logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2016
1h 4m

William H. Shaw, “Utilitarianism and the...

Marshall Poe
About this episode
On any mature view, war is horrific. Naturally, there is a broad range of fundamental ethical questions regarding war. According to most moral theories, war is nonetheless sometimes permitted, and perhaps even obligatory. But even an obligatory war may be fought in a morally impermissible way. So it makes sense to distinguish the moral questions concerning t ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Nina Wilén, "Securitizing the Sahel: Analyzing External Interventions and Their Consequences" (Oxford UP, 2025)
The Sahel has become a focal point of international security interventions, with external actors providing extensive security force assistance (SFA) to local military, police, and paramilitary forces. Securitizing the Sahel: Analyzing External Interventions and Their Consequences ... Show More
52m 1s
Nov 14
Radio ReOrient 13.5: “What Is Wrong with Countering Violent Extremism?,” with John Holmwood, hosted by Claudia Radiven and Saeed Khan
In this episode, Claudia Radiven and Saeed Khan spoke with Professor John Holmwood about the UK’s Prevent policy, part of the Counter Terror Strategy concerned with radicalisation. We discussed the trajectory of Prevent from its beginnings where it focussed on community cohesion, ... Show More
1h 5m
Nov 14
John Jackson, "Special Advocates in the Adversarial System" (Routledge, 2020)
Special Advocates in the Adversarial System (Routledge, 2020) uncovers the little known phenomenon of Special Advocates who represent the best interests of an excluded party in closed trials. Professor John Jackson's empirical analysis draws into question the commitment of legal- ... Show More
1h 13m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2020
Ep. 255: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" (Part One)
On the Chinese military treatise from around the 5th century BCE. How does a philosopher wage war? The best kind of war can be won without fighting. The general qua Taoist sage never moves until circumstances are optimal. We talk virtue ethics and practical strategy; how well can ... Show More
47m 56s
Dec 2022
#305 — Moral Knowledge
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam Harris speaks with Erik Hoel about the nature of moral truth. They discuss the connection between consequentialism and Effective Altruism, the problems with implementing academic moral philosophy, bad arguments against consequentialism, the ... Show More
1h 7m
Oct 2020
Moral Combat
<p>Most of us have a clear sense of right and wrong. But what happens when we view politics through a moral lens? This week, we talk with psychologist Linda Skitka about how moral certainty can produce moral blinders — and endanger democracy. </p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an ... Show More
51m 44s
May 2024
Donald Stoker, "Why America Loses Wars: Limited War and US Strategy from the Korean War to the Present" (Cambridge UP, 2019)
In this provocative challenge to United States policy and strategy, former Professor of Strategy & Policy at the US Naval War College, and author or editor of eleven books, Dr. Donald Stoker argues that America endures endless wars because its leaders no longer know how to think ... Show More
46m 15s
Jun 2003
The Art of War
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history and philosophy of warfare. The British historian Edward Gibbon wrote: “Every age, however destitute of science or virtue, sufficiently abounds with acts of blood and military renown.” War, it seems, is one of mankind’s most constant com ... Show More
42m 4s
Nov 2020
War: What Is it Good For?
We talk to the historian Margaret MacMillan about the changing character of war, from the ancient world to the twenty-first century. Do we still understand the risks? Where are the conflicts of the future likely to break out? And how can we reconcile the terrible destructiveness ... Show More
38m 1s
Jun 2022
Ep. 295: Kant on Preventing War (Part One)
On Immanuel Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch" (1795). Do nations have the "right" to go to war? What principles ground just international relations, and are there structures and agreements that we can embrace to prevent prevent future wars? Get more at partia ... Show More
39m 49s
May 2015
Episode #058 ... Kant pt. 3 - Deontology vs Consequentialism
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Kant, this time focusing on ethics. We begin with a thought experiment that calls into question whether or not lying is morally justifiable if it results in preserving human life. Next, we discuss the nature of moralit ... Show More
26m 59s
Jan 2023
Making Sense of Foundations of Morality | Episode 3 of The Essential Sam Harris
<p>In this episode, we try to trace morality to its elusive foundations. Throughout the compilation we take a look at Sam's "Moral Landscape" and his effort to defend an objective path towards moral evaluation.</p> <p>We begin with the moral philosopher Peter Singer who outlines ... Show More
44m 37s