Brain in a Vat
By Brain in a Vat
Brain in a VatDec 03, 2023
David Chalmers on Virtual Reality and The Simulation Argument (Rebroadcast)
Could you be a brain in a vat, or be living in a simulated or virtual reality? Could you live a meaningful, valuable existence even if you were?
Freedom | Ernst Roets and Martin Van Staaden
Does the State protect or curtail freedom? Are communities more important than individuals? Should freedom be constrained by virtue?
The Philosophy of Black Mirror's White Bear | Rebecca Tuvel
Black Mirror's episode, White Bear, is full of interesting philosophical problems. Are you still responsible for a crime you committed even if you've lost your memory of that crime? Do you persist through time despite amnesia? And what are the limits of justified punishment for horrendous crimes?
Why you should stop eating meat | Mylan Engel
Do your current moral values require you to stop eating meat? Will going vegan actually prevent animal cruelty? Is the vegan movement a force for good?
David Benatar on the Israel Palestine Conflict
Are Jews entitled to their own homeland? Is the Israeli response to the massacre of civilians perpetrated by Hammas on October 7th justified? Should there be a ceasefire?
David's Article in Quillette: https://quillette.com/2023/10/21/its-not-the-occupation/
Raja Halwani wrote to us about Jason's exposition of his view at 38:50. Here is Raja's clarification:
**I wanted to clarify a point that Jason made during the interview with David Benatar. Jason asked Benatar what he thought of the view that “the view is that the Gazans are an oppressed people. They’ve been oppressed for so long that they’ve acted out of desperation. And there’s only two options that they have.” Jason goes on to say that I have defended the view that “the Gazans are an oppressed people who only have two options. The one option is to die and the other option is to attack, to attack Israel in order to secure some sort of freedom. Those are its only two options. And so ... Raja takes the view that if Hamas were to lay down its arms, then it’s just a slow death for the Gazans. That’s, that would be the future of Gaza.”
However, I did not make this claim about having only two options, nor would I, because it reads as a justification of killing civilians, especially given the context of the Hamas attacks of October 7 (and other attacks against Israelis). It reads as a justification because if death is one of only two options, then the second, to attack, seems permissible. The last sentence in Jason’s question, about Hamas laying down its arms, seems to especially imply this (though Jason did not intend to make me come out as justifying Hamas’s actions).
Jason attributes this view to me based on something I wrote in my blog (as he explained to me in personal correspondence). Here is the specific passage on which Jason bases his attribution:
People are quick to condemn Hamas for the evil that it has wrought, but they are as quick to neglect that Hamas acts out of sheer desperation, out of the sheer desire, no matter how steep the price, to score a victory against Israel, a country whose military might not even its prime ministers fully comprehend, and out of the sheer hopelessness of the slow death that their people has been dying. Although to explain this is not to justify it, I also ask the reader: What options do the Palestinians have? What do you advise them to do? Their lives are going nowhere. Peace initiative after peace initiative has failed them (and, to add insult to injury, they are blamed for the failure). No Palestinian state has emerged, and none is likely to given the current map (just look and see whether a state can be built out of the Swiss cheese that is the West Bank). Their tunnel has been long and with no light at its end. So what should they do? They ought to sit still and “take it like a man.” To suck it up. To bear the unfair burden of history. We have to tell them, “Misfortune has fallen upon you, and you may not extricate yourselves from it by killing civilians. Even as you yourselves die, slowly, surely, with no justification, and with barely an explanation, you may not take the lives of the civilians of your enemy. This is the noble way.”
Clearly, the passage is a bitter one about Palestinian loss and oppression, but it is as clearly morally ruling out the option of killing civilians. So even though Hamas might take up arms against civilians, this is not a morally viable options for Gazans or Palestinians in general. Hence, insofar as Jason’s question attributes to me a justification of attacks on civilians, this clarification should clarify that this is not my position.**
The Ethics of Killing in War | Jeff McMahan (Rebroadcast)
This older conversation about war sheds light on the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. Are soldiers fighting for the wrong side ever justified in killing? Should we punish these soldiers even if they were coerced by their State to fight? And is it ever justified to kill civilians? Read Jeff's book here: amazon.com/Killing-War-Uehiro-Practical-Ethics/dp/019960357X
Pornography and Exploitation | Holly Lawford-Smith
Are women generally exploited in pornography? Even in cases where women report that their pornography career is empowering, have they nevertheless been degraded? And if heterosexual pornography undermines women’s dignity, is this true of gay male pornography too?
Organ Markets | James Stacey Taylor
Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market? Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant?
Is Monogamy Wrong? | Harry Chalmers
Is the restriction on having additional sexual or romantic partners similar to the restriction on having additional friends? Should you allow your partner to be free to pursue other partners? And are we able to overcome the jealousy associated with non-monogamy?
