Developments in digital technology have brought philosophy out of the classroom and into our daily lives. Before the Internet, if you wanted to hear a lecture on Aristotle from a philosopher at Oxford University, you’d have to go to Oxford, England—or hope you could get a recording to play on a DVD or VHS player. Now, however, you can find a rich array of lectures, scholarly talks, panel discussions, explainers, tutorials, and more, online.
8-Bit Philosophy: Philosophy Through 8-Bit Gaming Video Series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVDaSgyi3xE&list=PLghL9V9QTN0gCZia2uYnLxhetxnC_ONF
Philosophical questions and problems are addressed through 8-bit animation. Episodes include, “Is it wrong if you don’t vote?” and “Who was Machiavelli?”
60 Second Philosophy: Videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRI-ut B2uwrfHCUCSVUlXSw/playlists Brief explainer videos answer questions such as, “What is solipsism?” in about a minute.
Peter Adamson: The History of Philosophy without Any Gaps Podcast https://historyofphilosophy.net
Professor Adamson’s podcast series provides overviews of philosophers and topics in the Western, Middle Eastern, Eastern, and African traditions. Some podcasts focus on interviews with scholars presently working in the field. Podcasts are typically under 20 minutes each.
BBC Radio 4: A History of Ideas Video Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist? list=PLLiykcLllCgPE0q9BiMexLFj-1rq9GUwX Narrated by Harry Shearer, the brief explainers in the BBC philosophy playlist focus on topics, such as Diotima’s Ladder (from Plato’s Symposium), The Trolley Problem (‘would you kill one person to save five?’), and the is/ought problem. Each animated video is under 2 minutes.
Daniel Bonevac: Lectures in the History of Philosophy Video Lectures https://www.youtube.com/user/PhiloofAlexandria/playlists The University of Texas, Austin philosopher, who also writes introductory philosophy texts, has recorded classroom lectures on a variety of thinkers and topics in the history of philosophy
University of California, San Diego: Logic Course Videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_jOluHMn7INuN6S6IWBGjw/playlists The videos on this channel come from an Introduction to Logic course. They can be watched sequentially, or chosen for a particular topic, such as truth functional connectives.
University of Cambridge: Philosophy Audio and Video Series https://www.sms.cam.ac.uk/search?
qt_type=sms&qt=Philosophy&x=0&y=0 A “philosophy” search at Cambridge University’s website reveals a variety of philosophy lectures and conversations, including Iris Murdoch and Cornel West.
CrashCourse: Philosophy Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNgK6MZucdYldNkMybYIHKR The videos in the CrashCourse series provide overviews and explainers of significant thinkers, topics, and questions in philosophy. Sample videos include “Arguments Personal Identity,” “How to Argue – Philosophical Reasoning,” and “Language and Meaning.” Most videos have a runtime shorter than 10 mins.
University of Edinburgh Philosophy Department: Video Lectures and Talks
https://www.youtube.com/user/edinburghphilosophy/playlists The department posts course lectures and talks by department faculty, along with talks by visiting scholars.
Elucidations: University of Chicago’s Philosophy Podcast https://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/elucidations/
Developed by graduate students, this podcast features interviews with Chicago philosophy faculty members and visiting guests. Contemporary topics are the foci of the episodes.
Georgetown University: The Kennedy Institute of Ethics Video Lectures https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6bTb2e3p8pu4f1qPfpiDw/playlists Lectures from Professor Rebecca Kukla on autonomy and Professor Maggie Little anchor the channel’s bioethics focus.
Harvard University Philosophy Department: Video Lectures and Talks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnRjVDRdQOTtmQA99kCzOwA/videos From John Rawls to Stanley Cavell, the philosophy department posts videos of talks, lectures, and discussions from a variety of important thinkers.
Harvard University: Michael Sandel’s “Justice” Course Lectures
https://www.youtube.com/user/Harvard/search?query=Justice+Michael+Sandel Political philosopher, Michael Sandel’s 2015 undergraduate course, “Justice” involve lectures on a variety of topics in political philosophy, with the concept of justice and its manifestation in individuals and society as the centerpiece.
