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The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science

HPSUniMelb.org
Philosophy Of Science
Isaac Newton
Collaboration In Science
Historical Figures
Well-Being Science
Archival Practices
Digital Humanities
Indigenous Genomics
Covid-19
History Of Science
Causation
Causal Explanation
Royal Society
Research Collaboration
Scientific Disagreement
Colonialism
Open Science
Metaphors In Science
Public Scientific Controversies
Social Construct Of Science

Leading scholars in History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science (HPS) introduce contemporary topics for a general audience. Developed by graduate students from the HPS program at the University of Melbourne. Lead Hosts: Thomas Spiteri (2025) and Samara Greenwood (2023-2024). Season Five is now here! Episodes released weekly. More information on the podcast can be found at hpsunimelb.org

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes73Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureScience

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Artwork for The HPS Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week, Thomas Spiteri speaks with Professor Miriam Solomon, Professor of Philosophy at Temple University and a leading voice in philosophy of science, medicine, and psychiatry.

Solomon reflects on her intellectual trajectory, from her early stud... more

This week, Thomas Spiteri speaks with Professor Philip Kitcher, John Dewey Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Columbia University and one of the most influential philosophers of science of the past half-century.

Kitcher traces his intellectual jour... more

This week, Thomas Spiteri is in conversation with Professor Lydia Patton, philosopher of science and historian of the philosophy of science. Patton traces her unexpected journey from ballet to Kantian philosophy and into the emerging field of HOPOS (... more

“I love your field. It is making such an important point about scientists who don't understand the extent to which our own upbringing impacts our starting assumptions. It's those starting assumptions that get you in trouble.”  

In today’s episode Sa... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Miriam Solomon
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Temple University, focusing on philosophy of psychiatry and stigma.
Temple University
Episode: S5 E9 - Miriam Solomon on How Stigma Shapes Psychiatry
Lydia Patton
Philosopher of science and historian of the philosophy of science, former editor-in-chief of Hopos Journal
Hopos Journal, University of Melbourne
Episode: S5 E7 - Lydia Patton on HOPOS
Sarah Blaffer Hrdy
Pioneering primatologist and evolutionary anthropologist
Author of Father Time, A Natural History of Men and Babies
Episode: S5 E6 - Sarah Blaffer Hrdy on ‘Rethinking our Starting Assumptions’
Cristian Larroulet-Philippi
Inaugural Seddon Fellow in the history and philosophy of science program
University of Melbourne
Episode: S5 E5 - Cristian Larroulet Philippi on Measurement in the Human Sciences
Heather Douglas
Leading philosopher of science and professor at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Episode: S5 E4 - Heather Douglas on Rethinking Science’s Social Contract
Hans-Jörg Rheinberger
Director Emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Episode: S5 E3 - Hans-Jörg Rheinberger on 'Epistemic Things'
Surekha Davies
A historian of science, art, and ideas, and a self-described monster consultant.
University of California Press
Episode: S5 E2 - Surekha Davies on Humans: A Monstrous History
Dr. Kristian Camilleri
Senior Lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science Program at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
Episode: Audience Faves: Kristian Camilleri on 'The Disunity of Science'
Dr. Rachael Brown
Philosopher of biology and director for the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences at the Australian National University
Australian National University
Episode: Audience Faves: Rachael Brown on 'Values in Science'

Host

Samara Greenwood
Host and producer who engages with leading scholars to discuss significant topics in the history, philosophy, and social studies of science.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 37 ratings
  • Excellent PD!

    I tutor and teach physics at a high school down to primary school level. This expands my perspective, and helps me from tunnel visioning on the techniques of science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steam Bun Invasion
    Australiaa year ago
  • Intelligent, universal, thoughtful

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ekrapil
    a year ago
  • Fantastic podcast!

    As a practicing scientist with no formal background in philosophy, this has become my introductory crash course into HPS as it is today. Almost every episode has had a lightbulb moment for me, offering an eye-opening new perspective on issues I deal with and think about all the time, and several have directly driven my increasingly serious interest in incorporating HPS into my scientific work. Thank you & keep it up Samara & team!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mmars627
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions that enhance their understanding of complex scientific topics.
The podcast is praised for its ability to connect scholarly content with real-world implications, making it accessible for a general audience.
Audience members have shared that the insights gained are valuable for their academic and professional pursuits, often leading to new perspectives in their fields.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#160
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#71
South Korea/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S5 E9 - Miriam Solomon on How Stigma Shapes Psychiatry
Q: What practical changes do you think psychiatric professionals can make today to make processes more responsive to both the epistemic and ethical challenges you've identified?
She suggests that many practitioners focus on what brings patients to seek help rather than rigid diagnostic categories, indicating that treatment should address suffering rather than solely defining disorders.
S5 E9 - Miriam Solomon on How Stigma Shapes Psychiatry
Q: Why is stigma such a persistent and slippery force in psychiatry?
Solomon explains that stigma is intertwined with human competition and self-perception, demonstrating its complexity and pervasive presence in social life and the history of psychiatry.
S5 E9 - Miriam Solomon on How Stigma Shapes Psychiatry
Q: Could you tell us about your path into history and philosophy of science, and how your interests eventually led you to medicine and psychiatry?
Miriam Solomon describes her initial interest in natural sciences and transformative experiences in history and philosophy of science, which drew her back to the philosophy of science and medicine, leading her to psychiatry.
S5 E5 - Cristian Larroulet Philippi on Measurement in the Human Sciences
Q: To what extent are we justified in treating intelligence or depression as measurable quantities?
Cristian contends that while there are arguments for treating these concepts as quantifiable, the lack of coherent evidence and theoretical backing casts doubt on their measurement.
S5 E5 - Cristian Larroulet Philippi on Measurement in the Human Sciences
Q: What does it mean to measure something in the human sciences?
Cristian argues that measurement in human sciences can be philosophically more complex than in physical sciences due to various unique attributes and complexities.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The HPS Podcast

What is The HPS Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on contemporary issues in the history, philosophy, and social studies of science, engaging a general audience with discussions led by scholars in the field. Episodes often feature scholars who bring expertise in various subfields, such as scientific inquiry, ethics in science, and the relationship between science and society. Noteworthy is the podcast's commitment to bridging the gap between academics and the public, making complex topics accessible and relevant. Listeners can expect insightful conversations that not only explore theoretical frameworks but also connect to real-world implications of scientific practices and methodologies.

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How many listeners does The HPS Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The HPS Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The HPS Podcast:

1. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
2. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
3. Philosopher's Zone
4. Philosophize This!
5. Overthink

How many episodes of The HPS Podcast are there?

The HPS Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The HPS Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The HPS Podcast?

Recent guests on The HPS Podcast include:

1. Miriam Solomon
2. Lydia Patton
3. Sarah Blaffer Hrdy
4. Cristian Larroulet-Philippi
5. Heather Douglas
6. Hans-Jörg Rheinberger
7. Surekha Davies
8. Dr. Kristian Camilleri

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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