Rationally Speaking Podcast

Can all knowledge truly be unified? This discussion dives into consilience, examining how biology, social sciences, and humanities intertwine. The speakers tackle the tension between rigorous science and postmodern skepticism. They also explore the allure of 'deepity' and the challenges of truly understanding complex phenomena. Unique perspectives from a consumer behavior conference reveal the spectrum of opinions on science's role. Finally, intriguing philosophical inquiries about superintelligence and aviation rules round out the conversation.

Patricia Churchland, a renowned philosopher and expert in neurophilosophy, dives into the intricate ties between neuroscience and morality. She discusses how evolutionary changes shape social behaviors and the genetic factors that foster human connections. The conversation explores oxytocin beyond its labels, revealing deeper complexities in human behavior. Churchland also connects philosophical insights on morality to ethical reasoning, critiquing societal beliefs about free will and self-awareness through the lens of neuroscience.

Dive into the intriguing world of willpower as philosophical insights meet scientific research. Discover how resisting temptation could either deplete or strengthen your willpower. Explore the surprising impact of glucose on decision-making and the effectiveness of financial incentives in boosting motivation. Unravel the complexities of pre-commitment with engaging personal stories, while humorously tackling the absurdities of alarm apps that cost you money. Finally, sharpen your rational thinking skills with innovative tools and techniques.

Massimo and Julia answer listeners' questions. In this installment the topics include: how much do works of fiction affect people's rationality, Bayesian vs. frequentist statistics, what is evidence, how much blame do people deserve when their actions increase the chance of them being targeted, time travel, and whether a philosophically examined life is a better life. Also, all about rationality in the movies, from Dr. Who to Scooby-Doo.

In this special live episode recorded at the 2012 Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism, Massimo and Julia discuss the "simulation argument" -- the case that it's roughly 20% likely that we live in a computer simulation -- and the surprising implications that argument has for religion. Their guest is philosopher David Kyle Johnson, who is professor of philosophy at King's College and author of the blog "Plato on Pop" for Psychology Today, and who hosts his own podcast at philosophyandpopculture.com. Elaborating on an article he recently published in the journal Philo, Johnson lays out the simulation argument and his own insight into how it might solve the age-old Problem of Evil (i.e., "How is it possible that an all-powerful, all-knowing, and good God could allow evil to occur in the world?"). As usual, Massimo and Julia have plenty of questions and comments!

Explore the fascinating world of intuition and its role in decision-making. Dive into how intuitive judgments can be incredibly effective for experts, yet sometimes misleading due to cognitive biases. The complexities of base rate neglect in medical testing reveal our struggles with probability. Discover the intriguing dance between intuition and rational reasoning, especially in emotional contexts. Finally, challenge your perceptions of rationality as cultural influences shape our understanding of decision-making.

If you value scientific evidence you're probably familiar with the idea that having "peer-reviewed" studies is crucial to the legitimacy of any new claim. But what does "peer-reviewed" entail, anyway? In this episode, Massimo and Julia open up the black box of peer review, explaining how the process originated, how it works, and what's wrong with it. They also try brainstorming ways it could be fixed, and ask: how is the Internet changing the way we do research?

Howard Schneider, Dean of the School of Journalism at Stony Brook University and a veteran in media, chats about science communication. He believes the media often gets too much blame for public misunderstandings of science. Schneider advocates for improving scientists' communication skills, even suggesting improv classes! He explores how storytelling can enhance science outreach and discusses innovative online strategies to combat misinformation. His insights blend media literacy with actionable solutions to engage the public in scientific discussions.

Discussing the nuances of spirituality, the hosts explore blending aspects of different religions, the concept of 'spiritual' experiences, and the relationship between mystery and understanding. They also examine the challenges of adopting spiritual practices in a secular context and delve into critical views on Buddhism and spirituality.

Massimo and Julia discuss determinism, reductionism, physicalism, and naturalism. They debate emergent properties, math discovery, and supernatural existence. The podcast delves into the limitations of science in understanding philosophical questions about the universe.