

Majesty of Reason Philosophy Podcast
Majesty of Reason
A podcast that explains, analyzes, and evaluates philosophical issues. Buckle up for philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and philosophy of time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 26, 2025 • 2h 46min
The new REBUTTED case for God's existence
Trent Horn ( @TheCounselofTrent ) recently explained the new case for God's existence. In this video, I rebut his new case for God's existence.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:04 Trent’s preliminaries3:49 Argument from change27:14 Kalam29:27 Scientific case30:59 Hilbert’s Hotel1:08:09 Benardete paradoxes1:24:40 Modal contingency argument1:49:42 Fine-tuning argument2:00:29 Argument from miracles2:18:45 Moral argument2:33:18 Conclusion2:34:16 A story2:41:38 Bonus soccerLINKS(1) Want the script? Become a patron :)(2) Trent's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22qUGVZXlGg&pp=ygUKdHJlbnQgaG9ybg%3D%3D(3) Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(4) Argument from Change playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka2JpwLJaSaXdDZlBYkd9Cn(5) Response Videos playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaNtpoOwEZm9fuJq423BUrW(6) Moral Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaUcAQpHXN9ZNF2RxZLe7U_(7) Contingency Argument playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZkl5I5QDUXW5CauOfO_bs1(8) Classical Theism playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka0E9laGDA83gN2UbQoa4F2(9) Design Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkax5OrwZmkqE1fY446O4i6g(10) My Free Will playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka4SMFOH-KH-hdJoTz6fG5F(11) My Common Mistakes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkY8lCiJY7XZFkfBChK1VdMK(12) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 35min
If God exists, is everything permitted? | Dr. Justin Mooney & Dr. Luis Oliveira
Today I’m joined by Justin Mooney and Luis Oliveira to discuss a new aspects of the problem of evil.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:45 Summary of the paper28:40 Symmetry argument34:33 Necessary evil theodicies56:32 Necessary permission theodicies1:12:03 Divine right theodicies1:26:28 Final thoughts1:34:00 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Justin's website with all his papers: https://www.justinmooney.net/(2) Luis' PhilPeople profile with all his papers: https://philpeople.org/profiles/luis-r-g-oliveira(3) Luis' article "God and gratuitous evil: between the rock and the hard place": https://philpapers.org/archive/OLIGAG.pdf(4) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 54min
Against single-issue pro-life voting
If the pro-life view is correct, should we prioritize abortion over every other issue in politics and voting? Dustin Crummett argues that the answer is no.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:50 Overview3:30 Body Count Reasoning8:04 Four notes13:18 Embryo Rescue Case19:17 Objection: death vs. unjust killing20:57 Objection: committing unjust killing23:25 Objection: cooperating with evil29:22 Objection: timing of abortion31:59 Objection: non-inferential beliefs38:20 Crummett himself52:02 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Crummett (2023), "Is abortion the only issue?", https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/ergo/article/id/2270/(2) McNabb and DeVito's response paper, "Basic Beliefs, the Embryo Rescue Case, and Single-Issue Voting", https://www.pdcnet.org/ncbq/content/ncbq_2021_0021_0002_0203_0208?file_type=pdf(3) Debate between @TheCounselofTrent and @dustin.crummett : https://youtu.be/RKfa4vAAaPI?si=uaDtEoQXZ-6-_jgR(4) Crummett's interview on @going_awoll : https://youtu.be/7m0fSYIWn8g?si=U04p-u-Hc4dzzB8c(5) My Applied Ethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaYPueOwJRE0CPj6xyIWfxb(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 48min
Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles | Ft. @Friction