The Philosophy of Infinity Pool | Travis Timmerman
Does the clone of a murderer deserve to be punished? Is the clone with the murderer’s memories and dispositions guilty of the murder? And has justice been served if the clone is punished, even if the original murderer goes free?
Oppenheimers on Barbenheimer
Was dropping the bomb on Hiroshima justified? Is Ken the real star of Barbie? Three Oppenheimers weigh in on the film event of the year. Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShop Brain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Stephen Kershnar on Cultural Appropriation
Is it permissible for members of one group to appropriate the cultural practices of another? Is there anything wrong with cultural appropriation at all, or are there benefits to cultural appropriation?
Sex work or prostitution? | Lori Watson
Is sex work actually work? Is prostitution always a form of exploitation? And show we legalize or decriminalize prostitution?
The Islam-Atheism Debate: Behind the Curtain
Recently, Eron Fasser and Mark Oppenheimer debated Hamza Tzortzis and Mohammed Hijab on whether Atheism or is Islam more rational. This episode discusses the arguments made and strategies employed by both sides. Were Hamza and Mohammed arguing in good faith? Or were they trying to derail a debate they were clearly losing?
Death | Travis Timmerman
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/
Luck and Knowledge | Mylan Engel
What is knowledge? Does a justified true belief count as knowledge? And is our knowledge lucky?
Who was Derek Parfit? | David Edmonds
Parfit altered the landscape of the philosophy of identity. We speak to David Edmonds about his recently released biography on this influential philosopher, and ask: what made Parfit the man he was?
Is Islam more rational than Atheism? | Eron Fasser, Mohammed Hijab, Mark Oppenheimer, Hamza Tzortzis
A debate held at the University of Johannesburg. Does God Exist? How can something come from nothing? Are God's commands moral?
Imagine There’s No Gender | Holly Lawford-Smith (with Raja Halwani)
Would the world be better if we didn’t recognize genders?
In such a world, there would be males and females, but nothing associated with what it means to be male or female other than biological facts. Men and women would be equally likely to be social leaders. And there would be no stereotypically male or female behavior.
In this world, there’d be true sex equality, and, it seems, no need for trans activists. Should we fight for such a world?
Hate Speech | Mark Oppenheimer (Live at St Andrews)
Mark Oppenheimer presents a live seminar at St Andrews. The talk features footage from a prominent hate speech trial that Mark appeared in as a lawyer. What is hate speech? What is the value of free speech? Do some groups deserve special protection against hate speech? Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShop Brain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
What is a woman? | Alex Byrne
Oxford University Press refused to publish Alex Byrne's book on gender. We discuss whether women are adult human females and whether sex is the same as gender. Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShop Brain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop
Is Grieving Good for You? | Michael Cholbi
Experiencing grief at the death of a person we love or who matters to us―as universal as it is painful―is central to the human condition. In Grief, Michael Cholbi presents a groundbreaking philosophical exploration of this complex emotional event, offering valuable new insights about what grief is, whom we grieve, and how grief can ultimately lead us to a richer self-understanding and a fuller realization of our humanity.
Michael's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Philosophical-Guide-Michael-Cholbi/dp/069120179X/
The Supreme Court Ban on Affirmative Action | David Benatar
Should we implement affirmative action when determining which students are admitted to universities? Should affirmative action be based on race or socio-economic status? Is diversity important when deciding on university admissions? And should we think about race and gender in the same way when considering affirmative action? Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShop Brain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop
Self-driving Cars and the Apocalypse | Ryan Jenkins (with Stephen Kershnar)
As technology improves, ethical problems deepen too. Flying cars and ChatGPT are convenient, but may benefit some at the cost of harming others. Is the future convenient and full of promise, or should we fear a dystopian apocalypse?
Animal Ethics | Thad Metz
Do we have ethical obligations to all animals or only cute and majestic ones? Is factory farming worse than hunting? We answered these questions and more at a live event hosted by The Inside Out Center for the Arts. https://insideoutcentreforthearts.com/
Will there be peace in the middle east? | Raja Halwani
Is a two state solution desirable to resolve the Arab Israeli conflict? Does Israel have the right to be a Jewish state? Do other states have an obligation to help resolve the conflict?
Friendship is Magic | Samuel Kimbriel
Are human beings social creatures? Do social groups have an important role to play in political life? Can hermits lead meaningful lives?
Anonymous Publishing | Ivar Hardman
Are some ideas too controversial to publish in your own name? Is it cowardly to use a pseudonym? Does the journal for controversial ideas ghettoize important topics?
