Recent Episodes

Democracy By Numbers

November 1, 2026

Despite adhering to the principle of “one person, one vote,” elections in the United States are often highly contentious: presidents can be elected after losing the popular vote, there is widespread gerrymandering and voter purging, and not everyone has equal representation in the Senate. So…

Summer Reading List 2014

June 8, 2014

What philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues would you like to read up on over the…

Summer reading list: Books by J.R. Ward and Twilight series.

Am I Alone?

June 1, 2014

A popular theme in science fiction is the eerily lifelike robot: a piece of machinery…

Rene Descartes, holding a brain in a dish, contemplates the question: Am I Alone?

Epicurus and the Good Life

May 11, 2014

Though his name is often misleadingly associated with indulgence in sensual pleasures, the Greek philosopher…

Bust of Epicurus, ancient Greek philosopher known for his teachings on Epicureanism and the good life.

The Right to Privacy

April 13, 2014

Is the right to privacy – the right to be left alone and to control…

FBI warning graphic highlighting anti-privacy concerns. Text reads "FBI Anti-Privacy Warning.

Forgive and Forget

February 23, 2014

At least forgive OR forget.  Get things behind you.  All good advice for those who…

Graffiti on a brick wall reads: "4-Give Yo'Self

Black Solidarity

February 2, 2014

From the abolition of slavery to the Black Power movement, African-American unity has been considered…

Black fist raised high, "Solidarity" text. Symbol of Black unity and power.

Miracles

January 19, 2014

Religions rely on miracles to demonstrate the authenticity of figures thought to have supernatural powers. …

Movie poster for Miracle, depicting the 1980 US Olympic hockey team's victory.

Trust and Mistrust

December 29, 2013

If we couldn’t trust each other, our lives would be very different. We trust strangers…

Two hands clasped together in a handshake, symbolizing trust.

Tenth Anniversary Special

December 22, 2013

Philosophy Talk debuted on KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco in August 2003, with regular broadcasts beginning…

Gold 10th anniversary seal: Satisfaction Guaranteed since 2003

Cooperation and Conflict

December 8, 2013

The Prisoner’s Dilemma is a problem studied in game theory that shows how two people…

Person typing on laptop, crumpled paper nearby; cooperation and conflict.

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