RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
A show presenting the best new scholarship in political and social philosophy, featuring lively conversations with leading thinkers. Join hosts Jeffrey Howard and Emily McTernan as they explore some of the thorniest ethical questions of our time.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Political and social philosophy scholarship • Ethical duties to global poor and future • AI predictive policing and big-data justice • Discrimination law, privilege, protected groups • Privacy rights and morally wrongful questions • Political lying and democratic harmsThis podcast features conversations with philosophers about recent scholarship in political and social philosophy, using current debates to examine practical ethical and political questions. Across the episodes, the hosts interview leading academic thinkers to clarify core concepts, identify moral stakes, and test the implications of popular ideas and public policies.
A recurring theme is how moral principles translate into institutions and everyday practices. Discussions address duties to others at large scales—such as obligations to people in global poverty and to future generations—alongside the risks of adopting simplified frameworks for doing good. The podcast also explores the ethics of contemporary governance and technology, including how data-driven tools and AI can reshape state power, especially in policing, and what moral concerns arise when attention and resources are allocated through predictive systems.
Another thread focuses on rights, equality, and the boundaries of protection in a liberal society. Topics include discrimination and privilege, who counts as a victim of wrongful discrimination, and how law and social status interact. The show also considers interpersonal and political norms that sustain trust and legitimacy, such as the harms of lying in public life and how certain kinds of deception can be especially corrosive to democratic politics. Even ordinary speech acts are treated as morally significant, with attention to privacy and the possibility that asking questions can itself wrong others.
Overall, the content emphasizes careful argument, real-world cases, and the ethical complexity of modern political life.
| Episodes: |
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“Ineffective Altruism” with Leif Wenar 2026-Feb-25 34 minutes |
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"Predictive Policing in the Age of AI" with Renée Jørgensen 2026-Feb-18 36 minutes |
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“Discrimination and Privilege” with Cécile Laborde 2026-Feb-11 33 minutes |
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“Don’t Ask That!” with Sam Berstler 2026-Feb-04 41 minutes |
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"Trump’s Lies” with Jeremy Waldron 2026-Feb-04 35 minutes |
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Introducing Philosophically Speaking 2026-Feb-02 2 minutes |