Philosophy
University of Southampton
Philosophy at Southampton has an interdisciplinary approach informed by a broad range of research interests that includes: aesthetics, language and epistemology, ethics and philosophy of mind. This series introduces the Philosophy Café series of informal talks and enquiry on themes of choice and reason connected with the human situation. Thinking about studying philosophy? Watch our student experience video for insight into the diversity of the subject area and the learning culture at Humanities.
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Top 10 Philosophy Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Philosophy episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Philosophy for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Philosophy episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
10/30/12 • 29 min
Lecturer Dr Conor McHugh challenged the audience at the University of Southampton Philosophy Cafe to consider what makes a person. He asked them to ponder what would happen if scientists swapped individual’s brains from one person to another:
“Which, if either, of the resulting people is you? What if the scientists erase all of my memories and scan them into your brain? In that case, it will seem to you that it was you who, for example, wrote these words. Is this impression illusory?”
Conor’s lively session, encouraging people to think about such questions, was aimed at helping us to get clearer on personal identity and on our concern for our own futures.
03/18/15 • -1 min
These regular, informal lunchtime discussions are held between 1-2pm and open to all (no booking required). They aim to bring together those with an interest in philosophy - from both within the University and the wider local community.
11/25/14 • 36 min
The latest in the popular Philosophy cafe series at the John Hansard Gallery saw Dr Alex Gregory talking about self interest. Alex researches the relationship between what we want and what we think is good, and has published on these issues.
"It's clear that people sometimes do things for their own benefit: you might push ahead of other people to ensure you get a good seat on the train. Some philosophers have made the bolder claim that we always act out of self-interest. But is that true? What are the arguments for it? It might seem obvious that sometimes people act for the sake of others: for example, someone might offer to donate blood for the benefit of a complete stranger. But can such examples be explained away as ultimately self-interested?".
11/18/15 • 34 min
Dramas and other fictions that portray tragic events are often thought to be the most important and valuable artistic works. But ever since the age of Plato and Aristotle, when tragedy was invented, philosophers have wondered why, and even whether, they are a good thing. Do we enjoy the merciless representation of lives being wrecked? If so, how do we explain that? Do we enjoy it in spite of, or because of, the painfulness of the events? And if we do not enjoy it, what is the point of tragedy?
03/18/15 • 39 min
Philosophy talk given at Southampton City Art Gallery
03/18/15 • 24 min
Our highly successful Philosophy Café (run in conjunction with the John Hansard Gallery) is now entering its fifth year: the Café offers regular, informal lunchtime discussions that are free and accessible.
These regular, informal lunchtime discussions are held between 1-2pm and open to all (no booking required). They aim to bring together those with an interest in philosophy - from both within the University and the wider local community.
Philosophy Café - 'Why Be Rational?'
Philosophy
06/12/15 • 35 min
Our highly successful Philosophy Café (run in conjunction with the John Hansard Gallery) is now entering its fifth year: the Café offers regular, informal lunchtime discussions that are free and accessible.
11/28/11 • 24 min
Dr Jonathan Way discusses; what is the nature of morality? Is it merely subjective or relative, subject to change according to the customary behaviour of a society? You can listen to a podcast of the talk in the right hand section of this page.
03/14/12 • 34 min
The anxiety that we are, in some way, not being ourselves can seem both puzzling and all too familiar. This worry is also an anxiety that has been explored by many of the great philosophers and became in the twentieth century a central theme in existentialism, as the worry that our lives are 'inauthentic'. But what is authenticity? What is to be oneself? And if one isn't oneself, what can one do about it?
Dr Denis McManus has addressed these issues at the University of Southampton's Philosophy cafe.
11/20/12 • -1 min
The notion of ‘free thought' is fundamental to many of our deeply cherished liberal ideals. Universities, books, and people are often celebrated (or feared) for their power to encourage it, and many liberal institutions exist to protect it. However, it is surprisingly difficult to say what free thought is, and why it's worth having.
Lecturer Dr Sasha Mudd explored the meaning and significance of ‘free thought' in a popular Philosophy Cafe session at the John Hansard Gallery on campus. She drew on insights from two of its greatest champions: Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill.
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FAQ
What is the most popular episode on Philosophy?
The episode title 'Philosophy Cafe - External World Scepticism, or What If You're In The Matrix? by Dr Conor McHugh' is the most popular.