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Philosopher's Zone

ABC
Philosophy
Climate Change
Education
Ethics
Artificial Intelligence
Intellectual Humility
Philosophy Of Education
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes777Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

One of the more utopian promises of technology has always been that it will free us from the necessity of work - but not having to work poses its own problems. What will we do instead? how will we make money? and what might a leisure-oriented society... more

Australian feminist philosopher Kate Manne memorably coined the term "himpathy" to describe what happens when a man commits a crime against a woman and finds himself the object of disproportionate sympathy. But as useful as this description is, the p... more

If someone's behaving badly, it can be hard to know how much of their behaviour stems from a deep character flaw, and how much of it is incidental - the stuff we might charitably filter out as unreflective of their true self. And the same goes for ac... more

Western feminists often express support for women in Muslim majority countries, but sometimes that support is couched in the language of pity, as though Muslim women were held captive by their religion and culture, and in need of 'rescue'. This week,... more

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Recent Guests

Elena Gordon
Assistant Professor of Philosophy at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
Episode: Sympathy, himpathy and feminism
Mark Schroeder
Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern California
USC
Episode: Signal, noise and interpersonal conflict
Sameema Zahra
Psychotherapist and philosophy lecturer at the Australian Catholic University, Brisbane
Australian Catholic University
Episode: Feminism, generosity and cross-cultural support
Stephanie Collins
Associate Professor of Philosophy at Monash University
Monash University
Episode: Getting angry at the system
Alexander Howard
Senior Lecturer in English and Writing at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Who's afraid of Cultural Marxism?
Peter Verovšek
Senior Assistant Professor in the History and Theory of European Integration at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
Episode: Habermas and the retreat of reason
Taylor-Jai McAlister
Wiradjuri woman, Aboriginal clinical psychologist, and philosophy researcher
Macquarie University
Episode: Visual art as philosophy
Tim Crane
Professor of Philosophy at Central European University in Vienna
Central European University
Episode: How smart are machines, anyway?
Mark Olsenauer
Author of Hegel's Soul Idea, The Last Great Metaphysical System
Northwestern University
Episode: Hegel: The philosopher with the (one) big idea

Host

David Rutledge
Host of The Philosopher's Zone

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 942 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
    Australiaa year 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
    Australiaa year 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 States2 years 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
    Australia2 years 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.

Critiques often target episode notes for being brief and lacking guest specifics, not reflecting episode depth.
Listeners frequently commend the host's non-confrontational, insightful interviewing style and topic variety.
Audience notes the show blends accessibility with depth, praising thoughtful guests and clear questioning.
Some listeners wish for more diverse perspectives and less repetition of familiar viewpoints.
A number of reviews highlight high regard for the quality of conversations and educational value.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Getting angry at the system
Q: How should we think about blame versus forward-looking responsibility in a system where no single agent is wholly responsible?
Blame is often conversational and may invite defensive responses, while forward-looking responsibilities should be distributed according to the agent's capacity, the number of relevant relations, and the agent's ability to influence the system. The idea is to hold agents accountable for their contributions to the systemic harm without expecting them to single-handedly repair the entire system.
Getting angry at the system
Q: Tell me a bit more about working those levers. What does contextual care look like in practice?
Contextual care involves acting on one's local role within the system, whether as an individual or as part of a collective, to meet the needs of those unjustly treated and to foster systemic change. For powerful groups, it means regulating internal processes and coordinating industry-wide efforts; for individuals, it includes civic actions like voting, petitioning, and influencing one's own investments and professional contexts.
Feminism, generosity and cross-cultural support
Q: What was it about her support here that made it an example of generosity, rather than just a public intellectual doing the right thing?
The guest explains that Beauvoir's generosity arises from non‑judgmental engagement and a willingness to support a group's own voice and needs, rather than imposing external judgments about what is best.
Habermas and the retreat of reason
Q: Can you outline the significance of Habermas's German-ness for understanding his thought?
Verovšek explains that Habermas's German background, born in 1929 and shaped by the Nazi era and its aftermath, deeply influenced his commitment to universal, humanistic values and to rebuilding Germany as a model for cosmopolitan democracy.
How smart are machines, anyway?
Q: Tim, you've spent a good deal of your career thinking about intentionality, what you might call the aboutness of thought. Can you tell me more about that, and how it plays into whether machines can actually think?
Intention is about directedness toward objects; machines can have representational states, but this intentionality is derivative of our minds. They don't possess conscious aboutness; their representations depend on human interpretation, and thinking is a mind-involving process rather than an intrinsic machine quality.

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?

Accessible, timely philosophy discussions that bridge abstract ideas with real-world issues. The show covers AI and the nature of thinking, ethics of emerging technologies, environmental ethics, crisis communication, Indigenous epistemologies in art and philosophy, and politics-informed public discourse. Guests tend to be scholars and practitioners who offer rigorous critique alongside practical implications, making complex topics approachable for engaged listeners. Noteworthy is a consistent emphasis on how philosophy can illuminate contemporary debates, from space ethics and surrogate rights to democracy and media, while inviting interdisciplinary perspectives and accessible dialogue for a broad audience.

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1. The Minefield
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3. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
4. All In The Mind
5. Philosophy For Our Times

How many episodes of Philosopher's Zone are there?

Philosopher's Zone launched 21 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. Elena Gordon
2. Mark Schroeder
3. Sameema Zahra
4. Stephanie Collins
5. Alexander Howard
6. Peter Verovšek
7. Taylor-Jai McAlister
8. Tim Crane

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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