Best Karl Popper Podcasts (2024)

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105: Karl Popper 8:37

16d ago8:37

8:37

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/karl-popper.Karl Popper is a landmark figure in the philosophy of science. His notion of "falsifiability" endures to this day and even appears in arguments about creation versus evolution. But what does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable? And where does the idea stand in contemporary philosophy of science…

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Episode #208 ... The moral evolution of a philosopher. (Peter Singer) 44:18

2d ago44:18

44:18

On this episode, we track the changes in Peter Singer's ethical views throughout his career. We talk about Emotivism. R.M. Hare's Prescriptivism. Nozick's Experience Machine. Some thought experiments from Derek Parfit. Henry Sidgwick and Objectivist Hedonistic Utilitarianism. Hope you enjoy it! Sponsors: ZocDoc: https://www.ZocDoc.com/PHILO LMNT: h…

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541: #MeToo: Retribution, Accountability, and Justice 9:29

1d ago9:29

9:29

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/metoo-retribution-accountability-and-justice.The #MeToo movement exposed how pervasive sexual harassment and abuse are, and how rare it is for perpetrators to be held accountable. Although some recent high profile cases have resulted in convictions, more often punishment is meted out by public shaming. S…

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584: The 2024 Dionysus Awards 15:51

2d ago15:51

15:51

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/2024-dionysus-awards.What movies of the past year challenged your assumptions and made you think about things in new ways? Josh and guest co-host Jeremy Sabol present our annual Dionysus Awards for the most thought-provoking movies of 2023, including:• Best Film about Social Justice that Wonders What Mak…

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449: James Baldwin and Social Justice 10:33

9d ago10:33

10:33

More at www.philosophytalk.org/shows/james-baldwin.Sometimes, we struggle to tell the truth -- especially when it's the truth about ourselves. Why did James Baldwin, a prominent Civil Rights-era intellectual and novelist, believe that telling the truth about ourselves is not only difficult but can also be dangerous? How can truth deeply unsettle ou…

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Episode #207 ... Fear is toxic to a democracy. (Martha Nussbaum) 35:54

12d ago35:54

35:54

Today we talk more about the work of Martha Nussbaum and her book The Monarchy of Fear. We discuss emotions as important appraisals of reality. The comparison of shame and guilt and their social implications. The prevalence of fear and its toxic impact on democracy. The importance of practical hope in fostering democratic participation. Hope you en…

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The Popperian Podcast #37 – Jagdish Hattiangadi – ‘Francis Bacon’s Skeptical Recipes for New Knowledge’ 1:27:44

27d ago1:27:44

1:27:44

This episode of the Popperian Podcast features an interview that Jed Lea-Henry conducted with Jagdish Hattiangadi. They speak about Jagdish’s new book Francis Bacon’s Skeptical Recipes for New Knowledge. Francis Bacon’s Skeptical Recipes for New Knowledge | SpringerLink and https://www.amazon.com/Francis-Bacons-Skeptical-Recipes-Knowledge-ebook/dp/…

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Episode #206 ... Capitalism is dead. This is Technofeudalism. (Yanis Varoufakis) 37:28

1M ago37:28

37:28

Today we talk about the concept of Technofeudalism as described by Yanis Varoufakis. We talk about the comparisons of our world to the feudal system, the origins in the economic policy of 2008, and a few potential paths forward centered around important questions to be revisiting. Hope you enjoy it! :) Sponsors: LMNT: https://www.DrinkLMNT.com/phil…

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594: Who Speaks For You? 10:31

28d ago10:31

10:31

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/who-speaks-you.People often speak on behalf of others, like the concerned citizen who stands up for their neighbors at a city council meeting, or the activist who defends the rights of an oppressed group. Some of these spokespeople are elected, and some volunteer, but others simply get drafted into the r…

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581: 20th Anniversary Quiz Night 17:55

1M ago17:55

17:55

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/20th-anniversary-quiz-night.Philosophy Talk made its radio debut on August 20, 2003 with a live pilot on KALW San Francisco and weekly broadcasts beginning in January 2004. To celebrate two decades on the air, in November 2023 we held our first-ever Quiz Night. Longtime listeners and first-time fans fill…

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593: Nísia Floresta 10:28

2M ago10:28

10:28

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/nisia-floresta.Nísia Floresta was a 19th-century writer and translator known as “the Brazilian Mary Wollstonecraft.” She published the first book on women’s rights in South America, when Brazil was gaining independence from Portugal and a new post-colonial nation was being built. She also argued for the …

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Episode #205 ... Why a meritocracy is corrosive to society. (Michael Sandel) 32:02

1M ago32:02

32:02

Today we talk about the dark side of meritocracy, the effects it has on the way people see each other, the dialectic of pride and humility, education reform, and a rethinking of the way we see government officials. Hope you enjoy it. :) Sponsors: Nord VPN: https://www.NordVPN.com/philothis Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS Thank you …

