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Philosopher's Zone

ABC
Philosophy
Education
Intellectual Humility
Philosophy Of Education
Ethics
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Moral Philosophy
De-Extinction
Humanities
Identity
Classical Chinese History
Liberalism
Gut Health
Sima Qian
Chinese Culture
Swearing
Feminism
Wonder
Musical Taste

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes777Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Philosopher's Zone

Latest Episodes

Artificial intelligence is beginning to revolutionise many aspects of human existence - but how does it rate on friendship? The question is less theoretical than it seems: media reports of people developing 'relationships' with chatbots are becoming ... more

It's often claimed that the Enlightenment was a time when Europeans awoke from their superstitious slumber, discovered rationality, got started on science and threw religion in the bin. But a surprising number of Enlightenment philosophers had religi... more

Caring for a terminally ill person can place huge pressure - financial, emotional, physical - on the caregivers, who are often family members. And it's not uncommon at the end of life for someone for feel as though they're a 'burden' to those around ... more

The supposed evils of postmodern culture have been endlessly catalogued: moral relativism, the loss of shared values, ironic detachment, a pathological aversion to sincerity, and all rooted in a philosophical worldview that casts a sceptical eye on m... more

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Recent Guests

Valerie Tiberius
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota, author
University of Minnesota
Episode: Can AIs be friends?
Ian Hunter
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Queensland
University of Queensland
Episode: Kant and religion
Liesel van Zyl
Lecturer in philosophy, University of Waikato, New Zealand
University of Waikato
Episode: 'Being a burden' and assisted dying
Greg Demba
Seattle-based author and independent researcher in popular culture and media
What is Metamodern? (co-author)
Episode: Sincerity, irony and metamodernism
Rafael Dascalou
Senior Research Fellow in the History of Jewish Philosophy
Center for the History of Philosophy, Notre Dame University in Melbourne
Episode: Medieval Jewish philosophy and the lessons of history
Kristen Yazdahl
Professor of Philosophy at Temple University
Temple University
Episode: The reluctant feminist: Clara Zetkin and International Women's Day
Vincent Lay
Philosopher based in Melbourne and author of Unknown Lands, decoding Nick Land's accelerationist philosophy
Episode: Move fast, break everything: Nick Land and accelerationism
Rosie Bradotti
Distinguished university professor emerita at Utrecht University, affiliated with RMIT's Planetary Civics Inquiry
RMIT University
Episode: Can 'planetary civics' save us from techno-catastrophe?
Lawrence Splitter
Former Professor of Education and Philosophy and the author of Identity, Reasonableness and Being One Among Others.
Education University of Hong Kong
Episode: Who am I? Individual and collective identity

Host

David Rutledge
Host of the Philosopher's Zone, engaging with various philosophical debates and intelligent guests, drawing connections between philosophical theory and everyday issues.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 930 ratings
  • GAY SCHOOL

    "it's the Same"

    A place, space & Time where students get to learn deeply the differences on reacting and judging.

    It feels at times that God got Bored n let everyone judge themselves. it hurts, I mean deeply to judge - a thinking style. Maybe even Private.

    This school, is about sketching likes. Feeling bad, then reacting with a Kinda Lika gender style. students choice.

    the difference is the same. In our culture, the emphasis is better girls with girls and the same with boys. only till the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    She-inder
    Australia6 months ago
  • So disappointing

    Talk about slopaganda the reason Hamas returned no women hostages in recent release was they already had been released?! How about Inbar Hayman whose body has just been returned? I’m so disappointed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jrrko3odr
    Australia6 months ago
  • Was better when it was new

    I have been a regular listener of this podcast for almost 10 years now, going back to those early days when there were few pods and almost none on philosophical subjects.

    It is still one that I subscribe to but its uniqueness has faded. There are others who discuss these topics in more depth and with greater rigor. Yet this one has retained some of its charm. The host has struck the right balance between listening, questioning and intervening.

