Philosophy Bites

1,442

David Edmonds (Uehiro Centre, Oxford University) and Nigel Warburton (freelance philosopher/writer) interview top philosophers on a wide range of topics. Two books based on the series have been published by Oxford University Press. We are currently self-funding - donations very welcome via our website http://www.philosophybites.com

Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
  • Oliver BR S
    Pithy concision at its best
    I have been listening to this podcast loyally for over ten years because each episode is provocative and presents enlightening ways of thinking about deep questions. The wide range of philosophical topics are well represented. The most recent episode on moral heroes with Elizabeth Harman seemed unpromising at first, but left me thinking critically about the choices I, my family, and my friends make in our dealings with others. Like many episodes, the short quarter-hour episode gave me tools to think. I especially like the way David and Nigel eschew chit-chat and dive right in to the meat of the episode. This shows a respect for listeners’ time, which I greatly appreciate. I like this style so much that in 2020 I modeled my own podcast Geology Bites on it. I hope they don’t get bored with it even though they have notched up a staggering 375 episodes.
  • Music Uber Alles
    Spot on
    The latest series on the lives of the philosophers is spot on. Almost makes me want to resurrect my old plan to go for the PhD in Philosophy!
  • polyphonique
    Yascha Mounk
    Strange that you would platform this guy right after he was suspended from The Atlantic due to a rape allegation.
  • poblin
    As the title says
    I generally enjoy longer format podcasts but it’s great to have the option to hear about topics in shorter discussions. The hosts ask good questions and let the guests do most of the speaking. They also lend intelligent and informed perspectives.
  • lllevielll
    Excellent format!
    Fantastic range of topics discussed with compelling philosophers. The questions posed throughout the interviews take this show to the next level. The interviewee is neither harassed nor given an easy way out. Perfect show length with no meaningless fluff. Very well done, indeed!
  • ginamcs
    Interview with Bishop Barron on his POV on Catholicism Philosophy
    I would love for Nigel to interview Bishop Barron. I would be glued entirely to this interview. Let’s not forget that the most outstanding philosophers (Plato, Aquinas, etc.) influence Bishop Barron.
  • 1 musketeer
    Bad start
    It looked interesting but I made a bad choice for first podcast episode, Elizabeth Anderson re why we aren’t talking to each other. The gist of it was that republicans are white, narrow minded, religious and authoritarian because they hail from farms. Liberals are open minded and wonderful. Gosh Elizabeth, I expect more from a so called philosopher.
  • dldnh
    Excellent
    An excellent podcast, always very interesting.
  • ersmed
    Everything Edmonds & Warburton do is Fantastic,
    Read their books, get all their Podcasts on your Feed. These guys are as up to date with where the field of Philosophy is going and have spectacular guests and nice tidy short and to the point discussions. This is a must have Philosophy Podcast if you care about modern philosophy.
  • melantheon
    Reaction to discussion on Hedoism
    Well done as a conversation among philosophers and certain people of that kind of interest. Perhaps you are forgetting what a large percentage of the world population thinks, namely Christians, Muslims, Jews and other faith oriented people think and believe. Your discussion was as they didn’t exist. Dan Koenig
  • belzken
    slim
    "slim"
  • Crowbar Man
    Too much catering to religion
    The best thing about this show is when the philosophers present opposing views in the interest of philosophical analysis, without getting upset. However, all such opposing views are absent when the topic of religion (all too frequent) or mainstream liberal ideals come up. So “optimism only makes sense if you believe in god who can make good on all the evil in the world…. so believing in god is the pragmatic way to justify optimism”. How can the speaker get away with such a logically flawed argument without a hint of an argument from Warburton? The next episode presents Pascal’s Wager, which basically says that believing in god is simply a rational decision. The speaker proclaims Pascal as a genius who has endless contributions to philosophy and Warburton doesn’t utter a word about the logical fallacy in Pascal’s statements. Religion pervades every aspect of society. It does not need philosophy to help it out. Philosophy is the only tool we have to formalize rational arguments, and here we are trying to rationalize faith. The sophists taught us to argue both sides of every argument. Nigel Warburton falls short on the topics where this is needed the most.
  • linskipatel
    Good but ....