Thought Experiments | Spencer Case
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShop Brain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop
Conserving Monuments | Dan Demetriou
Should we preserve monuments, even if they offend us? Do we have a right to call for monuments to be removed in other countries? Does Ghengis Khan deserve a monument?
Why Americans Don't Owe Veterans Gratitude | Stephen Kershnar (with Spencer Case)
Traditionally, we celebrate American soldiers with strong displays of gratitude, including national holidays and monuments. But is this gratitude warranted? Stephen Kershnar thinks not: we should be no more grateful to veterans than to farmers or loggers.
Procreative Ethics | Rivka Weinberg
Is it wrong to bring new life into the world? Is adopting a child a moral obligation? Is parenting meaningful?
Anti-Semitism | Mark Oppenheimer
What do anti-semites and ultra orthodox Jews have in common? How did the ivy league discriminate against Jews? Is America still a safe haven for Jews?
Ultimate Meaning | Rivka Weinberg
Is it possible for us to lead meaningful lives? Is there an ultimate point to our existence? Can we enrich our lives with the pursuit of love, knowledge and friendship?
Dystopian Technology | Ryan Jenkins, guest host Stephen Kershnar
Will technology improve or worsen our lives? And should social media and AI be used to prevent hurtful speech?
Dark humor and censorship | Connor Kianpour, guest host Stephen Kershnar
Why do we laugh at some jokes but not at others? Is dark humor always funnier? Should some comedians be censored?
David Benatar on Affirmative Action
Should we implement affirmative action when determining which students are admitted to universities? Should affirmative action be based on race or socio-economic status? Is diversity important when deciding on university admissions? And should we think about race and gender in the same way when considering affirmative action?
Holocaust Responsibility | Spencer Case
Were indoctrinated or brainwashed Nazi soldiers morally responsible for their actions? Were they responsible for their repugnant beliefs? And were Nazi soldiers obligated to be conscientious objectors even if that meant they would be killed as a result?
Parental Licensing | Connor Kianpour
Should you be required to get a parental license from the State before you can raise your own children? Do the wishes of parents matter at all – or should we only care about the best interests of their children?
Amnesia and Split Identity | Jacob Derin
Should you fear future pain even if your future self will not remember who you are now? If an identical copy of you is created, would you survive through that copy? And is it possible to survive gaps in your existence?
Is AI art unfair to artists? | James Helps
In a world where machines can seemingly generate art instantly, and often better than humans can, should we feel sorry for artists? But is AI really generating art - or is it something else? And if it is art, who is the artist - the AI or the prompter?
James's covers for sale: https://www.goonwrite.com/
Conversations about Philosophy books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2
Jason's most popular sci-fi novel: https://www.amazon.com/Defragmenting-Daniel-Organ-Scrubber-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01H5RE6LY
The Ethics of Pet Ownership | Cheryl Abbate
How do we weigh the needs of cats to roam freely, with the millions of birds they kill each year? What duties do we owe our pets? And are some animals more valuable than others?
Conversations about Philosophy | Brain in a Vat
Buy the books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2
What are your favorite episodes of Brain in a Vat? We've taken ours and made them into books. With special forewords from leading philosophers and exclusive debates between guests, these books bring you the best content we have in an easily digestible format.
Buy your books now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2
Stephen Kershnar on the Impossibility of Responsibility
Kershnar presents a dilemma: we’re responsible for our decisions because they’re caused by our psychology. But do we choose our psychology? If we do, then it seems that choice couldn’t have been a morally responsible choice, since our psychology didn’t choose it. But if we didn’t choose our psychology, then we can’t be responsible for the choices that come from our psychology.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
End of the Year Special: A Look Back
Mark and Jason join their producer in this retrospective season finale.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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David Benatar: The Meaning of Life [Remastered]
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?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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The Right to Sex | Raja Halwani
Do we have a right to sex, and is there an obligation to sexually fulfill the disabled? Should sex work be not only legal, but obligatory?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Lionel Shriver on Abominations
Should we remove offensive monuments at the cost of erasing history? Is there an unacceptable cost to open borders? And what would a just tax system look like?
Hosts: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Producer: Jimmy Mullen
We Should Be More Pragmatic about Ethics | Andrew Sepielli
Are moral facts baked into reality, the way facts about socks or rocks are? Or should we think about morality in a more pragmatic way: that it doesn’t matter whether ethics are ‘in the world’ – only that ethics guide our actions effectively?
Andrew’s Book, ‘Pragmatist Quietism’: https://www.andrewsepielli.com/book-pragmatist-quietism
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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Do the guilty deserve punishment? | John Martin Fischer
Why should we punish the guilty? Is it because they’ve done something wrong, to remove them from society, or to dissuade others from wrongdoing?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen