The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast

Introduction Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable? Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig’s work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world’s most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, ‘It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.’ Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return. Global Philosophy of Religion This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.   Contents Part I. Reasonable Faith Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion   Links William Lane Craig, Popular Books. William Lane Craig, Academic Books. _ Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig (website). Reasonable Faith (Facebook). Reasonable Faith (Twitter). _ ‘William Lane Craig and A. C. Grayling Debate on God & Evil’.

Introduction Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable? Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig’s work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world’s most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, ‘It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.’ Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return. Global Philosophy of Religion This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.   Contents Part I. Reasonable Faith Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion   Links William Lane Craig, Popular Books. William Lane Craig, Academic Books. _ Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig (website). Reasonable Faith (Facebook). Reasonable Faith (Twitter). _ ‘William Lane Craig and A. C. Grayling Debate on God & Evil’.

Introduction Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we’ve longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We’ve hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they? What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change. Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi’s work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most. Contents Part I. The Pandemic Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown. Vittorio Bufacchi, Website. Vittorio Bufacchi, Twitter.

Introduction Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we’ve longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We’ve hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they? What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change. Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi’s work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most. Contents Part I. The Pandemic Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown. Vittorio Bufacchi, Website. Vittorio Bufacchi, Twitter.

Introduction If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption? What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature. Contents Part I. Pride Part II. Anger Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book) Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book) Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book) Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper) Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper) Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One’s Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper) Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Introduction If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption? What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature. Contents Part I. Pride Part II. Anger Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book) Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book) Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book) Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper) Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper) Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One’s Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper) Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Introduction If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption? What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature. Contents Part I. Pride Part II. Anger Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Agnes Collard, On Anger. (Book) Martha C. Nussbaum, Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice. (Book) Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar, Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought. (Book) Julia Driver, Modesty and Ignorance. (Paper) Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices. (Paper) Claudia Mills, Bragging, Boasting, and Crowing: The Ethics of Sharing One’s Glad Tidings with Others. (Paper) Tara Smith, The Practice of Pride. (Paper)

Introduction Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified. Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours? Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view? What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’? Who are ‘they’? Ah, I see. Contents Part I. Origins Part II. Solutions Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book) Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book) Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book) Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook) Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube) Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Introduction Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified. Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours? Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view? What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’? Who are ‘they’? Ah, I see. Contents Part I. Origins Part II. Solutions Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book) Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book) Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book) Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook) Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube) Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)

Introduction Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified. Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours? Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view? What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’? Who are ‘they’? Ah, I see. Contents Part I. Origins Part II. Solutions Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion Links Conspiracy Theories, Quassim Cassam. (Book) Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton. (Book) Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked untie an Intellectual Black Hole, Stephen Law. (Book) Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories, Michael Shermer. (Audiobook) Alex Jones Chases a Guy Across the Street. (YouTube) Alex Jones and Andrew Neil, BBC. (YouTube)