Amit recommends:
Ex Machina
A great Sci-fi exploring AI, machine consciousness, and all the ethical implications that come with letting rich tech-savvy CEO’s go rampant in expanding risky technology. There’s also a wonderful dancing scene with Oscar Isaac.
Bojack Horseman
If you ever wish for someone to give you existential dread at least let it be from an alcoholic anthropomorphic horse. Bojack Horseman manages to artistically touch on all aspects of the human condition - from a search for meaning in (and of) life, to battling with deep psychological trauma - but it’s also a show that has excellent comedic wit and writing.
Living with Yourself
Starring Paul Rudd and Paul Rudd’s clone, this comedy delves into issues of personal identity, mind-hacking, and human cloning, whilst somehow remaining light-hearted and philosophically astute.
Anya Recommends:
Undone
From the makers of Bojack Horseman, but outrageously under-viewed. This is the most successful exploration of the internal landscape that I have ever come across, rendered possible by the layered film/animated format. Through two seasons we follow a woman who investigates the mystery of her father’s death while simultaneously coming to grips with her new access to the world following an accident – or is it schizophrenia? This access, with guidance from the indigenous shamanic traditions of her Mexican heritage (for example, dance induced trance), is used to explore alternative ideas of time, identity, death, and ultimately ask questions about our capacity for moral action when we are imbedded in an ancestral chain of inherited trauma.
I am a Strange Loop – Douglas Hofstadter
Musings on the mind, from a brilliant mind. There is a beautiful chapter that goes through the making sense the author had to undertake after the passing of his beloved partner. By thinking about what her identity (understood as her thought states) consisted of when she was alive, he proposes that those sharing those thoughts, in a very real sense, allow fragmented versions of her to persist.
Waking Up App
A treasure trove of curated content – talks from thinkers from ‘Eastern’ and ‘Western’ traditions (think modern takes on Stoicism and Buddhism, to brain science insight and Zen koans), and dedicated mini-courses honing cognitive skills to better engage with this human condition. Some call this meditation. Applied philosophy at its finest. Also offered free to those that can’t afford the annual subscription on a ‘No Questions Asked’ basis.
Hannah recommends:
'Puppies, Pigs and People: Eating Meat and Marginal Cases', Alastair Norcross. This text discusses the ethical implications of animal exploitation for human benefit and is typically studied in the first year Applied Ethics module.
'Recent work on the nature and development of delusions' is an interesting insight to the Philosophy of Mental Health module. The author, Professor Lisa Bortolotti also teaches on this module. Prof. Bortolotti has also delivered a TED talk on deconstructing the stigmas surrounding mental health.
Rosie recommends:
The Good Place (2016-2020) is a wonderfully witty sitcom that explores moral philosophy in a hilarious and accessible way. It largely focuses on meta-ethics, questioning the difference between learning ethics versus actually doing ethics. This really brought these conceptual ideas down to earth and made them relatable to real life. I laughed out loud at the philosophy jokes, I cried at the emotional character arcs and I nerded-out at the references to some of my favourite thinkers. It is absolutely essential watching for anyone who's ever thought about what it is to be a "good" person.
Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (2004) is a story which essentially studies the nature of heartbreak. However, it is told in such an innovative and philosophical way. It explores human autonomy, consciousness, emotion, memory and ethics within an exploitative, neo-liberal, capitalist society not so far from our own. The cinematography is beautiful, and the story is incredibly thought-provoking. It is one of my all-time favourite movies and, after watching it for the first time, it left me contemplating it for days.
Sex, Culture and Justice’ by Clare Chambers. Chapters from this book are discussed on several modules in the course, so this is a great place to start for Feminist Philosophy.
Wisecrack is a really great YouTube channel that explores all things relating to philosophy and film/pop culture. The videos are really well put together, entertaining but also intellectually stimulating. One of my personal favourites!
Jack's recommendations for Philosophy applicants
Philosophy student Jack offers some recommendations for prospective students to help them prepare for their studies.
Sophie recommends:
The Last of Us (2013) is a narrative-driven video game set in post-apocalyptic America. Though the story initially follows a traditional hero’s arc––hardened survivor Joel is tasked with helping young Ellie save the remaining population––it quickly becomes one of the most beautiful tales told in video games. It concludes with a familiar philosophical conundrum: when faced with great peril, is it okay to save our loved ones at the cost of countless others? Unlike philosophers who attempt to answer such dilemmas (e.g. the trolley problem), The Last of Us only asks its players to question themselves and whether ‘saving the world’ is worth losing everything you love.
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series (2019) is an episodic video game which mirrors aspects of the popular television series. We follow determined Clementine from outbreak day onward as she and others adapt to life as apocalypse survivors. Along the way, players make difficult decisions on behalf of the characters: who should be fed when resources are scarce? Is it okay to steal supplies from a seemingly abandoned vehicle? Are there conditions under which killing people is okay? At the end of each chapter, players view how popular their choices were compared with other players’ decisions. I gained insight into my own instinctive ethical values and where I stand apart from others. The Walking Dead is a moving saga showing what we value in the worst of times.