Episodes
An argument supporting the use of IVF and genetic testing by prospective parents seeking to avoid passing on serious genetic diseases to their children.
Published 09/25/23
Published 09/25/23
An interview of Dr. Martin L. Cook, one of our country's best experts on military ethics and just-war theory.  He taught at the U.S. Army War College, the Naval War College, and the Air Force Academy.  His extensive CV and several video recordings of his lectures are available at https://sites.google.com/view/martinlcook.  
Published 01/16/23
An interview of Dr. Daniel Dombrowski, Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University. His views on abortion are also summarized near the end.
Published 11/22/21
An interview of Dr. Charles Schaefer, Professor of History and International Studies at Valparaiso University. (Note that in the podcast I erroneously referred to him as Associate Professor, when he is actually a full professor.)
Published 11/22/21
An interview of Dr. Shannon French, Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, where she is also a professor of both Philosophy and Law. She previously taught at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and her publications include a great book entitled The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present.  Dr. French has also done quite a bit of research and writing on ethical issues in AI, especially but not...
Published 06/28/21
Interview of Dr. Joel Rosenthal, President of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, based in New York.  Topics discussed:  the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan; dealing with repressive regimes like Russia, China and Myanmar; root causes of migration from Mexico and Central America; and two of the speakers previously hosted at CCEIA by Dr. Rosenthal whom he recalls as among the most profound.
Published 05/17/21
Several books are recommended in regard to the problems of bigotry and aggressive violence in America and around the world.
Published 03/24/21
Examines an argument typically employed by vigorous opponents of abortion, but shows why it fails, and why a pro-choice view is most reasonable.
Published 03/14/21
Here I critically examine some traditional beliefs about God and the soul, and explain why I now have serious doubts about them.
Published 02/23/21
This is the fourth episode in a four-part series on the historical evolution of ethical perspectives on war in major religious traditions, adapted from my book, Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War, Espionage, Covert Action, and Interrogation, 2nd ed. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2016).
Published 02/22/21
This is the third episode in a four-part series on the historical evolution of ethical perspectives on war in major religious traditions, adapted from my book, Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War, Espionage, Covert Action, and Interrogation, 2nd ed. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2016).
Published 02/22/21
This is the second episode in a four-part series on the historical evolution of ethical perspectives on war in major religious traditions, adapted from my book, Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War, Espionage, Covert Action, and Interrogation, 2nd ed. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2016).
Published 02/22/21
This is the first episode in a four-part series on the historical evolution of ethical perspectives on war in major religious traditions, adapted from my book, Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War, Espionage, Covert Action, and Interrogation, 2nd ed. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2016).
Published 02/22/21
In cases where significant moral principles conflict, one possible way to resolve the conflict is if one of them is absolute and always overrides the others.  Are there any such absolutes?  Dr. Perry shows why religion is not helpful in that regard, and why it makes more sense to consider a cluster of prima facie moral principles, rather than any absolutes.
Published 02/17/21
Considers several theories that deny objective morality, and why those theories all fail. Outlines some objective ethical principles, and how complex they can become in professional life. Provides some guidelines for ethical deliberation and action.
Published 02/17/21
This podcast focuses on Critical Thinking, a deliberate effort to reason clearly by identifying and avoiding psychological biases, logical pitfalls, and other errors in judgment.  The scope of Critical Thinking goes beyond ethics, but it's clearly essential to good ethical decision-making.
Published 02/16/21
The host, Dr. David Perry, briefly introduces himself, and indicates why moral philosophy can be helpful in making sound decisions.
Published 02/15/21