The IAI Academy offers courses from world-leading thinkers across Philosophy, Science, Politics and the Arts. Learn from this generation's leading thinkers, Slavoj Žižek, Sabine Hossenfelder, Bernardo Kastrup, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and more. Our courses break with the convention that teaching can and should be devoid of opinion, inspiring fresh and original thinking.
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Human nature continues to fascinate sociologists and philosophers alike. It seemingly tells us who we truly are, and highlights the limits of human possibility. But whilst many view human nature as governed by evolution, this may no longer be accurate. JoStart Time:
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Untangling the mysteries of space and time The nature of space and time has puzzled thinkers for centuries and never more so than now. The big questions continue to grip us; is time an illusion? How is space structured? In this academy, acclaimed physicisStart Time:
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The Metaphysics of Naturalism
philosophy
Fiona Ellis
• Coming SoonInstructor(s): Fiona EllisCategories:The Metaphysics of NaturalismThe first course introduces the idea of an expansive naturalism which could accommodate God. The position has something in common with Iris Murdoch’s ‘true naturalism’ but it is more radical than this and both positions are contentious. -
Oxford Economist and Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies Stefan Dercon puts forward his new formula that allows the poorest countries to take these first steps towards economic prosperity and better lives for their populations: the dStart Time:
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The war in Ukraine poses a major challenge to our global world order, and represents a battle for ideological supremacy. Where has this growing instability come from? And what has made it possible?Start Time:
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Our unconscious mind is something we do not notice, but which is always with us. Could it be that who we are, how we view the world, and how we act are all governed by a force over which we have no control?
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From the nature of reality to the limits of knowledge, she examines whether scientific methods can provide meaningful answers to age-old philosophical debates. Join Sabine Hossenfelder as she argues physics can answer philosophy's deepest questions.
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Critical Race Theory has taken centre stage in recent debates surrounding racism. However, critics argues that current incarnations offer ineffective solutions to the issue. Join Tommy Curry, who asserts a new strategy to approaching structural racism.
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It's time to take psychedelics, and the experiences they produce, seriously. They have historical, ethical, aesthetic and metaphysical significance. Join Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes to explore the philosophy of psychedelics.
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We are misunderstanding mental illness. The medical solution is not working, and rates of mental illness continue to soar. So what is the alternative? Join Dr James Davies, who argues that mental health issues have social causes, not biological ones.
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Cancel culture has become a central talking point in modern life, causing a growing divide within friendships, families, and societies. Join Eric Kaufmann, who explores the options for escaping our current divisions.
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What does it mean to experience beauty? Bence Nanay argues that our perception of beauty is purely a function of our cultural background and offers a radical new direction for the field of aesthetic appreciation.
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Who are we? What defines our identity? In this course, Janne Teller rejects the current fashionable definition of identity based on external markers, such as nationality, religion, job and sexuality. Instead, she proposes a new perspective on identity.
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For a long time, the brain served as an object of mystery. However, over recent years, we have begun to understand more about this fascinating organ. Join Prof. Lisa Feldman Barrett to uncover the secrets of the brain.
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For the first time, we have technologies that allow us to engineer what it is to be human. But will this make dreams of longer lives, endless health and even immortality come true? Or are we entering dystopia?
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Why has liberalism become a dirty word in recent years? Join Mark Littlewood as he sets out his vision for the moral and economic future of liberalism, and outlines why we need it now more than ever.
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Stoicism is an ancient Greco-Roman philosophy that has been repurposed for the needs of the 21st century. CUNY philosopher Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be a Stoic, walks us through the basic theory and some practical applications.
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Who are 'men'? What do they want? How did we get to this point of fear and mistrust? And where can we go next?
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AI is one of the new frontiers defining the 21st century. We know it's game changing. But what we don't know is if those changes will make our dreams or nightmares come true?
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What are China's political origins? What has shaped their ideology most? Where is China headed today? Join Rana Mitter as he charts a riveting course through Confucianism, WW2, Maoist doctrine and the modern CCP.
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How should we think? How should we live? How ought we to treat others? From Hume’s philosophy, to his life's history, to his observations on human behaviour; Julian Baggini gathers together life lessons from one of the most important names in philosophy.
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Fundamental physics has been a great success story. Yet the central phenomenon of our existence - life itself - has been left out. Join theoretical physicist and astrobiologist, Sara Walker.
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What is a crisis? How have countries dealt with them previously, and how should they deal with them? From personal crises to national and global ones, Jared Diamond explores the similarities in crisis management between people and nations.
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What is intelligence? Join Susan Schneider, one of the world’s most prestigious philosophers of mind, as she disentangles our confusions in thinking through the smarts of conscious and non-conscious systems.
