ResponsAbility - Dialogues on Practical Knowledge and Bildung in Professional Studies

Michael Noah Weiss & Guro Hansen Helskog
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How can students and scholars in professional studies turn experience and ideas into practical knowledge and wisdom (phronesis)? How can critical and theoretical reflection on professional practice nurture practitioners' human development or Bildung, and help them develop the capacity to respond wisely in complex situations? How might world philosophies and intercultural dialogue inspire lived life and professional practice? With leading scholars as guests, hosts professors Michael Noah Weiss and Guro Hansen Helskog explore these questions at the intersection of philosophy, epistemology, education, and professional studies.

  1. 9 JAN

    #26 Lydia Amir | Transformative Philosophy and the Philosophy of Humor

    In this episode, we welcome Lydia Amir, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University, pioneer of philosophical practice, and a leading voice in transformative philosophy and the philosophy of humor. Lydia reflects on her lifelong commitment to bringing philosophy beyond the academy and making it responsive to the needs of communities and the challenges of our time. We explore her understanding of philosophers’ responsibility, the role of philosophical practice in professional education, and her distinctive claim that humor is a key bridge between theory and lived transformation. The conversation also highlights her work on philosophy as an alternative form of spirituality grounded in reason and dialogue. Sandra Radinger, guest researcher and philosophical practitioner, joins the dialogue, contributing perspectives from her work in philosophical practice and palliative care, and deepening the discussion on transformation, responsibility, and lived philosophy. 00:01:29 – Entry into philosophical practice & academic life journey  00:05:00 – Positioning philosophical practice among different approaches  00:06:53 – Responsibility of philosophers & philosophy beyond academia  00:11:23 – Philosophy and the “needs of the epoch” / unusable philosophy  00:13:16 – Philosophy’s contribution to professional education  00:15:05 – Relationship between philosophy and humor  00:19:31 – Necessity of humor for philosophizing  00:20:43 – Playfulness and the figure of the philosopher  00:25:05 – Transformative philosophy and its core ideas  00:29:18 – Role of the philosophical practitioner in personal transformation  00:32:57 – Current frontiers and future of philosophical practice  00:36:40 – Hopes for the future of lived philosophy  00:41:12 – Final reflections on promoting philosophy worldwide Literature:   Amir, L. (ed.) (2015): Humor and the Good Life in Modern Philosophy. Albany: State University of New York Press. Amir, L. (ed.) (2017): New Frontiers in Philosophical Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.  Amir, L. (2017): Rethinking Philosophers’ Responsibility. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.  Amir, L. (2024): The Legacy of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Laughter. Routledge. Amir, L. (2025): Handbook of Transformative Philosophy. Springer.

    43 min

  2. 12/12/2025

    #25 Donna Thomas | Researching extraordinary experiences with children

    In this episode we welcome Dr. Donna Thomas, co-director of ICreates@UCLan and Perrott-Warrick Senior Researcher administered through Trinity College Cambridge. Donna investigates children’s and adults’ extrasensory experiences within human development, bringing together psychological, social-scientific, and parapsychological perspectives. As she puts it: “Having a wider understanding of what it means to be human will inform how we develop services for people.” We talk with Donna about the kinds of unusual experiences children report, how creative and participatory methods allow them to express what lies beyond language, and why taking these experiences seriously matters for wellbeing. She also shares insights from her research on children’s near-death experiences in paediatric intensive care, and invites us to rethink dominant assumptions about consciousness, reality, and what it means to be human. 00:01:01 – Origins of Donna’s Research Interest 00:05:29 – Personal Extraordinary Experiences 00:11:04 – Children’s Unusual Experiences 00:16:35 – From Research to Services 00:22:59 – Post-Materialist Worldview 00:26:24 – Extrasensory Experiences and Development 00:29:59 – Children’s Epistemic Authority 00:34:01 – Creative Research Methods 00:39:06 – Philosophical Dialogue with Children 00:42:07 – Children’s Intuitive Wisdom Literature:   Thomas, D. M. (2025): Towards a natural semiotics for centralizing ‘out of this world’ images in research with children. In: Qualitative Research. Vol. 25(I). DOI: 10.1177/14687941241234284 Thomas, D. M. & O’Riordan, Z. (2025): “My mind is not my brain”: exploring consciousness with children using creative research methods. In: Qualitative Research in Pychology. 22:2. DOI: 10.1080/14780887.2024.2354338 Thomas, D. (2023) Children's Unexplained Experiences in a Post Materialist World. Collective Ink Publications. Thomas, D. M. (2022): Rethinking Methodologies in Parapsychology Research with Children. In: Journal of Anomalistics, Vol. 22.

