Big Ideas Folgen

Deaths in custody are a recurring tragedy for many countries, including Australia, the United States and in the United Kingdom. Victims are disproportionately black. They often die after being restrained during a mental health crisis, or while intoxicated. In the UK, barrister Leslie Thomas blames institutional racism for such deaths, and the lack of convictions that follow. We’ll also hear from other experts on how to stop this devastation.

Throughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times. Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty. But what if you don’t believe in god? Where do you find your truth then? How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of today? Paul Barclay asks Kenan Malik, author of "The Quest for a Moral Compass". Recorded at the Bendigo Writers Festival on August 13, 2017

If you’ve booked a Covid vaccination online, it’s likely that artificial intelligence helped find you the nearest and soonest appointment. It’s one of many ways AI makes our lives easier. But it's long been known that AI is also dangerous. So, how can its benefits be better balanced against its harms? AI expert Kate Crawford urges us to look behind the technology. She’s speaking to Fenella Kernebone from Sydney Ideas.