Brain in a Vat

Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market?  Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant?

Is the restriction on having additional sexual or romantic partners similar to the restriction on having additional friends? Should you allow your partner to be free to pursue other partners? And are we able to overcome the jealousy associated with non-monogamy? 

Does the clone of a murderer deserve to be punished? Is the clone with the murderer’s memories and dispositions guilty of the murder? And has justice been served if the clone is punished, even if the original murderer goes free?

Was dropping the bomb on Hiroshima justified? Is Ken the real star of Barbie? Three Oppenheimers weigh in on the film event of the year. Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman Brain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShop Brain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail

Exploring the debate on cultural appropriation, discussing ownership of abstract universals, the role of insult in cultural appropriation, the benefits of cultural exchange, concerns surrounding sacred symbols, and the argument against cultural appropriation from a consequentialist perspective.

Lori Watson discusses the debate around legitimizing and decriminalizing sex work, exploring the factors driving individuals into prostitution, the policy on prostitution, coercion and inequality in sex work, the permissibility of choosing clients, perspectives on denying service, and the regulation of sex work and its blurred line with pornography.

Recently, Eron Fasser and Mark Oppenheimer debated Hamza Tzortzis and Mohammed Hijab on whether Atheism or is Islam more rational. This episode discusses the arguments made and strategies employed by both sides. Were Hamza and Mohammed arguing in good faith? Or were they trying to derail a debate they were clearly losing?

Travis Timmerman, author of Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying, discusses the concept of death and whether it is good or bad. The podcast explores the metaphysics of death and the existential trade-offs in life decisions. It also delves into assessing well-being from objective and subjective perspectives, and explores the moral reasons for and against procreation.

Exploring the connection between luck and knowledge, using examples such as lucky guesses and mistaken identifications. Discusses challenges of determining truth in a polarized world and importance of media literacy. Explores real-world consequences and consistency in defining knowledge through legal cases. Examines attempts to eliminate knowledge-destroying veritic luck.

Explore the life and philosophy of influential philosopher Derek Parfit, with a focus on his rejection of an unchanging essence or soul and his emphasis on psychological continuity. Delve into thought experiments challenging personal identity and the connection to survival after death. Examine Parfit's views on the non-identity problem and the moral saintliness of his dedication to philosophical issues. Hear about the process of writing a comprehensive book on Parfit, including intriguing anecdotes and interviews with over 200 people.