Brain in a Vat

As technology improves, ethical problems deepen too. Flying cars and ChatGPT are convenient, but may benefit some at the cost of harming others. Is the future convenient and full of promise, or should we fear a dystopian apocalypse?

Do we have ethical obligations to all animals or only cute and majestic ones? Is factory farming worse than hunting? We answered these questions and more at a live event hosted by The Inside Out Center for the Arts. https://insideoutcentreforthearts.com/ 

Is a two state solution desirable to resolve the Arab Israeli conflict? Does Israel have the right to be a Jewish state? Do other states have an obligation to help resolve the conflict?

Are human beings social creatures? Do social groups have an important role to play in political life? Can hermits lead meaningful lives?

Are some ideas too controversial to publish in your own name? Is it cowardly to use a pseudonym?  Does the journal for controversial ideas ghettoize important topics?

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

Should we preserve monuments, even if they offend us? Do we have a right to call for monuments to be removed in other countries? Does Ghengis Khan deserve a monument?

Traditionally, we celebrate American soldiers with strong displays of gratitude, including national holidays and monuments. But is this gratitude warranted? Stephen Kershnar thinks not: we should be no more grateful to veterans than to farmers or loggers.

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

What do anti-semites and ultra orthodox Jews have in common? How did the ivy league discriminate against Jews? Is America still a safe haven for Jews?