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592: Daniel Dennett Retrospective 14:49

2M ago14:49

14:49

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/daniel-dennett-retrospective.In April 2024, we lost one of the greatest American philosophers of our time—Daniel Dennett. Known for his brilliant mind and controversial views, his contributions to philosophy include topics like consciousness, AI, evolution, atheism, intentions, free will and moral respon…

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Episode #204 ... The importance of philosophy, justice and the common good. (Michael Sandel) 37:53

2M ago37:53

37:53

Today we talk about some of the benefits of being a practitioner of philosophy. Michael Sandel's view of the three main approaches to justice throughout the history of philosophy. The strengths and weaknesses of all three. The consequences of replacing social norms with market norms. And the importance of the common good as a piece of a just societ…

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The Popperian Podcast #36 – James Kierstead – ‘Education for Science and Democracy’ 1:13:16

2M ago1:13:16

1:13:16

This episode of the Popperian Podcast features an interview that Jed Lea-Henry conducted with James Kierstead. They speak about James’ most recent article ‘Education for science and democracy’ (https://www.elgaronline.com/downloadpdf/edcollchap/book/9781802208542/book-part-9781802208542-7.pdf), as well as falsification as a criterion of empirical s…

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567: What Is Gender? 9:17

2M ago9:17

9:17

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-gender.Gender is a controversial topic these days, but people can't seem to agree about what gender is. Is it an inner identity, a biological fact, or an oppressive system? Should we respect it or resist it? Should it even be a thing? Josh and guest-host Blakey Vermeule question gender with regular …

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Episode #203 ... Why the future is being slowly cancelled. - Postmodernism (Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism) 44:03

2M ago44:03

44:03

Today we continue developing our understanding of the ideas that have led to what Mark Fisher calls Capitalist Realism. We talk about tolerant relativism, postmodern artwork, the slow cancellation of the future, Hauntology and Acid Communism. Hope you enjoy it! :) Sponsors: LMNT: https://www.DrinkLMNT.com/philo Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.c…

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540: Righteous Rage 10:19

2M ago10:19

10:19

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/righteous-rage.Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote that anger is a form of madness. Other philosophers share this suspicion, viewing anger as a destructive emotion that leads to cruel and vengeful acts. But don't certain kinds of injustice, like the murders of black and brown people in the US, deserve our rag…

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591: Summer Reading List 2024 15:10

3M ago15:10

15:10

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/summer-reading-list-2024.Looking for some deep dives into pop culture this summer? Josh and Ray talk to Sandra Laugier from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, author of "TV-Philosophy in Action: The Ethics and Politics of TV Series," and Nathaniel Goldberg from Washington & Lee University, co-a…

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Episode #202 ... Why we can't think beyond capitalism. - Neoliberalism (Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism) 37:52

2M ago37:52

37:52

Today we begin our discussion on the work of Mark Fisher surrounding his concept of Capitalism Realism. We talk about the origins of Neoliberalism, it's core strategies, some critiques of Neoliberalism, and the hyperfocus on individualism and competition that has come to define a piece of our thinking in the western world. Hope you enjoy it and hav…

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539: Marcus Aurelius 9:32

3M ago9:32

9:32

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/marcus-aurelius.Marcus Aurelius was a 2nd century Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. He is most famous for his Meditations, which was written as a private guide to himself on how to live a life where virtue is the only good and vice the only evil. So how do we figure out how to live a truly Stoic life?…

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The Popperian Podcast #35 – David Edmonds – ‘Murder in the Vienna Circle’ 59:57

3M ago59:57

59:57

This episode of the Popperian Podcast features an interview that Jed Lea-Henry conducted with David Edmonds. They speak about David’s book The Murder of Professor Schlick: The Rise and Fall of the Vienna Circle Amazon.com: The Murder of Professor Schlick: The Rise and Fall of the Vienna Circle: 9780691164908: Edmonds, David: Books David Edmonds is …

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590: Logic For Everyone 10:21

3M ago10:21

10:21

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/logic-everyone.Logic may seem like a dry, abstract discipline that only the nerdiest of philosophers study. After all, logic textbooks are full of weird symbols and proofs about abstruse entities, like "the set of all sets." On the other hand, don’t we all try to think logically, at least in some context…

1
532: Akan Philosophy and Personhood 9:31

3M ago9:31

9:31

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/akan-philosophy.The Akan people of West Africa have developed a system of metaphysics, epistemology, and moral philosophy with a special focus on personhood. For the Akan, their conception of a person is not just a matter of theoretical interest—it has far reaching practical implications for their social…

