Episode 34, The Peter Singer Interview (Part I)

Welcome to Episode 34, where we'll be interviewing Peter Singer and discussing utilitarianism (Part I of II).

Peter Singer is often described as the world's most influential philosopher. Professor Singer is currently the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics in the University Center for Human values at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. His work has helped to launch the animal rights and effective altruism movements, as well as making significant contributions in bioethics. 

Peter Singer is most famous for his developments to the normative ethical theory utilitarianism. Loosely stated, utilitarianism is the view that we should maximise happiness and pleasure, and reduce pain, suffering and unhappiness, for the greatest number of humans and/or non-human animals. He is known in particular for his book Animal Liberation, in which he argues in favour of vegetarianism, and his essay Famine, Affluence, and Morality, in which he argues in favour of donating to help the global poor. 

Practical Ethics, The Life You Can Save, The Most Good You Can Do, One World: The Ethics of Globalisation, Ethics in the Real World - Peter Singer's list of bestselling publications is extensive - but his work goes beyond the written page. Peter Singer is also the founder of the charity The Life You Can Save and co-founder of Animals Australia.

In Part I, we'll be discussing Peter Singer's theory of utilitarianism, and in Part II, we'll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

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Part I. Utilitarianism.

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion.

Episode 32, Meta-Ethics (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Welcome to Episode 32 on Meta-Ethics (Part IV of IV) where we'll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

Meta-ethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical, semantic, epistemological and psychological presuppositions of moral thought. It investigates our ethical language, in search of the meaning that lies behind it. Meta-ethics is concerned with are a broad range of puzzles, for example: What do we mean we make moral claims? Do our preferences or feelings motivate moral assertions? Or are we stating facts when we make moral claims? Is morality more a matter of taste than truth - and if it is a matter of truth, how do we learn about the moral facts? 

This episode we’ll be introducing you to three meta-ethical views. In Part I, we’ll be discussing naturalism, in Part II, we’ll be looking at intuitionism, in Part III, we’re going to dive into emotivism, and finally, in Part IV, we’ll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

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Part I. Naturalism

Part II. Intuitionism

Part III. Emotivism

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 32, Meta-Ethics (Part III - Emotivism)

Welcome to Episode 32 on Meta-Ethics (Part III of IV) focusing on emotivism.

Meta-ethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical, semantic, epistemological and psychological presuppositions of moral thought. It investigates our ethical language, in search of the meaning that lies behind it. Meta-ethics is concerned with are a broad range of puzzles, for example: What do we mean we make moral claims? Do our preferences or feelings motivate moral assertions? Or are we stating facts when we make moral claims? Is morality more a matter of taste than truth - and if it is a matter of truth, how do we learn about the moral facts? 

This episode we’ll be introducing you to three meta-ethical views. In Part I, we’ll be discussing naturalism, in Part II, we’ll be looking at intuitionism, in Part III, we’re going to dive into emotivism, and finally, in Part IV, we’ll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

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Part I. Naturalism

Part II. Intuitionism

Part III. Emotivism

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 32, Meta-Ethics (Part II - Intuitionism)

Welcome to Episode 32 on Meta-Ethics (Part II of IV) focusing on intuitionism.

Meta-ethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical, semantic, epistemological and psychological presuppositions of moral thought. It investigates our ethical language, in search of the meaning that lies behind it. Meta-ethics is concerned with are a broad range of puzzles, for example: What do we mean we make moral claims? Do our preferences or feelings motivate moral assertions? Or are we stating facts when we make moral claims? Is morality more a matter of taste than truth - and if it is a matter of truth, how do we learn about the moral facts? 

This episode we’ll be introducing you to three meta-ethical views. In Part I, we’ll be discussing naturalism, in Part II, we’ll be looking at intuitionism, in Part III, we’re going to dive into emotivism, and finally, in Part IV, we’ll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

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Part I. Naturalism

Part II. Intuitionism

Part III. Emotivism

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 32, Meta-Ethics (Part I - Naturalism)

Welcome to Episode 32 on Meta-Ethics (Part I of IV) focusing on naturalism.