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Award-winning Turkish author and journalist Ece Temelkuran delivers a stark warning about the insidiousness of nationalism, and proposes a solution through a new conception of humanity and morality.
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What is a graviton, and how might giving it mass fix age-old problems in physics? Award-winning theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham outlines her new theory of gravity.
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Artificial consciousness could soon emerge - and with it, a potential for limitless artificial suffering. Using meditation as his starting point, Theoretical Philosopher Thomas Metzinger explains why we should care about computer suffering.
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When sensationalism is prioritised over truth, how can we distinguish fact from speculation? Jim Baggott examines the rise of pseudoscience, and talks through the flawed methods to blame.
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How much do we want to know when it comes to our bodies? Does knowledge have a different value in sickness than in health? Psychoanalyst and author of A Passion for Ignorance, Renata Salecl, argues that sometimes the wisest choice is to remain ignorant.
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Does physics allow free will? Templeton Prize-winning cosmologist George Ellis presents his account of what chance, necessity and purpose in the universe mean for agency.
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Are technologies advances leaving traditional medical ethics behind? Oxford Professor of Practical Philosophy Janet Radcliffe-Richards explores new ways forward for modern bioethics.
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From It's a Wonderful Life to the Matrix, films have often been used to present philosophical ideas. Leading figure in the Philosophy of Art and specialist in the moving image Noël Carroll looks at cinema to ask what it means to truly 'philosophise'.
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In Britain and the US, more and more people identify as having no religion. Yet having strong values is seen as more important than ever. Professor of Religion and Society Linda Woodhead discusses and critiques the liberal, moral and religious landscape.
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Ella McPherson, Co-Director of the Centre of Governances and Human Rights, looks at how technologies are changing the work of human rights fact-finders.
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Speculative Realism has rapidly gone from a loose idea to a discipline-spanning, bonafide philosophical movement. But what is it? Join Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Graham Harman as he delves into the new and exciting field of SR.
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Fake news and misinformation are making it difficult to discern the truth. But might it be actually impossible? Professor of Philosophy Anandi Hattiangadi discusses how misinformation is damaging democracies and outlines a way to achieve real knowledge.
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Transhumanism is the idea that our species can enhance itself using technology – from immoratlity to uploading our minds into machines. Is this humanity’s next step? Warwick sociologist Steve Fuller lays out his vision for the future.
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Why do we sometimes believe what we want to believe, even when it goes against the evidence? Theoretical philosopher at Stockholm University Åsa Wikforss explores psychology, human biases, disinformation, trust and 'alternative facts' to outline her view.
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What made you, you? What made your personality, mental health and cognitive abilities? Robert Plomin, world-leading behavioural geneticist, concludes that inherited DNA differences are the major systematic force that shapes us as individuals.
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What are epiphanies, and how do they come into our daily lives? Join Professor of Philosophy at the Open University and the UK's only trans philosophy professor, Sophie-Grace Chappell as she takes us on an epiphanic journey.
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The idea that reality exists outside and independently of mind seems so obvious as to be indisputable. But is it possible we've all got it completely wrong? Join philosopher and scientist Bernardo Kastrup as he argues that reality is fundamentally mental.
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What are the origins of the morals we live by? Pioneering neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland dismisses reason and religion, and traces the roots of conscience to our evolved biology.
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We assume life and the world around us is made up of objects. What could be gained understanding life as processes instead?
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Has Beauvoir's philosophy been overlooked? KCL philosopher and author of Becoming Beauvoir, Kate Kirkpatrick, draws on unpublished writings to interrogate her ground-breaking philosophy.
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The Non-Existence of the Real World
philosophy
Jan Westerhoff
• Coming SoonInstructor(s): Jan WesterhoffCategories:The Non-Existence of the Real WorldDoes the external world really exist? Professor Jan Westerhoff of Oxford University combines the analytic methods of contemporary Western philosophy with a deep knowledge of Eastern thought to propose that there is no external world. -
Are male and female brains really so different? Senior Professor of Psychobiology at Tel Aviv University Daphna Joel examines the latest research into the neurological differences between men and women.
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How can we make sense of quantum mechanics? NYU philosopher of science and author of The Metaphysics of Physics puts forward his view of the philosophical insights hidden in the theory.
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What is creativity? Can machines replicate it? Cambridge philosopher and psychologist Marta Halina uses recent advances in psychology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence to paint a new picture of the creative mind.
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How has strategy changed through the ages? What global strategies are being employed today? Eminent Professor of War Studies at KCL and author of The Future of War, Lawrence Freedman, explores how we can navigate the new cyber and guerrilla warfare.
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Should we upgrade our bodies and minds? Fellow at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, Anders Sandberg, investigates the road we must take to reach the mind-boggling possibilities of a transhuman future.
