tv

Speaker

, 

Author

Simon Critchley

Follow  

Simon Critchley is Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research known for his challenge of the ancient tradition that philosophy begins in wonder. Instead, he argues that philosophy begins with disappointment, specifically religious and political disappointment. In addition to his study of disappointment, Simon Critchley's recent works have engaged in more experimental forms of writing on Shakespeare, David Bowie, suicide, Greek tragedy and association football. He is the series moderator of The Stone at The New York Times, where Critchley asks philosophers to weigh in on contemporary issues in art, literature, politics, and popular culture.

 

Photo of Simon Critchley

Simon Critchley is Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research known for his challenge of the ancient tradition that philosophy begins in wonder. Instead, he argues that philosophy begins with disappointment, specifically religious and political disappointment. In addition to his study of disappointment, Simon Critchley's recent works have engaged in more experimental forms of writing on Shakespeare, David Bowie, suicide, Greek tragedy and association football. He is the series moderator of The Stone at The New York Times, where Critchley asks philosophers to weigh in on contemporary issues in art, literature, politics, and popular culture.

 

Simon Critchley Videos

AltText
Hannah Dawson, Anne Johnson, Philip Thomas, Simon Critchley

The virus vs lockdown

Simon Critchley Articles

A human hand reaches out to a glowing, blue moon suspended in the dark sky, creating a surreal and mystical atmosphere.
Simon Critchley, Omari Edwards

Beyond the limits of reason
A surreal painting depicting a man in a bowler hat walking towards a mirrored corridor, creating an infinite reflection effect.
Simon Critchley

We are all tyrants

More Videos

AltText
Barry C. Smith, Christopher Hamilton, Raymond Tallis, Havi Carel, Zoe Williams

The agony and the ecstasy
AltText
Anders Sandberg, Richard K. Morgan, Victoria Turk, Nicky Ashwell

Brave New Horizon
AltText
Robert Rowland Smith, Havi Carel, Parashkev Nachev, Pen Hadow

The immortal now
AltText
David Malone, Rupert Sheldrake, Denis Noble, Anne Bowcock

Emperor's New Genes

AltText
Brooke Magnanti

What happens to our bodies when we die?
AltText
Lou Marinoff, Helena Cronin, Nayef Al-Rodhan, Richard Corfield

The evolution of desire
AltText
Aubrey de Grey

Defeating Aging
AltText
Nicky Ashwell

The New Bodies
AltText
Rowan Pelling

Orgasmatron
AltText
David Malone, Rupert Sheldrake, Oliver Scott Curry, Eva Jablonka

After Darwin
AltText
Isabel Hilton, Sue Bailey, David Healy, Jeremy Taylor

Are Doctors Bad For Us?
AltText
Zoe Williams, Philip Ball, Kurt Barling, Anne Bowcock

The Illusion of Race
AltText
Julian Baggini, Janet Radcliffe-Richards, Daniel Everett, Oliver Scott Curry

After Evolution
AltText
Phillip Blond, David Healy, David Nutt

Doctors in the Age of Google
AltText
Nicholas Humphrey

The Evolution of Suicide
AltText
David Healy

Doctors and the Danger Industry
AltText
Sebastian Farquhar

Life On The Edge
AltText
Patricia MacCormack, Anders Sandberg, Janne Teller, Rowan Pelling

Overcoming death
AltText
Julian Baggini, Steven Rose, Adrian Bird, Caroline Relton

Why We Are Who We Are
AltText
Hilary Rose, Barnaby Martin, Ian Wilmut, Anders Sandberg

Planet of the Clones
AltText
David Malone, Eva Aldea, Nicholas Maxwell, Nicholas Humphrey, Ken Binmore

The uniqueness of humanity
AltText
Steven Rose

Genes, Cells, and Brains
AltText
Rachel Armstrong, Steve Fuller, Athene Donald, Lionel Milgrom, Dylan Evans

A Paradigm of Health
AltText
Patricia Ellis, Martin Kemp, Griselda Pollock, Hans Maes, Cedar Lewisohn

The naked truth
AltText
Kevin Warwick

Cyborg Future
AltText
Bryan Appleyard, Elisabeth Schellekens, Semir Zeki

Inside the Mind’s Eye
AltText
Mary Midgley

The Solitary Self - Darwin and the Selfish Gene
AltText
David Healy, Phillip Ball, Jacob Stegenga, Pallavi Bradshaw

Your Life in the Balance
AltText
Brooke Magnanti

Documenting Death
AltText
Ritula Shah, David Healy, Clare Gerada, Gisela Stuart

Docs in the Dock
AltText
Mark Salter, Diane Abbott, Roger Bolton, David Healy, Natalie Bennett

Are hospitals bad for us?
AltText
Colin Tudge

Why Genes Are Not Selfish and People Are Nice
AltText
Mary Ann Sieghart, Kevin Sabet, Mike Trace

Morality, Hypocrisy and Health
AltText
Helena Cronin

Sex, science, and stereotypes
AltText
George Ellis

How Science Tells Us Who We Are
AltText
Rachel Armstrong

Designing Life
AltText
Marcel Theroux

How to Live Forever
AltText
Jacob Stegenga

Medicine's Mistakes
AltText
Stelarc

Meat, Metal, Code
AltText
Bryan Appleyard, Mary Warnock, John Harris, Aubrey de Grey, Athene Donald

