Brain in a Vat

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?

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, we step outside our usual format to interview Miles Spencer, founder of Reflekta — a company using cutting-edge AI to recreate digital reflections of loved ones who’ve passed away.Miles shares his personal journey of using Reflekta to reconnect with his late father and explains how the system blends voice recordings, photos, and written biographies to create realistic digital personas. The discussion covers the emotional impact, ethical questions, and philosophical issues raised by this technology, from preserving family memories to reviving historical or fictional figures.We also consider what it means to build a living legacy in the age of AI, and how this might change the way we understand grief, identity, and memory.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction[00:15] Meet Miles Spencer, Founder of Reflector AI[03:07] How the Technology Works[07:12] Philosophical Implications of Digital Afterlife[15:29] Living Legacies and Ethical Boundaries[23:12] Historical and Public Figures[26:33] Family, Memory, and AI Elders[33:17] Reflections on “The Rehearsal” and Reality[42:31] Future Implications[47:54] Legacy, Spirit, and the Human Story[51:21] Closing Thoughts

In this thought-provoking discussion, philosopher Stephen Kershnar challenges the conventional view of cultural appropriation. He argues that appropriation can be permissible and even beneficial, enhancing market efficiency and cultural exchange. Through intriguing thought experiments involving burrito carts and prom dresses, Kershnar debates whether cultural practices can be owned and explores the ethics surrounding potentially sacred symbols. The conversation takes a turn as they assess the balance between respecting cultural significance and the freedom of expression.

How did the Aztecs understand life, morality, and human purpose? What can Aztec philosophy teach us about living well? Sebastian Purcell guides us through Aztec thought, beginning with a thought experiment from Homer’s Odyssey and moving into the core ideas of Aztec wisdom. Along the way, he contrasts Aztec ethics with Western traditions and applies them to modern debates on morality, from sex and meat consumption to life’s ultimate purpose. The conversation also takes on difficult topics like human sacrifice and sexual norms, showing how Aztec thought continues to challenge and enrich philosophy today.Chapters:[00:32] Odysseus and the Genie: A Thought Experiment[04:40] The Concept of Rootedness[08:17] Aztec Obligations and the Good Life[19:12] Shared Agency and Virtue[27:51] The Challenge of Community Bubbles[28:58] Aztec Views on Community and Travel[32:44] Human Sacrifice: Myth or Reality?[48:51] Aztec Moral Framework and Applied Ethics[53:03] Sexual Ethics in Aztec Society[57:06] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Mark and Jasondiscuss the tragic assassination of political commentator, Charlie Kirk. The episode discusses Kirk's commitment to open dialogue and civil discourse, particularly on college campuses, and critique the societal implications of hisdeath.The episode delves into themes of free speech, academicfreedom, and the dangerous conflation of words and violence. Jason and Mark also address arguments attempting to justify or minimize Kirk's assassination,advocating instead for a return to civility and the importance of open, reasoned debate.00:00 Introduction and Tribute to Charlie Kirk01:22 The Importance of Civil Discourse03:47 The Dangers of Conflating Words and Violence05:00 Free Speech and Academic Freedom10:04 Philosophical Perspectives on Assassination15:01 The Impact on Society and Free Speech16:14 Addressing Arguments Justifying the Assassination27:04 Reflecting on Empathy and Society's Response29:18 Conclusion: A Call for Civility

Is racial profiling always wrong, even if used by an AI to decrease crime? Should we use AI to judge criminal cases, recommend sentences for the guilty, or decide parole for prisoners?Chapters:[00:00] Introduction to AI in Crime Fighting[00:12] Thought Experiment: The Looting Scenario[06:32] Predictive Policing and AI[10:13] Debating the Ethics of AI in Law Enforcement[23:26] Affirmative Action and Racial Profiling[37:51] Balancing Crime Reduction and Social Engineering[39:00] AI in Sentencing: Benefits and Challenges[40:08] Algorithmic Transparency and Legal Implications[43:15] The Opaque Jury Argument[47:44] Fairness vs. Accuracy in Legal Decisions[57:25] Philosophical Implications of Opaque Decision-Making

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, we’re joined by Brian Leiter, co-author (with Jamie Edwards) of a new book on Marx. We explore whether workers in contemporary capitalism are truly free—or trapped in a form of “wage slavery.” Leiter uses thought experiments to probe the limits of workplace freedom. He also examines Marx’s labor theory of value—its strengths and flaws—and shows how modern capitalism both confirms and diverges from Marx’s predictions.The conversation then turns to labor, technological change, human nature, and artificial intelligence—culminating in a pressing question: what futures of work await us under capitalism?Read "Marx (The Routledge Philosophers)" by Brian Leiter and Jaime Edwards here: https://www.amazon.com/Marx-Routledge-Philosophers-Brian-Leiter/dp/1138938505Chapters:[00:00] Introduction and Guest Welcome[00:18] Thought Experiment: Are You a Wage Slave?[02:10] Free Labor vs. Unfree Labor[05:11] Historical Context and Modern Implications[16:07] Capitalism's Role in Technological Progress[20:22] Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work[32:05] The Essential Nature of Human Beings[38:59] Critiques of Marx's Naivety[46:25] Technological Innovation and Labor[51:33] Marx's Labor Theory of Value[58:18] Fetishism of Commodities[01:00:59] Future of Capitalism and Human Nature[01:10:14] Concluding Thoughts on Marx and Capitalism

What are possible worlds? Could you have been born to different parents, and could an object be both completely green and completely red? Barry Lam explains how David Lewis’s views on possible worlds can help us understand everything from time travel to the nature of who we are.

Is it wrong to bring new life into the world? Is adopting a child a moral obligation? Is parenting meaningful?

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?