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Philosopher's Zone

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

When it comes to the ideal philosophical medium, most of us would identify the written word - or maybe the spoken word, if we're fans of Socratic dialogue - and this is because for centuries, philosophy has been a linguistic practice. But this week w... more

Ever since AI was founded in the 1950s, people have talked and written about 'intelligence' as though we all broadly agree on what that word means. But there's considerable debate on that score, and among the debaters are philosophers - like this wee... more

GWF Hegel (1770-1831) wanted to construct nothing less than a complete explanation of reality - nature, consciousness, art, history, politics, the lot - based on a single self-explanatory idea. Whether or not he succeeded is an interesting question (... more

Philosophers have traditionally thought of grief as something that attaches to immediate loss - the death of a loved one, something terrible that's happened to us personally. But as the environmental crisis continues to wreak havoc on human and non-h... more

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Recent Guests

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
Paige McGuire
Eco feminist philosopher and environmental activist; PhD candidate at University of Queensland
University of Queensland
Episode: Eco-grief and environmental loss
Ben Bramble
Author; Lecturer in Philosophy at the Australian National University
Australian National University
Episode: Colonising space
Luara Ferricioli
Associate Professor, University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Can pregnancy be a job? the ethics of commercial surrogacy
Tal Harper
Associate Professor in the School of Media and Communication at Murdoch University in Perth
Murdoch University
Episode: Communication in an age of crisis
Ian Robertson
Scholar based in Germany working on AI in sport
Center for Philosophy and AI Research, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Episode: Can sport survive AI?
Warwick Anderson
Author of Spectacles of Waste; Professor of Politics, Governance and Ethics in the Discipline of Health at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Purity, filth and 'promiscuous defecators': why we're weird about poo

Host

David Rutledge
Host of The Philosopher's Zone

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 937 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
    Australia9 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
    Australia10 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 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.

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.
Can pregnancy be a job? the ethics of commercial surrogacy
Q: How do abortion rights influence the ethical debate on surrogacy?
Abortion rights shape the feasibility of treating surrogacy as legitimate work, because a surrogate's right to opt out or terminate a pregnancy must be compatible with the legal and practical availability of abortion services in the jurisdiction where the surrogacy occurs.
Can pregnancy be a job? the ethics of commercial surrogacy
Q: Why might some scholars argue surrogacy is a legitimate form of work?
Scholars like Cecile Fabre argue surrogacy can be seen as a form of work that uses the body's capacities similarly to other jobs, as long as the process preserves the surrogate's autonomy and the parental rights are allocated in a way that respects the best interests of the child.
Can pregnancy be a job? the ethics of commercial surrogacy
Q: What is the central ethical problem with commercial surrogacy, according to the guest?
The central issue is whether paying a surrogate reduces procreation to a contractual arrangement while also ensuring the surrogate's autonomy and the commissioning parents' status as moral parents from conception; these aims can be in tension and even incompatible under certain theoretical frameworks.
Can sport survive AI?
Q: What about the trust people place in AI versus reliance on AI in sports?
Philosophers distinguish trust from reliance; AI tools should not be treated as trusted partners, since trust involves personal commitment, whereas reliance on opaque AI can be problematic due to explainability and bias concerns.

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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Which podcasts are similar to Philosopher's Zone?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Philosopher's Zone:

1. The Minefield
2. Big Ideas
3. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
4. All In The Mind
5. Late Night Live — Full program podcast

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. Taylor-Jai McAlister
2. Tim Crane
3. Mark Olsenauer
4. Paige McGuire
5. Ben Bramble
6. Luara Ferricioli
7. Tal Harper
8. Ian Robertson

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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