Brain in a Vat

Can we construct a society free of state coercion and inequality? Is there a place for Capitalism in that society?   Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Are there certain questions that should never be asked? Is Philosophy useful? And have philosophers made any progress in answering the BIG questions?  Justin's Daily Nous blog: https://dailynous.com/  Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

What can we learn about public shaming from the Black Mirror episodes Hated in the Nation and Nosedive? Are there ever cases where someone deserves to be shamed? When should someone be forgiven for doing something shameful?   Contact us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

If God is dead, did morality die with him? Are artists, writers and lovers more valuable than the rest of us mere mortals? Find out what Friedrich Nietzsche thought in our new series on great philosophers.   Brian's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Psychology-Nietzsche-Brian-Leiter-ebook-dp-B07QD6V99B/dp/B07QD6V99B/ Contact Us: Mark. Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

What is horror, and why do some of us willingly terrify ourselves by watching or reading the genre? Is horror poor quality fiction, or can it offer us a unique opportunity for empathy and moral growth?   Jacob's book: https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-King-Philosophy-Great-Authors/dp/1442253843

Are universities a safe space for dangerous ideas? Does a right to academic freedom guarantee a culture that tolerates controversial views? Should universities limit the research fields of professors? Micro Digressions Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/956725  Spencer's Blog: https://www.spencercasephilosophy.com/

Are all Gods created equal? Are certain divine attributes less likely to be real given that multiples faiths exist?  Are religions like different paths leading to the same destination?

Does a fetus have a right to life? Should there be any limitations on the choices that a woman makes over her own body?    Nathan's book: https://www.abortionarguments.com/p/this-book-introduces-readers-to-many.html  Thomson's violinist: https://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm

Anarchism, or the view that we should not have a government, seems impractical. But Michael Huemer believes there is a way to understand Anarchism that not only resolves these impracticalities - it may provide a better society than the one we have now.  Michael Huemer's book, 'The Problem of Political Authority': https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Political-Authority-Examination-Coerce/dp/1137281...

What's it like to be unable to recognize faces? 2% of the population have a neurological condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness - including this week's guest, and one of our hosts.  Listen to Jeff's Face Blind podcast here: https://faceblindpodcast.com/

Christopher Nolan's Tenet is a visual feast, but does it make any sense? Eron Fasser explains if you can you time travel to change the past and if Neil and Protagonist have free will?  Brain in a Vat Book:  www.smarturl.it/lockdownbook

A round up of our favorite episodes and some insight into how we make the show. We will be on a hiatus until January. Let us know in the YouTube comments who you want to see us interview in the coming year.

Is the Supreme Court merely a political body made up of warring liberals and conservatives? Should Judges apply laws that are unjust? Will the Supreme Court declare Trump the winner of the election? Leiter Report: https://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/

What makes life worth living? How valuable are truth, beauty and morality? If life is ultimately meaningless from the perspective of the universe is none the less better to have been born?  Thad on the Meaning of Life :https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/life-meaning/

Is it possible for your actions to be free, even if they are determined? And would an indeterministic universe make us any freer? If we don't have free will, should we be held accountable for our actions?

If your vote has only a tiny chance of influencing the outcome of an election, is it irrational to vote? Does voting grant legitimacy to repugnant candidates? Is voting always an obligation, or are there situations that require you not to vote? Philosopher Games on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PhilosopherGames/ Philosopher Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilosopherGames

Is virtual sex outside of a relationship cheating? How should we determine a person's gender? Should the same rules apply to race?  Rebecca's article: In Defense of Transracialism https://cryptome.org/2017/05/in-defense-of-transracialism.pdf Hypatia transracialism controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypatia_transracialism_controversy

We have a philosophical conversation with an artist about her latest exhibition. Dom's paintings explore the social and sexual mores of the last twenty years through the lens of our current values.

Are you just a physical body? If you have a brain transplant do you stay with your original body or move with your brain? Could the existence of an immaterial soul solve the mind body problem?   Tyron's Books: The Puzzle of Existence: Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?  Idealism: New Essays in Metaphysics Thumbnail Art: Lateralus Album Cover by Alex Grey

Is it wrong to destroy an AI if it can have a conversation with a human being? If a robot expresses suffering is it wrong to torture it? Should we mourn the death of a robot lover?  Sparrow, R. 2004.  The Turing triage test. Ethics and Information Technology  6(4): 203-213. Sparrow, R. 2007.  Killer robots. Journal of Applied Philosophy  24(1): 62-77, March. Sparrow, R. 20...

Are some animals more equal than others? Are game reserves a part of nature if they are man made?  Is global warming universally bad or does it benefit some species? Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook Thumbnail Art: Peace by Lynn Bywaters

Is cancel culture destroying our institutions? Should Holocaust deniers have the right to speak? What is hate speech, and should it be illegal? Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook Harpers Letter: https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/

Atom bombs, diamond billionaires, and hate mail have a special role to play in this bonus episode.   Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook 

Is it wrong to only have a sexual preference for certain races? Can you have sex without being objectified? Is there a moral limit on our sexual fantasies?   Store: http://smarturl.it/LockdownBook Thumbnail Art: The Yoshiwara Prostitute by Kikugawa Eizan 

What does it all mean? If we live on a pail blue dot in a vast and uncaring universe can our lives have cosmic meaning? Is it better never to have been born?