    Yet the guests disappoint more often than not beca... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best philosophy Podcast

    David Rutledge is a superb host and presenter. He draws out the interview is to let them explain themselves, often better than they would do if left to their own devices. He is knowledgeable about the subjects and able to raise critiques of ideas in a way that is non-combative, but sheds light. A wonderful program.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZiggyandMicki
    Australiaa year ago
  • Thought provoking

    Listened to the latest episode on recommendation from a friend. This is an accessible intro to a timely topic and history, discussed in a clear and considered way. It brings me back to studying philosophy years ago but at a level that’s right for me now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    listener and plant whisperer
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Excellent selection of speakers and engaging conversations.
Thought-provoking and accessible discussions on complex topics.
There are concerns about the focus on specific viewpoints, with calls for a more balanced representation of varying philosophies.
Some listeners feel the content has faded in originality over time, craving more profound insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kant and religion
Q: What does it mean to describe Kantianism as having a religious disposition without appealing to transcendent divinity?
It means Kant treats religion as a practical relation to the self—an ascetic discipline that fosters reverence for the moral law within, rather than a dogmatic system based on divine revelation, while still engaging with theological debates of his era.
Kant and religion
Q: Can you outline that broad strokes account of how Kantianism has been understood by mainstream secular philosophy?
Kant is presented as a philosopher who articulates universal principles of cognition and morality that apply to all humans, suggesting a secular framework accessible without reliance on revealed doctrine, yet his work also contains a religious disposition tied to the idea of a moral law and ascetic self-transformation.
Sincerity, irony and metamodernism
Q: What do you see as the main unwanted side effects of postmodernism, and how does metamodernism address them?
Postmodernism often loses a sense of self and engages irony as an aesthetic, sometimes avoiding genuine emotional engagement. Metamodernism attempts to reintroduce interiority and sincerity while maintaining an awareness of context, aiming for authentic, emotionally meaningful engagement rather than pure cynicism.
Sincerity, irony and metamodernism
Q: Okay, so metamodernism is what we're talking about today. But before we get to that, can we spend a little time on modernism and postmodernism?
They are cultural sensibilities tied to time periods but not strictly confined to them; modernism seeks universal, foundational truths through rational disruption of tradition, while postmodernism interrogates narratives, emphasizes context, and exposes the limits of grand, universal explanations. Metamodernism then appears as a corrective that reasserts interiority and felt experience without abandoning modernist or postmodern insights.
Medieval Jewish philosophy and the lessons of history
Q: So with all of that in mind, I want to ask you just quite simply, what is Jewish philosophy?
He explains that many scholars dispute a single, clean definition of Jewish philosophy; instead, Jewish philosophy is best understood through a historical approach that considers how Jewish writers engaged with broader philosophical currents, read in translation, and situated within particular linguistic and cultural contexts.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Philosopher's Zone

What is Philosopher's Zone about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content explores a diverse range of philosophical topics, often intersecting with contemporary social issues. Key discussions include education, identity, childhood ethics, conspiracy theories, and the evolution of moral philosophy, all framed within accessible dialogues with knowledgeable guests. Each episode tends to highlight not only historical context but also current implications, bringing philosophical discourse into practical realms. Noteworthy is the podcast's commitment to addressing significant societal themes through a philosophical lens, fostering a deeper understanding of human nature and social constructs.

The dialogues often involve experts from various fields, ensuring a rich blend of perspectives. This makes the discu... more

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1. The Minefield
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4. All In The Mind
5. Philosophy For Our Times

How many episodes of Philosopher's Zone are there?

Philosopher's Zone launched 20 years ago and published 777 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Philosopher's Zone?

Recent guests on Philosopher's Zone include:

1. Valerie Tiberius
2. Ian Hunter
3. Liesel van Zyl
4. Greg Demba
5. Rafael Dascalou
6. Kristen Yazdahl
7. Vincent Lay
8. Rosie Bradotti

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