Meta-ethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical, semantic, epistemological and psychological presuppositions of moral thought. It investigates our ethical language, in search of the meaning that lies behind it. Meta-ethics is concerned with are a broad range of puzzles, for example: What do we mean we make moral assertions? Do our preferences or feelings motivate moral claims? Or are we stating facts when we make moral claims? Is morality more a matter of taste than truth - and if it is a matter of truth, how do we learn about the moral facts? 

This episode we’ll be introducing you to three meta-ethical views. In Part I, we’ll be discussing naturalism, in Part II, we’ll be looking at intuitionism, in Part III, we’re going to dive into emotivism, and finally, in Part IV, we’ll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

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Part I. Naturalism

Part II. Intuitionism

Part III. Emotivism

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 28, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (Part IV)

Welcome to Episode 28 (Part IV) on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s (384 – 322 BC) best-known work on ethics. The work consists of ten books and is understood to be based on Aristotle’s lecture notes. These notes were never intended for publication. Sometimes his notes are merely cues to talk more generally about a subject, other times they are more representative of what Aristotle would have actually said to his students.

The Nicomachean Ethics is amongst the most discussed texts in history and philosophers continue to debate its contents and intended purposes today.  One cannot deny, however, that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is concerned with key political and ethical questions – Questions like, How can we do what is best for citizens? and What is the good life and how do we achieve it?

This week in Part IV, we'll be engaging in some further analysis and discussion.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. Aristotle’s Approach and Fundamental Arguments. (start of Part I)
Part II. Virtue as Excellence. (start of Part II)
Part III. Book X and Application. (start of Part III)
Part IV.  Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 28, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (Part III)

Welcome to Episode 28 (Part III) on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s (384 – 322 BC) best-known work on ethics. The work consists of ten books and is understood to be based on Aristotle’s lecture notes. These notes were never intended for publication. Sometimes his notes are merely cues to talk more generally about a subject, other times they are more representative of what Aristotle would have actually said to his students.

The Nicomachean Ethics is amongst the most discussed texts in history and philosophers continue to debate its contents and intended purposes today.  One cannot deny, however, that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is concerned with key political and ethical questions – Questions like, How can we do what is best for citizens? and What is the good life and how do we achieve it?

This week in Part III, we'll be applying virtue ethics and looking at Book X of the Nicomachean Ethics.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. Aristotle’s Approach and Fundamental Arguments. (start of Part I)
Part II. Virtue as Excellence. (start of Part II)
Part III. Book X and Application. (start of Part III)
Part IV.  Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 28, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (Part II)

Welcome to Episode 28 (Part II) on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s (384 – 322 BC) best-known work on ethics. The work consists of ten books and is understood to be based on Aristotle’s lecture notes. These notes were never intended for publication. Sometimes his notes are merely cues to talk more generally about a subject, other times they are more representative of what Aristotle would have actually said to his students. 

The Nicomachean Ethics is amongst the most discussed texts in history and philosophers continue to debate its contents and intended purposes today.  One cannot deny, however, that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is concerned with key political and ethical questions – Questions like, How can we do what is best for citizens? and What is the good life and how do we achieve it?

This week in Part II, we'll be looking at what Aristotle meant by 'virtue'.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. Aristotle’s Approach and Fundamental Arguments. (start of Part I)
Part II. Virtue as Excellence. (start of Part II)
Part III. Book X and Application. (start of Part III)
Part IV.  Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 28, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (Part I)

Welcome to Episode 28 (Part I) on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s (384 – 322 BC) best-known work on ethics. The work consists of ten books and is understood to be based on Aristotle’s lecture notes. These notes were never intended for publication. Sometimes his notes are merely cues to talk more generally about a subject, other times they are more representative of what Aristotle would have actually said to his students. 

The Nicomachean Ethics is amongst the most discussed texts in history and philosophers continue to debate its contents and intended purposes today.  One cannot deny, however, that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is concerned with key political and ethical questions – Questions like, How can we do what is best for citizens? and What is the good life and how do we achieve it?

This week in Part I, we'll be looking at Aristotle’s approach and fundamental arguments in the Nicomachean Ethics.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. The Etymology of Conscience. (start of Part I)
Part II. St. Thomas Aquinas and the Conscience. (start of Part II)
Part III. Sigmund Freud and the Conscience. (start of Part III)
Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 27, Conscience (Part III - Sigmund Freud)

Welcome to Episode 27 (Part III/IV) on the conscience.

