In this engaging discussion, philosopher and YouTuber Alex O'Connor, known as Cosmic Skeptic, challenges listeners to explore the depths of moral philosophy through thought experiments. He tackles provocative topics such as the morality of killing to prevent catastrophe, the ethics of childbearing, and the implications of mental health on moral responsibility. With a blend of humor and insight, Alex also delves into the complexities of education ethics and the balance between wealth and opportunity. Get ready to stretch those mental muscles!
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Ethical Emotivism
Alex O'Connor argues for ethical emotivism, the view that ethical statements express emotions.
He believes "wrongness" is a distinct feeling akin to anxiety or sadness, not a verifiable fact.
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The Rash Doctor
Crisp's "rash doctor" thought experiment challenges utilitarianism.
It questions whether maximizing pleasure justifies risky choices with potentially terrible outcomes.
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Justice vs. Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism struggles with the concept of justice and inviolable rights.
It suggests that harming one to save many is justifiable, which clashes with our moral intuitions.
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In this work, Mill provides a comprehensive explanation of utilitarianism, addressing its core principles and responding to various criticisms. He argues that happiness, understood as pleasure and the absence of pain, is the ultimate goal of ethical conduct. Mill distinguishes between higher and lower forms of happiness, preferring intellectual pleasures over bodily ones. He also discusses the compatibility of utilitarianism with individual rights and justice, arguing that justice has a utilitarian basis and that actions are right in proportion to their ability to promote general happiness.
Better Never to Have Been
David Benatar
Free Will
Sam Harris
In 'Free Will,' Sam Harris argues that the concept of free will is inherently flawed and incoherent. He contends that our thoughts, intentions, and actions are determined by prior causes outside our conscious control, whether these causes are deterministic or the result of chance. Harris uses examples such as the Cheshire murders to illustrate how even heinous crimes can be seen as the product of uncontrollable experiences and neurological mechanisms, rather than free will. The book challenges readers to reconsider their views on morality, law, and personal responsibility in light of this understanding[2][4][5].
The Tyranny of Merit
What's Become of the Common Good?
Michael Sandel
In 'The Tyranny of Merit', Michael J. Sandel argues that the current system of meritocracy has led to significant social and political issues. He contends that meritocracy stratifies society into winners and losers, based largely on economic status and educational credentials, resulting in hubris among the successful and resentment and humiliation among those who are not. Sandel suggests that this system ignores the role of luck and external factors in success and instead attributes success solely to individual talent and hard work. He advocates for a new way of thinking about success, one that is more attentive to the role of luck, more conducive to an ethic of humility and solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of all work. The book also explores the impact of credentialism and the need to restore dignity to work that does not require a college degree, promoting a politics of the common good[1][3][5].
Language, Truth and Logic
A.J. Ayer
In this book, A.J. Ayer presents a robust argument for logical positivism, a philosophical school that emphasizes the importance of empirical verification for meaningful discourse. Ayer argues that statements are either analytically true (true by definition) or synthetically true (verified through empirical experience). He dismisses metaphysical and ethical statements as meaningless because they cannot be empirically verified. The book also introduces the concept of emotivism, where ethical statements are seen as expressions of emotions rather than factual claims. Ayer's work had a significant impact on Anglo-American philosophy and continues to influence philosophical debates on truth, meaning, and the nature of knowledge.
Alex O'Connor is a philosopher, podcaster & a YouTuber.
Philosophy is hard. Ethics are hard. Working out what is moral is hard. Today we get to put our mental muscles to the test with some of the most challenging thought experiments in moral philosophy.
Expect to learn why brain tumours might be a good way to learn what is actually moral, whether ethics is just an expression of emotion, whether we can kill someone to stop them nuking a city, why it might be best to just not have any more children, whether an expensive education is cheating, what it means to say that someone is morally responsible for their actions, why Alex wore a suit to a boat party and much more...
Modern Wisdom 
