Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler check out some recent work in metaphysics and applied ethics. Does playing a Nina Simone song sideways show that Einstein was wrong about spacetime? Does a Dali painting nailed to the wall backwards have intrinsic value (see figure 1)? Is childhood bad for children? Do you have to be a child before you're an adult? Are we kidding? Is this a joke? We don't know but don't play this podcast sideways or it may lose its aesthetic value. Sponsored By: The Great Courses Plus: Never stop learning. Pursue your passion. Quench your curiosity. Embark on an educational endeavor. Watch thousands of streaming videos on hundreds of subjects. Promo Code: wizards BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Ferguson, Z. (2020). A song turned sideways would sound as sweet. Analysis. Markosian, N. (2020). Sideways music. Analysis, 80(1), 51-59. Hannan, S. (2018). Why childhood is bad for children. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 35, 11-28.

Controversial critic Thomas Szasz challenges the concept of mental illness, arguing that it medicalizes ordinary problems in living. The hosts discuss the implications of categorizing mental disorders as diseases and the potential loss of autonomy. They also share their top 3 dream guests for the 200th episode and analyze the first presidential debate. Plus, they explore the societal impact of medicalizing psychological issues and question whether mental illnesses should be considered separate from physical ailments.

Psychologist Yoel Inbar joins the hosts for a deep dive into Charlie Kaufman's film 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things.' They explore the baffling elements of the movie, such as the changing names and career of the protagonist, the mysterious dog, and the parents' unstuck timeline. The podcast also touches on topics like aliens, open science, and the illuminati.

She’s beautiful, smart, funny, and head over heels in love with you. There’s only one problem – she’s from a possible world, not the actual one. What we thought would be a funny opening segment idea turns into a semi-serious discussion of Neil Sinhababu’s 2008 article “Possible Girls.” Plus David and Tamler share some thoughts on teaching in normal times and today.    Sponsored By: The Great Courses Plus: Never stop learning. Pursue your passion. Quench your curiosity. Embark on an educational endeavor. Watch thousands of streaming videos on hundreds of subjects. Promo Code: wizards BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Sinhababu, N. (2008), Possible girls. Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 89, 254-260. Paul Bloom's "Informal Teaching Advice"

Dive into Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov' with discussions on moral dilemmas, a devastating case against God by Ivan, the mystical encounter with the Grand Inquisitor, and an engaging conversation about Tamler's milestone birthday. Stick around after the episode to hear guests talk about Tamler behind his back.

David and Tamler welcome special guest Chris Matheson - co-writer of the "Bill and Ted" movies and author of "The Story of God" and "The Buddha’s Story" - to talk about religion, immortality, comedy, Freud, and why the secret ingredient to good satire is love.  Plus David and Tamler do a conceptual analysis of stoner movies and discuss their favorites.  Special Guest: Chris Matheson. Sponsored By: The Great Courses Plus: Never stop learning. Pursue your passion. Quench your curiosity. Embark on an educational endeavor. Watch thousands of streaming videos on hundreds of subjects. Promo Code: wizards BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Chris Matheson (screenwriter) - Wikipedia The Story of God by Chris Matheson [amazon.com affiliate link] The Trouble with God by Chris Matheson [amazon.com affiliate link] Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure - Wikipedia Bill & Ted Face the Music - Wikipedia The Roast of Richard Pryor (very NSFW) [youtube.com] Dark Side of the Rainbow - Wikipedia Friday (1995 film) - Wikipedia Tom and Jerry (Gene Deitch Era) - Terrible TV Shows Wiki Fantastic Planet - Wikipedia Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Wikipedia The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) - IMDb Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) - IMDb Step Brothers (2008) - IMDb This Is the End (2013) - IMDb 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - IMDb Inherent Vice (2014) - IMDb Playtime (1967) - IMDb Spirited Away (2001) - IMDb Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) - IMDb Dazed and Confused (1993) - IMDb Jackie Brown (1997) - IMDb Tin Men (1987) - IMDb

David and Tamler want to go old school and discuss a classic Frankfurt paper on free will. But do they want to want that? Are they free to want what they want to want? Are they free to will what they want to will or to have the will they want? And if that’s not Dr. Seuss enough for you, shouting “FUCK” increases pain tolerance but what about shouting “TWIZPIPE”? Sponsored By: BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Repeating the “F” word can improve threshold for pain during an ice water challenge Frontiers | Swearing as a Response to Pain: Assessing Hypoalgesic Effects of Novel “Swear” Words | Psychology Very Bad Wizards has a new shirt! [CottonBureau.com] Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person by Harry Frankfurt

Exploring the complexities of authorship through Borges' story 'Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote'. My Little Pony fans address their Nazi problem. Delving into cancel culture and media sensitivity. Benefits of therapy with BetterHelp sponsorship. A detailed analysis of Menard's rewrite of 'Don Quixote' challenges notions of originality.

A lotta anger out there right now, but does it do more harm than good? Is anger counterproductive, an obstacle to progress? And even when it is, can anger be appropriate anway? We talk about two excellent articles by the philosopher Amia Srinivasan criticizing anger's critics. Plus we express some counterproductive anger of our own at the IDWs response to the protests.   Sponsored By: The Great Courses Plus: Never stop learning. Pursue your passion. Quench your curiosity. Embark on an educational endeavor. Watch thousands of streaming videos on hundreds of subjects. Promo Code: wizards Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Would Politics Be Better Off Without Anger? | The Nation Welcome Srinivasan, A. (2018) The Aptness of Anger, Journal of Political Philosophy. Reprinted in the Philosopher’s Annual.

David and Tamler talk about police violence, the protests, and Harry Frankfurt's journal article turned bestseller ”On Bullshit." Plus we dive into a comic masterpiece of late capitalism: the University of Oregon's brand guidelines. Sponsored By: The Great Courses Plus: Never stop learning. Pursue your passion. Quench your curiosity. Embark on an educational endeavor. Watch thousands of streaming videos on hundreds of subjects. Promo Code: wizards Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Brand and Style | University Communications The Black Goat – A podcast about doing science Two Psychologists Four Beers Episode 46: Very Good Men (with Very Bad Wizards) Break Music: Seven Minutes by peez On Bullshit - Wikipedia Frankfurt, H. (2005) On Bullshit. Princeton University Press.