Most people understand conscience as something which tells us right from wrong. The conscience is that little voice in your head that tells you to do your homework, go to bed on time and eat 5 a day. In fact, the Oxford Dictionary defines conscience as: “A person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour.”

We’re going to be questioning this definition extensively. What is conscience? Where does the conscience come from? Where does the word conscience come from? Is conscience fundamental in its own right, or is it acquired through our development? Does the conscience carry any moral authority, and if so, what should be the function of conscience in ethical decision-making? Is conscience just an illusion?

To aid our exploration of these questions, we’re going to be consulting C. S. Lewis’ Studies in Words in Part I, Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae in Part II and Sigmund Freud’s The Ego and the Id in Part III. In Part IV we’ll wrap up the show with some further analysis and discussion and the return of philosophical ultimatum. 

This week in Part III, we'll be discussing Sigmund Freud's view of the conscience.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. The Etymology of Conscience. (start of Part I)
Part II. St. Thomas Aquinas and the Conscience. (start of Part II)
Part III. Sigmund Freud and the Conscience. (start of Part III)
Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 27, Conscience (Part II - Saint Thomas Aquinas)

Welcome to Episode 27 (Part II/IV) on the conscience.

Most people understand conscience as something which tells us right from wrong. The conscience is that little voice in your head that tells you to do your homework, go to bed on time and eat 5 a day. In fact, the Oxford Dictionary defines conscience as: “A person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour.”

We’re going to be questioning this definition extensively. What is conscience? Where does the conscience come from? Where does the word conscience come from? Is conscience fundamental in its own right, or is it acquired through our development? Does the conscience carry any moral authority, and if so, what should be the function of conscience in ethical decision-making? Is conscience just an illusion?

To aid our exploration of these questions, we’re going to be consulting C. S. Lewis’ Studies in Words in Part I, Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae in Part II and Sigmund Freud’s The Ego and the Id in Part III. In Part IV we’ll wrap up the show with some further analysis and discussion and the return of philosophical ultimatum. 

This week in Part II, we'll be discussing Saint Thomas Aquinas' view of the conscience.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/wrestles with its unconscious desires
Part I. The Etymology of Conscience. (start of Part I)
Part II. St. Thomas Aquinas and the Conscience. (start of Part II)
Part III. Sigmund Freud and the Conscience. (start of Part III)
Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 27, Conscience (Part I)

Welcome to Episode 27 (Part I/IV) on the conscience.

Most people understand conscience as something which tells us right from wrong. The conscience is that little voice in your head that tells you to do your homework, go to bed on time and eat 5 a day. In fact, the Oxford Dictionary defines conscience as: “A person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour.”

We’re going to be questioning this definition extensively. What is conscience? Where does the conscience come from? Where does the word conscience come from? Is conscience fundamental in its own right, or is it acquired through our development? Does the conscience carry any moral authority, and if so, what should be the function of conscience in ethical decision-making? Is conscience just an illusion?

To aid our exploration of these questions, we’re going to be consulting C. S. Lewis’ Studies in Words in Part I, Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae in Part II and Sigmund Freud’s The Ego and the Id in Part III. In Part IV we’ll wrap up the show with some further analysis and discussion and the return of philosophical ultimatum. 

This week in Part I, we'll be discussing the history of the word conscience.

Share your thoughts and feedback @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. The Etymology of Conscience. (start of Part I)
Part II. St. Thomas Aquinas and the Conscience. (start of Part II)
Part III. Sigmund Freud and the Conscience. (start of Part III)
Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion. (start of Part IV)

Episode 23, John Stuart Mill's Political Philosophy (Part I)

Hello and welcome to Episode 23 (Part I/II) on John Stuart Mill's Political Philosophy.

The following is a quotation from Colin Heydt: Writing of John Stuart Mill a few days after Mill’s death, Henry Sidgwick claimed, “I should say that from about 1860-65 or thereabouts he ruled England in the region of thought as very few men ever did: I do not expect to see anything like it again.” Mill established this rule over English thought through his writings in logic, epistemology, economics, social and political philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, religion, and current affairs. One can say with relative security, looking at the breadth and complexity of his work, that Mill was the greatest nineteenth-century British philosopher.

