

Philosophers In Space
Aaron Rabinowitz and Callie Wright
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 28, 2018 • 38min
0G33: Aliens and The Second Sex
Hop to, marines! We've got feminist critiques to drop on some unsuspecting sex monsters. We're breaking down the blockbuster hit Aliens, and putting it through the ringer in ways that make me deeply uncomfortable, given I was raised on this movie. Luckily we have Thomas on hand to remind us how terrible it is. Here are some links on The Second Sex: The Second Sex: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/beauvoir/ ETV episode on Beauvoir: https://voidpod.com/podcasts/2018/10/12/ev-064-better-know-simone-de-beauvoir Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: Thomas is back from QED! Invite us on your show! He have some guest appearances coming up but we can always use more!

Nov 21, 2018 • 41min
0G32: Alien and The Corporation as Sociopath
This week we're breaking out the big guns, except not really because one of the greatest horror movies of all time ain't got no guns. Just some ineffective flamethrowers misused by some schluby rockhoppers. Best in class on all fronts, Alien! We're mixing it up with the 2003 cultural touchstone The Corporation. A book/movie about how corporate persons are functionally sociopaths. We attempt some pushback on that, which goes about as well as the pushback humans give in the corporation dominated Xenoverse. And if just one alien isn't enough nightmarish space rape for you, we're doing Aliens's next week. It's Thomas's first time, so lets all pressure him to liveblog it. While we're chatting, what sort of rock is worth carrying through alien infested space? Or is the mining thing all a clever ruse?! Okay, here's some links: The Corporation Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corporation_(2003_film) The Documentary, which is definitely worth watching as a cultural artifact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y888wVY5hzw Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: Thomas is off at QED, appearing to British people or something. Aaron's going to be on an upcoming episode of Utah Outcasts, so keep an ear out for that. Help us out by convincing people they should totally have us on and then we can turn them into pod people like you. (I really try to make it worth it for the folks who read all the way to the end)

Nov 14, 2018 • 38min
0G31: Snow Crash and Universal Language, Part 2
Ai Oh EH ME PA TI Congrats, you're all our language slaves now. We learned the secret words of the Ur language developed by the ancient masters to code the behavior of their followers and now our cult is going to really kick in to high gear. Hope you enjoy this part two, featuring both a new set of intro quotes and our returning special guest Noah Lugeons of Puzzle in a Thunderstorm fame. Universal Languages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_language Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: None recently. Have us on your show, it's what the hypnotoad desires.

Nov 7, 2018 • 40min
0G30: Snow Crash and Libertarianism, Part 1
Grab your poons and crank your toons, we're blasting into the wild world of Snow Crash. With the help of our amazing special guest, Noah Lugeons from the Puzzle in a Thunderstorm crew, we're diving deep into the political symbolism of Stevenson's most famous work, and next week we'll be back to talk the philosophy of language in Snow Crash. Wiki on Anarcho-Capitalism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-capitalism Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: None recently. Have us on your show, we'll bring the nerd and the fury.

Oct 31, 2018 • 36min
0G29: Ex Machina and the AI Box Problem, Part 2
Welcome back to our thrilling conclusion of Ex Machina. Since this was a such a heavily requested fan favorite we took suggestions for topics for this part two, so we end up spending a fair bit of time discussing the AI Box problem and male gaze. Don't forget to post quotes for the intro on the patreon thread, and get your hopes up about a special guest for next show! AI Box problem: https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/AI-box_experiment Male Gaze: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_gaze SEP article on the knowledge argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qualia-knowledge/ Less philosophically intense explanation: https://philosophynow.org/issues/99/What_Did_Mary_Know Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: None in this dimension. Hit us up before our spaceship flies into another wormhole.

Oct 23, 2018 • 34min
0G28: Ex Machina and Mary the Color Scientist, Part 1
You requested, and requested, and requested, and we finally got there! Ex Machina, one of the strongest horror sci-fi movies to come out in the past decade. There is so much wonderful content to this movie we're spreading it out over two episodes. For this first one, we focus on the thought experiment of Mary in the colorless room, and how it relates to the problem of consciousness for AI that we first addressed in episodes 4 and 5 (which we strongly recommend you re-listen to if you). And then after dark, of course, there's sexy time talk. SEP article on the knowledge argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qualia-knowledge/ Less philosophically intense explanation: https://philosophynow.org/issues/99/What_Did_Mary_Know Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/