Harvard University: Tanner Lectures on Human Values Video Lectures
https://www.youtube.com/user/Harvard/search?query=tanner+lectures+on+human+values The videos in this series are talks or group discussions on specific topics in values theory. Each video lasts over 60 minutes.
Haugen Metaphilosophy: Video Lectures https://www.youtube.com/user/haugenmetaphilosophy/playlists The videos on this channel were created for undergraduate philosophy courses, including Logic and Introduction to Philosophy.
In Our Time: Philosophy Podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01f0vzr/episodes/downloads
Hosted by Melvin Bragg, this BBC Radio 4’s “In Our Time” series includes interviews on thinkers and topics across the history of philosophy.
I Think, Therefore I Fan: Popular Culture and Philosophy Podcast https://ithinkthereforeifan.com Hosted by husband and wife philosophers, this podcast focuses on the intersection of philosophy and popular culture, with an emphasis on television and film.
Kevin de Laplante: Philosophy of Science and Argumentation Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/PhilosophyFreak/videos De Laplante, a former academic, provides an array of critical thinking videos, some of which focus on scientific reasoning.
New Books in Philosophy: Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-books-in-philosophy/id426208821 This podcast is devoted to interviews with scholars about their recent publications. While the interviews presuppose some conversancy with the subject, motivated students will find the discussions both challenging and illuminating. Given more than 200 episodes, there is something for everyone, from discussions about religious luck to ancient Mayan thought.
Oxford Podcasts and Videos: Philosophy Talks and Class Lectures
https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/gsearch/Philosophy From introductory lectures to more specialized talks, the Oxford videos (which can also be found on YouTube) range across thinkers and topics in the history of philosophy. Marianne Talbot’s ‘Romp’ series (e.g., “A Romp Through the Philosophy of Mind”) to the John Locke Lectures in Philosophy series, are just two examples of the resources Oxford provides.
The Pansycast: Philosophy Podcast https://thepanpsycast.com/home This podcast, which is hosted by philosophers and religious studies instructors, covers a range of topics in connection with philosophical texts.
The Partially Examined Life: Philosophy Podcast This podcast consists of in-depth, roundtable style discussions about philosophers, philosophical texts, and topics across the history of philosophers. The PEL group consists of four individuals who studied philosophy at various levels before leaving academic life to
pursue other interests. Episodes often include guests who are not only interviewed, but also engage in the group discussion.
The Philosopher’s Zone: Podcast https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/
This Australian podcast, with presenter David Rutledge, covers contemporary and historical topics in logic, metaphysics, and ethics.
Philosophical Techne: Tools for Thinking Video Lectures Philosopher Mark Thorsby presents a variety of videos ranging from Aristotle’s ethics to Frege’s “Thought, Sense, & Reference.” Philosophize This!: Podcast http://philosophizethis.org/about/ Host Stephen West’s podcast provides overviews of theories across the history of philosophy. West is a self-taught philosopher, whose approach balances accessibility with technical accuracy.
Philosophy 24/7: Podcast https://philosophy247.org
Host Dave Edmonds, who is also part of the Philosophy Bites podcasts, interviews “leading philosophers on pressing moral and political issues.”
Philosophy Bites: A Philosophy Podcast http://philosophybites.libsyn.com Philosophers Nigel Warburton and David Edmonds host 20- minute podcasts on a range of philosophical topics. Their focus is on interviewing philosophers such as Anthony Appiah and Miles Burnyeat
Philosophy Ninja: Philosophy and Ethics Videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNUJUJtYwZTSKymLPry08cw/playlists Designed for high school courses, these videos cover a range of theories and topics.
Philosophy Now: Podcast https://philosophynow.org/podcasts
The non-specialist magazine, Philosophy Now also hosts the Philosophy Now Radio Show. Interviews and discussions with various thinkers range across a variety of topics, from Buddhist philosophy to feminist film.
Philosophy Overdose: Audio and Video Interviews and Lectures https://www.youtube.com/user/soultorment27/playlists From old BBC interviews to classroom lectures to panel discussions, this channel offers a wide range of audio and video options on thinkers and topics in the history of philosophy.