Human and Superhuman
AltText
Tim Spector

Should We Change Our Genes?
AltText
Ralph Cordey, Nick Lane, Monica Grady

The Mystery of Life
AltText
Ian Wilmut

Stem Cells and the Future of Medicine
AltText
Ben Hammersley, Mark Salter, Victoria Lambert, Matt Jameson Evans

Trust Me, I'm Google
AltText
Massimo Pigliucci, Tim Lewens, David Malone, Zanna Clay

After Darwin
AltText
Natalie Kofler

Gene Editing in the Wild
AltText
Natalie Bennett, Anders Sandberg, Emily Grossman, David Healy

What's wrong with us?
AltText
Toby Young, Michael Levitt, David Alexander, Anne Johnson

The cause of death
AltText
Sunetra Gupta

The Uncanny Valley
AltText
Sunetra Gupta, Hugh Montgomery, David Spiegelhalter

Risk, Evidence and Lockdown

More Articles

A small figure stands balanced on a tightrope held by oversized hands, symbolizing tension or conflict between two opposing forces.
Steve Fuller

Socrates vs Jesus
Linda Woodhead

The Future of Religion
A surreal depiction of a woman’s face fragmented by cosmic elements, surrounded by swirling colors and stars, creating a blend of beauty and the universe.
James R Williams

Stories of Desire
Military tanks maneuvering on a sandy desert landscape, creating dust clouds in the dry environment, with additional tanks visible in the background.
Steven Pinker

The Decline of Violence
Abstract digital artwork featuring a blend of human forms and vibrant colors, creating a distorted and surreal composition.
Linda Woodhead

The Self and the Selfless
Silhouette of a woman walking down a dimly lit corridor, holding a bag, with light at the end of the passage.
Ann Furedi

The Moral Case for Abortion
A dramatic graphic featuring a tree and a cosmic background with the words
Stephen Law

Law vs Milbank: Belief and the Gods - Part 1
A person stands in a sunlit forest, with the text
John Milbank

Law vs Milbank: Belief and the Gods - part 2
Close-up of a dog's eye alongside a human eye, with the text
Tom Sorell

Sorell vs Rowlands: Morality Beyond Humanity - I
A crowd of women wearing black hijabs, with one woman in the front displaying a green band, symbolizing unity and perhaps religious significance.
Naomi Goulder

In Place of Prejudice
Two chimpanzees facing each other in a close-up, with the text
Mark Rowlands

Sorell vs Rowlands: Morality Beyond Humanity - II
A close-up profile of a contemplative chimpanzee resting its chin on its hand against a neutral gray background.
Colin Tudge

Animals and Philosophy
A contemplative woman sits in a field, facing two empty chairs with the words
Stephen Law

Law vs Milbank: Belief and the Gods - part 3
A woman stands in a field, arms outstretched, holding a bird on her hand, with
John Milbank

Law vs Milbank: Belief and the Gods - part 4
A digitally created butterfly with one wing in blue and the other in orange, set against contrasting dark skies and a fiery backdrop.

Beyond Good and Evil
A close-up of a lion with two others in the background, set against a grassy landscape under a cloudy sky. Text overlay reads
Tom Sorell

Sorell vs Rowlands: Morality Beyond Humanity - part 3
A close-up of a monkey's face with text overlay reading
Mark Rowlands

Sorell vs Rowlands: Morality Beyond Humanity - part 4
An abstract illustration of a transparent human figure with arms outstretched, surrounded by a blend of nature and a stylized face, set against a grassy background.
Eileen Barker

Return of the Pagans
A marble statue of Socrates, sitting thoughtfully with a contemplative expression against a colorful sky.
Mark Vernon

How To Be Good
Stained glass window featuring a prominent Eye of Providence within a triangle, surrounded by colorful geometric shapes.

Life, Meaning and Morality
A surreal illustration featuring two anatomical figures with floral heads, surrounded by colorful flowers and decorative elements, blending human anatomy with nature's beauty.
Alastair McIntosh

The Weird and the Wonderful
A group of hands with thumbs up against a clear blue sky, symbolizing positivity and approval.

6 Perspectives on Goodness
A man in a dark coat with a bloodied face leans against a wall, with a splatter of blood behind him, suggesting a violent scene.
Garry Young

The Gamer's Dilemma
A close-up of a bronze statue of Lady Justice, featuring a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales, symbolizing fairness and impartiality in the law.

Issue 56: Morality and Prejudice
A person stands before a dark background, with chaotic blue lines swirling above their head, symbolizing confusion or overwhelming thoughts.
Adam Sandel

Can Prejudice Enhance Morality?
A man in a jumpsuit holds a guitar while making an offensive gesture, with musicians and instruments visible in the background.
David Maclean, Nolen Gertz

Nolen Gertz on The Ethical Minefield of Baby Names
Diego Maradona leaps to make a crucial play during a football match, with players in action and a packed stadium in the background.
David Maclean

David Papineau on The Philosopher As Sportsman

A series of four human profiles illustrating the stages of life: from a fetus to a young child, an adult, and finally a skull.
Anna M. Hennessey

How Childbirth Became Philosophy's Last Taboo
Abstract representation of two human profiles facing each other, overlaid on a colorful circuit board pattern, symbolizing technology and communication.

Issue 58: Don't Be Evil

Janne Teller

Between Good and Evil