Philosophy Bites: Janet Radcliffe Richards on What is Philosophy?
Episode Date: January 24, 2026
Hosts: David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton
Guest: Janet Radcliffe Richards
Episode Overview
This episode explores the foundational question: What is philosophy? Philosopher Janet Radcliffe Richards, author of The Skeptical Feminist and Human Nature After Darwin, examines how philosophy operates not as a mysterious or abstract field, but as a practical and logical framework essential to everyday reasoning, argumentation, and ethics. The conversation highlights the centrality of logic, the pitfalls of inconsistent beliefs, and the relevance of philosophy in education and public discourse.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Defining Philosophy: More Than Grand Abstractions
[00:42-02:28]
- Janet downplays attempts to give a “grand or mysterious” definition of philosophy, emphasizing its basic, practical roots.
- She offers an analogy: How children detect lying—either by knowing the facts themselves, or by noticing contradictions in someone’s statements.
- “One way a colleague of mine put it was, science is about getting your ideas to match the world and philosophy is about getting your ideas to match each other.” (C, 01:37)
- Philosophy is essential at the “ground level,” needed for any kind of reasoned discussion.
Philosophy as Relational Logic, Not Just Truth-Seeking
[02:28-03:57]
- Nigel questions if this approach neglects the “pursuit of truth.”
- Janet clarifies that, while truth is important, philosophy works from basic levels—spotting dropped logic or inconsistencies—rather than leaping straight to ultimate realities.
- “You very often find that [people] haven’t even looked at the logic of the argument and they’re coming to wrong conclusions by their own standards, but they don’t realize it.” (C, 03:15)
Case Study: Organ Sales and Ethical Inconsistency
[04:00-09:00]
- Janet gives a real-world example: the moral panic about selling kidneys from Turkish peasants in Britain.
- Points out the inconsistency: Altruistic organ donation is praised, but paid organ donation is condemned, despite both potentially involving voluntary, beneficial exchanges.
- Shows how social/moral debates often mask deep logical inconsistencies beneath shared principles (like autonomy versus prohibition).
- “Here were two people trying to make an exchange which would have benefited both. And everybody immediately said, this is outrageous… It was completely wrong as a fundamental principle because it was incompatible with the other things we had as fundamental principles.” (C, 07:45)
The Problem of Inconsistency and Philosophical Method
[09:00-10:29]
- Nigel asks why inconsistency matters if everyone holds some contradictory beliefs.
- Janet responds that to take one’s principles seriously means questioning even the principles themselves, not just following them uncritically.
- “There’s a different level of taking principles seriously, which is being willing to question the principles themselves.” (C, 09:40)
- In ethical debates, when two fundamental principles clash, philosophy asks us to acknowledge incompatibility and choose, rather than reconcile at any cost.
Philosophy in Action: Victorian Gender Debates
[10:29-12:19]
- Janet shares how John Stuart Mill’s arguments for women’s rights seemed logically irrefutable—until she realized his opponents had a “totally different metaphysics.”
- Reveals that logical consistency is useful only within a given worldview; to resolve disputes, one must also question metaphysical assumptions.
- “[Mill’s] arguments wouldn’t have worked against that view... The reason I think Mill comes out best is because science has now got rid of the alternative metaphysics.” (C, 11:30)
Logical Clarity and Communication in Philosophy
[13:37-14:05]
- Nigel compliments Janet’s clear writing style.
- Janet laments that, however clearly she explains (such as in the organ selling debate), misunderstandings persist.
- “People misunderstand, however clearly you write... This organ selling business, I have not yet got across to a lot of people.” (C, 13:44)
Philosophy’s Role in Education and Public Life
[14:05-15:08]
- Janet argues philosophy is crucial in education, as it teaches how arguments fit together—something lost if knowledge remains atomized (such as quick Google searches).
- “If you don’t understand how arguments fit together, you just have a lot of isolated bits of knowledge... If you don’t grow up with an understanding of whether they fit together, you’re giving up on intellectual inquiry altogether.” (C, 14:08)
- Without philosophy, critical inquiry is lost and “anything can happen.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Science is about getting your ideas to match the world and philosophy is about getting your ideas to match each other.” — Janet Radcliffe Richards (01:37)
- “I don't doubt that these people who are against paying for organ donations... have genuine principles and they really feel that it's wrong. But there's a different level of taking principles seriously, which is being willing to question the principles themselves.” — Janet Radcliffe Richards (09:40)
- “If you don’t understand how arguments fit together, you just have a lot of isolated bits of knowledge... If you don’t grow up with an understanding of whether they fit together, you’re giving up on intellectual inquiry altogether.” — Janet Radcliffe Richards (14:08)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:42 – Janet’s ground-level approach to defining philosophy
- 02:28 – Is philosophy about truth or logic?
- 04:00 – Organ donation ethics case study
- 09:00 – Why inconsistency matters in philosophy
- 10:29 – Victorian gender debates and metaphysics
- 13:44 – The challenge of clear philosophical communication
- 14:08 – The necessity of philosophy in education
Closing Thoughts
Janet Radcliffe Richards frames philosophy not as distant speculation, but as the foundation for all serious thinking—providing tools to untangle logic, expose inconsistencies, challenge foundational assumptions, and structure meaningful debate. The episode underscores philosophy’s indispensable role in ethical reasoning and the cultivation of critical education, inviting listeners to appreciate philosophy’s practical power in everyday life.