Curated Video
The US and the ICC, Part II
Legal scholar Emilie Hafner-Burton (UC San Diego) discusses why the US should be a signatory to the International Criminal Court.
Curated Video
The US and the ICC, Part I
Legal scholar Emilie Hafner-Burton (UC San Diego) discusses American attitudes regarding the International Criminal Court.
Curated Video
The Supreme Court Thought Experiment
Philosopher Brian Epstein (Tufts) describes the celebrated ontological thought experiment of the Supreme Court.
Curated Video
The Sociology of Jewish Identity
David Goldberg, Former Senior Rabbi Emeritus of London’s Liberal Jewish Synagogue, traces the roots of matrilineality to the times of Jewish persecution.
Curated Video
The Social Turn
Philosopher Brian Epstein (Tufts University) describes academic philosophy's movement towards social engagement and responsibility.
Curated Video
The Roots of Sign Language
UC San Diego linguist Carol Padden describes how, while we now recognize that gesture and sign language are structurally very different, linguists are now carefully examining how gesture might have originally given rise to sign languages.
Curated Video
The Relevance of Models
Historian Nile Green (UCLA) describes how his invocation of the model of religious economy for Islam gives benefits to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Curated Video
The Model of Religious Economy and Islam
Historian Nile Green (UCLA) describes how the model of religious economy explains both the evolution and diversity of organized religion, and some of the benefits of applying it to Islam.
Curated Video
The Hubris of Publishers
Chinese scholar and literary translator Michael Berry (UCLA) describes how many publishers demand original works be changed to fit American sensibilities.
Curated Video
The Diversity of Sign Languages
Linguist Carol Padden (UC San Diego), gives us a taste of the extraordinary geographical diversity of sign languages throughout the world.
Curated Video
The British Raj and Islam
Historian Nile Green (UCLA) describes how aspects of British colonialism in India led to the exportation of various types of Islam to Japan and the United States.
Curated Video
The Basis of Social Facts
Philosopher Brian Epstein (Tufts University) gives examples of social facts that depend on nothing particularly human at all.
Curated Video
Subtitles and Societal Perceptions
David Bellos, Director of the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication at Princeton University, discusses how the use of subtitles can subtly change our perception of ethnic and cultural groups.
Curated Video
Signing As Language
Sign language linguist Carol Padden relates the importance of Bill Stokoe’s pioneering work for developing a deeper understanding, not only of sign language, but of the linguistic structure of all languages.
Curated Video
Secularization Delayed
Historian David Hollinger (UC Berkeley) disagrees with those who claim that the United States is a counter-example to Weberian secularization theory.
Curated Video
Religion and the Education Gap
Historian David Hollinger (UC Berkeley) discusses the link between socioeconomic class and religious belief in contemporary America.
Curated Video
Religion and Science
Renowned polymath Freeman Dyson (Institute for Advanced Study) gives his views on religion, science and community.
Curated Video
Poetry and Prose
Poet and independent scholar Jennifer Michael Hecht describes the relations between her poetry and historical writings.
Curated Video
Neuroscience and Criminality
Legal scholar Nita Farahany (Duke University) describes how neuroscience is involved in the legal process.
Curated Video
Life in the 5th Generation
Chinese scholar and literary translator Michael Berry (UCLA) describes the extraordinary cultural landscape for the 5th Generation of Chinese filmmakers.
Curated Video
Language and the Mind
Philosopher Brian Epstein (Tufts) gives a brief account of how the field of philosophy of language has changed.
Curated Video
Language and Bayesian Frameworks
Cognitive scientist Victor Ferreira (UC San Diego) describes current thinking in the language sciences about how language systems change and adapt over time.
Curated Video
Iran and the Model of Religious Economy
Historian Nile Green (UCLA) describes how the model of religious economy is relevant to Iran.
Curated Video
Teaching Science Better
Marine biologist Edie Widder at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association stresses the importance for all of us of exposing kids to the relevance and excitement of doing real science.