    I enjoy these bite-sized episodes which (for me) serve as an intro to Western philosophers who I have heard about. In the episode on Schopenhauer, however, the glancing reference to Indian “classical” or as I would put it, ancient texts deserves more in-depth analysis and an episode of its own. Schopenhauer did more than “borrow” from ancient Indian texts; these works seem formed the basis of some of his philosophy. Too often eastern texts are used merely as references. There must be an acknowledgment of their profound influence on western thought and literature and even popular culture -from Schopenhauer to Star Trek to The Matrix -what is now known as Hinduism is behind all of these.
  • Pimmmey
    An observation
    This is an excellent podcast, but it has its shortcomings. One is that it is a forum for left-of-center academics and thinkers. The absence of diversity is conspicuous!
  • Paula Acheson
    Support for stimulating conversations
    I wholeheartedly recommend this podcast. I am a creative, discerning individual who plans to donate $ to back up this claim. These are the types of conversation that I luckily have with my husband on a regular basis. They provide a refreshing instillation of intelligence which are so needed in modern times. I hope Philosophy Bites has staying power beyond the lifetimes of it hosts. And if it doesn’t it provides an everlasting presence for this soothing insightful inquisitive interviewer. Thank you!!! All my gratitude. Paula Acheson in Kansas City
  • Original Sharkey
    Excellent podcast
    Nigel Warburton does such a wonderful job of making even quite esoteric ideas very accessible. I love the way he asks questions that help unravel his guests’ arguments.
  • ZenAbba
    Great Overview of Philosophy
    This site is almost always a great place to start for anyone looking to delve into different aspects of philosophy.
  • thicks51
    Good Brain Candy
    The hosts do a good job of providing material that you can consider days after listening to the podcast. The topics don’t always match my interests but I look forward to the next installment.
  • Georgops
    What is a woman
    Maybe don’t invite a transphobe to speak on the issue. Maybe, maybe if you’re going to have a discussion about the trans community bring in a member of the trans community. This episode trots out much of the tired, fear-filled and hateful rhetoric without challenging any of it. Simple. Dumb. Boring.
  • Ken Seussers
    Food for thought.
    Can get a bit arcane at times, for those without much formal training in philosophy, but extremely interesting podcast full of fresh takes on classical perspectives.
  • Pipersivad
    Like water
    In an age of intellectual confusion, these gems are a real treasure.
  • B825me
    One of the best podcasts out there
    Nigel and David’s podcast may very well be the best podcast I’ve ever listened. They always bring interesting guests to talk about the whole spectrum of philosophical subjects. I have learned A LOT with them. Kudos!
  • ahdrbdrhgce
    Thank you!
    Nigel and David have been quietly plugging away at what I consider one of the finest examples of the potential of podcasting. They are exquisite interviewers, and deserve the world for their devotion over the years to this exceptional labor of love. Thank you for making this, and thank you for continuing to advance human understanding.
  • gopalbh
    The best philosophy podcast
    This is the best podcast on philosophy I’ve listened to. It presents complex topics in discussions with experts but in a tone and method that is accessible to the non-philosopher.
  • Bill Wickes
    Excellent
    It is so much fun to browse through this podcast and find 15 minute discussions on the topics of my interest. Really delightful.
  • StCoz
    Naive
    I listened to the too much Democracy diatribe. The basic assertion was that as a democratic society, we tended to associate with others based on our democratic heritage. What a bunch of rubbish... it’s akin to the assertion that we can spend to much time with our families and our friends. The authors have a diversity model in mind... moreover, the authors assert that diverse groups tend to congregate into groups (segregation). The idea that similar groups cannot work together unless they live together. This theory is as inadequate and unfounded that people cannot work together in a complex organization unless they live in the same housing complex... This is a very primitive idea. With the implicit assumption that people cannot use there belief systems and ethics to rule their emotions. The worst idea is that we are better at Democracy if we do things that ignore Democracy.... In some ways this is akin to a sports team working together in a non-sports manner to improve their sports team. The underlying premise is that too much Democracy will tend to make all things political... but only if the people that are participating have no maturity.
  • Lego Brian
    Rating
    Yes.
  • LoloSophia
    Excellent topics!
