How to Build a Computer with Free Will
A physicist thinks he knows how to build a computer with free will. Build it stubborn, disobedient, eager to prove itself on a dare. … Needless to say, we are not convinced.
Social Ontology
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on social ontology — which is the study of the various entities in the world that arise from social interaction: social groups, money, corporations, institutions, property, social classes, races, genders, artifacts, artworks, language, and law.
Bots, Banker and Big Brother
Tom Simpson was once described as Britain’s brightest soldier—he was awarded a Cambridge First whilst serving with the Royal Marines Commandos. As a military man he believed in the role of keeping watch, and in national security trumping our right to privacy. But now he’s not so sure. Big data behemoths and rogue states have forced him to rethink the benefits of mass surveillance. He also has views on killer robots and bankers’ bonuses—views that you might not expect. (audio)
Who Is Rachael?
The movie Blade Runner poses a difficult question in the character of Rachael: Does what you remember determine who you are now? Philosopher Helen Beebee discusses.
What is Family?
People can be moralistic about family and family duty: we teach siblings that they must love each other; we raise them to respect older generations; we consider crimes by one family member against another to be especially heinous. And people go to pretty extreme measures to have the right sort of family. There must be something special about familial issues. Ethicist and first-time dad Matt Beard continues his investigation into philosophy and parenting with questions about the blood ties and loyalty to kith and kin that make up our family. (audio)
The ‘Killer Robots’ Are Us
If we fail to understand the problem correctly, and fail to set the appropriate terms and boundaries of the debate from the beginning, we risk searching in the fundamentally wrong places for killer robots and the means to mitigate their pernicious expression.
Kids Playing with Plato
An interview with philosopher Sharon Kaye about her philosophy for children program.
How Democracy Can Survive Big Data
Only a few years ago, the idea that for-profit companies and foreign agents could use powerful data technologies to disrupt American democracy would have seemed laughable.
Sacred and Profane Love
A new podcast on love and happiness hosted by philosopher Jennifer Frey. (audio)
A Better Tomorrow Through Our Moral Obligations
Individually rational actions can lead to collectively undesirable outcomes. Rethinking our individual moral obligations as forming part of a collective pattern of action can lead to positive change.
What We Owe to Others
Simone Weil believed talk of “human rights” had proved powerless in history because rooted in the personal. What we really need to recognize is that there are “inalienable human obligations” we owe to each other that arise from needs shared by all human beings.
Why Have Children?
When professional philosopher and ethicist Matt Beard was to be become a parent he sought advice from the people he knew best: the sages. The result was bleak. Matt was used to consulting wisdom built up over two millennia for guidance. No such luck with parenting—unless you’d like to take Plato’s advice to abolish the private family; or to follow Arthur Schopenhauer’s firm belief that it’s an act of sheer cruelty to bring children into the world. So Matt decided to make the philosophical journey himself—surely there must be something out there? In this four-part series Matt, as a first-time dad and public philosopher, goes on his own search of prudent advice. (audio)
Can AI Ethics Keep Pace with AI Innovation?
Programming a robot to know when to follow the rules and when to break them is no easy task.
When It’s So Bad It’s Good
The film ‘The Room’ is not just bad, it is terribly bad. So bad, people like it. It has been called the “Citizen Kane of bad movies”. Sometimes a bad work of art nonetheless ends up being a gorgeous freak accident of nature. What is up with that?
Facts and Trust: Whither Now?
Beware of what people tell you—especially online. How much can you trust your networks these days, especially in the disembodied digital frontier where rumours, lies, quasi-facts and conspiracies circulate at the speed of electrons? But is it anything new? Three philosophers of knowledge tell us if there’s anything to worry about in the so-called post-truth world—and ways to solve it if there is. (audio)
Women in Philosophy
The American Philosophical Association has launched a new blog on women in philosophy which aspires “to showcase the diverse voices of women in philosophy, to address issues of specific concern to women in philosophy as a discipline, and to offer a platform for philosophers to speak to issues of concern to women in the public square.”
Philosophers on Autonomous Accidents
This month, the first pedestrian death due to impact of an autonomous car occurred. Philosophers have been taking up questions regarding the ethics of autonomous vehicles in various contexts for some time now. Last week’s crash gave the topic some added visibility, and several philosophers published work in popular venues on the subject. Daily Nous provides a useful round-up of links.
What Is Space?
In 1717, a battle was waged over this question. Exactly 300 years later, it continues.
Knowing a Person
Philosophers often talk about ‘knowing that’, and ‘knowing how’. But what is involved in knowing another person? Philosopher Katalin Farkas discusses this question. (audio)
How Philosophy Makes Progress
Does philosophy make progress? Philosopher Daniel Stoljar thinks it does, and he defends that idea in his new book, Philosophical Progress: In Defence of a Reasonable Optimism.
Radical Dimensions
Relativity says we live in four dimensions. String theory says it’s 10. What are ‘dimensions’ and how do they affect reality?
Is Moral Responsibility a Boondoggle?
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on skepticism about moral responsibility. This refers to a view that human beings are never morally responsible for their actions. Some think moral responsibility is incoherent or impossible. Others maintain that our best philosophical and scientific theories about the world provide strong and compelling reasons for adopting skepticism about moral responsibility.
How Socio-ancestry Might Replace the Concept of Race
It’s an idea at the heart of civil rights and revolution—but if we turn a philosophical eye to the concept of race, what do we find? Not much according Professor Lionel McPherson. A more useful concept, he believes, might be one grounded in socio-ancestry. We discuss how that might work—and how this alternative conception would affect the philosophy of race? (audio)
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Onora O’neill Wins $1 Million Philosophy Prize
Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture recognises lifetime achievement in philosophy and public service.
Philosophy Majors Step in to Fill Tech Talent Gap
Tech is facing a talent gap and the type of logical thinking taught in philosophy can be just the ticket.
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How to Take Pascal’s Wager
Suppose an unbeliever like you took Pascal’s wager — were convinced that believing in god was a no-lose proposition. How would you go about doing it? Just pretending until it sticks sounds vaguely wrong. Popping a conversion pill (if it existed) sounds wrong too. So, how might an aspirant learn to believe in god?
Martin Luther King’s Philosophy Class
As a visiting professor, Martin Luther King, Jr. taught a seminar in social and political philosophy at Morehouse College. What was on the syllabus?
Fuel for the Will
Alfred Mele spent four years and four million dollars trying to get to the bottom of free will. So, how did that work out? His mega project attempted to understand free will in philosophy, science, and religion. One view he holds is that free will is a bit like fuel: it comes in grades, depending on what you think free will actually is. And he’s certain that science has some way to go if it wants to debunk free will. (audio)
Presentism
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on presentism. Presentism is the view that only present things exist (as opposed to past or future things). While that may sound like commonsense to you, it is in fact controversial and fantastically hard to maintain!
Angels of Medieval Philosophy
Be surprised by how many philosophical problems arise in connection with angels (how many can dance on the head of a pin is not one of them). (audio)
Autonomy, Self, and Substance Abuse
Immanuel Kant held that rights, responsibilities, and the special status of ‘person’ stem from someone’s capacity to use reason in directing their behaviour. So what happens when we don’t use it? From grabbing the last piece of chocolate cake to compulsive substance use—self-destructive decisions can add layers of meaning to Kant’s idea of the rationally autonomous self. (audio)
A Well-ordered Universe of One’s Own
An interview with philosopher MArcy Lascano who works in 17th and 18th century philosophy – mainly metaphysics and with an emphasis on women philosophers.
Philosophy of Trees
Socrates’ once said, ‘the trees teach me nothing’. It seems as though no one ever had another thought about it.