Listen Now - 10052008 | Download Audio - 10052008
The philosophy of Vedanta, which derives from the ancient Hindu Scripture, aspires to scientific knowledge about how life is to be lived. This week, we examine its claims. We also look at a new novel that asks what might happen if the work of Plato were to be put into practice. The result? Totalitarianism plus genetic engineering. Read Transcript
Listen Now - 03052008 | Download Audio - 03052008
The word derives from the Greek—it means 'without a ruler'—and the idea is that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished. This week we are looking at anarchism and why it has mostly played a minor role in political life and philosophy. The autonomous collective that is The Philosopher's Zone investigates. Read Transcript
Listen Now - 26042008 | Download Audio - 26042008
War, rebellion and terrorism - together, they constitute a major challenge to the world today. But they also constitute a challenge to morality itself. This week, we talk to the Melbourne philosopher C.A.J. Coady about morality and political violence. Read Transcript
Listen Now - 19042008 | Download Audio - 19042008
Time, as we all know, is money, but what else is it? Would it exist if nothing were changing or moving? Does it really have a direction? Are the future and the past real? Will the future be infinite? Was (or is) the past infinite? These and other questions will be tackled this week on The Philosopher's Zone - if there's time. Read Transcript
Saturday 1.35pm
repeated Monday 1.35pm
Presented by
Alan Saunders
Saturday 17 May 2008
Suicide has been a focus of philosophical examination in the West since at least the time of Plato, and for good reason. It raises a lot of difficult questions. What makes behaviour suicidal? Is suicidal behaviour rational and - the question that has obsessed philosophers down the ages - is it morally permissible? This week, the first part of a two-part investigation of this enigmatic and disconcerting phenomenon.
5.55pm AEST
Perspective
with Sue Clark
Expert commentary by opinion-makers from Australia and overseas
