Philosophy Takes On The News

A special Q&A panel at a Philosophy and Comedy conference!  (Univ of Kent, May 2023.  Sponsored by the good people at The Royal Institute of Philosophy.)  What are the limits of free speech when it comes to comedy?  Can comedy be a form of philosophy?  Do comedians' moral failings make their performances less funny?  Daphna Baram, Andy White, Alexis Dubus and Julian Dodd on the panel, Simon Kirchin chairing, and plenty of folk in the audience - Robin Ince, Rosie Wilby, Lucy O'Brien, Piers Benn, Graeme A. Forbes......

Public Interest - WhatsApp / Religion in Politics / Hate / IWD.  Julian Baggini and Sophie-Grace Chappell chat with Simon Kirchin. 

A special episode discussing the war in Ukraine on the one year anniversary of its invasion. Angie Hobbs, Aaron Wendland and Gerald Lang chat with Simon Kirchin.  Aaron has organised a series of benefit talks supporting academics and students in Ukraine.  (Details near the top of the show.)  17th-19th March. Hosted here: https://civic.ukma.edu.ua/benefit/ 

Constitutional Reforms / Crypto and Effective Altruism / End of Year round-up plus Hopes and Fears for 2023.  Fiona Macpherson, Vittorio Bufacchi and Gerald Lang chat with Simon Kirchin 

Should we watch the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup?  Human rights / Moral consistency / Personal feelings  / and more, including predictions.  Tom McClelland, Lucy O'Brien, Martin O'Neill and Gerald Lang chat with Simon Kirchin. 

Special episode on the 2022 US mid-term elections.  A run-through of the results plus democracy, trust, compromise, Trump, information, media and all the rest.  Julian Baggini, Fiona Macpherson and Chris Carman chat with Simon Kirchin. 

Political mandates and legitimacy / Negotiations / Art and Protest.  Josh Forstenzer and Gerald Lang chat with Simon Kirchin.

The absolute state of UK politics / AI.  Fiona Macpherson and Chris Henry chat with Simon Kirchin. 

Italian elections / Chess, cheating and limits.  Vittorio Bufacchi and Michael Hauskeller join Simon Kirchin to chat about the news in a philosophically-inspired way.

The Queen - monarchism and republicanism / Govt. business under the radar.  Julian Baggini, Graeme A. Forbes and Tom McLelland chat with Simon Kirchin.

A new PM! / Climate change and reparations / Moral conscience.  Piers Benn, Kieran Oberman and Graeme A. Forbes chat with Simon Kirchin.  

Ukraine. Sentient chatbots? Strike! Helen Frowe, Aaron Wendland and Gerald Lang with Simon Kirchin

Boris's vote of no confidence. Jubilee and values. Food and other policies. Julian Baggini, Fiona Macpherson, Michael Hauskeller and Simon.

Gun violence. Non-binary. Trans conversion therapy. Partygate. Australian elections. Sophie-Grace Chappell, Vittorio Bufacchi, Chris Henry and Simon.

Ukraine and Media. University admissions. Jordan Peterson. Helen Frowe, Aaron Wendland and Simon

Keir, beer and virtue-signalling. Eurovision. Julian Baggini, Rebecca Roache, Graeme Forbes and Simon.

Roe v. Wade. Elections and Voting. Living with Covid. Piers Benn, Gerald Lang, Fiona Macpherson and Simon

Free speech (Musk&Twitter / Rayner). Climate & ultimate sacrifice. Leadership & French election. Reparations. [NOTE: warning in ep. opening about 2nd segment.] Sophie-Grace Chappell, Josh Forstenzer, Michael Hauskeller and Simon.

Covid and Masks. House of Lords. Elon Musk and Twitter. Julian Baggini, Fiona Woollard, Chris Henry and Simon.

Orders in War. Biden's Speech. Partygate. A Slap at the Oscars. 'Tax the Rich!' Rebecca Roache, Michael Hauskeller, Gerald Lang, Philip Goff and Simon.  A BUMPER Episode!

Duties to others. Climate change and energy.  Beers in the metaverse.  (Plus cool tangents.) Julian Baggini, Fiona Macpherson, Josh Forstenzer and Simon.

Moral compromise. Social glue and practical aid. The news cycle. Helen Frowe, Lucy O'Brien, Graeme A. Forbes and Simon.

Ukraine, permissible resistance and cultural boycotts. Plus: do things matter? Julian Baggini, Sophie-Grace Chappell, Gerald Lang and Simon.

Ukarine, sanctions and permissible resistance.  Ocean justice.  Simon talks with Helen Frowe and Chris Armstrong.

Ukraine, Jimmy Carr's joke, and misogyy and hate crime.  Joining Simon are Helen Frowe, Graeme A. Forbes and Andy White.

This was recorded on 18th February 2022: an auspicious moment as it was our first episode. Simon, Julian Baggini, Vittorio Bufacchi and Philip Goff. We discussed animals and veganism in the light of footballer Kurt Zouma kicking his cat, the monarch's finances and the UK constitution following Prince Andrew's out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, and we thought about what lessons people can learn after Covid.