mariology - the theological study of the Virgin Mary. This includes her role as the Mother of God, the immaculate conception and issues surrounding the notion of her 'perpetual virginity'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Secularism: A Threat to Today's Youth? (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 4:38


    In today's episode, guest contributor Msaa Mugavana explains why secularism might be considered to be a threat to today's youth, as well as the benefits of religion as a guiding force, particularly for the young. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    The Paradox of Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2021 5:25


    In this episode, I'll be talking about the 'Paradox of Fiction', as well as how some scholars have responded to the paradox. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Naturalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2021 7:09


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about Naturalism, as well as how it links to other areas of philosophy like epistemology and ethics. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Berkeley and Idealism (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2021 5:00


    In this episode, Dr Peter West talks all about Berkeley and his philosophical standpoint known as 'idealism'. Enjoy, and thank you to Peter for doing this episode! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    The Maleness of 'Reason'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2021 7:03


    In this episode, I'll be discussing Genevieve Lloyd's feminist work 'The Man of Reason' and its discussion of the gendering of 'Reason' as male throughout the history of Western philosophy, with a particular emphasis on the works of Plato and Descartes. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Spinoza

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 5:16


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about Baruch Spinoza and his ideas on God, ethics and perspective. Enjoy!

    Could God be a woman?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 4:47


    In this episode, I'll be talking about the gendering of God as male in the Christian tradition, and whether it would be so controversial to switch up the language used to describe this God to make it more female-oriented. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Ricoeur's 'Hermeneutics of Suspicion'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 4:05


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about Paul Ricoeur's approach to texts known as his 'hermeneutics of suspicion'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Logical Atomism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 5:43


    Today I'll be talking about logical atomism, its metaphysical and methodological application, as well as how it differs from the idealism of the time. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    What We Owe to Each Other

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 5:38


    In this episode, I'll be going through the key ideas in T.M. Scanlon's book, 'What We Owe to Each Other'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Process Philosophy and Theology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2021 5:56


    In this episode, I'll be talking about Process Philosophy, and also how it links to Process Theology. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    theology process philosophy
    Existentialism: Key Terms

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 8:21


    In this episode, I'll be running through some of the key terms and ideas commonly found in existentialism, such as the different modes of 'Being' and 'Nausea'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Albert Camus

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 6:17


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about writer and philosopher Albert Camus, including some of his most famous texts like 'The Plague' and 'The Myth of Sisyphus'. Enjoy!

    John Hick's Global Theology and Religious Pluralism

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2021 9:37


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about British theologian John Hick's global theology and approach to religious pluralism, including some of the critiques his account has received. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Diotima of Mantinea

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021 5:35


    In this episode, I talk all about Ancient Greek philosopher and prophetess Diotima of Mantinea, and the ideas she presents in Plato's 'Symposium'. Enjoy!

    Aquinas' Cosmological Argument

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 5:55


    In this episode, I'll be speaking all about Thomas Aquinas' Cosmological Argument and its three components: the 'Argument from Motion', the 'Argument from Causation' and the 'Argument from Necessity'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    On Liberty

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2021 4:27


    In this episode, I'll be talking about John Stuart Mill's essay 'On Liberty', including the ideas he explores and how they can be applied to his form of rule utilitarianism. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Heresy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 5:36


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about the concept of heresy, including its historical/theological significance and the distinction made in the Roman Catholic tradition between 'formal' and 'material' heresy. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Free Will and Religious Belief

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2021 6:22


    In this episode, I'll be talking about the crossover between ideas about free will and religious belief, specifically about the supposed incompatibility of determinism and Christianity. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Virtue Ethics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 4:57


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, and how it suggests we become 'virtuous people'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    The Ethical Criticism of Art

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 4:15


    In this episode, I'll be talking all about the ethical criticism of art - or, the overlap between the branches of philosophy known as 'ethics' and 'aesthetics', and how their values interact. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Plato's 'Symposium'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 6:40


    In this special Valentine's Day episode, I'll be speaking all about Plato's 'Symposium' and the ideas about love presented in it. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutuephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Ideology (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 6:03


    In this episode, Toby Buckle - host of the Political Philosophy Podcast - talks all about ideology, including how the term is understood by different people or groups, as well as what ideologies tend to represent. Enjoy, and check out the Political Philosophy Podcast for longer interview-style podcasts all about political philosophy. If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Plato's 'Republic'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2021 6:25


