In philosophy, zombies are beings that are exactly like human beings in every single way except one. A philosophical zombie might talk about how great the coffee is, they might drive to work and answer the phone, they might go home and walk the dog. However, philosophical zombies lack one thing: consciousness. If it is possible that a being could be physically identical to a conscious human and yet lack consciousness, then consciousness must involve something more than physical matter. We discuss the zombie argument and some of its problems.

In this episode, we discuss Immanuel Kant's famous "Categorical Imperative." An imperative is a command- you ought to do such and such. Kant argues there are two kinds of Imperatives: Hypothetical imperatives and Categorical imperatives. A hypothetical imperative is something you should do if you have a particular goal in mind: for example, if you want to lose weight, you should exercise and eat healthy. Categorical imperatives, on the other hand, are things you should do regardless of your particular desires or goals. So, what is the categorical imperative?

In this perplexing episode, we discuss why there is something rather than nothing. Quantum physics says that there is something rather than nothing because the quantum energy field naturally fluctuates from potentiality to actuality. But philosophers-of-nothing persist: why is there is a quantum energy field at all? This question seems like an impossible riddle. However, as Ludwig Wittgenstein argued, a riddle without an answer is not really a riddle. If a question can't be answered, then either there is something wrong with the question, or the answer lies beyond the capacity of our language to express. Can "nothing" be?

In this episode we respond to questions from listeners about a variety of topics. We couldn't answer every question this week, but we will get through them all eventually. If you want your question read on the podcast, email [email protected].

In this episode, we discuss philosophical Anarchism. Anarchy means the absence of government authority. Anarchists come in many forms, but Anarchy does not necessarily mean moral nihilism and chaos. As Alan Moore writes in V for Vendetta: "Anarchy means 'without leaders,' not 'without order.'" The essence of anarchy as a political ideal is that human beings can be sufficiently rational and autonomous to rule themselves. However, as long as the State exerts paternalistic authority over us, human beings can never achieve their true potential. Therefore, all human beings have a moral obligation to overthrow the State. Send all questions and comments to [email protected]

Social Contract Theory is a theory that the State's legitimate and justified authority over the individual is based on a mutual agreement between the individual and the State. In theory, we agree to give up certain rights (e.g. the right to steal your neighbor's cows) and in exchange, the State protects our other rights (e.g. the right to private property). Thomas Hobbes was one of the earliest proponents of Social Contract Theory. Writing in the bloody aftermath of the English Civil War, Hobbes argued that the State's authority is only justified if it can maintain peace and prevent civil war. However, Hobbes concluded that the only way a State can prevent civil war is if it is ruled by a Sovereign with absolute, unlimited power: the Leviathan.

The question of "Nurture vs Nature" to explain human behaviour has long interested psychologists and philosophers. Behaviourists believed the answer was definitely "Nurture"- everything about our behaviour can explained in terms of our environment. The most radical behaviourists believed that everything about human behaviour could be explained by studying rats in mazes. Today, however, behaviourism is a defunct research project. We discuss why behaviourism rose to dominate the field, and why its influence has faded. Send all questions to [email protected].

In this episode, we take a break from philosophy and discuss recent events from stand-up comedy. Tony Hinchcliffe is a stand-up comedian who has hosted the live show/podcast Kill Tony for many years. Kill Tony is a lottery show where anyone can put their name in a hat for a chance to perform 60 seconds of material in front of a live audience. After the set, Tony and a guest offer critiques. The guests often include the most famous comedians in the world, such as Russell Peters and Bill Burr. Last week Tony was dropped by his talent agency and all Kill Tony live shows were cancelled. Find out why in this mysterious episode.

In this episode we discuss a range of topics, from the Mayan Ball Game, to the essential characteristics of sports, to the controversial topic of transgender athletes. Sports have traditionally been segregated based on sex: men's leagues and women's leagues. However, transgender athletes have challenged the efficacy of sex segregation. Is it time for a new way to form sports leagues, perhaps based on other factors besides sex? As always, email your thoughts and questions to [email protected].

In this episode, we discuss the work of Domincan-born philosopher Dan-el Padilla Peralta, currently Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University. "Classics" is the study of ancient Greece and Rome, including their languages and philosophy. Peralta argues that the future of classics is in jeopardy, because these ancient societies fully embraced slavery. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle argued that slavery and racial supremacy are morally acceptable because they are part of the "natural order." Pro-slavery politicians like Thomas Jefferson appealed to these arguments in the United States, and these arguments remain popular with white supremacists to this day. What will happen to Classics? Send your answers to [email protected]!