John Anderson: Conversations

John is joined by renowned American legal scholar Richard A. Epstein for a discussion about American society in the wake of the overturn of Roe vs. Wade by the Supreme Court. Professor Epstein traces major changes in American legal theory and governance from independence through to the present, highlighting the shift in legislative power from the local to the national level and increasing activism by and politicisation of the Supreme Court.

In this Direct interview, John is joined by Baroness Claire Fox for a discussion about British politics and society in the aftermath of Boris Johnson's resignation. The Baroness' fascinating background lends particular weight into her insights into matters including free speech, the power of bureaucracy, the green movement and cultural pessimism, among others.

John is joined by author and theologian Professor Nigel Biggar, for an insightful conversation on crucial ethical, historical, and philosophical questions, centred on the British Empire. They discuss war and whether it can be justified, the history of the world’s greatest empires and slavery within those empires, the British empire’s unbalanced reputation, rights and wrongs of colonisation, academic dishonesty in universities and more.

John is joined by distinguished philosopher Professor John Haldane for a rigorous conversation centered on pressing philosophical questions.

John is joined in conversation by Salvatore Babones, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Sydney. The two discuss matters concerning Australian universities, including the rise of the expert class, politics in university departments, free speech and morality, and China's involvement in our tertiary education system. All of this is collectively referenced in Salvatore's new book "Universities: Can they reform?"

Introducing us to foundational philosophies of science too often forgotten today, Prof. Batterham applies his wisdom to areas such as climate change, emissions policies and agricultural technology. He makes the case for a promising heterodox technology that may serve to mitigate climate and agricultural problems - soil carbon sequestration.