Brain in a Vat

Brain in a Vat episodes:

• 06.23.2024

  Is Israel’s War Unjust? | Mark Oppenheimer vs Raja Halwani

  Join us for an intense debate featuring Mark Oppenheimer, who defends Israel’s war as just, and Raja Halwani, who argues Israel’s war is unjust. The debate covers historical contexts, moral principles, and the roles of both Israel and Hamas, aiming...

  
• 06.16.2024

  Gaming and Friendship | Nicholas Baima

  How do digital interactions, specifically through gaming, form genuine friendships? Nicholas Baima challenges the traditional notion that physical presence is essential for true friendship. By examining ancient ethical theories, especially Aristotle's various forms of friendship, the episode debates whether online friendships...

  
• 06.09.2024

  Gaming: Dangerous or Beneficial? | Sarah Malanowski

  Should we consider gaming as potentially addictive? Sarah Malanowski argues gaming is much like any other beneficial hobby: it provides a sense of community, challenge, and personal growth. She argues gaming is unfairly stigmatized, and should instead be seen as...

  
• 06.02.2024

  The Edges of Philosophy: Good, Bad, and the Controversial | Travis Timmerman

  What makes for good philosophy? How has philosophy impacted popular culture? Can sci-fi be good philosophy? And can we inspire philosophical inquiry despite not strictly adhering to rigorous philosophical methods? [00:00] Introduction to Bad Philosophy [00:51] The Repugnant Conclusion [03:09] Criteria for Good...

  
• 05.26.2024

  Helpful Abortion Restrictions? | Perry Hendricks

  Perry Hendricks argues that abortion restrictions are beneficial, especially to black women, by preventing them from engaging in what he presupposes is the wrongful act of abortion. The conversation critically examines the ethics of abortion, the impact of restrictions on...

  
• 05.19.2024

  Race and IQ | Nathan Cofnas

  Nathan Cofnas argues that distinct populations have developed specific cognitive abilities due to varying environmental challenges. The conversation explores the definition and validity of racial categorization from a biological perspective, addressing whether certain physical and cognitive differences among races have a...

  
• 05.12.2024

  Lionel Shriver on the Dangers of Manic Equality

  We welcome back Lionel Shriver to discuss her latest novel, 'Mania'. Shriver explores how egalitarian principles push us to ignore obvious truths about the world, particularly in discussions on transgender rights. She critiques the Left’s inclination to measure art and...

  
• 05.05.2024

  Gun Control | Eric Sampson (Rebroadcast)

  A discussion on gun control, exploring philosophical, legal, and ethical aspects of the issue. Eric Samson offers a range of arguments and counterarguments on the necessity and consequences of gun laws. The conversation includes the right to self-defence, the impact of gun ownership...

  
• 04.28.2024

  Ethical Quandaries of Autonomous Weapon Systems | Afonso Seixas-Nunes

  We speak with Father Afonso about the use of weapon systems in warfare. The discussion explores a thought experiment involving two states at war and the deployment of autonomous drones capable of targeting terrorists without human intervention. Key topics include the legality and...

  
• 04.21.2024

  Paediatric Gender Medicine | Moti Gorin and Holly Lawford-Smith

  We begin by imagining a world where children are separated by sex at birth and raised without exposure to traditional gender norms. We debate whether gender incongruence is a result of nature or social conditioning. We discuss gender affirming care...

  
• 04.14.2024

  Peter Singer on Animal Liberation Now

  Peter Singer delves into difficult ethical questions regarding animal rights, the morality of factory farming, and difficult human-related ethical dilemmas. Singer discusses his views as a consequentialist, examining the impact of our choices on animal suffering, the ethical considerations around organ donation from anencephalic children,...

  
• 04.07.2024

  We Should Want Immortality | John Martin Fischer

  John Martin Fischer argues that life constantly offers new experiences and perspectives that prevent it from becoming monotonous. He delves into the idea of living a significantly extended life without aging and the implications it has on personal identity and society at large. Fischer distinguishes...

  
• 03.31.2024

  Against Immortality | Stephen Cave

  Stephen Cave unpacks the ethical and practical problems of living forever. He highlights ongoing research in anti-aging and the potential societal and ecological catastrophes that could follow if humans were to achieve immortality. Stephen weighs the individual’s desire for immortality against...

  
• 03.24.2024

  Immigration and Borders | Stephen Kershnar

  Featuring Stephen Kershnar, we discuss the complexities of immigration ethics, the rights to immigrate, and the morality of borders, keeping in mind debates around wealth, exclusion, and property rights. Stephen considers consequentialist and deontological perspectives in immigration policies, the notion of...

