200 Episodes of 'Philosophy Talk' Radio Show Illustrate Appetite for Thinking

STANFORD, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - They call in from all over the country, from places like upstate New York, West Virginia and California. And they have questions - lots of questions. They are the people who listen to the nationally syndicated public radio show Philosophy Talk. Folks call in to comment on all sorts of subjects like the prison system, politics, ethics, and race. They want to share their thoughts with Ken Taylor and John Perry, both Stanford philosophy professors, and co-hosts of Philosophy Talk.

Professor Taylor attributes the show's appeal to the fact that listeners find the questioning spirit of philosophy a refreshing alternative to traditional media content.

"At its worst, the media is designed not to engage us in critical reflection at all but to subject us to a sort of mind-numbing manipulation of our beliefs. Too much of the media underestimates the intelligence and attention span of the public," says Taylor. "We are convinced that there are millions of thinking, reflective people out there who find much of what they hear and see in mass media unappealing. We're trying hard to reach such people, to provide them with more substantive fare."

Echoing that sentiment, Professor Perry adds that, "Even the most thoughtful programs on radio and TV typically reach a point where they say, 'We'll have to leave that to the philosophers'. It's as if when one gets to the philosophical issues one has hit bedrock. But it's not bedrock, it's the level where you get past the mud and muck and find real gems."

Six Years of Engaging Conversations with Prominent Guests

Every Sunday for the past six years, professors Taylor and Perry have approached all manner of topic from a philosophical perspective. Topics are lofty (Truth, Beauty, Justice), arresting (Terrorism, Intelligent Design, Suicide), and engaging (Baseball, Love, Happiness). The hosts chat with notable guests and take calls from listeners, giving every broadcast a lively and conversational tone. The loyal and growing audience often continues discussions on the Philosophy Talk blog or Facebook page. Show guests have included Alan Dershowitz, Frank Deford, Kathleen Sullivan and Myles Brand.

Philosophy Talk, which bills itself as radio that questions everything except your intelligence, originates from KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco. It is a weekly, one-hour, program that also airs on the Oregon and West Virginia Public Broadcasting networks and numerous other stations from New York to California.

Growing Philosophy Trend Signals More 'Question-Askers'

Lately Ken and John have noticed an increasing interest in philosophy. Of course, they may be biased, but a recent New York Times article noted increasing enrollment in the philosophy departments of a number of colleges and universities. Perhaps it's that people are searching for more meaning in these trying times, but whatever the reason, the phones are always busy during show tapings.

Professor Perry feels that the show taps into the large, analytical segment of the population. Perry said that these are people who take a philosophical approach to issues, though they may not realize it.

"These are the same people who, when they hear the word 'should' they naturally ask, 'Where does that 'should' come from?' When they hear the word 'obviously', their natural reaction is 'It's not obvious to me!' Ken and I are such people, and we cater to such people."

Philosophy Talk Hits the Road

Taylor and Perry have met many of their fans at live events, which they have been booking with increasing frequency. They have entertained audiences in a range of venues including college campuses, senior communities, bookstores, and at lecture series. They have even performed in the halls of Congress and at the Smithsonian Institution.

200th Episode to Feature Top 10 Philosophical Conundrums in Society Today

The 200th show, airing on November 15, 2009, will feature a Top 10 list of issues that listeners think philosophers should tackle in the coming years. The hosts put a call out to their listeners asking them to weigh in on the topics and have already received a range of ideas from global warming and overpopulation to astrophysics and health care.

Taylor expects that healthcare and the environment will rightly make the list. They are both topics that he says pose many philosophical conundrums. A recent episode about the environment already raised a number of compelling questions, like "What, if anything, we owe, morally speaking, to future generations?" and building on that, "Do we owe it to these not yet existing people to leave them an earth as rich and as bountiful as the one we now inhabit and, if so, why?"

Healthcare reform is a topic looming large in the mind of many Americans and Taylor said this issue falls into a philosophical realm known as distributive justice. Taylor used a relatable example to explain the concept.

"The well off drive better cars, live in better houses, and take fancier vacations than the not well-off. And I think most people would say that's OK because considerations of justice don't require us to guarantee everybody equal access to fancy vacations or fancy cars." But, Taylor adds, "Lots of people feel differently about healthcare. One of our jobs as philosophers is to figure out what, if anything, differentiates goods like healthcare from goods like fancy vacations."

'Best Public Radio Show'

In a 2008 feature story about the show Los Angeles Times columnist Maria La Ganga noted, "'Philosophy Talk' is as accessible as it is thoughtful..." In 2007 San Francisco Weekly named Philosophy Talk the 'Best Local Public Radio Show'.

Bios

Ken Taylor is Professor Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University and Director of Stanford's Symbolic Systems Program. His work lies at the intersection of the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, with an occasional foray into the history of philosophy. He is the author of many books and articles, including Truth and Meaning, Reference and the Rational Mind, and Referring to the World.

John Perry is Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a recipient of many honors and awards, including the Nicod and Humboldt Prizes. A popular lecturer, in 1990 he was awarded the Dinkelspiel Award for undergraduate teaching. He is the author of over 100 articles and books, including, A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality, Knowledge, Possibility, and Consciousness, and Reference and Reflexivity. He also wrote the internet's most popular essay on procrastination.

Show Archive Sale

The entire Philosophy Talk archive can be purchased with or without an annual subscription.

Philosophy Talk is a weekly, one-hour radio series produced by Ben Manilla. The hosts' down-to-earth and no-nonsense approach brings the richness of philosophic thought to everyday subjects.

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Stanford University
Corrie Goldman, 650-724-8156
Stanford Humanities Outreach Officer
corrieg@stanford.edu