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Brain in a Vat

Brain in a Vatpodcasters.spotify.com
Thought experiments and conversations with philosophers. Hosted by Dr Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer.
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Episodes

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, 202144 minSeason 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, 20211 hr 1 minSeason 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, 202155 minSeason 2Ep. 14

Who should you believe? | Chris Ranalli

In a polarized world where everyone is certain, who should you believe? Are certain beliefs immoral? And how seriously should we take conspiracy theories? Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Mar 28, 202154 minSeason 2Ep. 13

Can God Right Past Wrongs? | Sam Lebens

Would a just God allow us to suffer? Could God rewrite history to remove the bad bits? Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Mar 21, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 2Ep. 12

Anarchy & Socialism | Mark Lance

Can we construct a society free of state coercion and inequality? Is there a place for Capitalism in that society? Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Mar 14, 20211 hr 2 minSeason 2Ep. 11

What is the Value of Philosophy? | Justin Weinberg

Are there certain questions that should never be asked? Is Philosophy useful? And have philosophers made any progress in answering the BIG questions? Justin's Daily Nous blog: https://dailynous.com/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Mar 07, 202149 minSeason 2Ep. 10

So You've Been Publicly Shamed | Rebecca Tuvel

What can we learn about public shaming from the Black Mirror episodes Hated in the Nation and Nosedive? Are there ever cases where someone deserves to be shamed? When should someone be forgiven for doing something shameful? Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Feb 28, 20211 hr 2 minSeason 2Ep. 9

Nietzsche: Morality is Dead | Brian Leiter

If God is dead, did morality die with him? Are artists, writers and lovers more valuable than the rest of us mere mortals? Find out what Friedrich Nietzsche thought in our new series on great philosophers. Brian's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Psychology-Nietzsche-Brian-Leiter-ebook-dp-B07QD6V99B/dp/B07QD6V99B/ Contact Us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Feb 21, 202152 minSeason 2Ep. 8

Stephen King and Philosophy | Jacob Held

What is horror, and why do some of us willingly terrify ourselves by watching or reading the genre? Is horror poor quality fiction, or can it offer us a unique opportunity for empathy and moral growth? Jacob's book: https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-King-Philosophy-Great-Authors/dp/1442253843

Feb 14, 202154 minSeason 2Ep. 7

Is Academic Freedom Under Threat? | Spencer Case

Are universities a safe space for dangerous ideas? Does a right to academic freedom guarantee a culture that tolerates controversial views? Should universities limit the research fields of professors? Micro Digressions Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/956725 Spencer's Blog: https://www.spencercasephilosophy.com/

Feb 07, 202147 minSeason 2Ep. 6

Which God Should You Believe in? | Eron Fasser

Are all Gods created equal? Are certain divine attributes less likely to be real given that multiples faiths exist? Are religions like different paths leading to the same destination?

Jan 31, 20211 hr 4 minSeason 2Ep. 5

Is Abortion Immoral? | Nathan Nobis

Does a fetus have a right to life? Should there be any limitations on the choices that a woman makes over her own body? Nathan's book: https://www.abortionarguments.com/p/this-book-introduces-readers-to-many.html Thomson's violinist: https://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm

Jan 24, 202152 minSeason 2Ep. 4

The Argument for Anarchism

Anarchism, or the view that we should not have a government, seems impractical. But Michael Huemer believes there is a way to understand Anarchism that not only resolves these impracticalities - it may provide a better society than the one we have now. Michael Huemer's book, 'The Problem of Political Authority': https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Political-Authority-Examination-Coerce/dp/1137281650

Jan 17, 20211 hr 6 minSeason 2Ep. 2

Face Blindness with Jeff Waters

What's it like to be unable to recognize faces? 2% of the population have a neurological condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness - including this week's guest, and one of our hosts. Listen to Jeff's Face Blind podcast here: https://faceblindpodcast.com/...

Jan 10, 20211 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 2

Tenet Explained

Christopher Nolan's Tenet is a visual feast, but does it make any sense? Eron Fasser explains if you can you time travel to change the past and if Neil and Protagonist have free will? Brain in a Vat Book: www.smarturl.it/lockdownbook

Jan 03, 202151 minSeason 2Ep. 1

The Future of Brain in a Vat

A round up of our favorite episodes and some insight into how we make the show. We will be on a hiatus until January. Let us know in the YouTube comments who you want to see us interview in the coming year.