  
• 03.17.2024

  Cascading Catastrophic Risks | Trond Undheim

  Trond Undheim delves into catastrophic risks facing humanity, including climate change, governance breakdown, and technological threats.   Through discussions of risk perception, effective planning versus worry, and the complexities of managing existential threats, Trond emphasizes the importance of preparing and adapting for...

  
• 03.10.2024

  The Ethics of Political Commemoration | Hans Gutbrod

  In this episode of 'Brain In A Vat', Hans Gutbrod addresses the gap in philosophy in understanding the ethics around statues, street names, and museums. By drawing parallels to just war theory, Gutbrod proposes a framework to navigate the complexities of...

  
• 03.03.2024

  Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine

  In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Brad Duchaine from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at Dartmouth discusses prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) – a condition where individuals see distorted faces. The episode explores various manifestations of PMO, including seeing demonic...

  
• 02.25.2024

  Pornography and Free Speech | Nadine Strossen and Holly Lawford-Smith

  We welcome back Nadine Strossen for a comprehensive discussion about pornography and free speech. She highlights points from her re-released book 'Defending Pornography', explaining why she supports the freedom of sexual expression. Her thought experiment is about a respected academic...

  
• 02.18.2024

  Unravelling “White Privilege” | Spencer Case

  Can the definition of privilege be nuanced enough to address the broad range of individual experiences and historical contexts? Does recognizing and discussing privilege lead to meaningful social change? Or does talk of privilege oversimplify complex issues? --- Send in a...

  
• 02.11.2024

  The Privacy Paradox | David Boonin

  Is observing people in a public space from the privacy of your home an infringement of their rights? Can the widespread use of CCTV cameras be justified, or does it violate their privacy? And how do technological developments affect the...

  
• 02.04.2024

  Dissecting Morality: Error Theory | Matt Lutz

  What if our understanding of morality is fundamentally flawed? Should the absence of objective moral facts alter the way we live and interact? Is the structure of our society dependent on moral beliefs, or are these just a result of...

  
• 01.28.2024

  The Morality Maze | Spencer Case

  Is morality real, a social construct, or non-existent? Can we rely on our moral intuitions? And are moral truths inaccessible to us? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 01.21.2024

  Why Israel's Response to Hamas Was Justified | Natasha Hausdorff

  What is a proportional response to a terrorist attack? What does genocide involve? And is South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice justified? Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat...

  
• 01.14.2024

  The Trouble with Gender | Alex Byrne

  Does the biology you were born with trump self-identity when determining your sex or gender? Is gender innate, or can it change? And what can real-life cases of children being reassigned their sex at birth teach us? Alex's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Gender-Sex-Facts-Fictions/dp/1509560017/ --- Send in...

  
• 01.07.2024

  John Rawls: Justice as Fairness | Paul Weithman (Rebroadcast)

  John Rawls is widely regarded as the greatest modern liberal philosopher. Does his theory of justice lead to a fair society? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 12.31.2023

  Near-Death Experiences | John Martin Fischer (Rebroadcast)

  Is there life after death? Are near-death experiences meaningful? Are they similar to other altered states like meditation and drug-induced hallucinations? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 12.24.2023

  How To End Global Poverty | Andy Kuper (Rebroadcast)

  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...

  
• 12.17.2023

  Evolutionary Psychology | Justin Garson (Rebroadcast)

  Is evolution the root cause of racism, rape, and disgust? Are differences between men and women a result of both nature and nurture? Are some forms of scientific inquiry too dangerous to allow? Justin's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Biological-Mind-Philosophical-Introduction/dp/0367466317 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 12.10.2023

  Trans women in sport: Is it fair? | Stephen Kershnar (Rebroadcast)

  Lia Thomas, a trans woman, has sparked controversy by competing in and winning women’s collegiate swimming events. Should Thomas and other trans athletes be allowed to compete in the gendered competition of their choice? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 12.03.2023

  Freedom | Ernst Roets and Martin Van Staaden

  Does the State protect or curtail freedom? Are communities more important than individuals? Should freedom be constrained by virtue?

  
• 12.03.2023

  David Chalmers on Virtual Reality and The Simulation Argument (Rebroadcast)

  Could you be a brain in a vat, or be living in a simulated or virtual reality? Could you live a meaningful, valuable existence even if you were? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 11.26.2023

  Freedom | Ernst Roets and Martin Van Staaden

  Does the State protect or curtail freedom? Are communities more important than individuals? Should freedom be constrained by virtue? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 11.19.2023

  The Philosophy of Black Mirror's White Bear | Rebecca Tuvel

  Black Mirror's episode, White Bear, is full of interesting philosophical problems. Are you still responsible for a crime you committed even if you've lost your memory of that crime? Do you persist through time despite amnesia? And what are the limits of...

  
• 11.12.2023

  Why you should stop eating meat | Mylan Engel

  Do your current moral values require you to stop eating meat? Will going vegan actually prevent animal cruelty? Is the vegan movement a force for good? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 11.06.2023

  David Benatar on the Israel Palestine Conflict

  Are Jews entitled to their own homeland?  Is the Israeli response to the massacre of civilians perpetrated by Hammas on October 7th justified? Should there be a ceasefire?  David's Article in Quillette: https://quillette.com/2023/10/21/its-not-the-occupation/  Raja Halwani wrote to us about Jason's exposition of his...

  
• 10.29.2023

  The Ethics of Killing in War | Jeff McMahan (Rebroadcast)

  This older conversation about war sheds light on the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. Are soldiers fighting for the wrong side ever justified in killing? Should we punish these soldiers even if they were coerced by their State to...

  
• 10.23.2023

  Pornography and Exploitation | Holly Lawford-Smith

  Are women generally exploited in pornography? Even in cases where women report that their pornography career is empowering, have they nevertheless been degraded? And if heterosexual pornography undermines women’s dignity, is this true of gay male pornography too? --- Send in...

  
• 10.15.2023

  Organ Markets | James Stacey Taylor

  Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market?  Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant? --- Send in...

  
• 10.08.2023

  Is Monogamy Wrong? | Harry Chalmers

  Is the restriction on having additional sexual or romantic partners similar to the restriction on having additional friends? Should you allow your partner to be free to pursue other partners? And are we able to overcome the jealousy associated with...

  
• 10.01.2023

  The Philosophy of Infinity Pool | Travis Timmerman

  Does the clone of a murderer deserve to be punished? Is the clone with the murderer’s memories and dispositions guilty of the murder? And has justice been served if the clone is punished, even if the original murderer goes free? ---...

  
• 09.24.2023

  Oppenheimers on Barbenheimer

  Was dropping the bomb on Hiroshima justified? Is Ken the real star of Barbie? Three Oppenheimers weigh in on the film event of the year. Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat...

  
• 09.17.2023

  Stephen Kershnar on Cultural Appropriation

  Is it permissible for members of one group to appropriate the cultural practices of another? Is there anything wrong with cultural appropriation at all, or are there benefits to cultural appropriation? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 09.10.2023

  Sex work or prostitution? | Lori Watson

  Is sex work actually work? Is prostitution always a form of exploitation? And show we legalize or decriminalize prostitution? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 09.03.2023

  The Islam-Atheism Debate: Behind the Curtain

  Recently, Eron Fasser and Mark Oppenheimer debated Hamza Tzortzis and Mohammed Hijab on whether Atheism or is Islam more rational. This episode discusses the arguments made and strategies employed by both sides. Were Hamza and Mohammed arguing in good faith?...

  
• 08.27.2023

  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'...

  
• 08.20.2023

  Luck and Knowledge | Mylan Engel

  What is knowledge? Does a justified true belief count as knowledge? And is our knowledge lucky? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 08.13.2023

  Who was Derek Parfit? | David Edmonds

  Parfit altered the landscape of the philosophy of identity. We speak to David Edmonds about his recently released biography on this influential philosopher, and ask: what made Parfit the man he was? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 08.06.2023

  Is Islam more rational than Atheism? | Eron Fasser, Mohammed Hijab, Mark Oppenheimer, Hamza Tzortzis

  A debate held at the University of Johannesburg. Does God Exist? How can something come from nothing? Are God's commands moral? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message

  
• 07.30.2023

  Imagine There’s No Gender | Holly Lawford-Smith (with Raja Halwani)

  Would the world be better if we didn’t recognize genders? In such a world, there would be males and females, but nothing associated with what it means to be male or female other than biological facts. Men and women would be...

  
• 07.23.2023

  Hate Speech | Mark Oppenheimer (Live at St Andrews)

  Mark Oppenheimer presents a live seminar at St Andrews. The talk features footage from a prominent hate speech trial that Mark appeared in as a lawyer. What is hate speech? What is the value of free speech? Do some groups...