The individual and the collective

FromPhilosopher's Zone

Start listening View podcast show

The individual and the collective

FromPhilosopher's Zone

ratings:

Length:

28 minutes

Released:

Nov 28, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Climate change has landed us in a collective action dilemma – a situation where cooperation would benefit us all, but conflicting individual interests keep getting in the way. How can we, as individuals, enlarge our sense of self to the point where the broader community – national and global – is more than just an abstraction? And is “we-mode” reasoning always morally preferable to “I-mode” reasoning?

Released:

Nov 28, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

The simplest questions often have the most complex answers. The Philosopher's Zone is your guide through the strange thickets of logic, metaphysics and ethics.

Skip carousel

Ethics and absolutes in the classroom: The trouble with morality is that reasonable people keep disagreeing on what’s right and wrong. The science, as they say, isn’t settled. So that being the case, how can we argue for fixed moral standards to which everyone should sign up? And how should we by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
The philosophy of parenting—part 1: Should you have kids? Don’t look for sage advice—part 1 of a 4-part series. by Philosopher's Zone
38 min listen
Bots, bankers and big brother: Would you trust a killer robot more than a banker? This philosopher does, and has his reasons. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Proof and beauty: Mathematicians routinely refer to complex proofs in aesthetic terms, citing their 'elegance' or 'beauty'. This has partly to do with the social aspect of such proofs—far from being a hermetic or exclusively cerebral practice, mathematics has never strayed by Philosopher's Zone
26 min listen
Robot dogs dream of consciousness: What makes the human mind so distinctive? Perhaps the answer is in your dreams. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Parental guidance recommended: The nature of Family could be more than a Christmas puzzle. by Philosopher's Zone
26 min listen
Getting stuck: The midlife mess: Your midlife crisis: it’s more than you think. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Devotion, democracy and Duterte: Is religious language incompatible with democratic politics, as philosopher Richard Rorty believed? Not in the Philippines, where religion and democracy are working together as close allies—with troubling implications for justice and human rights. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Enid Blyton—the moral of the story: She might not be in vogue these days, but for one Cambridge philosopher Enid Blyton is serious moral business. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
A tale of two universes: Philosophy and modern physics: a case of the irrelevant versus the impractical? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Existentialism and crisis: Existentialism entered the popular consciousness after World War 2, and for many it still has a mid-century ring to it. But how does it look look today, especially in an age where the unfolding environmental crisis calls for something more than radical hu by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Animals and the philosophy of friendship: Some of our best friends are animals. So where does that leave some humans we know? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
On the way: John Kaag is a philosopher who travelled to the Swiss Alps with the aim of putting into practice some of Nietzsche's recommendations for "becoming who you are". In his memoir Hiking With Nietzsche, what he finds is that following in the footsteps of the g by Philosopher's Zone
31 min listen
African philosophy and the West: How do you articulate African philosophy in a Western academic environment? And what gets lost in the project of “translating” the former into the categories of the latter? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Extended minds, predictive processes, and Andy Clark: Andy Clark is a big name in what’s known as embodied and extended cognition. The theory positions the mind beyond the brain. If accurate, his ideas will have radical practical consequences well beyond the philosophy of mind. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Oh, the Humanities: We often hear that the academic Humanities and social sciences are in crisis—underfunded, out of touch with the job market, hamstrung by political correctness and moral relativism. So why study philosophy? And could a good dose of scientific method help to solve the problem—if indeed there is one? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
The philosophy of parenting—part 3: Every parent knows the guilt that comes from being a ‘bad parent’—after you’ve lost your temper, given in to a tantrum and spoiled your precious little angel! It might affect how the child grows up, but how can you work that out? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
The Reformation: What's not to like?: Is it just a coincidence that the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation falls on the same year that Britain is trying to 'Brexit'? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Autonomy, self, and substances: Substance abuse lets you say ‘it wasn’t me’. Then who was it? by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Awesome ethics and the art of mushroom blading: Forget the meaning of life; an ethical definition of awesome is far more important. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Philosophy for children: the why and the how: Children are natural philosophers — so why don’t we routinely teach them how to do philosophy? Some issues around that debate were aired at a recent public panel hosted by the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia. by Philosopher's Zone
49 min listen
Carlo Rovelli and his quantum problem: Carlo Rovelli on the desperate need for some conceptual engineering to dig quantum thinking out of a deep black hole. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Envy has its reasons: One of the seven deadly sins—which is sometimes excusable. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
The philosophy of parenting—part 4: An authentic life will risk heartbreak for the highs. That sounds like a job description for parenting. Matt Beard presents his final foray into the bewildering modern world of children, parents, and families. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
The beauty imperative: What does it mean when beauty moves from aesthetic choice to ethical ideal? The age-old belief that true beauty lies within is ever harder to sustain today. It was once sidelined as a 'women’s issue' but beauty is now taking its place as a subject for serious philosophical scrutiny. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
The value of thought experiments: Drop those test tubes, take off your lab coat, pull up a comfy chair and think your way to scientific truth. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Steve Fuller on post-truth: For many of us, 'post-truth' means a culture where appeals to prejudice and emotion trump rational policy discussion. But for Steve Fuller, post-truth is just a by-product of the institutionalisation of knowledge—including scientific knowledge. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Stones rolling and the joy of ordinary objects: The structure of the universe is written in stone—maybe. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
Fuelling free will: Alfred Mele spent four years and four million dollars trying to get to the bottom of free will. He learnt that it was like petrol. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen
No laughing matter: Philosophers tend not to be funny—Nietzsche is a notable exception, and Plato had his moments—but philosophy can have a humorous side. by Philosopher's Zone
25 min listen

