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Podcast Episode

Hume’s Guillotine: Why What Is Doesn’t Decide What Should Be

The Laughing Philosopher's Podcast··4 December 2025·22 min

About this episode

What does a Scottish philosopher’s “guillotine” have to do with your daily decisions? In this episode, we explore David Hume’s famous Is-Ought Fallacy — why you can’t jump from what is to what ought to be — and how Hume’s Guillotine still shapes modern debates about right and wrong. With a mix of wisdom and practical examples, we cut to the heart of why facts alone can’t tell us what’s moral. From everyday life choices to serious ethical debates, we slice through the gap between facts and values with just enough philosophical mischief to keep you thinking long after the episode ends.