Agnes Callard on engaging in public philosophy, her work as a columnist, and whether or not we can learn to believe in God

Agnes Callard is an Associate Professor in the University of Chicago's Department of Psychology, where she is Director of Undergraduate Studies. She received her BA from the University of Chicago in 1997 and her PhD from Berkeley in 2008. Her primary areas of specialization are Ancient Philosophy and Ethics. Prof. Callard has a regular column in The Point, a "magazine of philosophical writing on everyday life", and has written many essays for the New York Times. On this episode, she sits down with James Ryerson to discuss her career as a philosopher and popular writer, her thoughts on the possibility of public philosophy, how she cultivates ideas and her authorial voice, and her first New York Times piece, "Can We Learn to Believe in God?", published in Jan 2018. You can find Prof. Callard on Twitter at @AgnesCallard.

Supported by the John Templeton Foundation

Hosting and production by James Ryerson

Editing and production by Joseph Fridman

Theme composition by Stephen LaRosa of Wonder Boy Audio

Logo design by Jacob Feldman and Joseph Fridman

Special thanks to Lisa Feldman Barrett, Yvonne Malcolm and the Department of Psychology at Northeastern University.