Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

The Public Philosopher

Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel examines the thinking behind a current controversy.

Radio 4,16 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

The Ethics of AI
Professor Michael Sandel and an audience at the Hay Festival consider the ethics of AI.
11 Jun 2024,37 mins
Will AI make thinking obsolete?
Professor Michael Sandel debates AI and decision-making at the London School of Economics.
26 Aug 2019,28 mins
Will AI make thinking obsolete?
Professor Michael Sandel debates AI and decision-making at the London School of Economics.
26 Aug 2019,42 mins
Public Philosopher - Citizens of Nowhere?
Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel asks if a citizen of the world is a citizen of nowhere
29 Oct 2018,41 mins
Global Philosopher: Should there be any limits to free speech?
A global audience joins Harvard's Michael Sandel to discuss the limits to free speech.
06 Feb 2018,41 mins
Would life be better if robots did all the work?
Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel asks if life would be better if robots did all the work
07 Mar 2017,44 mins
Series 3
Morality and the State
Michael Sandel asks if governments should try to influence private morality.
13 May 2014,44 mins
Series 3
Why Vote?
Michael Sandel hosts a discussion about voting with an audience at the LSE.
20 May 2014,44 mins
Series 3
National Guilt
Michael Sandel hosts a discussion about national guilt with an audience in Japan.
27 May 2014,44 mins
Why Democracy?
Professor Michael Sandel explores democracy with a group of MPs, peers and the public.
14 Mar 2015,44 mins
Is rape worse than other violent crime?
Prof Michael Sandel is in India to discuss the philosophy of violence.
26 Mar 2013,44 mins
Series 2
Immigration
Prof Michael Sandel discusses the philosophy of immigration with a Texan audience.
23 Oct 2012,44 mins
Series 2
Welfare
Prof Michael Sandel discusses the philosophy of welfare benefits with a Boston audience.
30 Oct 2012,44 mins
Series 1
Should universities give preference to applicants from poor backgrounds?
Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel questions the thinking beneath controversies.
03 Apr 2012,44 mins
Series 1
Should a banker be paid more than a nurse?
Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel questions the thinking beneath controversies.
10 Apr 2012,44 mins
Series 1
Should we bribe people to be healthy?
Questioning the morality of paying people to lose weight, quit smoking or abandon alcohol.
17 Apr 2012,44 mins