The Philosophists

Research in academia is a wonderful intellectual pursuit, but are the fruits of that pursuit equally available to all? What if you are a woman? Do you have the same opportunities and outcomes as your other colleagues? In this episode, we talk to Mohammad Hosseini and Shiva Sharifzad, authors of Gender disparity in publication records: a qualitative study of women researchers in computing and engineering (linked below), a highly illuminating paper interested in the answers to these questions. This research was carried out at Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland and found that, during a 5 year window, "women researchers had fewer publications, received fewer citations per person, and participated less often in international collaborations". Their paper offers a fascinating insight into some of the underlying challenges that contributed to this - and contains more than a few surprises. If you care about understanding and redressing the challenges that women in research face, which has implications for society more broadly, then listen in on this important conversation. Note: This episode supports a "Chapters" feature, which is available in the web player and many podcast apps. About Mohammad Hosseini (Full Bio) Born in Tehran (Iran), Mohammad acquired a B.A. in Business Management and an M.A. in Applied Ethics in the Netherlands (2009-2016). Fascinated by the ethics of scholarly authorship and publication issues, he completed a PhD in Research Ethics and Integrity in Ireland (2017-2021). He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University in Chicago. Mohammad's professional goal is to cultivate fair and inclusive working cultures and improve the ethics and integrity of research. About Shiva Sharifzad (@Shiva_Sharifz) Shiva Sharifzad is a Gender and Gender-Based Violence Analyst. She has a Bachelor in Law and an LLM in Human Rights Law from Iran, and an MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law from Geneva. Originally from Tehran (Iran), now she is based in Geneva (Switzerland) working with the UN, and other International Organizations. Main Talking Points Links To The Paper and Related Work Gender disparity in publication records: a qualitative study of women researchers in computing and engineeringThe Senior Academic Leadership InitiativeOther Links Simone de Beauvoir and The Second SexShow Info, Contact Details & Credits See here.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." In this one famous line from Star Trek, the ever-logical Spock seemingly nailed his flag to the mast of Utilitarianism. But what if Kant had been a member of the team aboard the USS Enterprise? He may have thrown a glass of cold water over Spock and exclaimed, "You're wrong! The needs of the few may triumph!" So, who should we side with here? What do we do when different philosophical systems disagree and guide us towards conflicting solutions? In this episode, Declan and Simon introduce a new ethical system they've been cooking up. Can we balance the needs of the many with the needs of the few? Let's see what Nested Utilitension can do! Note: This episode supports a "Chapters" feature, which is available in the web player and many podcast apps. Main Talking Points nestingOther Links The Philosophists - Episode 2The Philosophists - Episode 4famous paradoxical conclusionbettervideoillustrated overviewShow Info, Contact Details & Credits See here.

Wisdom... an old and dusty concept that has fallen down the pecking order in today's world. As a result, it's no surprise that many feel our civilisation is slipping ever deeper into an idiocracy. Well, this episode aims to single-handedly arrest that slide... and bring wisdom back into fashion! To this end, we have enlisted the talents of Jason Merchey, who literally wrote the book on wisdom. In fact, he's written four, including his latest work - Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought. Given his lifelong study of this subject, Jason helps us tackle wisdom from many angles. He uses a supporting cast of wise quotations from down through the ages to prevent us losing sight of what wisdom really means - and why it is indeed a most valuable virtue. More About Jason In addition to being a philosophical thinker and author, Jason is a master’s level psychologist, proponent of the research ideal, social critic, author / essayist / blogger, and a student of the tradition of arts and letters. You can buy Jason's latest book on Amazon (or enter our competition - see below!) or follow his work via his website. Note: This episode supports a "Chapters" feature, which is available in the web player and many podcast apps. Main Talking Points Other Links The Road Less TraveledWisdom: From Philosophy to NeuroscienceThe myth of SisyphusWisdom Search EngineStanford Prison ExperimentwikipediaHow Far Will You Go to Obey an Orderwikipedia Competition Send us in your favourite quotation - and why it is - to be in the running to win one of the 3 copies of Jason's book that he is kindly giving away to listeners! Enter using our contact details below. Show Info, Contact Details & Credits See here.

Suffering is unavoidable. Or is that really the case? David Pearce, renowned transhumanist, author of the Hedonistic Imperative and cofounder of the World Transhumanist Association / Humanity+, has a vision that sees suffering abolished in all sentient life and replaced with "information-sensitive gradients of bliss". In this feature length episode, David gives an introduction to his abolitionist project and how we can achieve this remarkable goal using biotechnology, especially genetic engineering. Join us to hear David's fascinating insights into what has been dubbed the Biohappiness Revolution. You can follow David Pearce on Twitter at @webmasterdave. Note: As this episode tips over the hour mark into "Long Play" territory, if you are short on time, you are invited to use the "Chapters" feature of the web player (or in your podcast app or offline audio player if it supports chapters). We've put a little extra effort into indexing this conversation for your convenience and we hope you find it useful. Let us know! Main Talking Points hedonic threadmillIf you care about helping to bring an end to suffering, please donate whatever you can afford to provide a life-saving mosquito net to someone who really needs it at http://www.againstmalaria.com/thephilosophists Other Links Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative?Gene-Editing (SCN9A) Pain Away With CRISPRLandmark CRISPR trial shows promise against deadly diseasePreimplantation genetic diagnosisWindows Phone, A HistorySocially Awkward InstagramFacebookTwitter@theirishpenguinhttps://www.thephilosophists.comrss feedCredits www.jshaw.co.ukFreesound.org

