Brain in a Vat

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Philosophy
**Brain in a Vat**

Thought experiments and conversations with philosophers. Hosted by Dr Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer.

Latest Episodes:

Dark humor and censorship | Connor Kianpour, guest host Stephen Kershnar Apr 02, 2023

Show notes

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 Mar 26, 2023

Show notes

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 Mar 19, 2023

Show notes

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 Mar 12, 2023

Show notes

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 Mar 05, 2023

Show notes

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 Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

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?

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Conversations about Philosophy books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2

The Ethics of Pet Ownership | Cheryl Abbate Feb 19, 2023

Show notes

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 Feb 12, 2023

Show notes

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 Feb 05, 2023

Show notes

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 Dec 18, 2022

Show notes

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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