Philosophy Tube

Season 2016

Abigail Thorn hosts free philosophy lessons on YouTube, sometimes branching out into politics, humour, and personal reflection.

Where to Watch Philosophy Tube • Season 2016

38 Episodes

  • What is Consequentialism? | Gentleman Thinker
    E1
    What is Consequentialism? | Gentleman ThinkerLet’s explain one of the most famous types of philosophical ethical theory, and how it helps us find what morality consists in.
  • In Defence of the Word "Problematic"
    E2
    In Defence of the Word "Problematic"‘Problematic’ is a contentious term: some people think it’s just an ‘SJW Buzzword,’ but it’s actually an academic loanword with some good uses!
  • What Are Rights? Duty & The Law
    E3
    What Are Rights? Duty & The LawWhat are human rights? Wesley Hohfeld’s philosophical analysis is the tool we use to understand legal and moral duties to one another.
  • Racism, Law, & Politics (Race Part 1)
    E4
    Racism, Law, & Politics (Race Part 1)Time for some postcolonial philosophy: let’s look at the concepts of race and racism and how they fit into law and politics.
  • Islamophobia, Racism, & Feminism (Race Part 2)
    E5
    Islamophobia, Racism, & Feminism (Race Part 2)Following on from our analysis of race and racism in politics and law, here’s a discussion of the racialization of Muslims in Western societies.
  • Nietzsche's Übermensch, "God is Dead," and Nihilism | Gentleman Thinker
    E6
    Nietzsche's Übermensch, "God is Dead," and Nihilism | Gentleman ThinkerTime for some Nietzsche! What is Nihilism, what is an übermensch, and what does it mean to say “God is Dead?” This is the backdrop to the Will to Power!
  • Mill "On Liberty" - Freedom & Empire
    E7
    Mill "On Liberty" - Freedom & EmpireJohn Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty” is huge in politics and criminal law: but what are the limits of freedom? And how does the history of the British Empire in India come into it?
  • Are Instagram & Photography Aesthetically Pointless?
    E8
    Are Instagram & Photography Aesthetically Pointless?What does philosophy have to say about photography and Instagram? Does art and aesthetics come into it?
  • Marx Part 1: Labour & Class Conflict
    E9
    Marx Part 1: Labour & Class ConflictPhilosophy and economics! Part 1 of my series on Karl Marx. We talk about capitalism, exploitation, labour, and the working class.
  • Marx Part 2: Capitalism's Consequences
    E10
    Marx Part 2: Capitalism's ConsequencesMore economic philosophy from Karl Marx, talking about the problems of capitalism, Alienation, labour, and business.
  • Marx Part 3: Cultural Marxism & Political Correctness
    E11
    Marx Part 3: Cultural Marxism & Political CorrectnessWhat is Cultural Marxism? What is the conspiracy theory around the Frankfurt school; how is it linked to right wing white nationalism and political correctness?
  • Marx Part 4: Beyond Capitalism
    E12
    Marx Part 4: Beyond CapitalismHow will information technology affect capitalism and the future of economics? How did Thatcher and Reagan pave the way for David Cameron, Hillary Clinton, and the politics of today?
  • Ayn Rand's Objectivism
    E13
    Ayn Rand's ObjectivismRand is “Capitalism’s pet philosopher,” so let’s look at Objectivism, which she described in Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
  • Ethics of Collateral Damage
    E14
    Ethics of Collateral DamageWhen countries go to war, or assign healthcare budgets, or Superman destroys Metropolis, is the collateral damage morally Ok?
  • Pokémon Philosophy: Is Mewtwo MARXIST?
    E15
    Pokémon Philosophy: Is Mewtwo MARXIST?What do Pokémon battles say about economics and philosophy? Is MewTwo a Marxist?
  • What is Gender?
    E16
    What is Gender?Male, female, cis, trans – what is gender? What makes up your gender identity? Existentialism, Society, Genetics?
  • Beginner's Guide to Kant's Metaphysics & Epistemology
    E17
    Beginner's Guide to Kant's Metaphysics & EpistemologyA simple explanation of Immanuel Kant’s famous philosophy on how we experience and understand the world.
  • Knowledge Explained
    E18
    Knowledge ExplainedWhat's the meaning of ideas like knowledge and intelligence? What’s the Gettier problem? What do octopuses have to do with it?
  • Can You Experience Art Online?
    E19
    Can You Experience Art Online?How might the Internet, virtual reality, and technology affect art? Will new media make galleries obsolete? Are Da Vincis, Michelangelos, and Van Goghs still valuable as digital reproductions?
  • Beginner's Guide to Kant's Moral Philosophy
    E20
    Beginner's Guide to Kant's Moral PhilosophyA simple introduction to Kant’s Categorical Imperative and his deontological approach to ethics
  • Should Bernie Fans Vote Hillary?
    E21
    Should Bernie Fans Vote Hillary?Is it right to go #BernieorBust, or should Bernie fans vote Clinton for President to try and avoid Donald Trump? How does the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill fit into US politics? When nobody on the ballot represents you in a democracy, how should you vote?
  • Immigration, Sovereignty, & the EU
    E22
