Brain in a Vat

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 generating strong returns for its investors and the companies in which it invests. https://leapfroginvest.com   Andy's Book Democracy Beyond Borders: https:...

Is cryonics a viable route to immortality? Is immortality desirable, or would it present us with endless boredom and meaninglessness?

Is being addicted to love or chocolate the same as being addicted to cocaine?

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' Book: Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Philosophy-Death-Dying-Contemporary/dp/1138393584/ Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and J...

What is forgiveness, and when is it appropriate? What does it mean to apologize to a group of people, and for that group to forgive? Is forgiveness ever obligatory, or is forgiveness irrational or even immoral?

John Rawls is widely regarded as the greatest modern liberal philosopher. Does his theory of justice lead to a fair society?    Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Should you sacrifice one innocent person to save many? Can you justify killing one annoying politician to save millions of people from suffering a minor headache? And is morality a matter of degree rather than a clear distinction between right and wrong?

Is 'mental disorder' purely a dysfunction, or are there important advantages to being psychologically different? Do depression and anxiety serve a vital role in healing and bettering one's life?

What makes Hollywood slackers like The Dude so enchanting? Are slackers the unsung heroes of the pandemic, or a bunch of useless bums?    Read Alison's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Its-OK-Be-Slacker/dp/0367338181   Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Should we ban offensive speech? Should we tolerate racism and transphobia? Should everything that is immoral also be illegal?

Is murder wrong? Can evolution fully explain why we think certain actions are immoral? And can we believe moral truths with even greater certainty than truths about the physical world? Spencer Case offers objections to Shaun Stanley, a moral anti-realist who appeared previously on our show.

What if you navigated the world through echo location instead of sight? What if cats could gain all of the traits of humans? What if you were a brain in a vat trying to solve a difficult moral problem.   To learn more about Peg's work check out: https://www.pegtittle.com https://www.jassrichards.com     Special offer to podcast listeners:  For any title with an on-site pur...

What makes your life go well? Can you be wrong about whether you are happy? And can happiness be bad for you?

Is sex only a matter of biology? Are there conflicts between trans rights, women's rights, and gay rights? Is it possible to change genders?   Buy Kathleen's Book: Material Girls https://www.amazon.com/Material-Girls-Reality-Matters-Feminism-ebook/dp/B08LK8TY5S

What transforms a collection of individuals into a social group? Jason Werbeloff argues the answer is: nothing. There are no social groups. No countries, political parties, marriages, or sports clubs. There are only individuals.

What can a runaway train, a patient wrapped head to toe in bandages, and man condemned by the gods to roll a rock for eternity teach us about leading a good life? If you enjoy stories that tickle your brain, this episode is for you.

Are thought experiments useful for telling us about the nature of reality? What are the limitations of thought experiments, and should we trust them in discussions of morality and science?

Should we care whether we cause others suffering? Do we have duties or obligations to others? Shaun Stanley thinks there are no moral reasons for action. Do you think morality is real?

Many believe Woke ideology to be a source of positive change in society. Helen Zille thinks otherwise. Could Wokeness be dangerous?  You can find Helen's book, #StayWoke: Go Broke, on Amazon and Takealot. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/StayWoke-Africa-survive-Americas-culture-ebook/dp/B091BB1X23/ Takealot: https://www.takealot.com/staywoke-go-broke/PLID72165371

Are there some areas of life where men are worse off than women? Are these disadvantages always the product of sexism? If we recognize a second sexism against men, what effect would this have on women?   Prof Benatar's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Sexism-Discrimination-Against-Boys-ebook-dp-B007VJU7C4/dp/B007VJU7C4/ Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

David Edmonds of Philosophy Bites fame regales us with a fiery story about Ludwig Wittgenstein's only meeting with Karl Popper. David also gives us a behind the scenes tour of the world's best loved philosophy show.     David's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wittgensteins-Poker-Ten-Minute-Argument-Philosophers/dp/0060936649/ Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

What is hate speech, and what are the limits of free speech? Should pornography be censored in the same way we censor speech?   Mari's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pornography-Philosophical-Introduction-Mari-Mikkola-ebook/dp/B07LFJS6RR/ Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Are some animals more equal than others? Do zoos protect animals or are they solely designed for our amusement? Should we test medicines on animals?

In a polarized world where everyone is certain, who should you believe? Are certain beliefs immoral? And how seriously should we take conspiracy theories?    Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Would a just God allow us to suffer? Could God rewrite history to remove the bad bits?    Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail