A.C. Grayling: Philosophy & the Pandemic

A.C. Grayling, a pre-eminent British philosopher and the author of about 30 books, grapples with philosophy and the pandemic, and discusses how he himself dealt as a nonbeliever with a personal tragedy. Grayling’s books include "What is Good? The Search for the Best Way to Live", "The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life", "The God Argument" and "The History of Philosophy - Three Millennia of Thought from the West and Beyond." In 2011, he founded the New College of the Humanities in London. Before that he was a professor of philosophy at Birkbeck University in London. A publicly outspoken atheist, he’s vice president of Humanists UK and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society. He frequently appears in British media discussing philosophy and public affairs.
“I just brought a book out called 'The Good State', which is on the principles of democracy, mainly addressing what’s gone wrong that produced the Trump phenomenon and the Brexit phenomenon in my own country,” he tells “Freethought Matters” co-hosts Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. “And I have a new book coming out next spring called 'The Frontiers of Knowledge', which actually addresses just the question you've been talking about: Why is it that people don’t really understand science? Why is it that there’s such a big gap between the scientific worldview and other worldviews?”
Learn more about the Freedom From Religion Foundation at ffrf.org.

[@bobh5087]

It's always a great pleasure to hear Grayling speak. Thanks to everyone.

[@southernfriedheathen994]

I love love love Mr. Grayling!!! When I'm having a bad day, I listen to him and I'm happy again. He puts me at peace and feeds my heart. ...and he has a wicked sense of humor.

[@RobertDMoore]

do what you want to do around where you live, create and beautify the surroundings with labors of love

[@TobinTempleman]

Creating things gives me meaning to my life.

[@doneestoner9945]

Me too.

[@danielmahan1573]

Thanks for the chance to hear Grayling again.

[@larryparis925]

Prof. Grayling always presents a worthy perspective.

[@JaCeeMusic]

thank you!

[@catherinepowers2750]

Brilliant

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Interesting story. I've never heard of Sir AC Grayling until watching this episode of *"Freethought Matters".* Although I have family members who are devoutly Christian, I was lucky enough to grow up in a non-religious household. No one in my household attended church. We never read the Bible, and the only time Christianity, religion in general, was when we laughed at the bullshit being said by such televangelists as Peter Popoff, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell (Sr.), Jim Bakker, Billy Graham, etc.

[@teaburg]

Grayling is always interesting.

[@sirhandsome1349]

I must say that I 90% love Y'all's videos. Unfortunately, I still come away with a feeling of having been "preached at"

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Covid response from govt was criminally insufficient.

[@kennyw871]

GB and America reacted the same way people did during the 1918-19 pandemic, which is to say ignor public health officals and allow governments to (mis)manage responses. We need to trust public health experts in times of public health emergencies. Easier said then done, right?

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Rule #1 Do as you would be done by. Rule#2 If you don't follow #1 watch out for Karma.

[@JCResDoc94]

*why would the gvt not want to **-pay out the retirement pensions of the baby boomer generation-** protect our elders?* you know, this same "sending infected elders back to care homes" happened in Aus/US as well? I havent checked, but i bet Canada as well. Do political actors care enough about fiscal responsibility for a reverse disaster capitalism in that sense? i actually dont know. thr are a lot of investments tied to those general funds. idk. the rest of the corruption is far easier to follow. JC

[@JeffRebornNow]

He says PREE-di-cated just like Bertrand Russell.

[@anthonysokolsky6210]

Does Grayling use the same hairdresser as Heseltine I wonder!

[@klumaverik]

THE REAL A.C. not that cheap knock off from saved by the bell. Did you know his character was based off of A.C. Grayling's life? Yea no jk

[@sharonhearne5014]

Please change your programming: when I go to your site the colors of the spaces and the commentary in many cases looks dark, bleak and grim. I know this isn’t your ultimate aim - which is enlightenment through fresh ideas and perspectives apart from traditional religion - but still I feel this exhausted-looking programme setting is depressing and the exact opposite of your goals. Even the way you dress and present yourselves looks grim. It is obvious you aren’t vibrant or phony TV personalities but the site, the atmosphere needs spiffing up because society at large needs desperately to hear these viewpoints. I am certain some of it is that you operate on a thin budget but there is true glory in the perspectives you are offering.