Samuel Devis

The Socratic Sessions

Society EN ↓ 158 episodes

The Socratic Sessions explores humanity’s biggest questions—delving into philosophy, theology, history, science, and the enduring mysteries of religion.

Author

Samuel Devis

Category

Society

Podcast website

linktr.ee

Latest episode

Jun 29, 2025

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Episodes

Introductions | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #0 18.01.2025

🔍 Overview: This episode introduces the show. 🤝 Support The Show 🤘 ⁠Locals⁠⁠ ⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠ 🌐 Connect ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠ ⁠Bluesky⁠ ⁠Threads⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn Page⁠⁠ 📺 Subscribe - Video Platforms ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠Rumble⁠⁠ 📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!) Camera ( ⁠⁠Sony A6400⁠⁠ ) Lens ( ⁠⁠Sigma 16mm⁠⁠ ) Audio Interface (...

An Evolutionary Dichotomy? On Chance and God w/ Jon Perry 17.01.2025

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, Jon Perry explores the often-presented false dichotomy that life's existence must either be based on pure chance or brought into fruition by God. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) J...

Cataclysmic Events and Evolutionary Mutations w/ Jon Perry 14.01.2025

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, Jon Perry explores how and why imperfections and mutations enable rapid evolutionary novelties to arise during mass extinction events, such as the dinosaurs being 'almost' wiped out from across the globe 65 million years ago. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Do We Really Have 'Free Will'? Examining the Debate | Taylor Cyr | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #25 10.01.2025

🔍  Overview:  In this episode, philosopher Taylor Cyr joins us to explore the complex landscape of free will. Together, Taylor and Sam clarify essential terms and dive into key concepts shaping the free will debate. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗣️ Highlights [Highlight 1]: What does 'mo...

Taylor Cyr on Divine Foreknowledge and Determinism 07.01.2025

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Taylor Cyr examines the argument for determinism rooted in Divine Foreknowledge. If God, being infallible, knew before your existence that you would do X, do you genuinely have the ability to avoid doing X? Cyr explores this philosophical puzzle that challenges free will, as any deviation from what God foreknows would make God wrong—an impossibility for an...

Free Will, Source Compatibilism and Frankfurt Cases w/ Taylor Cyr 03.01.2025

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Taylor Cyr unpacks Source Compatibilism through the lens of Harry Frankfurt's ground-breaking 1969 paper. We explore what it means for free will to be compatible with determinism, focusing on whether individuals can be the true instantiating agents of their decisions and their consequences. The discussion examines Frankfurt cases, which challenge the Princi...

Popular Missteps: Sapolsky, Harris, and the Free Will Debate w/ Taylor Cyr 31.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Taylor Cyr examines how incompatibilists like Robert Sapolsky and Sam Harris promote determinism whilst bypassing philosophical definitions of free will. Given their prominence in non-philosophical circles, we also discuss the dangers of their widespread influence. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

God's Existence: Ultimacy, Souls, and Evil | Richard Swinburne | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #24 27.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this episode, Professor Richard Swinburne and Sam explore key ideas within philosophy of religion to understand whether God does, in fact, exist. 📷 Richard Swinburne - Photo Credit: Cameron Bertuzzi from Capturing Christianity 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗣️ Highlights [High...

Animal Suffering and the Goodness of God w/ Richard Swinburne 24.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Richard Swinburne addresses the issue of animal suffering in relation to the existence of a good God. 📷 Richard Swinburne - Photo Credit: Cameron Bertuzzi from Capturing Christianity 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affil...

Souls and the Hard Problem of Consciousness w/ Richard Swinburne 20.12.2024

🔍  Overview: In this clip, philosopher Richard Swinburne discusses the implications of positing the existence of a soul for theories of consciousness. 📷 Richard Swinburne - Photo Credit: Cameron Bertuzzi from Capturing Christianity 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resourc...

Richard Swinburne's Steelman and Subsequent Refutation of Materialism 17.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Richard Swinburne challenges the atheistic notion that materialism offers a simpler explanation for the foundations of everything, or ultimacy. 📷 Richard Swinburne - Photo Credit: Cameron Bertuzzi from Capturing Christianity 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Our Undoing? Rejecting the Judeo-Christian God 💔⛪ 15.12.2024

✍️ Substack : If you'd rather read than listen, you can do so over on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠ ! 🔍  Overview:  In this video, I ask the question, 'What has the Judeo-Christian religion granted the West?' and reflect on my opinion. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👀 Previous Videos ⁠⁠Christianity⁠⁠ : My Desires...

