Michael Huemer on Disobeying the Law
Should you disobey the law, at least some of the time? If justice isn’t simply enforcing the law, then what is it? And what sorts of laws would we have in a just society?
Oct 24, 2021•52 min
Brain in a Vat
Thought experiments and conversations with philosophers. Hosted by Dr Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer.
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Episodes
Is Nuclear War Ever Justified? | Eron Fasser
Should certain weapons be banned from use in war? Are there limits on the amount of force countries should use to protect their citizens? Is it ever justified to kill innocent civilians to end a war? ICJ Advisory Opinion: https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/95
Oct 17, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Plato’s problem with Democracy | Clif Mark
Is Democracy the best political system? Plato thought not. But what is the best alternative? Clif Mark, from the podcast Good in Theory , joins us this week to discuss Plato’s Republic. https://goodintheorypod.com/
Oct 10, 2021•50 min
Is it wrong to enjoy good films made by bad people? | Travis Timmerman
Is the art separate from the artist? Can a moral defect in a film undermine its aesthetic quality?
Oct 03, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 41
The Power of Imagination | Amy Kind
What would a world without imagination be like? Why do we feel sympathy, fear or excitement for fictional characters? And can imaginary actions be morally wrong?
Sep 26, 2021•53 min
Where is my mind? | Shaun Stanley
Are human being merely sophisticated robots? Do we have mental states or can we be understood only through our behavior?
Sep 19, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Should You Trust Experts? | Oliver Traldi
There's a growing trend to distrust scientists. Sometimes they get the facts wrong, or align with a political party. What should we do in the face of conflicting expertise? Who should we trust?
Sep 12, 2021•57 min
How To End Global Poverty | Andy Kuper
Andy Kuper, the founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, tells us how his PHD in philosophy led him to marry profit with purpose, by creating investment funds with deep impact on the lives of 200 million low-income people worldwide, while generating strong returns for its investors and the companies in which it invests. https://leapfroginvest.com Andy's Book Democracy Beyond Borders: https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Beyond-Borders-Representation-Institutions-ebook-dp-B000WNHG48/dp/B000WNHG48/ Co...
Sep 05, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Cryonics: who wants to live forever? | Francesca Minerva
Is cryonics a viable route to immortality? Is immortality desirable, or would it present us with endless boredom and meaninglessness?
Aug 29, 2021•46 min
Addiction | Daniel Hochman
Is being addicted to love or chocolate the same as being addicted to cocaine?
Aug 22, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Death | Travis Timmerman
Would it be better to live forever than to die? Is the goodness or badness of death dependent on the future quality of our lives? Is death so bad that it would be better never to have been born? Travis' Book: Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Philosophy-Death-Dying-Contemporary/dp/1138393584/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail...
Aug 15, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 34
When should you forgive? | Brandon Warmke
What is forgiveness, and when is it appropriate? What does it mean to apologize to a group of people, and for that group to forgive? Is forgiveness ever obligatory, or is forgiveness irrational or even immoral?
Aug 08, 2021•1 hr 4 min
John Rawls: Justice as Fairness | Paul Weithman
John Rawls is widely regarded as the greatest modern liberal philosopher. Does his theory of justice lead to a fair society? Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Aug 01, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Do the ends justify the means? | Alastair Norcross
Should you sacrifice one innocent person to save many? Can you justify killing one annoying politician to save millions of people from suffering a minor headache? And is morality a matter of degree rather than a clear distinction between right and wrong?
Jul 25, 2021•1 hr 20 min
What Is Madness? | Justin Garson
Is 'mental disorder' purely a dysfunction, or are there important advantages to being psychologically different? Do depression and anxiety serve a vital role in healing and bettering one's life?
Jul 18, 2021•53 min
Is it okay to be a slacker? | Alison Suen
What makes Hollywood slackers like The Dude so enchanting? Are slackers the unsung heroes of the pandemic, or a bunch of useless bums? Read Alison's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Its-OK-Be-Slacker/dp/0367338181 Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Jul 11, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 29
What Offends You? | Mark Oppenheimer
Should we ban offensive speech? Should we tolerate racism and transphobia? Should everything that is immoral also be illegal?