The Grim Reaper Paradox does not support the Kalam cosmological argument. In this video, Troy and I explain why.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro & Outline1:44 Benardete Paradoxes6:43 Connection to the Kalam8:31 Finitist B-Arguments10:20 Grim Reaper Argument21:40 Our first objection22:41 A finite Benardete-like paradox24:24 Our first premise27:45 Our second premise34:49 Our second objection43:14 Diagnosis45:48 ConclusionLINKS(1) Troy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Friction(2) Troy's other links: https://link.space/@Friction(3) The paper discussed in the video is “Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles: Severing the Case for Finitism”, Journal of Philosophy (Forthcoming): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHGRP-4(4) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(5) Blog post, "Responses to the Grim Reaper Kalam", https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2024/05/28/responses-to-the-grim-reaper-kalam/(6) Other papers of mine mentioned in the video:(6.1) “Branching Actualism and Cosmological Arguments”, Philosophical Studies (2023, with Alex Malpass): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBAA-22(6.2) “Benardete paradoxes, patchwork principles, and the infinite past”, Synthese (2024): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBPP-3(6.3) “The End is Near: Grim Reapers and Endless Futures”, Mind (Forthcoming): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHTEI-19(6.4) "Benardete Paradoxes, Causal Finitism, and the Unsatisfiable Pair Diagnosis", Mind (Forthcoming, with Alex Malpass): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHBPC(7) My Springer book with Dr. Dan Linford: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(8) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 59min
Arguments for and against Molinism | Dr. Daniel Rubio
Molinism is a popular view of divine providence, but it has serious problems. I'm joined by Daniel Rubio to explore these problems and more.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:50 Key definitions19:30 Molina’s argument23:34 Theological utility35:00 Mooney’s argument37:37 Hasker’s ‘might’ argument44:42 Objective probability argument48:30 Grounding objection58:42 TSB argument1:03:55 Bruteness argument1:08:15 Explanatory priority argument1:14:28 Swenson’s dilemma1:24:00 Explaining freedom away1:31:50 God’s unlucky day1:33:37 Voodoo Argument1:41:07 Kryptonite argument1:45:45 Providential collapse argument1:54:54 Tier List1:56:59 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Dr. Rubio’s website: https://www.danielkfrubio.com/(2) Climenhaga & Rubio, “Molinism: Explaining Our Freedom Away”: https://philpapers.org/archive/CLIMEO.pdf(3) Rubio, “Still Another Anti-Molinist Argument”: https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/theologica/article/view/84353(4) Law, “If Molinism is true, what can you do?”: https://philpapers.org/archive/LAWIMI.pdf(5) Rasmussen, “On creating worlds without evil given divine counterfactual knowledge”: https://philpapers.org/rec/RASOCW(6) Rusavuk, “Molinism’s Kryptonite: Counterfactuals and circumstantial luck”: https://philpapers.org/archive/RUSMKC.pdf(7) Zimmerman, “Yet another anti-molinist argument”: https://fas-philosophy.rutgers.edu/zimmerman/Anti.Molinist.arg.proofs.pdf(8) Mooney’s argument for molinism (by @TheAnalyticChristian ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzv37U2alAo(9) Swenson’s argument against molinism (by @TheAnalyticChristian ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE0fxXY3hjE(10) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 18min
A problem for effective altruism? | Dr. Travis Timmerman
Effective altruism faces a serious dilemma. How might the effective altruist solve it? I'm joined by Dr. Travis Timmerman to explore this question as well as the actualism/possibilism debate in ethics.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:18 Effective altruism9:22 Actualism and possibilism18:20 Not Demanding Enough Objection22:11 Bad Behavior Objection25:25 Non-Ratifiability Problem29:03 Worst Outcome Objection34:34 Asymmetry Objection38:58 Hybridism51:40 Dilemma for effective altruism1:08:21 A hybridist solution?1:15:15 Other practical implicationsRESOURCES(1) Dr. Timmerman's website: https://www.travistimmerman.com/(2) "Effective Altruism's Underspecification Problem": https://philpapers.org/rec/TIMEAU(3) Dr. Timmerman's co-authored SEP entry on actualism and possibilism: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/actualism-possibilism-ethics/(4) "Sweatshops and Free Action: The Stakes of the Actualism/Possibilism Debate for Business Ethics": https://philpapers.org/rec/TIMSAF(5) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 2h 8min
The Modal Ontological Argument: An Analysis
