Episodes

Henri Bergson and the Flow of Time

August 17, 2025

Many people think of time as a series of events, like successive frames in a movie. But French philosopher Henri Bergson (1859-1941) argued that this widespread picture was wrong: everything is in constant motion, and can’t be captured by a series of static descriptions. So…

Citizenship and Justice

January 29, 2023

Securing citizenship to a developed country could guarantee people enormous privileges and opportunities. Some condemn…

Diverse group of people pledging allegiance to the flag, demonstrating citizenship and justice.

The Merits of Meritocracy

January 15, 2023

For centuries, the promise of the “American Dream” has been that as long as someone…

Uncle Sam points, declaring "This is America. We don't redistribute wealth. You earn it!" Meritocracy.

The Examined Year: 2022

January 1, 2023

What happened over the last twelve months that challenged our assumptions and made us think…

Magnifying glass focusing on the year 2022. Examining 2022.

How Relevant Is Jesus?

December 25, 2022

Some people think Jesus was the son of God, though many who are skeptical about…

Jesus Christ holding a rifle, sunset background. How relevant is Jesus today?

Effective Altruism

December 18, 2022

Most people agree that it’s good to help others, but philosophers disagree about how much…

Stone inscription: "Be Good, Do Good

The Ethical Jerk

December 11, 2022

Ethics philosophers are more ethical than the average person — right? Well, maybe not. Studies…

Vibrant graffiti art featuring the word "JBRN".

(Why) Money Matters

November 27, 2022

Money, they say, does not buy happiness; but having none can make life extraordinarily hard.…

(Why) Money Matters

Pet Ethics

November 6, 2022

Many of us, even the staunchest animal activists, usually take it for granted that keeping…

Happy Labrador dog and tabby cat cuddling on a couch

Philosophy and the Superhero

October 23, 2022

Philosophy is replete with thought experiments featuring characters like Descartes’ “Evil Genius” and Davidson’s “Swampman.”…

Three action figures of famous philosophers: Plato, Hegel, and Nietzsche. "Philosophical Powers" is on each package.

Heidegger

September 25, 2022

Best known for his work Being and Time, Martin Heidegger has been hailed by many as…

Martin Heidegger, renowned philosopher, sits at his desk surrounded by books and papers.

Hobbes and the Ideal Citizen

September 11, 2022

Seventeenth century philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that without government to control our worst impulses, life…

Colossal figure of a king, holding a sword and scepter, overlooking a city; illustrating Hobbes' concept of the ideal citizen.

Death of the Sentence

August 21, 2022

A child’s first sentence is a pivotal moment in her development when she is recognized…

Colorful speech bubbles with internet slang like LOL, OMG, and WTF illustrate the death of the sentence.

Now Offering Institutional Subscriptions to the Philosophy Talk Archive!

Subscribe to Philosophy Talk

As a member, you’ll gain access to hundreds of engaging episodes, exclusive content, and the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community of curious minds.
Headphones