Philosophy in the News
- What I Did on My Summer Vacation in Another Possible World
Philosophers sometimes talk about other possible worlds to explore the one we live in, others, such as David Lewis, even believe that all possible worlds actually exist. Philosopher Helen Beebee explains how philosophers use possible world scenarios and why this matters. (audio)
- Philosophy of Fasting
Asceticism has been a way of expressing philosophical and religious beliefs – and for good reason. Historian of philosophy Peter Adamson ("History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps") discusses.
- Ethics for the AI Arms Race
The AI community is so enthralled by the science in this age of discovery that it hasn't properly stopped to examine the risks from who controls the power and what they do with it.
- Mind the Character Gap
People like to think of themselves as reasonably virtuous, but there is usually a gap between how they think of themselves and how they actually behave. Discussin the character gap and how we can close it. (audio)
- Existentialism in Crisis
Existentialism entered the popular consciousness after World War 2, and for many it still has a mid-century ring to it—Fanon, de Beauvoir, Sartre, Camus. But how do its theoretical outlines look today, especially in an age where the unfolding environmental crisis calls for something more than radical humanism? (audio)
- Why Science Needs Philosophy
Despite the tight historical links between science and philosophy, present-day scientists often perceive philosophy as completely different from, and even antagonistic to, science. On the contrary, philosophy can have an important and productive impact on science.
- Hobbes on Science
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on Hobbes' Philosophy of Science. Though Hobbes is now mostly known only for his political philosophy, in his own time, he was also well-known for his views in mathematics, natural philosophy, and optics.
- Algorithmic Ethics
Nintey-four percent of AI projects end up sitting on the shelf, because there are issues of trust and transparency.
- When AI’s Emote
Is creating emotional AI simply a technological challenge, or is there some deeper ontological barrier? (audio)
- The Delicacy of Anachronism
An interview with philosopher Christopher Shields.
- Socrates, Hubris and Social Media
Socrates' ancient philosophy shows why moral posturing on social media is so annoying.
- Live on Stage! Socrates
A review of Tim Blake Nelson's play "Socrates". Can Socratic philosophy make a good evening of theatre? Well, maybe. Ask Plato!
- Children of Climate Change
In a series of classroom walkouts children are striking against government inaction on climate change. Reactions to such actions have been varied, and has resulted in a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for teen activist Greta Thunberg. Here philosopher Rupert Read discusses the legitimacy of child protest through the lens of the theory of civil disobedience.
- What Is Truth? Frank Ramsey and the Vienna Circle
For Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle, much of philosophy was mere nonsense. Then came Frank Ramsey's pragmatic alternative.
- A Device to Make Your Moral Mistakes for You!
Do we really want our autonomous vehicles to do as we would do? The New Yorker takes their turn on the recent results of the Moral Machine experiment/survey.
- The Night of Living Philosophically Dangerously
If you missed The Night of Philosophy and Ideas (or if you woke up and really weren't sure whether you did), Quartz magazine has the recap for you.
- True Confessions
Philosopher Jennifer Lackey on why we're so apt to believe confessions.
- Do You Really Want Your Prognosis Now?
We're getting better at diagnosing diseases, such as Alzheimer's, that still have no cure. But as diagnoses creep forward, we're left facing a new set of ethical dilemmas.
- The Immanuel Kant International Airport
When (hometown) philosopher Immanuel Kant won a popular poll for renaming the Kaliningrad (Königsberg) airport -- all hell broke loose. "He wrote some incomprehensible books that no one . . . will ever read!"
- Black Holes Found in Physics
Philosopher of physics, Erik Curiel, surveys physicists and finds that different subfields conceive of and reason about black holes in radically different, and often conflicting, ways; and there is, in fact, no common definition of what a black hole is. But methodologically speaking, maybe that's okay (for now).