The Ethical Frontier Podcast

Interviews about ethics and other interesting topics.

Hosted by Jason Chen.

Selected Interviews

Anti-Natalism | Ben Bradley

In this interview, we discuss the arguments in favor and against anti-natalism, which is the view that it's wrong to have kids. We also discuss how anti-natalism compares to deprivationism, which is a theory of the prudential value or disvalue of death.

Trans Women and Sports | Joanna Harper

Joanna Harper is a trans woman, scientist, and athlete. She argues that for prepubescent athletes or recreational sports, sex categories may not be necessary, and they could be grouped by ability or other factors. However, for high-level sports like NCAA and above, eligibility requirements must be in place for transgender women to undergo testosterone-suppressing hormone therapy before participating, because male puberty gives a significant physical advantage.

Effective Altruism 101 | Richard Yetter Chappell

In this interview, we discuss the ethics of effective altruism (EA)—its central tenets and criticisms. Everyone wants to do good, but many ways of doing good are ineffective. The EA community is focused on finding ways of doing good that actually work.

The Ethics of Sex Work | Jessica Flanigan

In this interview, we discuss Flanigan's libertarian defense of the decriminalization of sex work. Flanigan argues that since people have the right to choose whatever job they want, and since people have the right to decide whom to have sex with, it follows that people have the right to sell sex.

Life Sentences Are Unjust | Judith Lichtenberg

Philosopher Judith Lichtenberg argues that life sentences are unjustified. She explains that neither of the two approaches to punishment (forward-looking or backward-looking) can justify that sentence. Lichtenberg argues that the circumstances that lead people to commit crimes, such as poverty and lack of employment, should be taken into account when determining responsibility and punishment. She also raises the issue of individuals who have transformed their lives during their time in prison, yet are still denied parole based solely on the circumstances of their past crimes. She also talks favorably about the Norwegian model of prison in which there is a general sentence limit of 20 years.

Moral Artificial Intelligence | Walter Sinnott-Armstrong

In this interview, we discuss ethical issues that arise with the utilization of AI in a variety of domains, including self-driving cars, privacy, and warfare. Sinnott-Armstrong believes that we can incorporate moral principles into AI and that said principles should be determined by surveying people about their moral judgments.

Race in America | Daryl Davis

Daryl Davis is a musician who has worked to improve race relations by seeking out, engaging in dialogue with, and befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan. A documentary called Accidental Courtesy was made about him and his efforts. In this interview, we discuss why some people become white supremacists, the notion of racial pride, George Floyd, and reparations.

Hedonism | Roger Crisp

Roger Crisp is one of the most prominent philosophers proposing hedonism, which is a theory of well-being that says that pleasure is the sole noninstrumental good. Among other topics, we address why hedonism is appealing, how it relates to other theories of well-being, the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, and whether there are other dimensions of the human condition that contribute to the best human life.

The Ethics of Human Enhancement | Julian Savulescu

Julian Savulescu is one of the most famous bioethicists alive. In this interview, we discuss the concept of human enhancement and its ethical implications. Julian Savulescu is known to be in favor of enhancing our capacities because he believes it can increase our well-being. He finds increasing our health span to be particularly important. We also discuss the relationship between human enhancement and disability. Savulescu states that while it is true that much of the disadvantage that people with disabilities experience is due to a lack of accommodations, some disabilities still lower human well-being. Relatedly, Savulescu says that his proposal is in some sense eugenics, but not like the eugenics of the past.

Sex and Gender | Holly Lawford-Smith

Holly Lawford-Smith is a gender-critical feminist. In this interview, we discuss the topics of sex and gender from a gender-critical perspective. Topics include gender abolition and female-only spaces. I put to her a list of questions that are either things I don't agree with or understand in the gender-critical position, or objections I have from trans friends and colleagues, including those from guests I have previously interviewed.

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