1
589: Mary Wollstonecraft 11:10

4M ago11:10

11:10

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/mary-wollstonecraft.Mary Wollstonecraft is often labeled as a “liberal feminist” because of her concern for women’s rights and conceptions of freedom. But that label narrows her work, which was broadly critical of all social inequalities that distort human relations. So why did Wollstonecraft think that …

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The Popperian Podcast #34 – Elliott Sober and Mehmet Elgin – ‘Karl Popper’s Changing Assessment of Evolutionary Theory’ 1:13:49

3M ago1:13:49

1:13:49

This episode of the Popperian Podcast features an interview that Jed Lea-Henry conducted with Elliott Sober and Mehmet Elgin. They speak about Karl Popper’s analysis of evolutionary theory, how it changed over time, what he saw in the theory which made it less than scientific, and what he got wrong. Elliott Sober is Hans Reichenbach Professor and W…

1
Episode #201 ... Resistance, Love, and the importance of Failure. (Zizek, Byung Chul Han) 39:58

3M ago39:58

39:58

Today we talk about a potential way to find meaning for someone prone to postmodern subjectivity. We talk about surplus enjoyment. Zizek's alcohol use, or lack thereof. Resisting surface level consumption. Love. And failure. Sponsors: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS https://www.AuraFrames.com Use code PT at checkout to save $30! Thank you so mu…

1
335: The Legacy of Freud 10:12

4M ago10:12

10:12

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/legacy-freud.Did you really want to eat that last piece of cake, or were you secretly thinking about your mother? Sigmund Freud, who might have suggested the latter, established the unconscious mind as a legitimate domain for scientific research. He was the first to seriously study dreams and slips of the ton…

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The Popperian Podcast #33 – Flavio Del Santo – ‘Karl Popper and the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics’ 1:15:35

4M ago1:15:35

1:15:35

This episode of the Popperian Podcast features an interview that Jed Lea-Henry conducted with Flavio Del Santo. They speak about Karl Popper’s changing theories about, and proposed experiments for, understanding the foundations of quantum mechanics, from his earliest publications and up until his death. Flavio Del Santo is Schrödinger Fellow at the…

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Episode #200 ... The Postmodern subject and "ideology without ideology" (Zizek, Byung Chul Han, Marx) 38:53

4M ago38:53

38:53

Today we talk about several different common versions of the postmodern subject in contemporary culture. Hope you enjoy it! :) Sponsors: Henson Shaving: Go to https://hensonshaving.com and enter PT at checkout to get 100 free blades with your purchase. (Note: you must add both the 100-blade pack and the razor for the discount to apply.) Exclusive N…

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588: Why Is the World So Weird? 9:36

4M ago9:36

9:36

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/why-world-so-weird.Quantum mechanics, mathematics, human consciousness.... whichever way you slice it, the universe is weird. How can our conscious minds be made from unconscious atoms? What should we make of quantum entanglement, or the fact that light can be both a particle and a wave? Why is it that t…

1
544: What Would Kant Do? 10:55

4M ago10:55

10:55

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-would-kant-do.German idealist and moral philosopher Immanuel Kant is probably best known for his "Categorical Imperative," which says that you should act following moral rules you could rationally support as universal law. In other words, do only what you would have everyone else do. But are Kant's …

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Episode #199 ... A conservative communist's take on global capitalism and desire. (Zizek, Marx, Lacan) 47:46

4M ago47:46

47:46

Today we talk about the distinction between left and right. Lacan's thoughts on desire. How Capitalism captures desire and identity. I would prefer not to. Moderately conservative communism. Hope you enjoy it! :) Sponsors: Exclusive NordVPN Deal: https://nordvpn.com/philothis Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Better Help: htt…

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587: Shakespeare's Outsiders 10:59

4M ago10:59

10:59

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/shakespeares-outsiders.Over 400 years after his death, Shakespeare is still widely regarded as the greatest dramatist of all time. His many plays tackle questions about power, influence, identity, and moral and social status. His characters—be they villains or heroes—are often disdained because of their …

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538: Could Robots Be Persons? 8:54

5M ago8:54

8:54

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/could-robots-be-persons.As we approach the advent of autonomous robots, we must decide how we will determine culpability for their actions. Some propose creating a new legal category of “electronic personhood” for any sufficiently advanced robot that can learn and make decisions by itself. But do we real…

1
586: Mind Sharing 9:20

5M ago9:20

9:20

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/mind-sharing.Mind reading might sound like the stuff of science fiction. But in philosophy and psychology, mind reading is something that human beings do whenever we try to guess what another person is thinking. Could it be that people are also natural born mind sharers, unconsciously shaping our behavio…

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Episode #198 ... The truth is in the process. - Zizek pt. 3 (ideology, dialectics) 41:06

