Nature & Nurture

Dr. Alex Byrne is a Professor of Philosophy at MIT and author of Trouble with Gender.

In this episode, we talk about the problematic concept of gender, which is often used interchangeably to mean sex, gender identity, gender role, gender norm, or gender stereotypes. Alex and I discuss each of these, and their precise definitions in philosophy, biology, or sociology in detail. We also discuss the problem of identity and categorization in philosophy of mind and language more broadly, as a source of some of the confusion. Lastly, we discuss the nuances of defining sex and gender in intersex and transgender populations, the essentialist nature of felt gender identity, the concept of transracialism, the ethics of social and medical gender transition in children, and answer the question: What is a woman?

00:18 Understanding the 'Trouble with Gender'
02:19 Exploring the History of Gender Philosophy
05:07 The Role of Language in Defining Gender
05:46 The Complexity of Gender Terminology
10:16 The Misinterpretation of Gender Concepts
22:22 The Absurdity of Precise Definitions
41:33 The Biological Definition of Sex
58:18 The Hypothetical Cat-Dog: A Thought Experiment of Social Perception
01:02:32 Gender, Sex, and the Complexity of Identity
01:03:35 The Practical Implications of Defining Gender
01:05:51 Transgender Identity and the Question of 'Passing'
01:20:21 The Philosophical Dilemma of Pronouns and Gender Identity
01:22:33 Transracialism and the Social Construct of Identity
01:46:13 The Controversy of Autogynephilia and Gender Identity
01:53:29 The Reception and Impact of Controversial Philosophical Ideas