More Episodes from Philosopher's Zone

Skip carousel

Hegel, nature and the Anthropocene: Modernity has us in a terrible bind. We know that our Western habits of growth and consumption are destroying the planet, and that we need to stop exploiting the natural world for our benefit. But at the same time, our very identity as modern humans is grounded in the notion of endless growth, self-determination and the domination of nature. The work of the 18th century German philosopher GWF Hegel provides a fascinating diagnosis of our condition. Can it also offer a cure? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
The phenomenology of love: There’s a venerable philosophical tradition devoted to explaining what love is, and it stretches back to the ancient Greeks. What philosophy hasn’t had so much to say about is the phenomenology of love – the question of what love feels like. This week we’re getting inside the experience. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism and fun: You don’t have to be stupid to be a conspiracy theorist. Many people who buy into paranoid fantasies about stolen Presidential elections and sinister global Jewish cabals are perfectly sane, well-educated individuals. So why do they fall for these myths? This week we consider the possibility that the attraction is primarily aesthetic, and that the experience is fun. As for why the perennial focus on Jews: the answer can be found in a peculiar tension between philosophical monism and the worldview of the TV series Curb Your Enthusiasm. by Philosopher's Zone
39 min listen
Adoption and moral obligation: There are an estimated 16.2 million documented orphans worldwide. It’s a problem of crisis proportions, which makes it perhaps strange that so many of us consider adoption as more of a last resort than a first-order obligation – to be considered only if the path to having genetically-related children is blocked. This week we’re looking at the justifications for genetic preference in families, and asking how these justifications stack up against the moral duty to adopt. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Identity politics: Identity politics is grounded in the appeal to a stable, unified self and the authority of testimony. But this week we’re asking whether that foundation is solid, and if deconstructing it might allow for a more flexible approach to social justice. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Beauty: aesthetic or moral ideal?: These days, beauty is a moral imperative, an ideal to live by, and one according to which we judge ourselves and others. As a result, we increasingly shape our identities around our bodies – and not just our actual bodies with their lumps and bumps, but our imaginary future bodies: thin, smooth and firm. Gradually our notion of the good life comes to be centred on physical appearance, and this causes a range of harms which until now, philosophers have not taken seriously enough. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Rupture and hope: In a world shaken by war, pandemic and climate crisis, hope is a precious resource. It can be fragile, fleeting and hard to find. But what exactly does hope mean? It has clear Christian overtones, and a venerable theological tradition behind it. This week we're talking about the ways in which the theological informs the secular, and exploring how hope plays out in the political arena. We also hear a personal story of rupture and trauma, and a perspective on hope that accommodates the tunnel as well as the light at the end. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Sex, death and chilli sauce: In order to come to terms with death, we need to come to terms with sex – but this can involve a double bind for women. Is the age-old association of women with death and sexuality helpful or harmful? And what does this all have to do with chilli sauce? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Philosophy and myth: Since the Enlightenment, philosophy has come to regard myth as something of an embarrassment – and today, we often tend to view “myth” as synonymous with “falsehood”, or at least as a throwback to pre-rational, superstitious human culture. Myths are also held to be suspect in political theory, where the memory of "blood and soil" Nazi ideology is still fresh. Is there a role for myth in secular democratic politics, and in modern philosophy? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
The predicament of existence: Most of us agree that pain is part of life, that none of us can escape it, and that death comes for all of us in the end. And yet many of us feel that life is worth it; that the pleasure of life outweighs the suffering. Anti-natalist philosophy takes a different view. The anti-natalist believes that pain outweighs pleasure, so much so that it's morally wrong to bring a child into the world. What follows from this? Should we not only abstain from procreation but seek to stop non-human animals from doing the same? What about the innate biological drive to reproduce? And are happy people the victims of false consciousness? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Moral beauty and art: Movies and TV series increasingly feature leading characters that are morally repugnant, and yet we respond positively to their charisma. Why do we like them so much on screen? And is our emotional investment in their stories indicative of moral failure on our own part? This week we're exploring ideas of moral beauty, moral ugliness, and the strange ways in which artists - even in apparently morally neutral fields like architecture - can play with our notions of good and evil. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Philosophers in love: Philosophy can sometimes be an exercise in abstract, "pure" reason, unsullied by the demands of the body or the contingencies of history. But this week we're placing history and corporeality front and centre, with a look at the intimate lives of four eminent philosophers, and asking how their private entanglements shaped their public work. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