Here's your comprehensive guide to the modal ontological argument for God's existence!Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro & Outline2:06 General structure of MOA12:55 Representative argument15:16 Simpler variant16:17 Criticisms26:43 Symmetry Breakers32:59 Presumption of possibility40:45 Conceivability45:07 Deontic56:12 Ontomystical1:06:33 Motivational centrality1:11:05 Godelian1:27:25 Maximal God1:33:07 Modal continuity1:44:23 Desire1:54:08 Open-mindedness1:59:30 Explicability2:06:39 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) My co-authored SEP entry with Oppy and Rasmussen: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/(2) The paper on PhilPapers: https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHSBF-2(3) Ontological Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZ7oLLpd6Joxl2VS1gOce6t(4) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 19min
Causal finitism is NOT the best solution to infinity paradoxes
How should we solve paradoxes of infinity like the Grim Reaper Paradox? One candidate solution is causal finitism. In this video, Alex Malpass and I argue that there’s a better solution: the unsatisfiable pair diagnosis (UPD).Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:45 Summary of the paper3:08 Grim Reaper paradox8:07 The Kalam9:52 Causal finitism12:55 The UPD23:16 Problems with causal finitist solution44:30 Mysterious force objection56:47 Patchwork objection1:13:20 Finite Benardete-like paradoxes1:15:35 Final notesLINKS(1) The original video from @PhilHalper1 : https://youtu.be/vgLzMkxhEiQ?si=cIM4SZzykNmoOvod(2) The paper discussed in the video is “Benardete Paradoxes, Causal Finitism, and the Unsatisfiable Pair Diagnosis”, Mind (Forthcoming, with Alex Malpass): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHBPC(3) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(4) Here are four other papers of mine mentioned in the video:(4.1) “Branching Actualism and Cosmological Arguments”, Philosophical Studies (2023, with Alex Malpass): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBAA-22(4.2) “Benardete paradoxes, patchwork principles, and the infinite past”, Synthese (2024): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBPP-3(4.3) “The End is Near: Grim Reapers and Endless Futures”, Mind (Forthcoming): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHTEI-19(4.4) “Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles: Severing the Case for Finitism”, Journal of Philosophy (Forthcoming, with Troy Dana): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHGRP-4(5) My Springer book with Dr. Dan Linford: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(6) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 19min
Are we moral monsters? | Peter Singer on Charitable Giving
Peter Singer argues that you are morally obliged to donate to charity even at considerable personal cost. Is he right?Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidRESOURCES(1) Peter Singer's famous paper "Famine, Affluence, and Morality", originally published in 1972: https://personal.lse.ac.uk/robert49/teaching/mm/articles/Singer_1972Famine.pdf(2) Applied Ethics: An Impartial Introduction: https://www.amazon.com/Applied-Ethics-Introduction-Elizabeth-Jackson/dp/1647920116(3) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(4) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 35min
Pascal's Wager | Dr. Al Hájek and Dr. Liz Jackson
Should you wager on God? Let's find out.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro and outline2:48 Key background15:52 The wager23:36 Many gods objection32:16 Mixed strategies objection39:00 Al’s dilemma51:21 Pascal’s mugging1:01:02 Is wagering even possible?1:10:34 Is wagering impious?1:14:25 St. Petersburg Paradox1:30:17 Closing remarksLINKS(1) The paper Liz and Al co-authored on Pascal's wager: https://philpapers.org/archive/HAJPEA.pdf(2) Liz's YouTube channel ( @lizjackson111 ) and website: https://liz-jackson.com/(3) Al's PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/alan-hajek(4) Some of Liz's papers on Pascal's wager: (i) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACFTP-2 (ii) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACAPD-9 (iii) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACSPW(5) Some of Al's papers on Pascal's wager: (i) https://philpapers.org/rec/HJEWWO (ii) https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/(6) An earlier video I made with Liz on Pascal's Wager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qTC7OZB_1A(7) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(8) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid


