Recent Episodes

Emma Goldman

July 5, 2026

Activist and anarchist philosopher Emma Goldman fought for human liberation in every realm of life. While she opposed the women’s suffrage movement, she was a staunch advocate for women’s rights. So why did she think the right to vote was so unimportant? What did she…

Propaganda

April 26, 2005

Allegedly independent radio commentators taking money to spout the government line! Fake news reports being…

Uncle Sam points, urging recruitment; World War I era propaganda poster.

Genetic Determinism

April 19, 2005

Are there genes for practically everything? For being gay? For being mean? For being a…

Abstract image of DNA helix in a binary code tunnel. Genetic determinism concept.

Gambling

April 12, 2005

Rolling the dice in a game you’re rigged to lose sounds like a bad idea.…

Blurred image of a roulette wheel in a casino, showcasing the excitement of gambling.

Hume

March 1, 2005

David Hume was a superb essayist, a brilliant philosopher, and a world-class bon vivant. His…

Portrait of David Hume, philosopher

Ethics in Sport

February 8, 2005

Once upon a time, student athletes were students first, athletes second; the Olympics was about amateurism…

Close-up of dictionary definition of "Ethics," highlighted with pink marker; related to moral choices and human values.

Evil

February 1, 2005

Is there such a thing as pure evil in the world? How should we confront…

Fiery orange and black cloudscape, resembling a hellish inferno.

Meaning of Life

January 18, 2005

Does life have a meaning? If we were created by a powerful God, would that…

Small plant growing in white sand

Affirmative Action

December 28, 2004

Is affirmative action a way of balancing out inequality? Or is it just another form…

Diverse team brainstorming around a table, one person presenting at a whiteboard.

Who Owns Ideas?

December 21, 2004

You can own a car or a bicycle. But what about an idea? If you…

Colorful sticky notes on a whiteboard brainstorm ideas, strategy, and customer relationships. Who owns these ideas?

Whose Language Is It?

October 26, 2004

Is there a right and a wrong way to speak English? Is there really something…

Close-up of eyeglasses on a book, text in a foreign language visible.

Feminism

October 12, 2004

Some feminists hold that there are specially feminine ways of knowing, and the current scientific…

Silhouette of a woman raising her fist in the air at sunset, symbolizing female empowerment and feminism.

Baseball

October 5, 2004

What can we learn from baseball? Are the passions we have for our baseball teams…

Baseball resting in green grass

Corporations

September 21, 2004

Corporations are recognized as persons in the eyes of the law. But if they are…

A collage of famous corporate logos, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and many others.

Plato

September 14, 2004

From his theory of the Forms, to his views about morality, justice, and the soul…

Close-up of a marble bust of Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher.

Terrorism

September 7, 2004

We like to think that terrorism is always wrong. But what if the cause is…

New York City skyline at night, illuminated with Tribute in Light, honoring victims of terrorism.

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