Aristotle and Ethics
Philosopher Stephen Toulmin talks about Aristotle's perspective on ethics. Professor Toulmin explains that Aristotle didn't believe it was possible to develop an ethical formula that could fit all situations. Instead, he argued that ethical choices ...
Aristotle and Ancient Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explores Aristotelian and ancient ethics, explaining what she feels are some of the drawbacks to virtue ethics.
Brain in a Vat (Part 1)
Philosopher Hilary Putnam explains his "brain in a vat" theory. This theory calls into question basic human assumptions about knowledge and reality on the grounds that we have no way of knowing if what we think we see and experience and believe to b...
Ancient Philosophers
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about Aristotle and other ancient Greek philosophers, arguing that philosophy at that time provided an alternative approach to problem-solving that offered more than magic and astrology.
Charles Darwin and the Problem of Continuity
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the Darcy Thompson statement that "everything is the way it is because it got that way." Calling that a very fundamental Darwinian idea, Professor Dennett explains that it means everything either was something ...
Memes
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about memes, which he calls the cultural equivalent of the gene in biology. According to Professor Dennett, a meme is an idea, but not just any idea. To qualify as a meme, an idea must be memorable and reproducible. ...
Merleau-Ponty and the Intentional Arc
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about 20th century philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty and his concept "the intentional arch." Stemming from Merleau-Ponty's focus on perception as a major component of understanding the world, the intentional arch is ...
Meaning of Life, The
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum is critical of those who contend that life only has meaning if there's some external source of value. Professor Nussbaum favors an approach that focuses on what she calls "everyday questions, like how should one live, wha...
Meaning of Life, The
Philosopher Ian Hacking confesses that he doesn't know what the meaning of life is, but adds that one way to live a full life is to live a life full of thought. Another way, he suggests, is to live a rich, emotional life.
Memory and the Soul
Philosopher Ian Hacking talks about efforts to make memory the subject of scientific inquiry. He discusses the argument that what it is to be a person is not the province of "the soul," but of the memories each of us has.