The ethics of uterus transplantation: If a woman wants to experience pregnancy but can't, the answer could be a uterus transplant. The technology is promising, if still very new — but how ethically sound is it? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Extremism: Extremism is a slippery concept. Its connotations are perjorative but at a glance, it can be difficult to see what differentiates extremism from more acceptable forms of fringe belief such as radicalism. Is it possible to be an extremist in the name of a morally worthy cause? and how should we deal with extremists in our midst? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Trans-national adoption and "blending in": At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the government launched an adoption program for orphans, most of whom went to white families in the USA and western Europe. Since then, an estimated 200,000 South Korean children have been adopted to Western countries. This week’s guest has conducted field research to explore their experience of the “trans-racial adoption paradox”: the feeling of belonging culturally while embodying difference, and the challenges faced by adopted people of colour navigating predominantly white communities and social worlds. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Efficiency, productivity, excess: These days we’re constantly pushed to be more efficient – at work, of course, but also in our leisure pursuits and even while we sleep (“hacking your sleep cycle” to extract maximum benefit from the nocturnal hours is a staple of wellness magazine articles). How did we get here? And how can we get back to a state that’s less pressured, a state governed by principles other than accumulation and profit? by Philosopher's Zone
41 min listen
Consciousness and contemplation: What is consciousness? Why do we have it? How can the physical stuff of the world give rise to something as mysterious as first-person experience? Philosophy, science and contemplative traditions have all struggled with these questions - and this week, we're talking about a new Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies that brings these disciplines together. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Art and climate: Our current climate crisis is, as much as anything else, a crisis of communication. Artists have a unique opportunity to step in and deliver environmental messages in a way that speaks to the emotions and the gut. And in doing this, they're reconfiguring the conceptual map of what art is supposed to be. Can a public sleepover in a town hall to raise awareness of disaster preparedness be called “art”? And what role do mystery and aesthetics play in this sort of work? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
China, Confucius and the courtyard: For more than three millennia, most buildings in China were configured around a central courtyard. This week’s guest believes that the courtyard helps us to understand Chinese society and culture, as well as Confucian philosophy. Today, with increasing numbers of people living in urban apartment buildings, the courtyard has become something of a period piece. What does this tell us about Chinese thought and identity in the modern world? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Stuff: Many of us these days are buried beneath an avalanche of stuff – everyday objects that seem to proliferate in the cupboard while our back is turned. Our obsession with material technology infects our view of human history, as many anthropologists judge the progress of past civilisations on the basis of how much stuff they generated, or “failed” to generate. And the production of stuff threatens our future, with the looming catastrophe of climate change and the growing tide of microplastics. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
What we talk about when we talk about race: The 19th century notion of race as something rooted in biology and genetics is a well-debunked idea whose time has passed. But the more recent liberal conception of race as a social construct fails to acknowledge the ways in which race is lived in and through the body (something the COVID pandemic has thrown into sharp relief). by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
The death of analytic philosophy?: With profound challenges posed by feminism, postcolonialism and critical race theory, could the long-heralded demise of analytic philosophy finally be on the horizon? And what exactly do we mean when we talk about analytic philosophy anyway – is it a science, a tradition or little more than a style? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Restlessness: Feeling a little distracted lately? Most of us are, and not just lately. We tend to view withering attention spans and the compulsion to seek change for its own sake as curses of the social media era, but restless dissatisfaction has been the subject of philosophical inquiry for centuries. by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen
Structural injustice and individual responsibility: Who is responsible for structural injustice? The answer is “practically everybody” - but that can be just another way of saying “effectively nobody”. So what responsibility do individuals bear for structural injustice? And how can this responsibility be acted upon, without falling into practices of blaming and shaming? by Philosopher's Zone
