Cultured Sloth

Who really decides what you can and can’t say online? In "Your Post Has Been Removed," Frederik Stjernfelt and Anne Mette Lauritzen expose how tech giants like Facebook, X, and Google have quietly become the ultimate censors—erasing posts, silencing voices, and shaping public debate on...

In this episode, we explore Putting Economics Back Into Geoeconomics by Christopher Clayton, Matteo Maggiori, and Jesse Schreger. We examine how countries harness their economic might to influence global affairs, with a focus on the resurgence of economic threats as modern coercion tools. Join us...

What if a simple petition could challenge authority, shape political decisions, or even spark major societal change? In "The Power of Petitioning in Early Modern Britain," editors Brodie Waddell and Jason Peacey reveal how ordinary people—rich and poor alike—used petitions to make their voices heard...

What if help isn’t what we think it is? In this episode, we explore "The Angels Won’t Help You" by Matthew Bowker, a thought-provoking journey into the true nature of help—beyond kindness, beyond care, and into something far more complex. Through philosophy, psychoanalysis, and deeply...

Is oil a game-changer for Uganda’s future or a potential pitfall? In this episode, we explore "Oil Wealth and Development in Uganda and Beyond," edited by Arnim Langer, Ukoha Ukiwo, and Pamela Mbabazi. With massive oil reserves discovered in the Albertine Rift Valley, Uganda faces...

How can we protect our privacy in an increasingly digital world? This episode explores the thought-provoking insights from "Selbstbestimmung, Privatheit und Datenschutz," edited by Michael Friedewald, Michael Kreutzer, and Marit Hansen. The book examines the challenges posed by digitalization and the governance mechanisms that can...

How much should we sacrifice for security? In a world where intelligence agencies wield powerful surveillance tools, the ethical stakes have never been higher. "National Security Intelligence and Ethics," edited by Seumas Miller, Mitt Regan, and Patrick F. Walsh, unpacks the tough questions: Where do...

Is the law equipped to handle the rapid rise of AI? In this episode, we explore "Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and the Law", edited by Henrique Sousa Antunes, Pedro Miguel Freitas, Arlindo L. Oliveira, Clara Martins Pereira, Elsa Vaz de Sequeira, and Luís Barreto...

Join us as we explore Raamy Majeed's groundbreaking ideas on "zombie art" and the philosophy of aesthetics written by Andrey Nekhaev. This episode explores his provocative argument that severely damaged artworks—often dismissed as "dead art"—retain their identity as artifacts. Challenging traditional theories, Majeed's radical physicalism...

In this episode, we explore Amy Lai's compelling examination of free speech on university campuses in her book "In Defense of Free Speech in Universities: A Study of Three Jurisdictions." Lai analyzes the complex challenges surrounding freedom of expression in the academic environment, exploring issues...

Skip to content