Janet Radcliffe Richards on What is Philosophy?

The podcast explores the fundamental question, "What is philosophy?" Janet Radcliffe Richards defines philosophy not as grand or mysterious but as a basic inquiry applicable to various subjects. She characterizes philosophy as aligning ideas with each other, contrasting it with science, which aligns ideas with the world. Richards illustrates philosophical inconsistency using the example of the public outcry against selling organs, highlighting the contradiction between condemning the practice and upholding individual autonomy. She argues that identifying and resolving such inconsistencies is a crucial aspect of philosophical work, more so than abstract meta-ethics. Logic is presented as a core tool in philosophy, essential for practical ethics and unpacking arguments to reveal underlying metaphysical assumptions.