Oct 17, 2018 • 46min
0G27: Galaxy Quest and Toxic Fandom, Part 2
Never give up your fandom! Never surrender shipping! Today we're fanning out over the amazing Galaxy Quest, a gem that just keeps getting better with age. We talk about how it was a roadmap for the kinds of fandom that have since gone from fringe to mainstream. Then we discuss some of the textbook features of toxic fandom and practices fans can engage in to enjoy their art without it becoming harmful. Hopefully we managed to cover everything possible, but I doubt it. Announcement: Next week we'll be doing another Patron thank you Q and A, so get your Qs together and bring em to patreon, or if you really hate that platform you can email us. Article on the supposed TV show adaptation: https://www.indiewire.com/2017/11/galaxy-quest-amazon-paul-scheer-new-cast-1201897740/ Secondary readings on Toxic Fandom: https://medium.com/cultivated-identity/how-the-toxic-parts-of-fandom-ruin-it-for-everyone-else-d51b9d0bf0aa Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: Nothing recently! We do children's parties, if that helps. Thomas especially, he can bring his own child if you're short. Her experience machine is portable and can network with the other kid's machines.

Oct 10, 2018 • 39min
0G26: Pickle Rick and Toxic Fandom, Part 1
Wub a lub a dub dub and other overused catchphrases! What up my squanches? This week we dive into the beating heart of Rick and Morty fandom. We're talking Pickle Rick, arguably the best episode in the best season of one of the best shows in any possible universe. We talk about the whole arc of the show and why some fans who identify strongly with Rick have trouble keeping up with the character's personal growth, to the detriment of everyone who wants to enjoy Rick and Morty. Aw Geeze Next week we're looking at Galaxy Quest as a meditation on how to grow from toxic fandom back into healthy fandom. Katie Fustich's amazing article on the Real Ricks: https://medium.com/s/darkish-web/inside-the-toxic-intellectually-superior-world-of-facebook-s-rick-and-morty-fans-4ede77fa1f8 Philosophical Background on Nihilism: https://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/ Secondary readings on Toxic Fandom: https://medium.com/cultivated-identity/how-the-toxic-parts-of-fandom-ruin-it-for-everyone-else-d51b9d0bf0aa Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: Check out Aaron on a recent hangout with Jeremiah Traeger where we talk Pirsig's Quality. We go live Wednesday the 7th at 8pm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6lvIn860_k&feature=youtu.be and check out Aaron discussing The Good Place alongside Bethany Futrell on Nathan Dickey's A Leap of Doubt Podcast: https://t.co/RbZ537ava8

Oct 3, 2018 • 48min
0G25: Minority Report and Time Paradoxes
As sometimes happens, we've generated a minority report to last episode's majority report. The differences between the short story and the movie are substantial, including a reversal in the outcome. While we have much debate over whether this minority report reflects a flaw in the system or a feature, we're putting it forward in the spirit of transparency and to avoid space fascism. By listening to this report, you may create an infinite regress of your own reports, but we're willing to take that risk. Excerpts from a book on Minority Report and Free will: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NXmv0zXZBi4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA103&dq=Minority+report+determinism&ots=U8bJuPOSzl&sig=7eUUflSo9H5_acUsP45Kc2lnQiY#v=onepage&q=Minority%20report%20determinism&f=false Announcement: We've updated our patreon goals since we kind of just did them anyway. Now, 300 patrons gets us 15 more minutes of show per episode! We need it too, there is so many supporting characters and moments that deserve more love. Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: Check out Aaron on an upcoming hangout with Jeremiah Traeger where we talk Pirsig's Quality. We go live Wednesday the 7th at 8pm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6lvIn860_k&feature=youtu.be

Sep 26, 2018 • 38min
0G24: Minority Report and Prescient Utilitarianism
This episode will serve as our majority report on the movie Minority Report. We cover the movie's relationship to Utilitarianism and the common objection that we can't predict the future. Next week we will present our minority report on the short story Minority Report, where we'll cover how the story addresses prescience and determinism. The major difference is that this episodes content is beefed up with about 40 minutes of Tom Cruise running. Paper on the epistemic objection to Utilitarianism: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=9C31837321834C184C99CC72FD34B700?doi=10.1.1.357.2120&rep=rep1&type=pdf Announcement: We've updated our patreon goals since we kind of just did them anyway. Now, 300 patrons gets us 15 more minutes of show per episode! We need it too, there is so many supporting characters and moments that deserve more love. Support us at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/0G Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0gPhilosophy 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 Sibling shows: Serious Inquiries Only: https://seriouspod.com/ Opening Arguments: https://openargs.com/ Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/ Recent appearances: None recently. Have us on your show, it's what the hypnotoad desires.


