The Uncertainty Podcast

The Uncertainty Podcast

Download on the App Store

The Uncertainty Podcast episodes

  • #51 Dr. Michael Huemer | It's Simple - Stop Eating Meat

    Dr. Michael Huemer and I discuss the evils of factory farming, the strengths and possible drawbacks of a vegan and vegetarian diet, whether animals have rights, if humans are the pinnacle of intrinsic value, and whether already having severe dietary restrictions justifies eating meat (it doesn't).

    Check out Dr. Huemer's book, "Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism".

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:00:33 What goes on in factory farms?

    00:10:45 Do we have to argue that animals have rights?

    00:17:26 Do animals have rights?

    00:25:02 Can we hunt animals?

    00:27:24 Are all animals sentient?

    00:29:01 The Shrimp Welfare Project

    00:36:54 Why does it seem normal to eat meat?

    00:41:08 Nutritional deficiencies in a vegan diet?

    00:47:25 Plant farming kills animals too!

    00:55:06 Are we heading for a vegetarian-only world

    01:02:30 The role of ethical intuitions

    01:09:04 BONUS CONTENT - The inconsistencies of moral anti-realists




    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 26 min
  • God is Time. Literally | #50 Dr. RT Mullins

    Dr. RT Mullins discusses his view that God is literally identical to time. We also discuss and critique William Lane Craig's proposal that God is, in a sense, both temporal and timeless.

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:00:12 What's the point of philosophical theology?

    00:11:00 Mullins' definition of time.

    00:21:14 An absolutist theory of time.

    00:23:39 Is this pantheism?

    00:30:49 The idea that God is time.

    00:39:35 William Lane Craig's view - God creates time.

    00:52:50 Is God's timelessness logically prior to His temporality?

    01:04:48 Does time have a beginning?

    01:14:07 Do scientists know anything about time?



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 25 min
  • How to Make a Universe Without God | #49 Dr. Daniel Rubio

    Dr. Daniel Rubio graciously agreed to come on the channel to discuss and critique a paper I wrote examining four lesser-discussed hypotheses that lie somewhere between theism and atheism: the simulation hypothesis, cosmopsychism, axiarchism, and new laws of nature.

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:12:13 Option #1 - We're in a simulation.

    00:32:26 Option #2 - The universe designed itself.

    01:05:31 Option #3 - Goodness requires that the universe exist.

    01:29:01 Option #4 - Laws of nature guide the universe towards life.



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 49 min
  • Some Contradictions Are True. Deal With It. | #48 Dr. Graham Priest

    Dr. Graham Priest explains his views on dialetheism, the view that some contradictions are true, while also discussing the relationship between Buddhism and modern science, the cosmological and fine-tuning arguments, and how Christians can avoid refutation by embracing paradox.

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:00:12 What is dialetheism?

    00:06:09 Paradox #1 - The liar

    00:14:54 Paradox #2 - The law

    00:29:37 Paradox #3 - Theology

    00:38:15 Why Christianity can't possibly be true

    00:40:46 Does dialetheism support Buddhism?

    00:49:01 The relationship between Buddhism and modern science

    00:49:25 Support #1 - The impermanence of all things

    00:51:54 The cosmological argument for God

    00:56:26 The fine-tuning argument for God

    01:55:44 Support #2 - The nature of consciousness



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 14 min
  • The Multiverse Supports Belief in God | #47 Dr. Klaas Kraay

    Dr. Klaas Kraay explains that the multiverse, rather than serving as an alternative to God, actually supports belief in God by undermining two atheistic arguments: the problem of evil and the problem of no best world.

    Check out Klaas' paper explaining the theistic multiverse, "Theism, Possible Worlds, and the Multiverse."

    Also see my paper looking at the relationship between theistic multiverses and modern science, "Does science undermine the theistic multiverse?"

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:00:07 Multiverses in cosmology

    00:06:36 The problem of no best world

    00:13:15 The wine analogy

    00:19:44 Two versions of the problem

    00:24:20 Theistic multiverse solution

    00:32:10 Objection - Duplication

    00:37:27 1st response - Limit the multiverse to kinds

    00:43:53 2nd response - More is not always better

    00:49:50 What's more valuable, God or the multiverse?

    00:58:39 The problem of evil

    01:18:30 What got Klaas into philosophy?

    01:20:11 Does philosophy make progress?



