The Institute for Philosophy in Public Life
Because there is no ivory tower.
Elvis Costello famously asked, “what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?” It’s a really good question. The idea of peace is all-too-frequently dismissed. On this episode, philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein interviews peace-activist Kathy Kelly about her life’s work, and the meaning and nature of peace. …Continue reading “The Argument for Peace and Non-Violence” with Guest Kathy Kelly
War is a tragedy and an exercise in brutality, but it still has rules. It is a crime to attack non-combatants, to rape, and to torture prisoners. But what happens when soldiers do these and other heinous acts? And, how do you hold someone accountable for breaking the laws of war if they were following orders at the time? On this episode of Why? we ask about war crimes, who should be held responsible, and how we prevent them….Continue reading “Who is Responsible for War Crimes?” with guests Matthew Talbert and Jessica Wolfendale
The philosopher William James once remarked that those who think that war is inevitable suffer from a lack of imagination. What about those who think that war is never justified, do they suffer from a lack of imagination as well? Can war ever be the moral thing to do? Is it ever justified to be the attacker, or is war only a matter of defense? Given the modern nature of war, can we really distinguish between civilians and combatants, and, given the dangers of terrorism, is pre-emptive war now permissible? Join WHY? as we engage in the thousand-year old quest for a definition of just war with one of the most influential thinkers on the subject: Michael Walzer. …Continue reading “Are There Just Wars?” with guest Michael Walzer