5M ago41:06

41:06

Today we go into a deeper explanation of ideology and dialectics. Liberal democratic capitalism is featured as a special guest. Hope you enjoy it! :) Sponsors: Nord VPN: https://www.NordVPN.com/philothis Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS LMNT: https://www.DrinkLMNT.com/philo Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this withou…

1
585: Margaret Cavendish 10:45

5M ago10:45

10:45

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/margaret-cavendish.Margaret Cavendish was a writer of poetry, philosophy, polemics, histories, plays, and utopian fiction. She employed many different genres as a way to overcome access barriers for women and build an audience for her subversive philosophical ideas. So, what was so radical about Cavendis…

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536: What Can Virtual Reality (Actually) Do? 9:50

5M ago9:50

9:50

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-can-virtual-reality-actually-do.VR transports users into all kinds of different realities, some modeled on the real world, others completely invented. Though still in its infancy, the technology has become so sophisticated, it can trick the brain into treating the virtual experience as real and unme…

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Episode #197 ... New Atheists and cosmic purpose without God - (Zizek, Goff, Nagel) 41:40

5M ago41:40

41:40

As we regularly do on this program-- we engage in a metamodernist steelmanning of different philosophical positions. Hopefully the process brings people some joy. Today we go from ideology, to New Atheism vs Creationism, to Aristotle, to Thomas Nagel, to Phillip Goff's new book called Why? The Purpose of the Universe. Sponsors: Better Help: https:/…

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535: Should All Ages Be Equal? 10:17

6M ago10:17

10:17

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/should-all-ages-be-equal.Age determines a lot about your position in society—what activities you can do, what benefits you can access, and what rights and responsibilities you have. While it seems appropriate to treat people at different stages of life differently, we also consider certain kinds of unequ…

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Episode #196 ... The improbable Slavoj Zizek - Part 1 38:17

6M ago38:17

38:17

Today we give an introduction to the thinking of Slavoj Zizek-- at least as much as is possible in ~35 mins. The goal is for this to be a primer for the rest of the series. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Sponsors: AG1: https://www.DrinkAg1.com/philo Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS LMNT: http…

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583: Im Yunjidang 10:03

6M ago10:03

10:03

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/im-yunjidang.8th-century Korean philosopher Im Yunjidang was the first Confucian to argue for women’s equality in matters of morality and to claim that women, just like men, can be sages. She also argued that it isn't just what you do that matters morally—it's also how you decide. So what does it mean to…

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534: The Social Lives of Robots 10:40

6M ago10:40

10:40

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/social-lives-robots.Machines might surpass humans in terms of computational intelligence, but when it comes to social intelligence, they’re not very sophisticated. They have difficulty reading subtle cues—like body language, eye gaze, or facial expression—that we pick up on automatically. As robots integ…

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195: Lincoln as a Philosopher 10:22

7M ago10:22

10:22

More at http://philosophytalk.org/shows/lincoln.More than any other President, Abraham Lincoln is known for his words, from the Lincoln-Douglass debates to the second inaugural address, as well as his deeds. What was Lincoln's basic philosophy, and did it change over the course of his Presidency? Ken and John welcome back Chicago Public Radio's Res…

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Episode #195 ... Could Anarcho-Capitalism be the solution to our problems? - Anarchism pt. 4 (Rothbard, Friedman, Malice) 34:18

6M ago34:18

34:18

Today we talk more about anarchism. Sponsors: Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS Factor: http://www.FactorMeals.com/pt50 Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philo…

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582: Can A.I. Help Us Understand Babies? 9:17

7M ago9:17

9:17

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/can-ai-help-us-understand-babies.Artificial intelligence is everywhere in our day-to-day lives and our interactions with the world. And it's made impressive progress at a variety of visual, linguistic, and reasoning tasks. Does this improved performance indicate that computers are thinking, or is it just…

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Episode #194 ... Do we really need the police? - Anarchism pt. 3 - (Gelderloos, Security) 36:06

7M ago36:06

36:06

Today we answer some questions about the potential security risks of an anarchist society. Sponsors: https://www.DrinkLMNT.com/philo https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS https://www.DrinkAg1.com/philo Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ph…

1
531: The Mysterious Timelessness of Math 10:43

7M ago10:43

10:43

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/mysterious-timelessness-math.Math is a really useful subject—at least, that's what your parents and teachers told you. But math also leads to scenarios, like Zeno's paradoxes, that seem to inspire skepticism. So why do we believe in math and rely on it to build bridges and spaceships? How can anyone disc…

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533: Frege and the Language of Reason 10:25

7M ago10:25

10:25

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/frege-and-language-reason.At the end of the 19th Century, the German philosopher Gottlob Frege invented a new language, based on mathematics, designed to help people reason more logically. His ideas have had a lasting impact on philosophy, math, computer science, and the study of artificial intelligence.…

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