    45 min

  3. 21/11/2025

    #24 Rupert Sheldrake | Re-enchanting Science and Nature

    In this episode, we welcome Rupert Sheldrake – biologist, author of over a hundred scientific papers and fifteen books, and one of the most original and influential thinkers in contemporary science. Educated at Cambridge and Harvard, and listed among the world’s most spiritually influential people for twelve consecutive years, Sheldrake is known for pioneering and provocative research on morphic fields, telepathy, and the re-enchantment of nature. Our conversation with him explores his critique of mechanistic science, his research on human and animal telepathy, the role of spiritual practices such as meditation, gratitude, ritual, and pilgrimage, and the formative influence of his years in India. Together, we discuss how science might evolve by embracing openness, lived experience, and wisdom traditions—inviting a more holistic and interconnected understanding of life. 00:01:15 – Origins of Morphic Fields 00:04:24 – Morphic Fields and Re-Enchantment 00:06:08 – Telepathy in Animals 00:10:31 – The “Science Delusion” Explained 00:14:46 – Morphic Fields and Other Fields 00:15:23 – Why Science Lost Interest in the Unexplained 00:20:13 – Seven Spiritual Practices 00:27:45 – Influence of India on Your Thinking 00:31:03 – Integrating Spiritual Practice into Research 00:33:50 – Pilgrimage as Research Practice 00:37:15 – Coincidences, Synchronicity and Guidance 00:40:08 – Reflective and Hermeneutic Research 00:41:41 – Wish List for the Future of Science Literature:   Sheldrake, R. (2017): Science and Spiritual Practices. Reconnecting through direct experience. Coronet Books. Sheldrake, R. (2012): The Science Delusion: Freeing the spirit of enquiry. London: Coronet Books. Sheldrake, R. (1999): Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home. New York: Crown. Sheldrake, R. (1988): The Presence of the Past: morphic resonance and the habits of nature, New York: Times Books Sheldrake, R. (1981): A New Science of Life: the hypothesis of formative causation Los Angeles: J.P. Tarcher.

    47 min

  4. 07/11/2025

    #23 Nancy Sherman | Stoic Wisdom and the Soul of Moral Life

    Our guest in this episode is Nancy Sherman, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University and a leading expert on ancient ethics and modern moral psychology. Drawing on Aristotle and the Stoics, Nancy explores what it means to live well, to cultivate resilience without emotional suppression, and to nurture our capacity for connection in a fragmented world. She discusses how Stoic ideas have been both misunderstood and rediscovered—from Silicon Valley’s self-help culture to the search for calm and meaning among younger generations. Through themes of responsiveness, character formation, and moral self-knowledge, the conversation bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary challenges in education, leadership, and mental health. 00:01:02 – Motivation and Driving Force 00:04:37 – Aristotle and the Soul 00:09:03 – Stoicism and Aristotle 00:11:46 – Stoicism and the Self-Help Industry 00:14:23 – Stoicism and Spiritual Practice 00:18:50 – Stoicism and Bildung 00:24:47 – ResponsAbility and Wise Response 00:28:24 – Responsiveness in Education and Professional Life 00:33:47 – Stoicism, Resilience, and Mental Health 00:37:06 – Stoic Exercises in Higher Education? Literature: Sherman, N. (forthcoming): How to Have a Soul: What Aristotle Teaches Us about Lasting Happiness. Yale University Press. Sherman, N. (2021): Stoic Wisdom – Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience. Oxford University Press. Sherman, N. (2015): Afterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Oxford University Press. Sherman, N. (2007) Stoic Warriors - The Ancient Philosophy behind the Military Mind. Oxford University Press. Sherman, N, (1991): The Fabric of Character: Aristotle's Theory of Virtue. Clarendon Press.