Philosophy Talk: Podcast https://www.philosophytalk.org Stanford University philosophers Ken Taylor and John Perry co-founded this podcast on a wide range of topics, such as philosophy in prison, magical thinking, and nonhuman rights. Professor Taylor died unexpectedly in 2019, and Professor Perry has retired, but two Stanford thinkers have taken up co-hosting duties. Some episodes are free to download, while others require a subscription.
The Public Philosopher: Podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nmlh2/episodes/downloads
This BBC Radio 4 podcast features Harvard political philosopher, Michael Sandel, discussing a variety of contemporary controversial topics, from artificial intelligence to immigration.
The Royal Institute of Philosophy: Video Lectures and Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyIntPhilosophy/videos Philosophers from around the globe discuss and talk about philosophical topics and problems. Lecturers and interviewees include Onora O’Neill, C. Thi Nguyen, and Kwame Anthony Appiah.
Santa Clara University: The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/appliedethicscenter Lectures, discussions, talks, and other educational videos cover a range of topics in ethics. Video topics include character ethics, government ethics, and internet ethics.
The School of Life: Western Philosophy Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwxNMb28XmpeypJMHfNbJ4RAFkRtmAN3P Videos in the School of Life Western Philosophy playlist generally focus on overviews of some major thinkers in the history of philosophy. Video runtimes range from just under 4 minutes to just under 10.
Stanford University: Language, Proof and Logic Course Videos https://lagunita.stanford.edu/courses/Philosophy/LPL-SP/SelfPaced/about Authors John Etchemendy and Dave Barker-Plummer present a free logic course through Stanford Online. What is of particular interest here is that you can access their videos just by registering for the course.
Stanford University: Tanner Lectures on Human Values Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLh41NYcDaN6r9rInv7H9QFY9Q1g-UEZ9d The videos in this series are talks or group discussions on specific topics in values theory. Each video lasts over 60 minutes.
SuchThatCast – Behind the Philosophy: Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/suchthatcastphilosophers/id556756589 Norwegian philosopher, Johnny Hartz Søraker conducts in-person interviews with philosophers. The focus is on some of the philosophically tangential, but often intriguing personal features of a philosopher’s life. Among the philosophers interviewed are Descartes scholar, John Cottingham, and information ethics scholar, Luciano Floridi.
Teach Philosophy: Video Lectures https://www.youtube.com/user/teachphilosophy/
playlists Paul Stearns’s videos cover courses in the introduction to philosophy logic, the Stoics, and Kant.
Technology Philosopher: Video Lectures and Discussions https://www.youtube.com/user/TechnologyPhilosophe/videos This specialized channel is dedicated to “theorizing novel ideas in technology with philosophy.” This approach is contrasted with the “philosophy of technology” which in large part a retroactive and passive chronicle of activity in science and technology.
Very Bad Wizards: Podcast https://verybadwizards.fireside.fm/episodes This podcast, hosted by a philosopher and a psychologist, discuss all things connected with morality.
Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life: Podcast https://news.prairiepublic.org/programs/why-philosophical-discussions-about-everyday-life University of North Dakota professor Jack Russell Weinstein hosts this podcast, which takes a philosophical look at common and contemporary concerns. Podcasts focus on interviews with scholars and public intellectuals.
Wheaton College: Arthur F. Holmes’ Lectures on the History of Philosophy https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9GwT4_YRZdBf9nIUHs0zjrnUVl-KBNSM Beginning with the Ancient Greeks, Dr. Holmes walks students through the history of philosophy through Logical Positivism. Lectures last approximately 50 minutes.
Wireless Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/user/WirelessPhilosophy
This channel presents working philosophers from schools around the U.S. presenting and explaining various philosophical concepts and problems. Sample videos include “Correlation and Causation,” “Introduction to Epistemology,” and “Race and Racist Institutions.” The video runtimes are generally between 5 and 10 minutes.
Yale University: Open Courses https://oyc.yale.edu/courses Video lectures from Yale philosophy classes, including Shelly Kagan’s “Death” and Tamar Gendler’s “Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature.”
Yale University: Tanner Lecture on Human Values https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLqHnHG5X2PXCVsC0ji-oIdL5XjYOmqY4X The videos in this series are talks or roundtable discussions on specific topics in values theory. Each video lasts over 60 minutes.
