Season 1
State of Nature: 1 Who Do Y0u Think You Are?
State of Nature: 2 The Good, The Bad and The Blank Slate
In this podcast LASER’s Ken Duckett and Dr. Iain Mackenzie from the University of Kent discuss what we mean when we talk about the state of nature. They also discuss some of the key debates, exploring whether we are shaped by nature or nurture, whether we are good or bad, selfish individualists or co-operative communitarians (Run time: 43:12). The content relates specifically to the Laser Learning Awards unit: Politics and the State of Nature Debate, but may be generally useful for anyone with an interest in the subject area (whether studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma or not).
In this podcast LASER’s Ken Duckett and Dr. Iain Mackenzie from the University of Kent discuss three key thinkers in relation to the state of nature debate: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. In the discussion they consider whether human nature can be seen to be innately good (as argued by Rousseau), bad (as argued by Hobbes) or blank slates (as argued by Locke). They also consider the extent to which these philosophers believe humans are individualistic and are capable of reason (Run time: 46.56). The content relates specifically to the Laser Learning Awards unit: Politics and the State of Nature Debate, but may be generally useful for anyone with an interest in the subject area (whether studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma or not).
In this podcast LASER’s Ken Duckett and Dr. Iain Mackenzie from the University of Kent discuss the work of John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx to expose the fundamental tension between individual freedom and the need to live collectively within society. Areas covered include the notion of Utilitarianism, the Harm Principle and different concepts of Equality (Run time: 48.00).