Brain in a Vat

Delving into controversies surrounding pornography and free speech, the podcast explores a thought experiment involving an academic in adult videos. It discusses personal freedom, professional reputation, and the impact of sexual taboos, emphasizing the complexities of defending the right to pornography.

Philosophy and social issues expert, Spencer Case, discusses the complexities of white male privilege, privilege walk exercises, biases in evaluating advantages, systemic disadvantages faced by men, and the debate on the causal efficacy of privilege in society. Metaphors like tailwind and head start are used to explore white privilege, questioning its impact on discriminatory structures and societal dynamics.

Is observing people in a public space from the privacy of your home an infringement of their rights? Can the widespread use of CCTV cameras be justified, or does it violate their privacy? And how do technological developments affect the delicate balance between safety and privacy?

Matt Lutz, an expert in moral philosophy, challenges the concept of objective moral facts and explores the subjective nature of moral judgments. The podcast delves into the impact of moral beliefs on individual and societal behavior, while discussing the potential consequences of accepting moral error theory.

Is morality real, a social construct, or non-existent? Can we rely on our moral intuitions? And are moral truths inaccessible to us?

Natasha Hausdorff, Expert on Israel and the Middle East, discusses Israel's justified response to Hamas. They explore factors contributing to terrorist attacks, South Africa's unfounded accusations of genocide, the disproportionate focus on Israel, misrepresentation of Israel's control of Gaza Strip, and the future of Gaza Strip governance and security.

Does the biology you were born with trump self-identity when determining your sex or gender? Is gender innate, or can it change? And what can real-life cases of children being reassigned their sex at birth teach us? Alex's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Gender-Sex-Facts-Fictions/dp/1509560017/

The podcast explores John Rawls' theory of justice as fairness and the social contract tradition. It discusses the importance of fair rules, explores the concept of the social contract and the veil of ignorance, and delves into the concept of justice in relation to wealth distribution. The podcast also discusses whether animals should be considered in Rawls' theory of justice and explores different types of societies and foreign policy in a liberal just democracy. It concludes with an exploration of John Rawls' suggested rules in the original position and the value of ignorance.

Discussion on near-death experiences, their impact on individuals and belief systems, comparison to other altered states like meditation. Exploring supernatural explanations and the complexity of deceased loved ones. Phenomenon of visual and auditory experiences in the blind and deaf. Inducing near-death experiences and exploring different views on personal identity.

Andy Kuper, founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, discusses marrying profit with purpose to impact the lives of 200 million low-income people worldwide. They explore the scalability of for-profit companies, the appeal of commercial impact investing, and the connection between poverty alleviation and inequality. Kuper also shares their journey from philosophy to addressing poverty.