We Might Be Tables

Is there an objective morality? If there is, how do we find it? If there isn't, how do we prevent infinite moral regress?

Such questions have plagued philosophers for centuries, yet remain unanswered. However, every so often, there comes a theory that seems to go farther in the path of progress than anything before it, paving the way for new discussions and a renewed faith in moral philosophy.

19th-century philosopher-psychologist William James treatise on ethics, The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life, is exactly that. James explores the possibility of a perfectly ethical world, and how sentient beings with vastly different desires would go about realising such a world.

In this episode, we talk of similar themes using James's paper as a focal point and think specifically of how one might use psychology, metaphysics, and casuistry to solve some of life's most ambiguous problems.

Mentioned in the episode:

The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life

Today, in our concluding episode on Yi Yi, we discuss what makes this masterpiece so loveable. We revisit our favourite characters, dialogues, and scenes and break them down to understand why they meant so much to us. Additionally, we explore the possibility of a Yi Yi-esque film set in India and how such a calming, authentic display of life would manifest itself here.

We enjoyed watching and discussing this movie thoroughly and we hope that our discussion encourages you to watch it too. Believe us, you won't regret it.

Mentioned in the episode:

Yi Yi

Ocean Waves 

Released in 2000, Edward Yang's Yi Yi might just be one of our most adored works of art. A pillar of the Taiwanese New Wave, the film takes us into the lives of 3 generations of a middle-class family in Taipei. Yi Yi is vast in scale, yet manages to remain deeply personal and engaging.

In this episode, we talk about the movie's structure and some of its underlying  philosophical themes, with particular emphasis on characterisation.  Further, in keeping with the tone of the film, we address such topics as innocence, subjectivity and loneliness.

Mentioned in the episode:

Yi Yi

Papilio Buddha

Silver Talkies: India’s Ageing Population Is Struggling With Loneliness But Help is Available

The Agewell Foundation

An Oral History of The Office

2020 was a long year. It wasn't the best one for a lot of us, but it did bring a lot of positives; this podcast, for one.

And for that, we are grateful.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this, and will continue to be a part of it.

In this episode, we wanted to do something different, change things up. Accordingly, we thought it'd be a good idea to talk about some questions and comments we've been getting over the past weeks. As a welcome to what we hope will be a better year, we discuss the process that led to the creation of the name, We Might Be Tables, an overlooked possibility from The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, and existential crises.

Mentioned in the episode:

Fesliyan Studios

Cleanfeed

Jasleen Kaur:

Instagram: iloveorangepeel_design

Website: https://jaskdh.wixsite.com/jasleenkaur

To die for the nation or to spend a lifetime doing manual labour.

What would you pick? Why?

It's strange how easily we, as a society, get swept up in grand narratives of loyalty to the country and the justness of war. What is war? What is the nation? How does an abstract, social entity, such as the nation, come to be treated as a natural fact?

Fear and Desire (1953) is Stanley Kubrick's disowned child. Interestingly, he spent the rest of his career trying (albeit unsuccessfully) to erase all copies of the movie, calling it a painfully amateur attempt, like a "child's drawing on a  fridge". However, even though it was not as great a cinematic feat as his other films, it remains philosophically relevant to this day, perhaps increasingly so over the years.

To all those who've kept coming back for each episode, we thank you, immensely. This is our final release of a grim year, and it seems fitting to sign off on a note about a grim topic.

We hope to have you back next year, and look forward to many more stimulating conversations.

Thank you, once again.

Dewansh & Shrish.

Mentioned in the episode:

Fear and Desire - Stanley Kubrick (MUBI)(YouTube)

How the "Greater Good" is Used as a Tool of Social Control - Academy of Ideas

Music in the episode:

I used to not pretend - Horthy Kristóf

In 2016, the global average GDP was ~121 trillion USD. Healthcare constituted 6%, and military spending just about 1.5%. Here's the catch: one year earlier, the economic cost of violence and warfare was 13.5 trillion dollars, which was over 11% of global GDP. Could these 13.5 trillion dollars have been used in education and welfare?

Let's sit with these figures for a minute.

War. How do we define it? How do we begin thinking about it? It has a long and complicated cultural history, but we need to ask ourselves if it is entirely a cultural phenomenon.

Could war ever be justified? Would the utopian goal, whether it be through utilitarian, cost-benefit terms, or deontological morals, ever have war as one of its quintessential features?

We do not have the answers to these questions, but they sure are intriguing. In this episode, we kickstart another series, now looking at war from as many perspectives as possible, and not to mention, using popular media. The first entry is merely background, an overview of our thoughts on war, and what it could mean for society.

Reference to Malaysian communities without aggression:

Chewong

Semai 

Two years ago, Peter Singer predicted that meat might be exiting our diets. He reinforced the moral and environmental concerns that should worry us, and compel us to reconsider our dietary choices. Has much changed since then? Should the meat on our plates worry us now, more than ever? Would eliminating factory farms  really make a difference? Most importantly, should everyone go vegan?

Today, we pick up where we left off and explore the technological possibilities of ethical meat consumption. Join us as we wrap up our conversation about Peter Singer's insightful article. With veganism on the rise, is meat cooked?

Mentioned in the episode:

Diseases That Are Transmitted By Animals

3D-printed fake meat: The healthier, greener future of food?

How do you make heme?

Two years ago, Peter Singer predicted that meat might be exiting our diets. He reinforced the moral and environmental concerns that should worry us, and compel us to reconsider our dietary choices. Has much changed since then? Should the meat on our plates worry us now, more than ever? Would eliminating factory farms really make a difference? Most importantly, should everyone go vegan?

We explore these questions and examine Singer's article closely in this episode.

Mentioned in the episode:

With veganism on the rise, is meat cooked?

We are What We Eat

Mathieu Kassovitz's La Haine is as powerful as it is timeless. A deeply personal story about violence, youth, rebellion and, of course, hatred, it brings to life the struggles of being a minority community in one of the most politically charged places in the world.

In this episode, we talk about all the elements that make Kassovitz's film a masterpiece of modern cinema, in both style and content. La Haine demands frequent revisitation; suffice it to say, it's quite the experience.

Criterion - La haine and after: Arts, Politics, and the Banlieue: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/642-la-haine-and-after-arts-politics-and-the-banlieue

Al Jazeera - France is still in denial about racism and police brutality: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/6/11/france-is-still-in-denial-about-racism-and-police-brutality/ (This article was mentioned in the podcast as being published by The Guardian. It appeared in Al Jazeera).

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a powerful work of short-fiction that raises many questions about happiness, utilitarianism, and utopia. If the condition for an idyllic world to exist was that one child should be subjected to eternal torture, would you support that world? We'll do you one better: what if this child was you?

In this episode, we discuss the nature and implications of Ursula K. Le Guin's acclaimed text, both for our current reality and the future.

Veritasium: Is Success Luck or Hard Work?