Philippa Foot - Philosophy Talk

What this episode covers

Philippa Foot invented the thought experiment that famously became known as the Trolley Problem. Despite the vast industry of “trolleyology” it inspired, Foot’s goal to illuminate debates on abortion and euthanasia often gets lost in the mix. So, how did Foot use this thought experiment to distinguish between doing versus allowing? What did she mean by the “Doctrine of Double Effect”? Why did she think that cultivating classic virtues—justice, courage, prudence, and temperance—was in our own rational self-interest? And what made her later change her mind? Josh and Ray explore her life and thought with John Hacker-Wright from the University of Guelph, author of Philippa Foot’s Moral Thought.

PodParley-generated summary based on available episode metadata and transcript content.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

🚨SUNO Flips on Artist - Creators, this matters. 🎵🤖

Feb 8, 2026 ·4m

Mastering AI & Prompting

Jan 30, 2026 ·6m

The AI Realtor Prompt Vault

Dec 15, 2025 ·2m

🚨 AI NEWS ALERT — FAMILY, PAY ATTENTION! 🤖🔥 #aierik

Nov 30, 2025 ·5m

The Essential AI Awakening for Everyone

Oct 26, 2025 ·14m

🎙️ Missed Our First Podcast? #aierik #stayintunedpodcast

Oct 26, 2025 ·61m

Similar Podcasts

Humanizing Change Tremendousness Join us each episode as we talk with innovators in their respective fields about their unique journeys and how they humanize change in their own work, right here, on Humanizing Change. AI Erik's Podcast Audio Erik Conn The AI News Podcast where we talk AI. Rich Dad's Guide to Investing II Robert T. Kiyosaki II Full Audiobook II Robert T. Kiyosaki Investing means different things to different people… and there is a huge difference between passive investing and becoming an active, engaged investor. Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing, one of the three core titles in the Rich Dad Series, covers the basic rules of investing, how to reduce your investment risk, how to convert your earned income into passive income… plus Rich Dad’s 10 Investor Controls.The Rich Dad philosophy makes a key distinction between managing your money and growing it… and understanding key principles of investing is the first step toward creating and growing wealth. This book delivers guidance, not guarantees, to help anyone begin the process of becoming an active investor on the road to financial freedom. NEWMORROW SESSIONS - A PodCast Series on the Future of Hospitality Mario C. Bauer, Florian Schneider, Axel Weber & Dr. Tillman Bardt The Newmorrow PodCast is more than a podcast — it's a platform for open dialog on the future of our business, a platform for those building what doesn’t exist yet. Here, we share and embrace our passion for the hospitality industry, but we won’t romanticize the journey. We ask the tough questions, confront uncomfortable truths, and prepare for a future that resists easy answers. We believe that the tougher and wilder times become, the more openly, honestly and humanely people need to talk to each other and act together. We believe, openness, togetherness, and truthfulness should also be cornerstones of a professional community to develop our utopian idea of „open source“. This is a space where visionaries don’t just imagine the future — they wrestle with the paradoxes that shape it: success vs. happiness, data vs. instinct, stability vs. reinvention. Join leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers as they share not what made them — but what’s actively shaping them, now and next. So tune in

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Philosophy Talk?

This episode is 51 minutes long.

When was this Philosophy Talk episode published?

This episode was published on June 15, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Philippa Foot invented the thought experiment that famously became known as the Trolley Problem. Despite the vast industry of “trolleyology” it inspired, Foot’s goal to illuminate debates on abortion and euthanasia often gets lost in the mix. So,...

Can I download this Philosophy Talk episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.