Dec 07, 202017 minSeason 1Ep. 33

Brian Leiter: The Supreme Court

Is the Supreme Court merely a political body made up of warring liberals and conservatives? Should Judges apply laws that are unjust? Will the Supreme Court declare Trump the winner of the election? Leiter Report: https://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/

Nov 29, 20201 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 32

Thad Metz: Meaning in Life

What makes life worth living? How valuable are truth, beauty and morality? If life is ultimately meaningless from the perspective of the universe is none the less better to have been born? Thad on the Meaning of Life :https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/life-meaning/

Nov 22, 202057 minSeason 1Ep. 32

Do You Have Free Will? With Mark Leon

Is it possible for your actions to be free, even if they are determined? And would an indeterministic universe make us any freer? If we don't have free will, should we be held accountable for our actions?

Nov 15, 202049 minSeason 1Ep. 31

Does Your Vote Count? With Jacob Bauer

If your vote has only a tiny chance of influencing the outcome of an election, is it irrational to vote? Does voting grant legitimacy to repugnant candidates? Is voting always an obligation, or are there situations that require you not to vote? Philosopher Games on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PhilosopherGames/ Philosopher Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilosopherGames

Nov 05, 20201 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 31

Black Mirror, Virtual Sex and Trans with Rebecca Tuvel

Is virtual sex outside of a relationship cheating? How should we determine a person's gender? Should the same rules apply to race? Rebecca's article: In Defense of Transracialism https://cryptome.org/2017/05/in-defense-of-transracialism.pdf Hypatia transracialism controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypatia_transracialism_controversy

Nov 01, 20201 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 29

#2000andlate in 2020 Hindsight

We have a philosophical conversation with an artist about her latest exhibition. Dom's paintings explore the social and sexual mores of the last twenty years through the lens of our current values.

Oct 25, 202036 minSeason 1Ep. 29

Do You Have a Soul? With Tyron Goldschmidt

Are you just a physical body? If you have a brain transplant do you stay with your original body or move with your brain? Could the existence of an immaterial soul solve the mind body problem? Tyron's Books: The Puzzle of Existence: Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing? Idealism: New Essays in Metaphysics Thumbnail Art: Lateralus Album Cover by Alex Grey

Oct 18, 202048 minSeason 1Ep. 28

Should Robots Have Rights? With Rob Sparrow

Is it wrong to destroy an AI if it can have a conversation with a human being? If a robot expresses suffering is it wrong to torture it? Should we mourn the death of a robot lover? Sparrow, R. 2004. The Turing triage test. Ethics and Information Technology 6(4): 203-213. Sparrow, R. 2007. Killer robots. Journal of Applied Philosophy 24(1): 62-77, March. Sparrow, R. 2020. Virtue and vice in our relationships with robots: Is there an asymmetry and how might it be explained? International Journal o...

Oct 11, 20201 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 27

Should We Save The Polar Bears? With Yolandi Coetzee

Are some animals more equal than others? Are game reserves a part of nature if they are man made? Is global warming universally bad or does it benefit some species? Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook Thumbnail Art: Peace by Lynn Bywaters

Oct 04, 202054 minSeason 1Ep. 26

Mark Oppenheimer²: The Limits Of Free Speech?

Is cancel culture destroying our institutions? Should Holocaust deniers have the right to speak? What is hate speech, and should it be illegal? Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook Harpers Letter: https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/

Sep 27, 20201 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 25

[Bonus] Mark Oppenheimer²

Atom bombs, diamond billionaires, and hate mail have a special role to play in this bonus episode. Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook

Sep 27, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 25

Let's Talk About Sex With Raja Halwani

Is it wrong to only have a sexual preference for certain races? Can you have sex without being objectified? Is there a moral limit on our sexual fantasies? Store: http://smarturl.it/LockdownBook Thumbnail Art: The Yoshiwara Prostitute by Kikugawa Eizan

Sep 20, 202059 minSeason 1Ep. 23

David Benatar: The Meaning of Life

What does it all mean? If we live on a pail blue dot in a vast and uncaring universe can our lives have cosmic meaning? Is it better never to have been born?

Sep 13, 20201 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 22
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