    39 min

  5. 24/10/2025

    #22 Peter Singer | Utilitarian and Buddhist Ethics

    Our guest in this episode is Peter Singer, one of the most influential moral philosophers of our time. Known for works like Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, and The Life You Can Save, Singer has spent his career challenging us to rethink how we live and how we can reduce suffering for humans and animals alike. In his recent book The Buddhist and the Ethicist, co-authored with Venerable Shih Chao-Hwei, he explores what happens when Western utilitarian ethics meets the compassion and mindfulness of engaged Buddhism. In this conversation, we talk about living one’s philosophy, the role of compassion in ethical life, and what Buddhist thought can teach us about the ability to respond wisely to the challenges of our time. 00:00:53 – Living One’s Philosophy 00:02:52 – The Life You Can Save 00:06:40 – What’s Good About Utilitarianism? 00:09:14 – Ethics and Animal Welfare 00:12:58 – The Buddhist and the Ethicist: A Cross-Cultural Dialogue 00:17:00 – Why Dialogue? 00:18:32 – Insights from the Dialogue 00:21:30 – Spirituality Without Belief 00:25:29 – The Meeting of Compassion and Reason 00:25:32 – What Can Western Philosophy Learn from Buddhism? 00:27:40 – ResponsAbility and Ethical Dialogue 00:29:12 – The Responsibility of Philosophers Today 00:32:22 – Future Dialogues Between Philosophy and Contemplative Traditions Literature:   Singer, P. & Chao-Hwei, S. (2023): The Buddhist and the Ethicist: Conversations on Effective Altruism, Engaged Buddhism, and How to Build a Better World. Boulder, CO: Shambala. Singer, P. (2024): Animal liberation now. Vintage Publishing Singer, P. (2020): Why Vegan. So the only question is: Do any other animal other than man suffer? Penguin Classics.Singer, P. (2016): One World Now: The Ethics of Globalization. Yale University Press.Singer, P. (2015): The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically. Yale University Press. deLazari-Radek, K. & Singer, P. (2014): The Point of View of the Universe: Sidgwick and Contemporary Ethics. Oxford University Press.Singer, P. (1981, 2nd edition 2011): The Expanding Circle: Ethics, Evolution, and Moral Progress. Princeton University Press. Singer, P. (2009): The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty. Random House.Singer, P. & Mason, J. (2007): The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter. Harmony/Rodale/Convergent.

    35 min

  6. 17/10/2025

    #21 Tone Kvernbekk | Evidence-based Practice?

    In this episode, we talk with Tone Kvernbekk, Professor of Education at the University of Oslo, about how teachers think, reason, and act wisely in complex educational contexts. Drawing on her work on the nature of evidence, theory, and practical judgment, she discusses why educational practice cannot simply be based on evidence, but must be informed by it. We explore her reflections on causality, context, and the limits of instrumental thinking. Finally, Tone shares how pedagogical thought experiments can help cultivate the ability to respond thoughtfully and well to what each situation demands. 00:00:44 – Academic journey and philosophical beginnings 00:02:34 – Why theory and theory development matter in education 00:04:27 – “Nothing is as practical as a good theory” 00:06:00 – The meaning of “based” in evidence-based practice 00:08:02 – What counts as evidence? 00:11:58 – John Hattie and the limits of “what works best” 00:15:31 – Instrumentality and causality in education 00:20:02 – Four models for connecting research evidence and practice 00:22:35 – Grimen, phronesis, and Biesta – on wisdom, risk, and judgment 00:25:41 – Pedagogical thought experiments and the cultivation of ResponsAbility 00:30:06 – The responsibility of educational philosophers today Literature:  Kvernbekk, T. (2005). Pedaogisk teoridannelse. Insidere, teoriformer og praksis. Fagbokforlaget Kvernbekk, T. (2011): The Concept of Evidence in Evidence-based Practice. In: Educational Theory, Vol. 61, No. 5. University of Illinois. Kvernbekk, T. (2018) «Evidensbasert Pedagogisk Praksis: Utvalgte Kontroverser.» Nordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk,Vol. 4, 2018, pp. 136–153. http://dx.doi.org/10.23865/ntpk.v4.1153 Kvernbekk, T. (2019) Practitioner tales: possible roles for research evidence in practice, Educational Research and Evaluation, 25:1-2, 25-42, DOI: 10.1080/13803611.2019.1617988

