On Aldous Huxley’s 1932 dystopian novel, recorded on stage with an audience Q&A at Manhattan's Caveat on 4/6/19. If we harness the power of society to employ available technologies to really focus on making people happy, what would the result be? This is Huxley's thought experiment, drawing on the latest thinking (and a bit of sci-fi projection regarding possible future Continue Reading …
Episode 215: Brave New World: PEL Live 10th Anniversary Show (Citizen Edition)
On Aldous Huxley’s 1932 dystopian novel, recorded on stage with an audience Q&A at Manhattan's Caveat on 4/6/19. If we harness the power of society to employ available technologies to really focus on making people happy, what would the result be? This is Huxley's thought experiment, drawing on the latest thinking (and a bit of sci-fi projection regarding possible future Continue Reading …
Episode 150: Guest Peter Singer on Famine, Affluence, and Morality
Mark and Wes interview perhaps the world's most influential living philosopher for an hour, then the full PEL foursome discusses. Our focus is the newly reissued/repackaged 1971 essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," which argues that just as we would regard it as unethical to fail to save a drowning child because you don't want to ruin your expensive shoes, so it's Continue Reading …
Ep. 150: Guest Peter Singer on Famine, Affluence, and Morality (Citizen Edition)
What do we owe the poor? Mark and Wes interview perhaps the world's most influential living philosopher for an hour, then the full PEL foursome discusses. The focus is the newly reissued/repackaged 1971 essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," which argues that just as we would regard is as unethical to fail to save a drowning child because you don't want to ruin your Continue Reading …
Cosmopolitanism, Rawls, Borders, and Trumpism
Anti-immigration sentiment is vehement these days. What are its roots? In part, it lies in the mistaken view that a get-tough-on-illegal-immigration policy would have the positive consequences of protecting jobs and fighting crime. Refuting this line of thought, as easy as it apparently is, is a job for sociologists, not philosophers. A more basic motivation is a fear among Continue Reading …
What Does Aldous Huxley’s “Island” Tell Us About the Essence of Humanity?
In his final novel, Island, Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) created a vision of utopia that was the very antithesis of his dystopic Brave New World. The Pacific island of Pala is an “oasis of happiness and freedom” where for 120 years, the inhabitants have resisted the trappings of capitalism, consumerism, and technology. That is, until the journalist Will Farnaby becomes the Continue Reading …
“The Most Good You Can Do” (2015): A Review of Peter Singer’s New Book
Peter Singer is a man whose moral worldview extends beyond the scope of human beings to the protection of animals and our planet, in an ever-expanding circle of concern. He is the godfather of the Animal Liberation movement and perhaps the most vocal proponent of utilitarianism, which seeks to maximize the most well-being for human beings as possible. Singer is now spearheading Continue Reading …
Julian Baggini’s Philosophy Monthly – the PEL review
So Mark stole my thunder with his post about AC Grayling, as I was preparing my thoughts about Julian Baggini's regular podcast, Baggini's Philosophy Monthly. Nonetheless, even though Mark hates and wants to upstage me, I will proceed with my ramblings. I found and started listening to Baggini's podcast towards the end of last year and was able to reel off a series of Continue Reading …
Episode 9: Utilitarian Ethics: What Should We Do?
Discussing Jeremy Bentham’s An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation chapters 1-5, John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism, and modern utilitarian Peter Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality.") Going full tilt on the Greatest Happiness principle, with talk of gladiators, consensual cannibalism, and illegal downloads. How many Pleetons were in your last Continue Reading …
Episode 9: Utilitarian Ethics: What Should We Do?
Discussing Jeremy Bentham’s An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation chapters 1-5, John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism, and modern utilitarian Peter Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality.") Going full tilt on the Greatest Happiness principle, with talk of gladiators, consensual cannibalism, and illegal downloads. How many Pleetons were in your last Continue Reading …