In this episode, we explore "Common Good and Self-Interest in Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy," edited by Heikki Haara and Juhana Toivanen. This volume brings together thirteen insightful chapters that trace the evolution of key philosophical concepts from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century....
In this episode, we explore "Childhood in Liberal Theory: Equality, Difference, and Children's Rights" by Nicolás Brando, a groundbreaking examination of how children are treated as political and legal subjects. Brando challenges the common view of childhood as a period of weakness and incapacity, questioning...
In this episode, we explore the critical intersection of biometric identification, law, and ethics with insights from "Biometric Identification, Law and Ethics" by Marcus Smith and Seumas Miller. As biometric technologies like fingerprint, facial, and DNA recognition become more integrated into everyday life—from securing smartphones...
In this episode, we explore "Beyond the River, Under the Eye of Rome" by Timothy C. Hart, a fascinating journey into the Roman Empire’s crucial yet often overlooked Danube frontier. Discover how Rome’s interactions with neighboring tribes like the Sarmatians, Goths, and Huns shaped history,...
In this thought-provoking episode, we explore Neil Levy's book "Bad Beliefs: Why They Happen to Good People." Why do well-meaning individuals reject climate science or dismiss vaccine safety, despite overwhelming scientific consensus? Levy challenges the conventional view, suggesting that bad beliefs aren’t the result of...
In this episode, we explore "Aquinas on Virtue: A Causal Reading" by Nicholas Austin SJ, offering a fresh interpretation of Thomas Aquinas' approach to virtue. Despite the growing interest in virtue ethics, Aquinas' treatment of the subject has never been fully examined—until now. Austin presents...
What does it truly mean to have free will? In this episode, we explore "Agency: Moral Identity and Free Will" by David Weissman, a book that reshapes how we think about choice, responsibility, and autonomy. Weissman traces the roots of free will back to evolution,...
What if Buddhism could inspire a revolutionary way to change the world? In "A Buddha Land in This World" by Lajos Brons, this idea takes center stage. Brons reimagines Buddhism as a radical, naturalist philosophy—one that rejects supernatural beliefs and boldly confronts capitalism and systemic...
In this captivating podcast episode, we explore the profound intellectual revolution of the sixth century BCE, as highlighted in the book "Universe and Inner Self in Early Indian and Early Greek Thought," edited by Richard Seaford. This volume uncovers how independent philosophical traditions emerged in...
In this episode, we explore "The Stoic Theory of Beauty" by Aistė Čelkytė, a groundbreaking examination of the Stoic contributions to aesthetics. This largely underexplored area sheds light on how Stoic philosophy provides a coherent framework for understanding beauty and aesthetic phenomena. Čelkytė compellingly argues...