Walden Pod

I was graciously invited on the Young Apologists Podcast to discuss my backstory, apologetics, atheism, aliens, the simulation hypothesis, the LDS religion, panpsychism, religious experiences, what would convert me to Christianity, and what I would ask God if I had the chance.  Young Apologists - Substack Worldviews - YouTube Music by Joseph Nied Linktree

A viral tweet sparks a lively debate over the moral argument and its implications. The host tackles whether atheism equates to a cold, uncaring universe, arguing against this notion. He explores how humans differ morally from animals and presents secular frameworks for objective morality. The discussion challenges the necessity of final judgment for moral behavior while examining why actions like torturing a cat are inherently wrong. With critiques of conventional moral theories, the conversation dives deep into the nature of ethics beyond divine influence.

Micah Edvenson and I have a reasonable discussion about Bigfoot, the no body argument, the difficulty of finding remains in the woods, footprint casts, the Patterson-Gimlin film, the comparison with gorillas and chimpanzees, the compatibility of the volume of eyewitness sightings and the supposed elusiveness of Bigfoot, and many other topics. We also touch on eyewitness reports of ghosts, different types of apparitions, and whether a materialist can credit certain ghost sightings as veridical.  Linktree

Join Jack Wagner, host of the Otherworld podcast, and wolf researcher Maeve Rogers as they delve into the chilling lore of the Michigan Dogman. Emerson recounts his eerie encounter with a wolf-like creature, revealing its shocking bipedal movement. The discussion unpacks the cultural origins of dogman folklore, skepticism towards sightings, and the role of hoaxes. Maeve offers insights into wolf behavior, exploring whether these legends stem from misidentified wildlife. Prepare for a captivating blend of personal narrative and scientific inquiry!

Does philosophy of language give us reason to think that God, if he exists, is more like us than classical theists expect? I’m joined by philosopher of language Joseph Lawal to discuss an argument from his paper, 'God An Alien or An Alien God?' His argument aims to push us away from the strongest versions of divine simplicity and aseity, but is also potentially a problem for theistic personalists who affirm God's timelessness. The argument, which focuses on the otherness of God (on non-finitist views), leads us to the conclusion that ordinary theological language is either false or meaningless on classical theism. (E.g., “God loves you” would either be false or meaningless.) This poses a major problem for the religious theist and destroys their ability to make predictions and inferences about God based on his attributes. This would not only undermine natural theology, but also harm the sorts of inferences we make about God in ordinary life.  *In the conversation, I use the word “prediction” at a few points where it probably would have been clearer to use the word “inference” instead. *There is a lot of information packed into this episode; it may be beneficial to listen more than once.  Joseph's channel  SPECIAL THANKS TO JOSEPH NIED FOR THE MUSIC FOR THIS EPISODE  Support the show

Ralph Stefan Weir and Ben Watkins debate whether there is a sound argument from mental causation to materialism. Is the interaction problem for substance dualism fake or fatal?  My interview with Dr. Weir on substance dualism:   • You Are A Soul — w/ Ralph Stefan Weir   Dr. Ralph Stefan Weir is the author of The Mind-Body Problem and Metaphysics: An Argument from Consciousness to Mental Substance. He teaches philosophy at the University of Lincoln and is an Associate Member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford.  Ben Watkins is the co-host of the excellent philosophy of religion podcast, Real Atheology   / @realatheology   Linktree

The discussion dives into the intriguing clash between free will and determinism, challenging the notion that we can't will what we will. It highlights the idea that even if ultimate responsibility is elusive, we still hold accountability for our actions. The concept of dispositional compatibilism proposes that our causal powers shape our choices, similar to qualities like fragility. The conversation also touches on how individual agency can exist within deterministic frameworks, enriching our understanding of freedom in everyday life.

Durham University hosted a conference about panpsychism, pantheism, and panentheism last November, and I was graciously given the opportunity to respond to Joanna Leidenhag and Tim Mulgan. Professor Leidenhag and Professor Mulgan both spoke about alternative models of theism, and I offered a few thoughts and objections to their respective models of God.  On Durham's website, you can listen to all the full lectures from the event: https://sites.google.com/view/panpsychismandpanentheism/project-events/durham-workshop?authuser=0 Linktree 00:00 Emerson Green  15:40 Joanna Leidenhag  23:37 Tim Mulgan  31:00 Q&A

We explore the nature of dreams. We discuss Daniel Dennett's cassette theory, which questions whether dreams are genuine experiences that occur during sleep, instead suggesting that dreams are spontaneous memory insertions at awakening. This theory contrasts with the common view that dreams involve phenomenal states in real time. However, lucid dreaming challenges the cassette theory. We also question the reality of "dreamless sleep" and examine prophetic, precognitive, and shared dreams.  Linktree

Delve into the fascinating theory of aetherism, which suggests that consciousness exists independently of the brain. Explore the idea that the brain acts as a receiver, not a producer, of consciousness. Engage with William James's philosophical insights, advocating for a view of consciousness that transcends materialism. The discussion raises intriguing questions about the afterlife and the significance of all conscious beings. This captivating exploration challenges traditional beliefs and opens the door to new understandings of consciousness.