28 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Eco-Friendly Communities & Why We Need Each Other: eco-friendly living for you and me by Sustainable Minimalists
29 min listen
Gail Hochachka (Part 1) - The Psychology of Climate Change: Understanding the Causes and Finding Solutions to the Great Challenge of Our Time by Deep Transformation
50 min listen
Surviving The Storm: How Can We Build A Climate-Resilent Future? by Climate Crisis Advisory Group
28 min listen
Gail Hochachka (Part 2) - The Psychology of Climate Change: Understanding the Causes and Finding Solutions to the Great Challenge of Our Time by Deep Transformation
42 min listen
How We Can Create a More Sustainable World | Chris Patton: We’ve entered into a challenging new world, that’s clear to see. Not only for each of us individually but also as a collective. “Sustainability” is the word on everyone’s lips at the moment. But what if we already had the power to turn... by The Darin Olien Show
61 min listen
Less is more for more: Degrowth, sustainability and equality - Jason Hickel by Economics for Rebels
38 min listen
Vanguard Conversation Series: Civility by choice Magazine
54 min listen
Loving Life, Loving Earth: With prayers for the Paris Climate talks: What will it take to have us collectively awaken to the suffering of our earth and respond? This talk looks at how we are destroying our larger body, the earth; what stops us from recognizing and opening to... by Tara Brach
45 min listen
Disagreeing Better: Uncovering the Secret of Ancient Jewish Debates by Soulful Shalom
6 min listen
Compassion in Disagreement: This talk takes up a question many people ask these days in the face of political polarization and climate change denial. How can we have compassion with those we disagree with? Usually, we try to establish community on the conceptual level—through an ... by Zen Mind
43 min listen
41: Gaya Roshan, CEO of Dashboard Earth by Reversing Climate Change
34 min listen
216 | What To Do About The State of The World by Science and Spirituality
22 min listen
Axel Seemann, "The Shared World: Perceptual Knowledge, Demonstrative Communication, and Social Space" (MIT Press, 2019): Much of what we are able to accomplish in our day-to-day lives depends on the ability to act and think in concert with others... by New Books in Philosophy
64 min listen
This Could be the Key to Climate and Ecological Success (Part 3 of 3) by The Green Elephant in the Room: Solutions To Restoring the Health of People and the Living Planett
35 min listen
Redefining Climate Activism: Individual Action vs. Systemic Change by The Green Elephant in the Room: Solutions To Restoring the Health of People and the Living Planett
23 min listen
Shaping Climate Messaging into Action by Climify
20 min listen
Creating the one team and considering the one planet with Janet Harvey, Neil Scotton and Alister Scott: Introduction: Covid-19 struck like a thunderbolt and has thrown the world upside down. Many are still reeling as we grapple to right side for a new order. All of us have been forced to wake to a new reality, to pause and immediately assume a virtual... by The Game of Teams
48 min listen
Welcome to Invested In Climate by Invested In Climate
2 min listen
Ann-Christine Duhaime, "Minding the Climate: How Neuroscience Can Help Solve Our Environmental Crisis" (Harvard UP, 2022): An interview with Ann-Christine Duhaime by New Books in Science, Technology, and Society
59 min listen
Ann-Christine Duhaime, "Minding the Climate: How Neuroscience Can Help Solve Our Environmental Crisis" (Harvard UP, 2022): An interview with Ann-Christine Duhaime by New Books in Psychology
59 min listen
Ann-Christine Duhaime, "Minding the Climate: How Neuroscience Can Help Solve Our Environmental Crisis" (Harvard UP, 2022): An interview with Ann-Christine Duhaime by New Books in Environmental Studies
59 min listen
How will climate change impact on global democracy? by Democracy IDEAs
40 min listen
690: How to Stop Defaulting to a Fixed Mindset by The Shameless Mom Academy: Motherhood, Motivation, and Mindset Tips for Busy Moms
37 min listen
Episode 335 - A Clash of Worldviews: Surviving modern life requires learning to navigate a clash of worldviews. People look at the same facts, yet draw radically different conclusions. On one hand people carry different worldviews; on the other hand, many people remain unconscious of the... by Living Myth
22 min listen
Population Control: Combative, provocative and engaging debate chaired by Michael Buerk. by Moral Maze
42 min listen
Ann-Christine Duhaime, "Minding the Climate: How Neuroscience Can Help Solve Our Environmental Crisis" (Harvard UP, 2022): An interview with Ann-Christine Duhaime by New Books in Science
59 min listen
Exploring Supply Chain Partnerships For Sustainability, Circular Cities, Scaling Circular Economy, and Zero Plastic-Waste Communities w/ John Holm of Pyxera Global by Supply Chain Revolution
11 min listen
Ken Wilber On Creating A New Education Model For Mankind: Reforming our education system is essential to our future by The Mindvalley Show with Vishen
59 min listen
Movement Research Studies Project: "Vulnerable Systems: Moving Beyond Sustainability" November 5, 2013: 2013 Movement Research Studies Project: Vulnerable Systems: Moving Beyond Sustainability Jennifer Monson and Movement Research Gibney Dance Center, November 5, 2013 This Studies Project discussed how the reality of climate change has... by Movement Research
75 min listen
Leslee Udwin on Nurturing Social and Emotional Intelligence in Children by Intersections Podcast
75 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

The individual and the collective

The individual and the collective

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Philosopher's Zone

Related podcast episodes