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Is reality how it appears? Or not as it seems? Professor of Cognitive Science and author of The Case Against Reality, Donald Hoffman, puts forward the radical suggestion that our perceptions fail to map onto reality.
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How can we lead meaningful lives amidst relentless and powerful forms of digital distraction? Ex-Google strategist turned Oxford ethicist James Williams invites us to rethink technology and take back control.
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What goals should modern feminists adopt? “World-changing woman” (Guardian) and founder of the London Feminist Network Dr Finn Mackay outlines a bold new manifesto.
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The microscopic quantum world of fermions and bosons is a far cry from the grand expansion of the universe, yet they are connected. CERN’s John Ellis offers an account of what physicists do and don’t know.
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How do attitudes to race and gender overlap to entrench injustice? Pioneer of intersectionality Kimberlé Crenshaw shows us a way of bringing hidden and neglected forms of discrimination to light to build a fairer society.
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What is sexuality and how does it reflect power relations within society? Award-winning Cambridge sociologist Véronique Mottier provides a provocative cultural history.
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Clinical Psychologist Richard Bentall challenges nine myths of schizophrenia accepted by mental health professionals and proposes a more humane, scientific approach to care.
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Does the mind arise from the brain? Is the self a fantasy? American anthroplogist and linguist Daniel Everett interrogates our assumptions and questions if the self is made from more than just matter.
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What impact do psychedelic drugs have on the brain? What does research show about their potential for use? Psychiatrist David Nutt examines the evidence behind some common misconceptions.
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Is the selfish gene metaphor radically misguided? Should we give up the idea that the gene is the foundation of life? Oxford biologist Denis Noble maps out the future for biology beyond the genome.
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Are the voices in our heads more than just mental disorders? Clinical psychologist Richard Bentall uncovers the origin of hallucinations and argues they have been radically misguided.
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Money is the fantasy that makes the world go round. Where did it come from and what is its future? From the Bank of England to Bitcoin and the Bristol Pound, LSE sociologist Nigel Dodd explores.
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Can philosophy give us answers? Author of Fiction and Metaphysics and Ontology Made Easy Amie Thomasson tackles philosophy's grandest aspiration and argues that, rather than discovering truths, its real value is its power to radically transform how we thi
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How do we think, dream and feel? Philosophy Andy Clark examines the ‘predictive brain’ approach – touted as a unifying theory for neuroscience – and explores its dramatic implications for science, psychiatry and society.
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From forests to city squares, parks to libraries, our common spaces are under attack. Economist Guy Standing traces the history of creeping privatization of the natural and social resources in the UK, and makes a passionate case for reform.
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Must atheism be trimphalist and aggressive? Philosopher and author of Science, Evolution and Religion Michael Ruse takes the New Atheists to task and argues for a richer, more respectful and more morally reflective tradition of non-belief.
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What can neuroscience tell us about out of body experiences? Psychologist Susan Blackmore investigates the new science of OBEs and finds unexpected insights into the self and consciousness.
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Does the language we speak shape the way we think? John McWhorter explores the 'language hoax', claiming that despite magnificent variation, the world looks the same in any language.
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Arguments are woven throughout our public and private lives. What determines which win the day? Renowned literary and legal theorist Stanley Fish leads us through literature, politics and the domestic to reveal the power - and inevitability - of rhetoric.
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Have we become enslaved to technology? Is our fear of losing control our greatest danger? Director of the Forum for European Philosophy Simon Glendinning explores Heidegger, art and freedom.
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Is our knowledge of the world essentially rational? What does it mean to be burdened with the gift of rationality? Philosopher Corine Besson considers the nature of humanity's defining trait.
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What are the forces which drive empires? Historian and politician Kwasi Kwarteng examines imperial projects through history arguing that narratives of dominance have played a crucial role.
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From drug laws to terror threats, we want political decisions to reflect the facts. But is objective evidence impossible and the facts ours to interpret? Philosopher Nancy Cartwright investigates.
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Has our scientific age outgrown religion? Is faith still an essential component of human existence? Philosopher and theologian John Cottingham argues for the importance of religion in the modern world.
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Can science and knowledge be true when they arise from a human vantage point? Philosopher of Science Michela Massimi brings together realism and perspectivism to forge a new kind of realism on science.
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Are there mysteries that science cannot explain? Do we still need philosophy in order to understand the universe? Philosopher of physics Bryan Roberts explores the limits of our greatest source of knowledge.
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Where did the universe come from? What don’t we understand about its future? From dark energy to cosmic inflation, theoretical physicist John Ellis gives a contemporary account of how it all began.
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From Dark Energy to Quantum Gravity, the cosmos remains mysterious. How should we approach the puzzles that remain? Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek argues that, in science, beauty will lead us to truth.
