Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler dive into the book of Ecclesiastes, an absurdist classic that is somehow also a book of the Bible. Is everything meaningless, vain, and a chasing after the wind? Are humans just the same as animals? Are wise people no better off than fools? Will God judge us after we die, rewarding the good people and punishing the shit-heels? What if there is no afterlife and this is all we get? How should we deal with our pointless, unjust existence? Plus we return to our opening-segment bible— Aeon—and talk about an argument for replacing jealousy with...wait for it…compersion. Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Love without jealousy: consider the benefits of compersion | Aeon Essays Break Music: Back From Salina | SoundCloud Just to say thanks to the wizards : VeryBadWizards Ecclesiastes - Wikipedia Ecclesiastes 1 NIV - Everything Is Meaningless - The words - Bible Gateway

Poor and black defendants have more legal rights than ever, but that didn't stop mass incarceration. Why is that? We talk about a paper by Paul Butler called "Poor People Lose: Gideon and the Critique of Rights." Plus, we answer the question that’s on everyone’s mind: how to live as an anti-natalist. And Tamler is appalled to discover David's anti-natalist leanings. Sponsored By: Eero Promo Code: VERYBADWIZARDS Support Very Bad Wizards Links: How to Live As an Antinatalist: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Suing your parents for being born has philosophical support — Quartz Indian man to sue parents for giving birth to him - BBC News Butler, P. D. (2012). Poor people lose: Gideon and the critique of rights. Yale LJ, 122, 2176. Butler, P. (2010). Let's get free: a hip-hop theory of justice. The New Press. Chicago Gideon v. Wainwright - Wikipedia

David and Tamler talk about the invasion of dual process theories in psychology. Why do we love theories that divide complex phenomena into just two categories? Is there any evidence to back up these theories? Are we distorting our understanding of the mind and morality? And what we can do to get out of this mess? Plus, Liam Neeson, moral pet peeves, and oral ethics. Sponsored By: Mack Weldon Promo Code: VERYBADWIZARDS Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Melnikoff, D. E., & Bargh, J. A. (2018). The mythical number two. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22, 280-293. The Annals of the TERF-Wars | Jane Clare Jones Feldman Barrett's theory of constructed emotion - Wikipedia Dual process theory - Wikipedia

In this podcast, David and Tamler delve into Dostoevsky's existential novella, exploring the Underground Man's guilt, shame, and narcissism. They discuss the character's social awkwardness, self-destructive behavior, and spotlight effect. The hosts also select finalists for an upcoming episode based on listener suggestions, touching on topics like ethics, psychology, and relationships.

The podcast delves into Dostoevsky's 'Notes From Underground,' exploring if the protagonist is an existential hero or a self-loathing loner. They discuss APA guidelines on masculinity and the challenges faced. The hosts examine determinism, freedom, and the defiance against rational norms in a thought-provoking conversation.

David and Tamler dive deep into Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 hallucinatory classic, Vertigo. Why does this movie seem to gain stature among critics and academics every year? Is this a really a exploration of Hitchcock's own obsessions and sexual repression? Is it a story about filmmaking and celebrity? Or is it just a twisty noir thriller about a man who has no job and can't kiss to save his life? Plus, some thoughts about bad reviews on Rate My Professor and why it's hard to get feedback about job performance in academia. Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Relax (Short film by Matthew Herbertz) Bob Einstein on "The Ringer" podcast Vertigo (film) - Wikipedia Vertigo | Scanners | Roger Ebert

Delve into Borges's story 'Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius' exploring idealism invading reality. Discuss the metaphysics of holes and the fluid nature of identity. Explore the impact of Toulon on reality and the dangers of seeking ultimate certainty in a chaotic world.

David dies for science’s sins and addresses the failed replication of one of his studies (conducted with three former VBW guests) by the Many Labs Project. But first, the guys try to gauge their intuitions about the phenomenal experience of their molecule-for-molecule mirror reflection duplicate in a universe with a non-orientable topology. Could this spell doom for e-categoricalism? Plus, the annual Thanksgiving tradition: IDW star and Factual Feminist Christina Hoff Sommers and Tamler argue over drinks about standpoint epistemology, political correctness, and lingerie. This episode is brought to you by Audible, Givewell, and the generosity of our supporters. Special Guest: Christina Hoff Sommers. Sponsored By: Audible Promo Code: VERYBADWIZARDS GiveWell Support Very Bad Wizards Links: 2018 Sanders Philosophy of Mind Prize Winner - Daily Nous — Experiencing Left and Right in a Non-Orientable World Experiencing Left and Right in a Non-Orientable World by Jonathan Simon Very Bad Wizards is on Reddit — Join in on all the repugnant discussions on our Reddit community. Large scale replication project finds that one of Dave's and colleagues' most cited findings (association between disgust sensitivity and homophobia) is not real. : VeryBadWizards OSF | Many Labs 2: Investigating Variation in Replicability Across Sample and Setting

Tamler and David continue their Nagel-gazing by discussing another essay from Mortal Questions: "Ruthlessness in Public Life." Why do we treat the immorality of politicians, military leaders, and others in power differently than the immorality of individuals? Why does it seem less aversive to shake the hand of someone responsible for the death of thousands of civilians through military action than it does to shake the hand of a serial killer who has merely killed dozens? Are the rules we use to judge the moral atrocities of public officials different from the ones we use to judge private atrocities? Do they have the same basic foundations? Plus, we satisfy our listeners bloodlust by arguing about the new "Journal of Controversial Ideas" (because it would be cowardly not to). This episode is brought to you by Givewell.org, and by the private morality of our generous supporters. Sponsored By: GiveWell Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Here Comes ‘The Journal of Controversial Ideas.’ Cue the Outcry. - The Chronicle of Higher Education Nagel, T. (2012). Mortal questions. Cambridge University Press. [Amazon affiliate link]

The hosts discuss their thoughts on Stanley Kubrick's film 'A Clockwork Orange', reflecting on their memories and misinterpretations. They analyze the desensitization to violence in modern times compared to the film and the controversy surrounding a particular scene. The attention to detail in the set design and the effectiveness of givewell.org are also discussed. They explore the comedic effect of the prison scene and the character's unexpected prison sentence. The conditioning process involving Alex's eyelids and Mr. Alexander's opposition to imposing laws are examined. Visual aspects of the film, deeper meanings and the eerie atmosphere are also covered.