Modern living is an ethical minefield. How should we behave in private and in public, what are our duties to others? How do these things change in a world where we run up against people with very different answers to our own? We have a very extensive range of interviews with some of the world's most eminent philosophers discussing books on these knotty problems of contemporary morality from every angle as well as more perennial ethical issues, such as the existence, or otherwise, of free will.
On issues with a very particular contemporary resonance, Paul Boddington discusses ethics for artificial intelligence, Louise Gray chooses her best books on the ethics of eating meat and Donna Dickenson talks about body shopping. Hugh Gusterson talks about drone warfare, Clive Stafford Smith discusses capital punishment, Juan Mendez discusses torture and Mary Robinson talks about climate justice. Anthony Julius discusses censorship. Alex Carlile talks about ethics in public life and A C Grayling discusses being good in the modern world. Peter Berkovitz talks about liberty and morality.
Meanwhile, on more perennial themes, Paul Russell discusses free will and responsibility, Jonathan Glover discusses moral philosophy and both Mary Warnock and Kenan Malik choose their best books on morality without God. Edward Skidelsky chooses his best books on virtue and Adam Haslett his on evil. Paula Fredriksen discusses sin. Kwame Anthony Appiah discusses the philosophical underpinnings of honour. Will MacAskill talks about effective altruism and David Edmomds discusses how to apply philosophical thinking to practical ethical problems.
Beyond that we have interviews covering books on moral character, eugenics, deceit, assassination and more.
The best books on Ethical Problems, recommended by David Edmonds
Given the choice between allowing five people to die, and killing one person, what would you do? What is the utilitarian argument for vegetarianism? Should we be able to sell our kidneys? The philosopher suggests some answers and picks the best books on ‘ethical problems.’
-
1
Zed: A Novel
by Joanna Kavenna -
2
Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
by Cathy O'Neil -
3
Mindf*ck: Inside Cambridge Analytica’s Plot to Break the World
by Christopher Wylie -
4
Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism
by Safiya Umoja Noble -
5
AI Ethics
by Mark Coeckelbergh
The best books on Digital Ethics, recommended by Carissa Véliz
The best books on Digital Ethics, recommended by Carissa Véliz
Philosophers have a lot to add to debates about digital technology and the moral issues raised by its rapid rise, argues Carissa Véliz, a professor at the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI. Here she talks us through books for the general reader that introduce some of the challenges of digital ethics, from concerns about privacy and bias to the threat to democracy and the future of humanity.
The best books on Moral Character, recommended by Christian B Miller
Why do apparently ‘good’ people sometimes behave deplorably? Christian B Miller, professor of philosophy at Wake Forest University, selects five books that explore the subject of moral character and warns us to be cautious of making inferences about the underlying motives of others – and ourselves.
-
1
Lyrical Ballads
by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge -
2
Letters From A Young Poet: 1887-1895
by Rabindranath Tagore -
3
The Imperative of Responsibility
by Hans Jonas -
4
Entropia: Life Beyond Industrial Civilisation
by Samuel Alexander -
5
Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climatic Regime
by Bruno Latour
The Best Eco-Philosophy Books, recommended by Rupert Read
The Best Eco-Philosophy Books, recommended by Rupert Read
Eco-philosophy concerns itself with the intersection of ecology with philosophy—and particularly our response to industrialisation and manmade climate change. Rupert Read, the philosopher-activist and author of Parents for a Future, selects five of the best books that contemplate eco-philosophy and our place on this Earth.
The best books on Effective Altruism, recommended by Will MacAskill
Should you feel responsible for helping the world become better? And if so, how should you use your time, money, and career to have the biggest possible impact? These are the questions addressed by the effective altruism movement. One of its leading figures, Will MacAskill, recommends the best books to answer them.
-
1
Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence
by Kate Crawford -
2
The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design
by Aaron Roth & Michael Kearns -
3
Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control
by Stuart Russell -
4
The Technological Singularity
by Murray Shanahan -
5
Moral Machines: Teaching Robots Right From Wrong
by Wendell Wallach and Colin Allen -
6
2001: A Space Odyssey
by Arthur C. Clarke
Ethics for Artificial Intelligence Books, recommended by Paula Boddington
Ethics for Artificial Intelligence Books, recommended by Paula Boddington
Advances in artificial intelligence pose a myriad of ethical questions, but the most incisive thinking on this subject says more about humans than it does about machines, says Paula Boddington, philosopher and author of a recent AI ethics textbook. We first spoke to Paula in 2017—a long time ago in a fast-moving field. This week we caught up with her to find out what’s happened since then and which new books have taken the conversation over ethics and AI further.
The best books on War, recommended by Cécile Fabre
If killing is wrong, how can going to war be justified? Is it always wrong to kill civilians? If a Nazi soldier were billeted in your home, should you respond when he greets you? Philosopher Cécile Fabre chooses Five Books that help explore the profound ethical dilemmas of war.
The best books on How to Be Good, recommended by Massimo Pigliucci
Many of us aspire to do the right thing when faced with ethical choices, but for ancient philosophers being a good person involved a much broader look at our behaviour and life choices. Here, Massimo Pigliucci, a practising Stoic and philosophy professor at City College of New York, recommends books on being good, from the ancient sages to modern thinkers.
The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Kenan Malik
Religion is often presented as the guardian of moral values. The problem with this, says the author and broadcaster, is that it diminishes what it means to be human. He picks the best books on morality without God.
-
1
Family Values: The Ethics of Parent-Child Relationships
by Adam Swift & Harry Brighouse -
2
Wish We Knew What to Say: Talking with Children About Race
by Pragya Agarwal -
3
Raising Feminist Boys: How to Talk with Your Child about Gender, Consent, and Empathy
by Bobbi Wegner -
4
How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting, from Tots to Teens
by Melinda Wenner Moyer -
5
How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action
by Harriet Shugarman
The best books on The Ethics of Parenting, recommended by Elizabeth Cripps
The best books on The Ethics of Parenting, recommended by Elizabeth Cripps
What does it mean to be a good parent and what influence do we have on children as they navigate the challenges of the 21st century? Philosopher Elizabeth Cripps, a senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, recommends books that shed light on some of the ethics of parenting, including one on how to raise kids who aren’t assholes.