    In this episode, I'll be going over some of the main themes and ideas in Plato's 'Republic', including ideas about justice and how Plato attempts to construct his 'ideal state'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Socratic Dialogue with Samuel Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 11:05


    In this episode, I'm joined by fellow Philosophy student Samuel Jackson to talk about Socratic dialogue, as seen in many of Plato's works. We speak about perception and idealism, and ask whether it is rational to say that an external material world exists, and more importantly, that it exists how we perceive it to exist. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode for the podcast, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Theological Non-Realism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 4:52


    In this episode, I'll be talking about theological non-realism and its take on the existence of God, mainly through the work of Don Cupitt. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Ethical Subjectivism: Sartre and Nietzsche

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 5:13


    In this episode, we'll be talking all about Sartre and Nietzsche's ethical subjectivism, and a bit about how their personal ethics were influenced by the rest of their philosophies. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    The School of Athens

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2021 7:27


    In this episode, I'll be talking a bit about Raphael's painting, 'The School of Athens', including its context within the Renaissance and what we can see in the painting. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Confucius (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2020 6:15


    For today's episode, the final instalment of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, a very special guest contributor speaks all about Confucius. Merry Christmas to all of my lovely listeners, and thank you for joining me every day for the past month for the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series - I will be back in the new year with more episodes! Enjoy.

    Can God Ride a Bike?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2020 4:44


    In this episode, the penultimate of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, we'll be discussing whether God can (theoretically) ride a bike, putting into question attributes such as His omnipotence and omniscience. Enjoy, and happy Christmas Eve!

    The Grapes of Wrath, de Beauvoir and Engels

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 5:10


    In this episode, the 23rd of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, I'll be analysing Steinbeck's novel 'The Grapes of Wrath' using the feminist socio-economic thought of Simone de Beauvoir and Friedrich Engels. Enjoy!

    José Ortega y Gasset

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 5:43


    In this episode, the 22nd of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, I'll be speaking a bit about the 20th Century Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset and his ideas on perspectivism. Enjoy!

    Gender Essentialism vs Gender Existentialism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 5:12


    In this episode, the 21st of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, I'll be talking all about the differences between gender essentialism and gender existentialism. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Christian Moral Principles

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 5:43


    In this episode, the 20th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, we'll be talking all about Christian moral principles - more specifically, the differences between theonomous, heteronomous and autonomous approaches to Christian ethics and practices. Enjoy!

    The Philosophy of Videogames (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2020 4:36


    In this episode, the 19th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, guest contributor Alex Fisher speaks about the philosophy of videogames - in particular, the issues of ethics and aesthetics that arise, such as the permissibility of virtual actions. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Bad Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 5:26


    In this episode, the 18th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, we'll be looking at the notion of bad faith, as found in existential philosophy, as well as looking at Sartre and de Beauvoir's thoughts on it. Enjoy!

    Stoicism (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 5:12


    In this episode, the 17th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, guest contributor Mr Oliver Gent - teacher of English and Classics at Stamford School - speaks all about Stoicism, including its origins and what it promotes. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Thomas Hobbes (guest contribution)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 6:22


    In this episode, the 16th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, guest contributor James Farrow speaks all about Thomas Hobbes, in particular his 1651 work 'Leviathan'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    After Dinner Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 4:47


    In this episode, the 15th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy', I'll be speaking about 'After Dinner Conversation', an organisation that aims to promote critical thinking and debate through short stories, podcasts and more. Here's the link to their website: After Dinner Conversation - Philosophy | Ethics Short Stories - use the code 'Dinner' for the first month free on a subscription to their magazine, and then pay just $1.95/month.

    The Portrayal of Free Will in 'Hamlet'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 6:29


    In this episode, the 14th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, we're doing a Philosophy/English Literature crossover, and will be looking at how free will is portrayed in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. Enjoy! If you'd like to request an episode, or even do an episode yourself, please contact me on Instagram (@fiveminutephilosophy) or Twitter (@fiveminutephil1).

    Relativism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 5:02


    In today's episode, the 13th of the '25 Days of 5 Minute Philosophy' series, we'll be talking all about relativism - moral relativism, in particular - and some of the debate surrounding it. Enjoy!

    Claim Five Minute Philosophy

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel