Moral Mayhem

In this episode, we dissect (no pun intended) the issue of abortion, discussing both the object level political and moral considerations and the political polarization around the issue. We discuss the rights based framing of abortion but also spend time on the less discussed utilitarian/consequentialist frame. We discuss the reasonable moral intuitions on both sides and the tendency of each side to misrepresent the other. We end with a series of thought experiments to illustrate how advances in technology might affect our moral intuitions on the topic.

In this episode of Moral Mayhem, we dive into the recent political upheaval in the United States. We discuss our first impressions of Kamala Harris, debate the complexities surrounding Joe Biden's decision to step down, and the broader issues of norm violations in American politics.

In this show, Regan and I chat with psychiatrist and author of the publication Socratic Psychiatrist, Dr. Martin Greenwald. Martin shares his experience treating serious mental illness, while contextualizing it both historically and politcally. We discuss the relationship between serious mental illness and drug use, the bar for involuntary treatment and the feedback loops between psychiatric care and the criminal justice system. We also talk about therapy culture and the risks of identifying with one's diagnosis, while highlighting where we disagree with the "Bryan Caplan-esque" view on mental illness. Martin is a lot of fun to chat with so we take frequent detours into meditation, psychedelics, social justice activism and more.Links to some of Martin's work that we highly recommend: What Psychiatry Has Taught Me

Reconsidering Judicial Corporal PunishmentPolitics In The Clinic

In this episode, we talk about family YouTube channels and very briefly, the ethics of abandoning children before diving into the main topic: psychological and philosophical drivers of antinatalism. We discuss the relationship between climate change and fertility, between mental health and a suffering-focused worldview and finally, the downsides of using shame to promote pronatalism.

In this episode of Moral Mayhem, we dive into two unrelated topics: statutory rape laws in the western world and the state of Kerala in India. We explore the complexities of age-based consent laws, discussing agency, cultural norms, and the unintended consequences of well-intentioned legislation. Then we shift gears to examine Kerala's unique position in India - a state with high human development indices but a bleak economic future. We touch on its history, including the caste system, Christian influence, and current political landscape.

In this episode, we chat about the presidential debate and Biden's cognitive decline, respond to Mary Harrington's tirade against embryo selection and talk in depth about the objective function of universities, admission criteria, affirmative action, DEI and more.

In this episode, we welcome our first repeat guest back on the show, GMU economist Garett Jones. We discuss Garett's first book, the Hive Mind, comparing social versus individual returns to IQ. We spend a bulk of the episode talking about the mechanics of cooperation at the micro and macro scales - why smarter people are more cooperative, the 3Ps of repeated prisoner's dilemmas, principal agent problems in politics and business and Garett's advise to corporations and managers.

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Hanania, prolific blogger, political commentator and author of the book "The Origins of Woke". We explore how civil rights law has shaped modern culture, debating the unintended consequences of anti-discrimination policies. We also discuss declining fertility rates, examining cultural versus economic factors. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Israel, and why it might be the most illuminating political debate of our time.

In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Caplan, economics professor at George Mason University and author of several popular books including Open Borders, The Myth of the Rational Voter, and most recently Build Baby Build. We dive into Bryan's case for radical deregulation in housing, exploring how both the left and right could find common ground on the issue. In the next segment, we discuss Bryan's advocacy for open borders, seeking his response to concerns raised by others like Garett Jones around cultural persistence and assimilation. Finally, we examine policy proposals aimed at reversing declining fertility rates and debate which baby is the most "marginal" when it comes to incentivizing parenthood.

In this episode, we chat about the increased normalization and diagnosis of mental health conditions like ADHD, autism and depression, exploring the balance between the benefits of increased awareness and the potential risks of over-diagnosis and false positives. We also flirt with the relationship between psychological dysfunction, personal identity and free will.