Mind, Matter, & Metaphysics: Substance Dualism | Ralph Stefan Weir | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #23 13.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this episode, philosopher Ralph Stefan Weir joins us to explore the philosophical challenges of consciousness. Together, we discuss the leading explanatory theories, physicalism's rise (and potential fall), and the nuances of mind-body dualism. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Personhood and the Metaphysics of Mind w/ Ralph Stefan Weir 10.12.2024

🔍  Overview: In this clip, philosopher Ralph Stefan Weir unpicks the notion of 'personhood' through the lens of classic Parfitian reductionistic thought experiments and historical Cartesian non-reductionistic notions of substance dualism, asking the question; 'Are these two views actually in opposition?' 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal...

Could Physicalism EVER Explain Consciousness? w/ Ralph Stefan Weir 06.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Ralph Stefan Weir examines the claims of hard materialist atheists and the idea that consciousness could, in fact, have 'bubbled up' from or 'dropped out' of Physicalism. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affili...

Theological Trends to De-emphasise the Soul w/ Ralph Stefan Weir 03.12.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher Ralph Stefan Weir explores the reality that over the last 50 years, we've seen a shift in New Testament study toward theologians' wanting to play down the notion of the 'immaterial soul' within their religious and academic traditions. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Stoicism Explored: Ancient Wisdom & Modern Life | William B. Irvine | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #22 29.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  This episode with Professor William B. Irvine explores Stoicism's roots in Ancient Greece and Rome, explores its connection to religion and psychology, and discusses how Stoic principles like negative visualisation, the trichotomy of control, and bedtime meditation can help us navigate life's challenges. We'll also examine the concept of happiness as a by-product, the role of setbac...

Stoic Tests: Turning Life's Setbacks into Opportunities for Growth w/ William B. Irvine 26.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher William B. Irvine explains the Stoic practice of viewing life's setbacks as tests the mythical Stoic gods assign to evaluate how we respond. Regardless of one's beliefs about actual gods, this framework allows us to see challenges in a new light, transforming difficulties into opportunities for self-discovery and growth. Irvine highlights how rethinking the...

William B. Irvine on Stoic Negative Visualisation and the Art of Gratitude 22.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher William B. Irvine delves into the Stoic practice of negative visualisation, a technique developed to help individuals appreciate what they have by imagining its absence. Through these psychological thought experiments, the Stoics aimed to foster a deep sense of gratitude and contentment, reminding us that nothing is guaranteed and everything we have is wort...

The Role of the Gods in Stoicism and Ancient Thought w/ William B. Irvine 19.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, philosopher William B. Irvine explores the use of gods within Stoic philosophy and their broader role throughout ancient history. He discusses how the concept of a 'god' may have functioned as a psychological framework, offering a guiding structure for living a meaningful life. Irvine sheds light on the practical and philosophical purposes these divine ideas served in...

The Improbability Principle: Unravelling the Odds | David J. Hand | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #21 15.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this episode, Professor David J. Hand delves into the intriguing world of probability and chance, revealing how seemingly rare and improbable events are actually quite common, and how understanding these patterns can reshape our perception of the world and the decisions we make. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Probability and Outrageous Events: David J. Hand on The Law of Truly Large Numbers 12.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, statistician David J. Hand delves into 'The Law of Truly Large Numbers,' which posits that any seemingly outrageous event is likely to occur given enough opportunities. He clarifies the distinction between the traditional Law of Large Numbers and the Law of Truly Large Numbers, shedding light on how scale affects probability and the unexpected occurrences in our univer...

From a Clockwork Universe to One of Chance and Probability w/ David J. Hand 08.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, David J. Hand explores the philosophical shift over the last 300 years from the belief in a clockwork, deterministic universe to today's understanding of a universe governed by probabilistic causes and events. Hand discusses how this transition has led us to recognise the significant role of chance and uncertainty in shaping the world around us. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘...

Synchronicity and Superstition: Humanity's Search for Answers w/ David J. Hand 05.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  In this clip, statistician David J. Hand explores how prescientific and ancient cultures explained synchronicity and highly improbable events through beliefs in gods, spirits, luck, and even superstitions like black cats. Hand examines humanity's deep need to connect causes with effects, revealing how this drive has shaped our understanding of the world throughout history. 🤝  Suppo...

Godless Normative Realism | Erik Wielenberg | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #20 01.11.2024

🔍  Overview:  This episode with Professor Erik Wielenberg explores objective moral reality and what it looks like if there is, in fact, no God to substantiate it. Erik and Sam also explore various other areas of his book, 'Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe'. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗣️ Highlights [Hig...

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