This week in Part I, we'll be discussing Mill's Utilitarianism and On Liberty. 

Any thoughts? Please tweet us @thepanpsycast.

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Part I. Utilitarianism (7:30)

Part II. On Liberty (17:00)

Part III. Subjection of Women (00:05 in Part II)

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion (23:15 in Part II)

A special thank you to Stefan Hagel for this episode's opening music. You can find more ancient music and more of Stefan's work here.

The comprehensive and brilliant History of Philosophy without any gaps is a must listen. You can find the podcast here.

Episode 15, Business Ethics (Part II)

Welcome to Episode 15 (Part II of II) on Business Ethics. This week we analyse the claim "good ethics is good business", look at 'globalisation' and wrap up our general thoughts on business ethics!

You can find the main text we will be discussing at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for listening!

Any thoughts? Please tweet us @thepanpsycast!

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Part I. Corporate Social Responsibility (2:20)
Part II. Whistleblowing (28:00)
Part III. "Good Ethics Is Good Business" (00:10 in Part II)
Part IV. Globalisation, Further Analysis and Discussion (16:45 in Part II)

Thank you to Desaparecidos for allowing us to play Slacktivist from their new album Payola. To find out more about the band click here: www.desaparecidosband.com

Episode 15, Business Ethics (Part I)

Welcome to Episode 15 (Part I of II) on Business Ethics. This week we look at the ethical responsibilities of corporations and whistleblowing!

You can find the main text we will be discussing at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for listening!

Any thoughts? Please tweet us @thepanpsycast!

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Part I. Corporate Social Responsibility (2:20)
Part II. Whistleblowing (28:00)
Part III. "Good Ethics Is Good Business" (00:10 in Part II)
Part IV. Globalisation, Further Analysis and Discussion (16:45 in Part II)

Episode 14, Euthanasia (Part II)

Welcome to Episode 14 (Part II of II) on euthanasia. This week we look at the most famous and controversial cases of euthanasia, applying natural law and situation ethics in the process.

You can find the main text we will be discussing at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for listening!

Any thoughts? Please tweet us @thepanpsycast!

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Part I. Types Of Euthanasia (2:45)
Part II. Relevant Concepts in Natural Law and Situation Ethics (11:45)
Part III. Application in real life cases (00:05 in Part II)
Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion (27:00 in Part II)

Episode 14, Euthanasia (Part I)

Welcome to Episode 14 (Part I of II) on euthanasia. This week we introduce the basics of the topic. We look at the different types of euthanasia in Part I before we apply Aquinas' Natural Law and Fletchers' Situation Ethics in Part II.

You can find the main text we will be discussing at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for listening!

Any thoughts? Please tweet us @thepanpsycast!

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Part I. Types Of Euthanasia (2:45)
Part II. Relevant Concepts in Natural Law and Situation Ethics (11:45)
Part III. Application in real life cases (00:05 in Part II)
Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion (27:00 in Part II)

Episode 12, Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics (Part II)

Welcome to Episode 12 (Part II of II) on Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics. In this section, we apply, analyse and give our concluding remarks on situation ethics.

You can find the main text we will be discussing at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for listening!

Thoughts? Tweet us @thepanpsycast

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Part I. Love, Agape and the Six Propositions (in Part I, 5:35)
Part II. The Four Presuppositions (in Part I, 46:40)
Part III. Application (in Part II)
Part IV. Criticisms, Analysis and Discussion (in Part II, 16:35)

Episode 12, Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics (Part I)

Welcome to Episode 12 (Part I of II) on Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics. In this section we look into Joseph Fletcher's world of love, propositions and presuppositions. What is love? What is situation ethics? We've got the questions, and for once, we've got the answers!

You can find the main text we will be discussing at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for listening!

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Part I. Love, Agape and the Six Propositions (in Part I, 5:35)
Part II. The Four Presuppositions (in Part I, 46:40)
Part III. Application (in Part II)
Part IV. Criticisms, Analysis and Discussion (in Part II, 16:35)