Contributor(s): Professor Mark Pennington | What are the implications of Michel Foucault’s critical social theories for how we think about freedom, power, and justice?
Political economist Mark Pennington will address this question exploring themes from his forthcoming book Foucault and Liberal Political Economy: Power, Knowledge and Freedom. Pennington provi ... Show More
Feb 2023
What Should Fiscal and Social Policy in a Sustainable Economy Look Like?
Contributor(s): Liam Byrne MP, Ed Miliband MP, Dr Andy Summers | Using research evidence and on-the-ground experience, they are looking at how to shape a greener economy and close socioeconomic, health and well-being divides in the UK.
1h 21m
Nov 2022
Highly Discriminating: why the City isn't fair and diversity doesn't work
Contributor(s): Dr Louise Ashley, David Goodhart, Professor Mark Williams | Despite a narrative of merit, the City of London is characterised by persistent inequalities in its demographic make-up. Against this backdrop, Ashley asks - how does the City reproduce inequality despite ... Show More
1h 29m
May 2024
Joseph E. Stiglitz, "The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society" (Norton, 2024)
In his latest book, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W. W. Norton, 2024), Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz rethinks the nature of freedom and its relationship to capitalism.
While many agree that freedom is good and we want more of it, we don’t agree about w ... Show More
42m 15s
Nov 2023
John Gray on Pessimism, Liberalism, and Theism
<p class="MsoNormal">John Gray is a philosopher and writer renowned for his critical examination of liberalism, atheism, and the human condition. His unique perspective is shaped over a decades-long career, during which he has authored influential books on topics ranging from pol ... Show More
1h 1m
Apr 2020
Great Books: Melissa Schwartzberg on Rousseau's "The Social Contract"
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." The opening sentence of 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Roussau's The Social Contract poses a central question for all of us. Why do we live under conditions of inequality, violence, dependency and general unhappiness (jus ... Show More
57m 50s
Oct 2024
Michael J. Thompson, "Descent of the Dialectic: Phronetic Criticism in an Age of Nihilism" (Routledge, 2024)
In Descent of the Dialectic: Phronetic Criticism in an Age of Nihilism (Routledge, 2024), Michael J. Thompson reconstructs the concept and practice of dialectics as a means of grounding a critical theory of society. At the center of this project is the thesis of phronetic critici ... Show More
58m 50s
Aug 2024
Oliver Traldi, "Political Beliefs: A Philosophical Introduction" (Routledge, 2024)
The idiom of contemporary politics is a kind of philosophical hodge-podge. While there’s plenty of talk about the traditional themes of freedom, justice, equality, and autonomy, there is also an increasing reliance on ideas like misinformation, bias, expertise, and propaganda. Th ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 8
Philosophy Series: Hegel, Marx, & Modern Life (Part 1)
Breht listens to, comments on, and expounds upon a public lecture by the late professor of philosophy Rick Roderick from 1989 on Hegel, Marx, and modern American capitalism. Along the way he explicates the Hegelian notion of Freedom, Right and Left Hegelianism, the End of History ... Show More
1h 15m