
Philosophers In Space
Welcome to Philosophers In Space, where the intrepid trekker captain Callie Wright and their questionable Chief Ethics Officer Aaron Rabinowitz explore the weird, gooey world of sci-fi, searching for tantalizing hypotheticals and gear-stripping questions in a space odyssey of meaning and amusement.
Latest episodes

Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 42min
The Dark Forest and the Wallfacer Project pt.1
More Space Opera! We're back it with the Three Body Problem series, talking about the second book in the series. For part one, we're covering the nature of the wallfacer project and how to approach a threat that's 400 years away. Part two will be all about cosmic sociology and the dark forest theory! The Dark Forest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Forest Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: The Dark Forest pt.2 and cosmic sociology

Jun 17, 2025 • 1h 37min
Silo and Longterm Paternalism
The hosts dive deep into the intricacies of the series, discussing the ethical implications of a siloed society. They explore themes of rebellion and class struggle, highlighting Juliet's emotional journey amid moral ambiguity. The narrative tension builds as characters face dramatic sacrifices and confront the weight of secrets. They also tackle societal control, the stigma of disabilities, and the balance between personal autonomy and community dependence, all wrapped in philosophical insights and connections to popular culture.

Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 34min
SOMA and Advanced Problems of Personhood
Did it work? If you're reading this, it worked! You've been successfully copied as one of the countless persons chosen for our podcast enrichment program! Your existence will consist of listening to this episode and answering a brief survey before ceasing to exist again forever. Our scientists find this approach maximizes utility production while avoiding the wastages associated with things like human attachment or living a full life. If you have any questions please save them for the pre-termination survey. You have been selected to enjoy our episode on SOMA and Advanced Problems of Personhood, so please now do so! SOMA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_(video_game) Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Silo and the Limits of Community Control

Apr 11, 2025 • 1h 50min
Listener Qs 40
No joke, we hit listener Qs 40 the week I also turn 40. Weird stuff. Anyway, thanks for keeping us alive over here, even if it's just to extend the torture a bit longer. Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: SOMA and Sacrifices of Theseus

Mar 15, 2025 • 2h 7min
Listener Qs 39
As always, it has been an honor and a privilege screwing up your names and worldviews. Enjoy! Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Listener Q and As 40!

Feb 24, 2025 • 1h 23min
Starship Troopers
It's fascism season in America again, so we're celebrating with the fashest satire of all. To help us get in the spirit we're joined by special guest Jordan Carroll (@jordanscarroll.bsky.social), author of Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right. We discuss whether satire really works on fascism and why fascists are so keen on a genre that seems like the opposite of everything they value. Speculative Whiteness: https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517917081/speculative-whiteness/ Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Listener Q and As!

Jan 31, 2025 • 1h 35min
Bobiverse Book Five Pt2 and Advanced AI Alignment
We're doing engineering, what could go wrong?! Thoths! That's what. Or did Thoth go wrong? Maybe all of this is entirely how it should go, maybe Mud is a savior for all Bobkind. Join us and find out, as we parse the messy balance of raising an AGI. Not till we are lost: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Till-Are-Lost-Bobiverse/dp/B0CW2345TV Superintelligence: https://www.amazon.com/Superintelligence-Dangers-Strategies-Nick-Bostrom/dp/0198739834 Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Starship Troopers and Satirizing Fascism

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 37min
Bobiverse Book Five Pt1 and The Seven Stories
The Bobs are back in town! We're back with book five, Not Till We Are Lost, another middle book in the bobiverse series. In this episode we cover all the plots that aren't Thoth related, and discuss the theory that there are really only seven stories out there in the world, and that's why the Bob books feel like seasons of Star Trek. Enjoy! Kurt Vonnegut and six basic plots: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180525-every-story-in-the-world-has-one-of-these-six-basic-plots Seven basic plots: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Basic_Plots Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Bobiverse book five and advanced AI box problems.

Dec 24, 2024 • 1h 41min
Lower Decks: A Farewell to Farms (5.4)
Here it is, the culmination of all of Star Trek, after this episode we can hang up our captain's badges and retire to a simple life of bloodworm stomping. This is arguably the best Star Trek Episode in the best Star Trek show there is. It is, indeed, Klingon as hell. We cover what it teaches us about collective virtue and other more advanced takes on virtue theory. Enjoy, or experience bij! Lower Decks 5.4: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27336119/ Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Bobiverse book five and advanced AI box problems.

Dec 3, 2024 • 1h 25min
Intacto (Intact) and Superstitious Luck
The fact that nobody ever asks anybody if they're "feeling lucky" in this movie feels like a mistake worthy of a creepy evil luck hug. I really enjoyed this movie the first time I watched it, and after five years of being obsessed with non-superstitious luck, it's nice to come back and reflect on the weirdness that is superstitious luck. Enjoy! Intacto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intacto Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Join our Facebook discussion group (make sure to answer the questions to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/985828008244018/ Email us at: philosophersinspace@gmail.com If you have time, please write us a review on iTunes. It really really helps. Please and thank you! Music by Thomas Smith: https://seriouspod.com/ Sibling shows: Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Content Preview: Lower Decks: A farewell to Farms and Collective Virtue