Very Bad Wizards Episode 84: Lifting the Veil
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Feb 23, 2016 They debate methods that try to strip away personal perspective, like Rawls' veil of ignorance and Pascal's wager. They riff on movie and TV litmus tests that supposedly reveal compatibility. They critique psychological measures that bake in assumptions and argue about whether universal rationality is possible. The conversation mixes philosophy, pop culture, and skeptical humor.
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You Can't Fully Escape Your Perspective
- Bernard Williams argues attempts to step outside your perspective often smuggle in your own assumptions, producing conclusions that merely reaffirm your original view.
- Tamler and David illustrate this with Rawls' original position and Pascal's Wager as methods that conceal baked‑in values.
Movies As Relationship Litmus Tests
- David and Tamler list movies that act as litmus tests for compatibility, e.g., Drive and Jackie Brown indicate patience and taste for slow, rewatchable films.
- They recount personal reactions: disliking Drive or Ferris Bueller would be a major red flag in a romantic partner.
Personal Movie Dealbreakers Reveal Taste
- David recounts strong personal movie dealbreakers: Spellbound and Frank moved him emotionally and signal deep aesthetic alignment.
- He describes Jackie Brown as diagnostic of patience and appreciation for languid character cinema.
