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Surprising Ethics

Dr William Gildea
Philosophy
Envy
Animal Rights
Ethical Non-Monogamy
Social Comparison
Paternalism
Ethics
Political Theory
Self-Esteem
Moral Rights
Intersectionality
Gender
Fairness
Value Of Pleasure
Meaning Of Life
Ethics Of War
Monogamy
Hedonism
Welfare
Social Justice

The most interesting ideas from ethics and political theory. Where every episode contains a surprise.

Surprising Ethics is an accessible philosophy podcast exploring the striking ways in which philosophers are trying to upend received wisdom about politics and how to live ethically. In the battle between the status quo and surprising alternatives, which will win out?

By Dr William Gildea, McGill... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes13Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Surprising Ethics

Latest Episodes

Are activists who fight for a good cause with a bad strategy on the hook morally? The episode begins with a striking thought experiment which suggests the answer may be ‘yes’.

The episode also asks: Are hard-line approaches to activism ineffective? ... more

What actually counts as self-defence when waging war? The 21st century has seen a pivot towards ‘preventive wars’: wars fought in anticipation of a possible future attack. The war in Iran is the latest example. What can philosophy tell us about these... more

Research shows it’s love – not money or social status – that can soothe the suffering many men are feeling today. But is the manosphere taking this balm away from men? It encourages men to see women as stereotypes and as commodities. This could rende... more

Many countries are considering lowering the voting age. But right now it’s 18 nearly everywhere. Why? Why not 14, 12, or even 6? Don’t teenagers and kids have interests in having a voice? Adults may on average have more experience than teenagers, but... more

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Recent Guests

David Rodin
World leading scholar of the ethics of war
University of Oxford
Episode: What Counts as a War of Self-Defence? Iran & Beyond w. Prof David Rodin
Patrick van Straaten
Therapist who works with many young men; host of two podcasts on masculinity and football
Independent therapist; previously Sky Sports journalist
Episode: Is the manosphere making men incapable of love? w. Patrick van Straaten
Isa Trifan
Lecturer in political philosophy at the University of Essex's government department
University of Essex
Episode: Votes for children? w. Dr Isa Trifan
Sara Protasi
Associate professor at the University of Puget Sound and author of The Philosophy of Envy
University of Puget Sound
Episode: Is envy sometimes a virtue? w. Prof Sara Protasi
Sarah Conly
Professor emerita of philosophy at Bowdoin College and author of 'Against Autonomy'.
Bowdoin College
Episode: Should the state ban smoking, restrict calories, and stop us harming ourselves? | Prof Sarah Conly on paternalism

Host

William Gildea
Host of Surprising Ethics

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • Interesting, thought provoking

    Really interesting podcast so far, really enjoying the breath of podcasts and the approach to ethics every episode! Thanks for providing such food for thought.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scott83952
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Occasional episodes spark strong ideas, though some topics may feel dense for casual listeners.
High-quality conversations that connect philosophy to real-world issues.
Guests bring diverse perspectives, making ethics approachable and practical.
Thoughtful exploration of tough moral questions with clear, engaging hosts.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Counts as a War of Self-Defence? Iran & Beyond w. Prof David Rodin
Q: How should we think about intelligence and the risk of misjudgment in these decisions?
Intelligence is crucial but fragile; faulty or overconfident intelligence can lead to catastrophic misjudgments, so institutions should favor transparent processes, verification, and mutual trust-building to reduce the risk of declaring war on the basis of flawed evidence.
What Counts as a War of Self-Defence? Iran & Beyond w. Prof David Rodin
Q: Why is self-defence not a straightforward justification for preventive war?
Because self-defence requires a current, wrongful threat that is necessary to avert harm and proportionate to that harm; preventive war often rests on predictions about future threats, which undermines the immediacy and specificity required by a legitimate self-defence justification.
What Counts as a War of Self-Defence? Iran & Beyond w. Prof David Rodin
Q: What are preventive wars?
Preventive wars are military actions taken not in response to an ongoing attack but in anticipation of a future threat, aiming to stop or deter a potential aggression before it fully materializes, which many argue destabilizes international order and raises difficult moral questions about necessity and proportionality.
Votes for children? w. Dr Isa Trifan
Q: Why not make all adults take a competence test before voting, to avoid bias against younger voters?
That approach risks an egalitarian right to vote and could demoralize people who are otherwise capable; a more nuanced stance allows younger individuals with demonstrated competence to vote while still protecting against unqualified participation, potentially via targeted testing rather than blanket exclusion.
Votes for children? w. Dr Isa Trifan
Q: What would a voting competence test look like and why is it not impossible to design a reliable test?
A voting competence test could assess the capacity to understand, retain, and weigh reasons for and against political choices, with questions that elicit reasoning and justification, and it might be offered in school as a voluntary process, drawing on models like the mental capacity framework.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Surprising Ethics

What is Surprising Ethics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful philosophy show that makes complex ethical debates accessible through lively conversations with philosophers and thinkers. Episodes span topics from dietary ethics and parental responsibility to AI rights and state paternalism, with each installment presenting surprising angles on how we live and govern together. The format blends rigorous ideas with real-world implications, often challenging conventional wisdom and offering fresh perspectives on everyday moral questions. A standout feature is its breadth of guests and willingness to tackle contentious issues in an approachable way, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy rigorous thinking presented clearly.

Overall, it's likely to attract academically minded audiences, pol... more

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1. Philosophy Bites
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. How I Learned to Love Shrimp

How many episodes of Surprising Ethics are there?

Surprising Ethics launched 10 months ago and published 13 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 Surprising Ethics?

Recent guests on Surprising Ethics include:

1. David Rodin
2. Patrick van Straaten
3. Isa Trifan
4. Sara Protasi
5. Sarah Conly

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