(Guardian Science) – Emma Beddington:
Austrian astronomer Lisa Kaltenegger has spent her life hunting for signs of life in the universe. Here she talks about aliens, space exploration and why studying cosmology is like eating pizza. …
Posts Tagged ‘Interview’
Alien Earths
2024-05-01
The Source of Morality
2024-02-22(YouTube MythVision) – Derek Lambert:
Contrary to the widely held belief that Christianity is the sole beacon of morality in our historical narrative, evidence from the meticulous scholarship of Dr. Richard Carrier vividly illustrates a different picture. Long before the advent of Christianity, paganism was not a moral wilderness; rather, it was rich with ethical principles and a profound sense of community and humanity. These ancient civilizations, often painted as morally bereft in contrast to Christian teachings, actually demonstrated advanced moral concepts in their laws, philosophies, and daily practices. From the Stoics of ancient Greece, who espoused virtues of self-control and equality, to the elaborate legal systems of the Roman Empire that emphasized justice and responsibility, these societies were guided by a deep-seated understanding of ethics and morality. This historical journey challenges the narrative that Christianity was the singular source of moral values, revealing a more complex and intertwined evolution of ethics that transcends religious boundaries. …
Susan Neiman: Left Is Not Woke
2024-02-20(YouTube CosmicSkeptic) – Alex O’Connor:
Susan Neiman is an American moral philosopher, cultural commentator, and essayist. She is the author of “Left is Not Woke“. …
Boarders
2024-02-10(Guardian TV & Radio) – Daisy Jones:
Tone-deaf teachers, paintings of slaves, and effortless hilarity … The BBC sitcom Boarders puts five Black teens in a boarding school and lets the carnage unfold. Its team explain why it hits close to home. …
What Is True
2024-01-28(Plato’s Academy Centre) – Kasey Pierce:
Dr. Richard Carrier: “The goal we all should have is to have a complete, coherent worldview that is thoroughly evidence-based rather than built on mere desires and speculations, much less uninformed traditions. …
Besides what I already discussed, the fact that all fundamental branches of philosophy must be well studied to get correct conclusions in any one of them, the next most important idea I aim to convey to everyone is that critical thinking, which is essential to having reliable beliefs, rests on a counter-intuitive foundational principle that the only way to know whether you are right about anything, whether any belief you have is true, is to make every honest and powerful effort to prove it false. Because it is only by failing to do that that you can ever have a justified confidence that any belief is true. If all you do instead is aim to “verify” your beliefs, rather than falsify them, your beliefs will never be reliable.” …
Jon Stewart for President
2023-12-07(Salon) – Andrew O’Hehir:
Progressive activists and bad polls haven’t convinced Joe Biden to stand down — now it’s time for the Hail Mary. …
How We Made Shakespeare in Love
2023-11-22(Guardian Film) – Chris Broughton:
John Madden, director: ‘Judi Dench had to wear extra high heels to give her stature as Queen Elizabeth. I dubbed her Tudor Spice. She’s only on screen for a few minutes – but she still won an Oscar’. …
Joseph Fiennes, Will Shakespeare: ‘I love Shakespeare’s writing and was nervous Hollywood might dilute it. But the screenplay was funny and witty and even managed some kind of reference to the machine of Hollywood, despite being set in Shakespeare’s time.’ …
Patricia Cornwell
2023-11-21(Guardian Books) – Emine Saner:
As pathologist Kay Scarpetta makes her 27th appearance in print, her creator recalls what it’s really like to conduct a postmortem – and a very odd encounter in the Virginia woods. …
Archie
2023-11-14(Guardian TV&Radio) – Mark Lawson:
The mansion-dwelling megastar was born Archibald Leach and grew up in a squalid Bristol terrace believing his mother was dead. The stars and writer of Archie talk about his rise, shame and redemption. …
Eddie Izzard and Doctor Jekyll
2023-10-27(Guardian Film) – Rich Pelley:
Ahead of the release of her new film, Doctor Jekyll, the actor and comedian talks about running for parliament, the monarchy, orgies, and what George Clooney smells like. …
Thomas Heatherwick’s War on Boring Buildings
2023-10-26(Guardian Art) – Amelia Gentleman:
The designer says architecture is gripped by a ‘blandemic’ that isn’t merely blotting our streets, but making us miserable, ill and violent. So what’s his solution? …
Nina and Lisa Simone
2023-10-06(Guardian Music) – Simon Hattenstone:
As the only child of the legendary musician and civil rights activist, Lisa Simone experienced her mother’s brilliance – and her rage. She talks about the joy, the pain and how they finally made peace. …
We’re Not Doomed Yet
2023-10-02(Guardian::Environment) – Damian Carrington:
The renowned US scientist’s new book examines 4bn years of climate history to conclude we are in a ‘fragile moment’ but there is still time to act. …
Technofeudalism
2023-09-24(Guardian Interview) – Carole Cadwalladr:
In his new book, Technofeudalism, the maverick Greek economist says we are witnessing an epochal shift. At his island home of Aegina, he argues it’s no longer the global finance system that shapes us, but the ‘fiefdoms’ of tech firms. …
Rick Beato
2023-09-20(Guardian Music) – Rudi Zygadlo:
As energised by Taylor Swift as Schoenberg, Beato has earned millions of fans with his YouTube videos and become the man musicians seek out to discuss their craft. …
The Pigeon Tunnel
2023-09-13(Guardian Film) – Peter Bradshaw:
Errol Morris’s gentle interview allows the mesmeric writer to hold forth on how his relationship with dodgy dad Ronnie informed his life as a spy and novelist. …
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