Jul 04, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Is evil real? | Spencer Case
Is murder wrong? Can evolution fully explain why we think certain actions are immoral? And can we believe moral truths with even greater certainty than truths about the physical world? Spencer Case offers objections to Shaun Stanley, a moral anti-realist who appeared previously on our show.
Jun 27, 2021•48 min
What if? | Peg Tittle
What if you navigated the world through echo location instead of sight? What if cats could gain all of the traits of humans? What if you were a brain in a vat trying to solve a difficult moral problem. To learn more about Peg's work check out: https://www.pegtittle.com https://www.jassrichards.com Special offer to podcast listeners: For any title with an on-site purchase option, Peg is happy to send a complimentary copy (epub or pdf). No strings attached. Please make your requests via the site c...
Jun 20, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 26
What Is Happiness? | Shane Gronholz
What makes your life go well? Can you be wrong about whether you are happy? And can happiness be bad for you?
Jun 13, 2021•59 min
Trans, Sex, and Gender | Kathleen Stock
Is sex only a matter of biology? Are there conflicts between trans rights, women's rights, and gay rights? Is it possible to change genders? Buy Kathleen's Book: Material Girls https://www.amazon.com/Material-Girls-Reality-Matters-Feminism-ebook/dp/B08LK8TY5S
Jun 06, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Do Social Groups Exist? | Jason Werbeloff
What transforms a collection of individuals into a social group? Jason Werbeloff argues the answer is: nothing. There are no social groups. No countries, political parties, marriages, or sports clubs. There are only individuals.
May 30, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 22
12 Mind Blowing Thought Experiments
What can a runaway train, a patient wrapped head to toe in bandages, and man condemned by the gods to roll a rock for eternity teach us about leading a good life? If you enjoy stories that tickle your brain, this episode is for you.
May 23, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 21
The Dangers of Thought Experiments | Roy Sorensen
Are thought experiments useful for telling us about the nature of reality? What are the limitations of thought experiments, and should we trust them in discussions of morality and science?
May 16, 2021•46 min
Is Morality Real? | Shaun Stanley
Should we care whether we cause others suffering? Do we have duties or obligations to others? Shaun Stanley thinks there are no moral reasons for action. Do you think morality is real?
May 09, 2021•1 hr 4 min
The Danger of Wokeness | Helen Zille
Many believe Woke ideology to be a source of positive change in society. Helen Zille thinks otherwise. Could Wokeness be dangerous? You can find Helen's book, #StayWoke: Go Broke, on Amazon and Takealot. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/StayWoke-Africa-survive-Americas-culture-ebook/dp/B091BB1X23/ Takealot: https://www.takealot.com/staywoke-go-broke/PLID72165371
May 02, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 18
The Second Sexism | David Benatar
Are there some areas of life where men are worse off than women? Are these disadvantages always the product of sexism? If we recognize a second sexism against men, what effect would this have on women? Prof Benatar's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Sexism-Discrimination-Against-Boys-ebook-dp-B007VJU7C4/dp/B007VJU7C4/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Apr 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Wittgenstein's Poker | David Edmonds
David Edmonds of Philosophy Bites fame regales us with a fiery story about Ludwig Wittgenstein's only meeting with Karl Popper. David also gives us a behind the scenes tour of the world's best loved philosophy show. David's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wittgensteins-Poker-Ten-Minute-Argument-Philosophers/dp/0060936649/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Apr 18, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Hate Speech and Pornography | Mari Mikkola
What is hate speech, and what are the limits of free speech? Should pornography be censored in the same way we censor speech? Mari's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pornography-Philosophical-Introduction-Mari-Mikkola-ebook/dp/B07LFJS6RR/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Apr 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Animal Welfare | Bob Fischer
Are some animals more equal than others? Do zoos protect animals or are they solely designed for our amusement? Should we test medicines on animals?
Apr 04, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 14
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