Very Bad Wizards

Analytic vs. continental philosophy rivalry discussed. The University of Austin's forbidden courses raise questions. Skepticism towards reported events and controversial figures. Choosing between controversial courses like 'Science and Christianity'. Contrasting analytic and continental philosophy approaches and biases. Analytic philosophy's paradigmatic nature and progress. Exploring psychological frameworks and artistic influences in philosophy.

Exploring Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Masque of the Red Death' with guests from Weird Studies podcast, they discuss weird fiction's allure and mood creation. The hosts also delve into a data-driven birthday orgy and explore the concept of modern sex symbols. From decadence in fiction to societal collapse, the podcast covers a wide range of intriguing topics.

The hosts discuss the hunger dance at twilight, Ben's greenhouse burning habit, Shin Hae-mi's disappearance, Lee Jong-su's quest for the truth, and the final scene of the film 'Burning'

Lee Chang-dong, Director of the movie Burning, discusses the captivating elements and universal themes of the film. They explore illusions, reflections, and perspective, as well as the importance of subjective analysis. They also talk about frustration and Schrödinger's concept, and delve into metaphors and ambiguity in the movie.

Podcast explores Thomas Nagel's surprising essay on sexual perversion and the nature of sexual desires. Discussion includes a new study on attitudes about sexual assault with sex robots. The hosts analyze Nagel's arguments against the notion of perversion and explore the complexities of hunger and sexual desire. They also discuss the concept of desire, the role of fantasy in sexual desire, and whether engaging in non-traditional sexual activities qualifies as perversion.

The hosts discuss William James's account of 'Attention' and its relevance today. They explore how attention functions in the mind and its connection to shaping our reality. They also touch on the controversial firing of a university chancellor and the debate on attentional capacity in psychology.

The hosts discuss their favorite things seen this year and delve into the philosophy, comedy, satire, and poignancy of Jorge Luis Borges' "The Aleph". They also recommend movies and TV shows, talk about making informed charitable donations, explore the limitations of language, discuss therapy during the holiday season, and analyze Borges' symbolic reflections.

Guest Vlad Chituc, returning guest, discusses donating his kidney, effective altruism movement, and his sexuality. They debate the role of neuroscience in climate change research and the skepticism towards it. Virtual conferences, academic footprint, TMS, and effective altruism are also discussed. They share personal experiences with anesthesia and fear of unconsciousness. The dangers of surgery, criticisms and limitations of effective altruism, and the turn to long-termism are explored.

Acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki joins the podcast to discuss his mystical and dreamy animated film Spirited Away. Topics explored include the beauty of argument, desire for shorter episodes, critiquing social psychology, communication dynamics, Miyazaki's portrayal of stillness, themes and maturation in Spirited Away, transformation and help from Haku, the boiler room character and sit sprites, the power of names, coming of age and devastation, identity and No Face, cleaning the stink spirit, Miyazaki's message, No Face's self-destruction, and shadow people and perspectives.

The hosts delve into the highly controversial and rarely discussed topic of zoophilia, examining the ethical and moral implications. They also explore the decline of civic engagement in America and the impact of technology on loneliness. The podcast touches on the concept of consent in relationships with animals, the future perception of their discussion, and the decline of social capital in the United States. Additionally, they discuss changes in entertainment consumption, the alarmist nature of articles, and the surprising insights of researcher Paul Bloom.