Brain in a Vat

Latest Episodes:

The Ethics of Killing in War | Jeff McMahan (Rebroadcast) Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

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 Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

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 Oct 15, 2023

Show notes

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 Oct 08, 2023

Show notes

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 Oct 01, 2023

Show notes

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 Sep 24, 2023

Show notes

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 Sep 17, 2023

Show notes

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 Sep 10, 2023

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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 Sep 03, 2023

Show notes

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 Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

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/

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