Brain in a Vat

Would it be better to live forever than to die? Is the goodness or badness of death dependent on the future quality of our lives? Is death so bad that it would be better never to have been born?     Travis' Book: Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Philosophy-Death-Dying-Contemporary/dp/1138393584/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

What is forgiveness, and when is it appropriate? What does it mean to apologize to a group of people, and for that group to forgive? Is forgiveness ever obligatory, or is forgiveness irrational or even immoral?

John Rawls is widely regarded as the greatest modern liberal philosopher. Does his theory of justice lead to a fair society?    Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Should you sacrifice one innocent person to save many? Can you justify killing one annoying politician to save millions of people from suffering a minor headache? And is morality a matter of degree rather than a clear distinction between right and wrong?

Is 'mental disorder' purely a dysfunction, or are there important advantages to being psychologically different? Do depression and anxiety serve a vital role in healing and bettering one's life?

What makes Hollywood slackers like The Dude so enchanting? Are slackers the unsung heroes of the pandemic, or a bunch of useless bums?    Read Alison's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Its-OK-Be-Slacker/dp/0367338181   Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Should we ban offensive speech? Should we tolerate racism and transphobia? Should everything that is immoral also be illegal?

Is murder wrong? Can evolution fully explain why we think certain actions are immoral? And can we believe moral truths with even greater certainty than truths about the physical world? Spencer Case offers objections to Shaun Stanley, a moral anti-realist who appeared previously on our show.

What if you navigated the world through echo location instead of sight? What if cats could gain all of the traits of humans? What if you were a brain in a vat trying to solve a difficult moral problem.   To learn more about Peg's work check out: https://www.pegtittle.com https://www.jassrichards.com     Special offer to podcast listeners:  For any title with an on-site purchase option, Peg is happy to send a complimentary copy (epub or pdf).  No strings attached.  Please make your requests via the site contact form.   Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

What makes your life go well? Can you be wrong about whether you are happy? And can happiness be bad for you?