Brain in a Vat

Advocate and author Ernst Roets and lawyer and policy analyst Martin Van Staaden discuss the importance of community institutions, the challenges faced in South Africa, the role of intermediate institutions in preventing abuses of power, the tension between freedom and the law, the value of civil rights organizations, and the desire to create a different way of ordering society for human flourishing and prosperity.

Rebecca Tuvel, a philosopher specializing in ethics and philosophy of mind, discusses the philosophical questions raised by Black Mirror's episode 'White Bear'. Topics include punishment, personal identity, memory manipulation, the uncomfortable question of human capacity for horrific acts, the looping effect in the episode, the compatibility of positions, the role of principles, the incentive structure for attention on social media, and the role of private companies in restricting free speech.

Philosophy professor Mylan Engel advocates for ethical vegetarianism and animal rights. The podcast explores the ethical implications of eating meat, discusses the importance of outcomes and consequences in ethics, explores the empirical complexity of meat consumption, and suggests ways to limit complicity with injustice. It also highlights how easy it is to replace meat with plant-based alternatives in everyday food choices.

A discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict, exploring historical analysis and philosophical principles. Highlights include the complex history of the conflict, the application of the term apartheid, and the complexities of occupation and blockade. Also examines the justifications and repercussions of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, and discusses the concept of proportionality in the conflict.

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

Philosopher Holly Lawford-Smith discusses the exploitation of women in pornography and the complexities surrounding the industry. They explore societal scripts, gender roles in heterosexual and homosexual porn, and the impact on individuals and society. They also discuss the importance of rethinking pleasure and equality in relationships, including examining the dynamics between men and women in heterosexual encounters and the different preferences among gay men.

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 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? 

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?

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