In the wake of yesterday’s announcement that all adults in Wisconsin will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting next week, WORT producer Jade Iseri-Ramos hosts a discussion of vaccine allocation ethics with Paul Kelleher, professor of bioethics and philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Paul co-chairs the Advisory Committee for UW–Madison’s University Health Services, […]
The Philosophy of Political Lies
Since 2016, the Washington Post has maintained a database of “false or misleading claims” — less euphemistically called lies — that President Trump has made during his presidency. As of July 9 — apparently the Post’s fact-checkers have lost count since then — the paper reports Trump has uttered 20,055 falsehoods in 1,267 days, for […]
The intellectual dark web
What makes an idea dangerous? In tonight’s episode, Kevin Lauterjung and Kelly Schwartz discuss the intellectual dark web (IDW), from subversive origins to Youtube mainstay. How did the IDW become associated with the political right? Where should we draw the line in discussing identity? Is there a free speech issue on US campuses? Join us […]
Relationship Between Philosophy and Science
Philosophy has been around for centuries, at least as far back as the Greeks like Socrates and Aristotle. Back then, and even today, philosophy is about knowledge and wisdom, trying to understand the reality, nature, all around us. That’s pretty much the same as science. But in the 17th century, science became its own area […]
The Life and Work of Radical Philosopher Herbert Marcuse
On today’s episode, Allen sits down with cartoonist Nick Thorkelson and editor Paul Buhle to talk about their new volume on radical philosopher Herbert Marcuse, whose ideas inspired the New Left of the 1960s and, according to Angela Davis, can be just as valuable today. Nick Thorkelson is a cartoonist living in Boston. He is […]
A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Aristotle’s Ethics
The Declaration of Independence hails the importance of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, but what is the happiness that is to be pursued? If happiness is whatever any particular individual thinks it is, then why should a lawgiver pay attention to that if it does not harmonize with others’ good? But if happiness […]