    One of my favorite philosophy podcasts out there. The guest philosophers are often the best in their field and Blackburn and Warburton’s questions are always Laser focused. It’s amazing how much you can learn in a short interview. Love them!
  • Bburaktamac
    Great to listen
    Amazing how they talk about the most difficult topics in a very simple way so that most people could follow.
  • iPad gamerzzz
    Great podcast - more religion episodes pls!
    Very informative with nice pacing that allows novices to pickup these heavy topics. I would like more religion or worldview (eg: stoicism) episodes as those are the most applicable and interesting to me.
  • xzaksis
    So good!
    Love the interviews!
  • Capybara Snout
    Concise but substantive
    The episodes are short and sweet, with no fluff, and they feature leading thinkers. Aside from the quality of the interviewees, the best thing about this podcast is the interviewers: they ask insightful questions, press for clarification when necessary, and never interrupt. The catalogue of past episodes is a treasure trove. Thank you for the wonderful podcast, Philosophy Bites team!
  • Gigglebucketticklemuffin
    Entertaining & Educational
    Let's face it, some podcasts can be dry. Also, philosophy can be dry. But I find this podcast both incredibly informative and incredibly entertaining. Great work!!!!
  • Dawnia B
    Glorious brevity
    I appreciate the useful and pointed questions. If there's filler in any arguments, there's none to be found in editing. Agree with the British bias, but provides a great number and range of topics otherwise.
  • NickIsBestForever
    Awesome.
    I love this podcast. However, most of the speakers only talk about their subjects on a surface level. Although, you could say that's necessary for audiences new to philosophical studies.
  • Sobriety Test
    Arm chair expert
    I have been listening to this podcast for years and it is always helpful in my never ending search for meaning.
  • dschlindwein
    Engaging
    Great guests being asked precisely the right questions. I have spent hundreds of hours listening to dozens of podcasts. (Health issues keep me largely bedbound.) Of all the podcasts I listen to, my favorites are the following: Amicus (Slate) Past Present Philosophy Bites Pod Save America (Crooked Media) Political Gabfest (Slate) Trumpcast (Slate) The Weeds (Vox) You Must Remember This
  • Nickname 700BC
    Lost me
    This podcast lost me after the first episode on the Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The guest, although a professor, made crude extractions, and missed the point Plato was making by a mile. The beautiful message that was intended in the Allegory was an explanation of the Forms which wasn't even mentioned. The guest professor was off point completely. Studying Plato for many years, I was appalled to hear what he had to say. Do yourself a favor and read up on it for yourself.
  • 99mmla
    Excellent, with lots of breadth
    Great content, and with plenty of variety. It’s also not too hard to follow for novices.
  • Esper Fiction
    Best
    A favorite. Thoughtful and logical.
  • Gauss101
    Great philosophy podcast
    Interesting conversations with famous philosophers.
  • CCrookeWebDesign
    An excellent daily exploration of the mind
    Fun, enlightening, interesting, and pleasantly brief.
  • T-man 1138
    Informative and interesting!
    Each episode consists of a conversation with a philosopher about a particular philosophical question that he or she is interested in. The discussion is substantive, intelligent, accessible, information dense, and stays on topic. My favorite podcast. Highly recommended.
  • BlondeRecluse
    Wonderful podcast.
    I am a long-time listener and fan of this podcast. I find the topics to be very engaging and love immersing my mind in them. The episode with Huw Price on Backward Causation is my favorite. Keep up the great work. If you listen, help support!
  • A. Granter
    A. Greant
    They are extremely biased toward certain views, and don't even that opposing view points exist. I don't expect them to debate the guest since that isn't the point of the podcast, but they could interview someone with another view on the matter the next episode.
  • lpburke82
    Sound conversations
    Usually dry, yet, enjoyable conversations on philosophy in the modern world with subject matter experts. Helping to keep lives and the world examined more thoroughly.
  • Abdulrahmanism
    The Best
    The best philosophy podcast Very important information.. Short podcasts!
  • JT5309
    Good Show
    Good Show
  • Wade69
    Great!
    Entertaining and educational
  • NateBlack
    great philosophy podcast
    Great podcast with interesting topics and great guests.
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