Back in episode two, we covered Utilitarianism and Deontology and promised to return with an episode covering Virtue Ethics. Well, wanting to do the moral thing, we fulfil that promise here. The episode opens up with Simon invoking the famous philosophical conundrum of the Trolley Problem. We also discuss the distinction between action and inaction, if any, before diving into the ethical system that has been with us for over two thousand years - Virtue Ethics. Hopefully, you have enough of the virtue of patience to stick with us for half an hour. Main Talking Points animated TED-Ed videoThe Good Placesummaryshort videowritten summaryWhy Inaction Is An ActionDoing vs. Allowing HarmUniversalisation of Actions AnguishThe Golden RuleThe Kingdom of EndsvideoWikipediaObjections to Virtue EthicsIf you feel full of virtue as you listen to this episode, we would greatly appreciate it if you could please donate whatever you can afford to provide a life-saving mosquito net to someone who really needs it at http://www.againstmalaria.com/thephilosophists Follow the show on Twitter at @philosophistpod Socially Awkward InstagramFacebook@theirishpenguinhttps://www.thephilosophists.comrss feedCredits www.jshaw.co.ukFreesound.org

Well... Let's not quite call it corrupting. Let's call it teaching. And, in this episode, we are delighted to welcome Daniel McCrea as our special guest, who takes us on an exciting journey through the world of teaching philosophy to children. Main Talking Points About Daniel McCrea Daniel is the creator of www.philosophyshortcourse.com, a FREE resources website for Irish philosophy teachers and the event "GADFLY". He holds a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy and regularly teaches philosophy at Gonzaga College SJ secondary school in South Dublin. He has trained in teaching philosophy with Marelle Rice, Peter Worley and Educate Together and facilitates public Philosophy events for "The Philosophers Hat" and "Socrates Cafe" His mission is to make teaching philosophy the best job in Ireland. Save a Child From Malaria If you care about children beyond your borders, along with their carers, please donate whatever you can afford to provide a life-saving mosquito net to someone who really needs it at http://www.againstmalaria.com/thephilosophists Follow the show on Twitter at @philosophistpod Other Links @DanielMccrea_Private FB groupGADFLY eventticketswww.philosophyshortcourse.comQuoteTweetSocrates CafePhilosopher's HatTwo Philosophers Drink Beer & Discuss FilmepisodeSocially Awkward InstagramFacebook@theirishpenguinhttps://www.thephilosophists.comrss feedCredits www.jshaw.co.ukFreesound.org

What can a cockroach teach us about ethics? Well, in this episode we attempt to find out as we talk our way through two of the most widely accepted ethical systems - Utilitarianism and Deontology. While scuttling around, we'll meet the great Immanuel Kant (well, not literally) and see how his ethical ideas can get you out of a sticky situation. Is morality a numbers game or just a bunch of rules? Decide for yourself after hearing us out. Just one thing to note - this is the first part of a mini-series on the main ethical models and we'll be back next time to cover Virtue ethics, which will complete the moral menu we have prepared for you. Main Talking Points If Mr Kant suitably convinces you to treat humans with the utmost dignity then we would greatly appreciate it if you could please donate whatever you can afford to provide a life-saving mosquito net to someone who really needs it at http://www.againstmalaria.com/thephilosophists Follow the show on Twitter at @philosophistpod Other Links Irish GoodbyeKant's Copernican RevolutionKantian Ethics (Part I)short animated overviewUtilitarianismWireless Philosophy videoentrySocially Awkward InstagramFacebook@theirishpenguinhttps://www.thephilosophists.comrss feedCredits www.jshaw.co.ukFreesound.org

In this episode, Declan and Simon ask - should you feel bad about doing "good"? "What?!" you may ask. But have you ever asked yourself if you should give almost all your money to charity? And, if you don't then how you should approach the question of whether you should do more? Is every one of your pleasures condemned to be a guilty pleasure? Cosmic Skeptic's video asking if Should You Sell All Your Possessions? kickstarted our discussion. And we think you'll enjoy where our discussion took this. Main Talking Points While we are on the subject of doing good, we would greatly appreciate it if you could please donate whatever you can afford to provide a life-saving mosquito net to someone who really needs it at http://www.againstmalaria.com/thephilosophists Follow the show on Twitter at @philosophistpod Other Links http://givewell.orghttps://www.thelifeyoucansave.orgWhat Are The Arguments Against Antinatalism?@webmasterdaveentryBetter Never to Have BeenAntinatalismTranshumanismHumanity+entrySocially Awkward InstagramFacebook@theirishpenguinhttps://www.thephilosophists.comrss feedCredits www.jshaw.co.ukFreesound.org