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 26 min
  • More Than One Christianity in the Ancient World | #46 Dr. Robyn Faith Walsh

    Dr. Robyn Faith Walsh, professor of New Testament at the University of Miami, explains the gnostic gospels, their significance, and their relationship to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and whether Jesus' earlies disciples would recognize the theology of the earliest Christian creeds.

    Check out Dr. Walsh's book, "The Origins of Early Christian Literature."

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:00:06 What is gnosticism?

    00:10:43 The historical value of the gnostic gospels

    00:24:12 Are the canonical gospels less legendary than the gnostic ones?

    00:31:11 The gospels as literature rather than history

    00:35:58 The Gospel of Thomas

    00:48:35 Do the gnostic gospels go back to the first century?

    00:53:28 Does the Apostles' Creed reflect earliest Christianity?

    01:01:55 Would the apostles recognize modern Christianity?

    01:07:14 The gospels writers borrowed from Paul

    01:14:25 Are evangelical NT scholars taken seriously?

    01:25:56 Confirmation bias in NT scholarship



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 34 min
  • The Universe Designed Itself - No God Needed | #45 Dr. Philip Goff

    Philip Goff joins me to discuss panpsychism, cosmopsychism, and how these theories of consciousness have the potential to explain one of the most striking discoveries of modern science: the fine-tuning of the universe for intelligent life.

    Check out Philip's book, Why?: The Purpose of the Universe.

    To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Buy Me a Coffee.

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:01:05 What is panpsychism?

    00:14:46 Panpsychism vs. idealism

    00:17:49 Why we should be panpsychists

    00:34:35 The combination problem

    00:40:12 From panpsychism to cosmopsychism

    00:48:40 The fine-tuning of the universe

    00:56:28 Cosmopsychism vs. theism

    01:10:45 What is the purpose of the universe?

    01:16:40 Debating William Lane Craig



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 25 min
  • The Law of Non-Contradiction is Wrong - Here's Why | #44 Dr. Jc Beall

    Dr. Jc Beall, professor of philosophy at Notre Dame, explains "glut theory," the view that some contradictory statements can both be true - or, equivalently, that true theories can be inconsistent.

    To support the channel, do please oh please⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠consider donating⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:03:25 What is dialetheism?

    00:15:12 Languages vs. meta-languages

    00:23:47 Examples of true contradictions

    00:25:02 #1 - The liar paradox

    00:31:23 #2 - Contradictions in the law

    00:40:11 #3 - Paradoxes of motion

    00:45:00 Not every contradiction is true

    00:52:40 Why should glut theorists care about consistency?

    01:07:13 My argument against dialetheism

    01:16:39 Contradictions within Christianity

    01:23:30 Can both atheism and Christianity be true?

    01:26:34 Is glut theory itself both true and false?

    01:32:07 Glut theory and Eastern religions

    01:39:49 Things logicians wish everyone would know

    01:42:44 Godel's incompleteness theorems



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 47 min
  • Why Cosmology Might Kill Environmentalism | #43 Dr. Neil Manson

    Neil Manson explains the hidden tension between environmental ethics and findings in cosmology over the last thirty years: if life exists throughout the universe, then we lose one main argument for caring what happens to life here on Earth.

    Check out Neil Manson's paper, "Anthropocentrism, Exo-Planets, and the Cosmic Perspective".

    To support the channel, do please oh please⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠consider donating⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:00:45 Cosmological science today

    00:10:25 Anthropocentrism, defined

    00:15:16 Two kinds of anthropocentrism: biological and personal

    00:30:46 Consequentialism

    00:32:15 The cosmic perspective and non-anthropocentrism

    00:40:47 Objection: Some infinities are better than other infinities

    00:56:59 Why we should reject nonanthropocentrism

    01:01:48 Should we seek to preserve nature?

    01:18:25 Towards a stewardship model of environmentalism



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    1 hr 15 min
  • Why You Should Be an Effective Altruist | #42 Matthew Adelstein

    Matthew returns to the podcast to discuss effective altruism and its philosophical underpinnings.

    Check out Matthew's YouTube channel.

    To support the channel, do please oh please⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠consider donating⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.



    Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
    53 min

About The Uncertainty Podcast

From the publisher's feed

A philosophy Ph.D. student working his way, with the world's leading thinkers, through the problems of philosophy, religion, science, and the existential struggle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -…

More shows like The Uncertainty Podcast

Within Reason by Alex J O'Connor

Within Reason

1,625 Listeners