    Immigration, Sovereignty, & the EUBritain has a referendum on whether to remain part of the European Union or to Brexit, and there’s some very important philosophy to be done about sovereignty, racism, nationhood, and immigration.
  • Is Anime Fan Service Bad Art?
    E23
    Is Anime Fan Service Bad Art?What does ethics have to say about art? Is Kill la Kill worse for all its boobs and butts? Is Star Trek worse for its political content? Are Nazi propaganda films worse for being about Hitler?
  • X Men: is Magneto Right?
    E24
    X Men: is Magneto Right?Marvel Comics & philosophy! Professor X might be a liberal but what if Magneto’s revolutionary politics is the path to peace? How do we challenge structural violence and systemic oppression?
  • Top 10 Philosophers You Need to Know
    E25
    Top 10 Philosophers You Need to Know10 philosophers you need to know if you want to engage with the world today - we're talking politics, race, trans rights, ethics metaphysics, art, culture, and more!
  • Should Politicians be Honest or "Electable?"
    E26
    Should Politicians be Honest or "Electable?"When Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn or Bernie Sanders of the Democrats are called “unelectable,” what’s the real political, moral, and philosophical ideology behind “electability?”
  • What Happens in a Philosopher's Brain?
    E27
    What Happens in a Philosopher's Brain?What is bias? How does your brain affect free will, argument, and thinking? Let's look at "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahnemann - if we want to study philosophy we need to know a bit about brains, biology, and psychology too!
  • Does Crowdfunding Destroy Art?
    E28
    Does Crowdfunding Destroy Art?With the economy changing a lot of artists and creators are relying on crowdfunding to pay the bills - so what philosophical issues does that throw up about the value of art, creativity, and Marxism? And the ethics of economic systems that increase medical and legal costs?
  • Is Having Children Wrong?
    E29
    Is Having Children Wrong?Is it morally okay to have babies? Anti-natalists like philosopher David Benatar would argue that nonexistence avoids pain, unlike existence, but is he correct? What does that mean for reproductive rights?
  • What is Color? & Who Cares?
    E30
    What is Color? & Who Cares?Let's look at the philosophy of colour! (Or color, if you're American.) Is colour wavelengths of light? Mental perceptions? How do anthropology, linguistics, and the Pirahã tribe of the Amazon come into it? What does Wittgenstein say? Do trees falling in empty forests make a sound? Also, who cares?
  • Why We Need Diverse Education
    E31
    Why We Need Diverse EducationI talk about philosophy, history, economics, and why we need diversity in education! You can't just look at Europe, you need a global focus! The philosophers Karl Marx and Søren Kierkegaard might have some recommendations...
  • Trump & the Problem with Politics
    E32
    Trump & the Problem with PoliticsThe Presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump has revealed something interesting about politics. The ideas of philosopher (and Nazi) Carl Schmitt, and the black activist Kwame Ture, can help us understand how the right-wing and left-wing criticise liberalism…
  • Why Do We Remember War?
    E33
    Why Do We Remember War?Every November we remember war, the army, and military history, often with poppies. But philosopher Benedict Anderson would say it’s a reflection of aggressive nationalism. How can we remember war in a way that fosters peace? How can we use our own patriotism, politics, and history responsibly?
  • "Waiting for Godot" Explained with Philosophy
    E34
    "Waiting for Godot" Explained with PhilosophySamuel Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece “Waiting for Godot” is one of the most famous pieces of 20th Century Theatre – but what are the philosophical questions it raises? How does the story of its creation tie in with Albert Camus, and the Nazi invasion of France?
  • What's the Point of School & Education?
    E35
    What's the Point of School & Education?What is the purpose of education; what good does learning aim at? Is it just training people to enter the workforce and employment market, or to be citizens, or something else? Especially philosophy, can you get a job with it? Does that question miss the point? Here's some vague thoughts about it all...
  • Should the Rich Help the Poor?
    E36
    Should the Rich Help the Poor?Do people and countries with money have a duty to aid those in poverty? How are human rights affected by capitalism? What about reparations for colonialism and slavery? And isn't this a very bourgeois way of thinking anyway?
  • Should You Give Christmas Presents?
    E37
    Should You Give Christmas Presents?CHRISTMAS! There’ll be lots of presents given this December, but should you really give gifts? Why not just give cash? Let’s look at the economics and philosophy of altruism and category errors.
  • Political Philosophy: the State of Exception
    E38
    Political Philosophy: the State of ExceptionA very important idea in political philosophy from Giorgio Agamben - what is the State of Exception? How do governments use it?

 

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