essay
Political philosophy
In the interests of all
How Eugene V Debs turned American republicanism against the chiefs of capitalism – and became a true crusader for freedom
Tom O’Shea
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Work
Freedom at work
There is always a demand for more jobs. But what makes a job good? For that, Immanuel Kant has an answer
Tyler Re
video
Thinkers and theories
Photographs offer a colonialist window to the past – one that must be challenged
14 minutes
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Thinkers and theories
Why seek self-realisation?
In the face of climate crisis it might seem myopic but philosophers from Spinoza to Næss argue it is the only way forward
Helen De Cruz
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Political philosophy
Liberalism against capitalism
The work of John Rawls shows that liberal values of equality and freedom are fundamentally incompatible with capitalism
Colin Bradley
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Thinkers and theories
Wittgenstein in the classroom
The philosopher understood that learning – of a concept, of ourselves, of each other – is the undertaking of a whole life
Calum Jacobs
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Philosophy of religion
Who was Duns Scotus?
His name is now the byword for a fool, yet his proof for the existence of God was the most rigorous of the medieval period
Thomas M Ward
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Thinkers and theories
Analytic women
Twin forces marginalised the women of early analytic philosophy. Correct those mistakes, and the next generation benefits
Jeanne Peijnenburg & Sander Verhaegh
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Thinkers and theories
The Indian pragmatist
Ambedkar was not only a politician, but a profound thinker whose philosophy of democracy challenged the caste system
Scott R Stroud
video
Political philosophy
Is the idea that democracy always benefits society misguided, or just mathematics?
7 minutes
essay
Thinkers and theories
Remember Richard Price!
Demonised by the political establishment for his radical, dissenting views, this 18th-century Welsh polymath deserves better
Huw Williams
video
Thinkers and theories
The body politics – a philosophical stroll with Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor
14 minutes
essay
Virtues and vices
Be what you hope for
In the face of global challenges, Augustine offers a way between the despair of pessimism and the presumption of optimism
Michael Lamb
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Thinkers and theories
A philosophy of secrets
Jacques Derrida was fascinated by the figure of the Marrano Jew, whose identity could barely be told even to themselves
Peter Salmon
video
Philosophy of mind
Do we have good reasons to believe in beliefs? A radical philosophy of mind says no
5 minutes
essay
History of ideas
The post-linguistic turn
Analytic and continental philosophers were once united in their obsession with language. But now new questions have arisen
Crispin Sartwell
video
Thinkers and theories
Is simulation theory a way to shirk responsibility for the world we’ve created?
13 minutes
video
Meaning and the good life
Why Aristotle believed that philosophy was humanity’s highest purpose
9 minutes
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Knowledge
Meaning beyond definition
In science our concepts have neat, hard edges. In poetry our concepts stretch and expand. Both are necessary for knowledge
James Camien McGuiggan
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Thinkers and theories
The sage and his foibles
Scholars cannot agree whether the letters of Plato are fake or genuine. Is this just a symptom of misplaced reverence?
James Romm
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Thinkers and theories
The scar of identity
Alexandre Kojève was an immense influence on many French thinkers. What was so compelling about his lectures on Hegel?
Samantha Rose Hill
video
Thinkers and theories
Jeremy Bentham was consumed by creating a perfect prison. Here’s the result
4 minutes
essay
Thinkers and theories
Masham and me
Were it not for her friendship with John Locke, the radical feminist gems of philosopher Damaris Masham might be unknown
Regan Penaluna
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Ethics
The ethics of human extinction
Why would it be so bad if our species came to an end? It is a question that reveals our latent values and hidden fears
Émile P Torres