Surprising Ethics

What Counts as a War of Self-Defence? Iran & Beyond w. Prof David Rodin

What actually counts as self-defence when waging war? The 21st century has seen a pivot towards ‘preventive wars’: wars fought in anticipation of a possible future attack. The war in Iran is the latest example. What can philosophy tell us about these wars? My conversation with Prof David Rodin, a world-leading ethicist of war, covers these questions and other topics, including the Israel-Palestine conflict; the "conspiracy paradox"; nuclear threats; the moral duty to spy; the psychology of those waging unjust wars; and non-military ways of warding off an invasion. Give your feedback! https://tinyurl.com/feedbackformSurprisingEthics Podcast website for contact details and more: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com [https://surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com/] Instagram: @surprising_ethics_podcast tinyurl.com/surprisingethics [https://tinyurl.com/surprisingethics]

Is the manosphere making men incapable of love? w. Patrick van Straaten

Research shows it’s love – not money or social status – that can soothe the suffering many men are feeling today. But is the manosphere taking this balm away from men? It encourages men to see women as stereotypes and as commodities. This could render them incapable of romantic love with a woman, according to many philosophers of love. And if we want to turn our backs on Andrew Tate and co, is there actually a healthier alternative form of masculinity to which men and boys can turn? I asked therapist Patrick van Straaten. Our chat emphasises vulnerability, authenticity, and real connection with other human beings. With thanks to Lucia Cucchi for her very helpful guidance on these topics. Give your feedback! https://tinyurl.com/feedbackformSurprisingEthics Podcast website for contact details and more: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com [https://surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com/] Instagram: @surprising_ethics_podcast tinyurl.com/surprisingethics [https://tinyurl.com/surprisingethics]

Votes for children? w. Dr Isa Trifan

Many countries are considering lowering the voting age. But right now it’s 18 nearly everywhere. Why? Why not 14, 12, or even 6? Don’t teenagers and kids have interests in having a voice? Adults may on average have more experience than teenagers, but then again some 15-year-olds may be politically wiser than some 50-year-olds. Check out the surprising case for a radical reduction in the voting age with a political philosopher who has a new take on the question. We also explore broader questions about the distinctive value of childhood, age discrimination, and how society should structure freedoms for adolescents.  Give your feedback! https://tinyurl.com/feedbackformSurprisingEthics Podcast website for contact details and more: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com [https://surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com/] Instagram: @surprising_ethics_podcast tinyurl.com/surprisingethics [https://tinyurl.com/surprisingethics]

What should parents feed their kids? Meat, or vegan? | w. Dr Fischer & Dr Fredericks

How do we craft a diet in the child’s best interests? That’s the question Rachel Fredericks and Jeremy Fischer set out to answer, leaving behind the usual arguments about climate and animals. These two ethicists combined philosophy, psychology and nutrition science and came up with an intriguing answer. Turns out, what makes a diet good for a kid is about so much more than just food. It’s about moral development, identity, ideology, and learning how to choose for yourself. We put this ideal diet to the test with a panel of six parents, to see how the authors' ethical arguments might play out in the real world. Give your feedback! https://tinyurl.com/feedbackformSurprisingEthics Podcast website for contact details and more: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com [https://surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com/] Instagram: @surprising_ethics_podcast tinyurl.com/surprisingethics [https://tinyurl.com/surprisingethics]

Philosophy of New Year’s Resolutions

Are new year’s resolutions a golden opportunity for self-improvement, or do they reinforce a damaging ideology of work and “self-improvement”? And how can we best decide on a resolution? This episode explores two philosophical challenges to the way we set new year’s resolutions. First, Bertrand Russell claims we should free ourselves from pro-work ideology, and embrace idleness and leisure. If we step back from hyperproductivity, we might want to reject new year's resolutions. Second, Kieran Setiya claims that we will never be fulfilled if the sources of meaning in our life mainly lie in projects and achievements. He suggests we should reorient our lives towards processes and the now, not completable tasks whose promise lies either in the future or the past. Combining Setiya’s ideas with work in the psychology of habit formation could lead towards a new way to set our new year’s resolutions. Give your feedback! https://tinyurl.com/feedbackformSurprisingEthics Podcast website for contact details and more: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com [https://surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com/] Instagram: @surprising_ethics_podcast tinyurl.com/surprisingethics [https://tinyurl.com/surprisingethics]