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Didn’t science kill philosophy? Can metaphysics uncover the way the world is? Philosopher John Heil revives metaphysics and confronts the big questions of substance, causation and consciousness.
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From mind uploading to moral enhancement, future technologies will offer radical new possibilities for punishment. How should these new tools be used? Philosopher Rebecca Roache explores the future of justice.
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Is sex-work a job like any other? What lies behind the image of the ‘happy hooker’? Radical feminist activist and journalist Julie Bindel challenges an emerging neoliberal story.
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Have globalisation and online anonymity broken down moral order? What should guide our actions in the 21st Century? Author of Nothing and former UN conflict resolution expert Janne Teller explores.
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General relativity and quantum mechanics are the most successful theories in science. But at least one is wrong. Imperial's Michael Duff outlines why M-theory is our only candidate for an ultimate theory.
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Can reality be described by a single theory? Does our failure to find a theory of everything expose the limits of knowledge, or might the world not exist at all? Philosopher Markus Gabriel explores.
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We take it for granted that the quantum fields and particles exist. Metaphysician James Ladyman provides reasons to be skeptical about scientific knowledge. Is the evidence too strong to be denied?
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How should a free society accommodate cultural diversity? Should we tolerate the intolerable? Radical LSE political theorist Chandran Kukathas explores the tension at the heart of modern liberal society.
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Can love be rational? Are we ever in control? American philosopher of mind Berit Brogaard outlines her new theory of love and uncovers the simple truths about the most complex emotion.
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Is AI humanity's savior, or do the threats outweigh its benefits? Best-selling author and Data Editor of The Economist Kenneth Cukier uncovers how to be prepared for the next phase of human evolution.
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We live in the moment. Or so it might seem. King’s College philosopher of physics Dr Eleanor Knox reveals how Einstein’s work has radical implications for past, present and future.
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What’s left to discover at the deepest levels of reality? Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge David Tong gives his personal take on what we still don’t know.
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From Zeno to Gödel, philosophers and mathematicians have grappled with the infinite. Prize-winning mathematician Professor Peter Cameron proposes that infinity itself may be an illusion.
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Many thought the financial crash was a final blow to capitalism. Why does it still reign supreme? Chair of the Institute for New Economic Thinking Anatole Kaletsky outlines the shape of things to come
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Does it make sense to ask for a meaning to life, and if so what might it be? Philosopher and Auguste Comte Professor at Warwick, Steve Fuller approaches the ultimate Why?
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What’s at the heart of the conflict between science and religion? Can it be solved? Philosopher and author Mark Vernon answers one of modernity’s most complex problems.
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Is information fundamental to reality? Did the universe emerge from a bundle of bits? Oxford constructor theorist Chiara Marletto outlines the new theory which seeks to explain life, the universe and everything in it.
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Do we radically misclassify animals? University of Miami Professor of Philosophy Mark Rowlands challenges the boundaries between humankind and animals as minds and moral agents alike.
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From Paris to Palestine, the perils of undying faith still hold the world hostage. When should we abandon our beliefs? KCL philosopher Clare Carlisle reinterprets Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.
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If 'God is dead', what place does meaning and morality have in our lives? KCL philosopher and author of Living Philosophy Christopher Hamilton examines the perplexities of experience.
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Has neoliberalism destroyed gender equality? Advocate, author and broadcaster Beatrix Campbell examines the emergence of a new model of patriarchy and proposes solutions.
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We are less familiar with pain and suffering than our ancestors, yet new forms of fear play an ever-expanding role in 21st century life. Sociologist Frank Furedi asks why.
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We are in a state of chaos; living in an age marred by economic inequality, international tensions and a climate crisis. However, whilst Mao Zedong famously proclaimed “There is great disorder under heaven; the situation is excellent.”, Slavoj Zizek conteStart Time:
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Identity has played a crucial role in the modern era. Join Frank Furedi, a leading sociologist, and one of the world's leading thinkers on cultural issues, in this academy course, as he explores the notion of ‘identity’ and charts the evolution of what id
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In recent years the research into AI has made dramatic strides into revolutionising writing, image generation and computing capabilities. But, how do these systems work? And what can the brain's processes teach us about optimising AI?Start Time:
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Black holes hold a privileged place within the popular imagination. We all know what they are, but there is still much we don't understand. How do they form? What happens when things fall in? And what's inside a black hole? Join recent winner of the LiberStart Time:
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David Healy, a world-leading Professor of Psychiatry, highlights how 'evidence-based medicine' has led to unscientific medical practice and the need to shift to a new paradigm.Start Time:
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How has consciousness both shaped, and been shaped by evolution?Start Time:
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Gender inequality shouldn't be a part of the free market. After all, surely the best person gets the job and is rewarded for their work. Vicky Pryce shows how this isn't the case.Start Time:
