Overthink Weirdness with Eric Schwitzgebel
12 snips
Jul 15, 2025 Philosophy professor Eric Schwitzgebel, an expert in the philosophy of mind and author of 'The Weirdness of the World,' joins the conversation to dissect the peculiarities of metaphysical theories. He and the hosts explore the distinction between weirdness and bizarreness, questioning whether living in a simulation is any stranger than Plato's idealism. With insights on the strangeness of consciousness and the role of societal norms in philosophy, they probe deep into the unique ways humans perceive reality. Prepare for a mind-bending discussion!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Weirdness vs Bizarreness Defined
- Weirdness is defined as contrary to the conventional, ordinary, and readily understood.
- Bizarreness means being contrary to common sense and deeply counterintuitive.
Metaphysics Is Fundamentally Bizarre
- Metaphysical theories are fundamentally bizarre, contradicting common sense.
- This contributes to metaphysicians' reputation as philosophical weirdos.
Philosophers as Eccentric Characters
- Diogenes lived in a barrel and masturbated in public to challenge norms.
- David Chalmers was once seen standing on a table during a talk, embodying philosopher quirks.