    34 min

  7. 19/09/2025

    #20 Lou Marinoff | The Practical Power of Philosophy - in Education, Professions and Life

    In this episode of the ResponsAbility Podcast, we speak with philosopher Lou Marinoff, professor at City College of New York and founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. Marinoff shares his journey from physics to philosophy, and how he became a pioneer of philosophical practice. We talk about his well-known book Plato, Not Prozac and the P4/PEACE framework, his dialogue with Buddhist thinker Daisaku Ikeda in The Inner Philosopher, and his reflections on spirituality, Taoism, and Pierre Hadot’s idea of philosophy as a way of life. Marinoff also discusses his work on the root causes of conflict and argues for philosophy’s crucial role in higher education, professional practice, and in creating the conditions for peace. 00:00:50 - Personal and professional journey 00:03:38 - What philosophical practice can contribute to higher education 00:13:01 - On the relevance of philosophy when facing life’s challenges00:15:52 - On the P4/PEACE framework and why it is not only about problem-solving 00:30:56 - On The Inner Philosopher with Japanese Buddhist thinker Daisaku Ikeda. 00:35:46 - On spirituality and philosophical practice 00:41:45 - What is Daoist philosophy about, and how might it be applied in life? 00:46:42 - What are the root causes of conflict? 00:55:14 - On understanding conflict and developing towards wisdom Literature:  Marinoff, L. (1999). Plato, not Prozac! Applying eternal wisdom to everyday problems. HarperCollins.  Marinoff, L. (2003). The big questions: How philosophy can change your life. Bloomsbury.  Marinoff, L. (2004). Therapy for the sane: How philosophy can change your life. Bloomsbury USA. (Note: This work was originally published in hardcover as The Big Questions.) Marinoff, L., & Ikeda, D. (2012). The inner philosopher: Conversations on philosophy’s transformative power. Dialogue Path Press.  Marinoff, L. (2017). The power of Dao: A timeless guide to happiness and harmony. Waterside Productions.  Marinoff, L. (2019). On human conflict: The philosophical foundations of war and peace. Rowman & Littlefield.  Marinoff, L. (2020). The middle way: Finding happiness in a world of extremes. Waterside Productions.

    59 min

  8. 05/09/2025

    #19 Nicola Ulibarri | Creativity in Research

    In this episode of the ResponsAbility Podcast, we speak with Nicola Ulibarri, Associate Professor at UC Irvine and first author of Creativity in Research. Drawing on her experience at Stanford’s d.school, Nicola shares how creativity can be cultivated as a deliberate practice in academia through mindfulness, emotional intuition, structured exercises, and supportive collaboration. We explore themes from her book, including the thirty-day creativity program, storytelling, energy management, and psychological safety in teams — and reflect on how these themes can become sources of creativity and inspiration for the researcher. 00:00:55 - Personal and professional background for writing Creativity in Research 00:03:38 - Mindfulness as foundational for creativity in research 00:05:06 - Emotional intuition as a guide in research decisions 00:09:11 - How can the inclusion of mindfulness and emotional intuition in research processes be justified? 00:12:38 - On the thirty-day-program 00:15:02 - Transformations observed with researchers who did the thirty-day-program 00:17:48 - On the importance of storytelling and language in shaping researchers’ identity 00:19:19 - On the role of energy management in research processes 00:24:09 - On the importance of collaboration and feedback in order for creativity to flourish in research 00:28:13 - Surprises in the reception of the book 00:31:10 - Is a researcher also a kind of artist? Literature: Ulibarri N, Cravens AE, Svetina Nabergoj A, Kernbach S, Royalty A. (2019): Creativity in Research: Cultivate Clarity, Be Innovative, and Make Progress in Your Research Journey. Cambridge University Press.

    33 min
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How can students and scholars in professional studies turn experience and ideas into practical knowledge and wisdom (phronesis)? How can critical and theoretical reflection on professional practice nurture practitioners' human development or Bildung, and help them develop the capacity to respond wisely in complex situations? How might world philosophies and intercultural dialogue inspire lived life and professional practice? With leading scholars as guests, hosts professors Michael Noah Weiss and Guro Hansen Helskog explore these questions at the intersection of philosophy, epistemology, education, and professional studies.

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