Embrace The Void

My guest this week is Matthew Sheffield, a writer, producer, and media entrepreneur. He hosts The Theory of Change podcast on The Flux network and when he’s not writing about our current political chaos he’s working away at an equally hard problem, that of consciousness in the age of AI.Matt's recent article on AI and consicousness: https://plus.flux.community/p/its-like-this-why-your-perceptionMusic by GW RodriguezEditing by Adam WikSibling Pod:Philosophers in Space: https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com/Support us at Patreon.com/EmbraceTheVoidIf you enjoy the show, please Like and Review us on your pod app, especially iTunes. It really helps!This show is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.Next Episode: Secular Leadership with Darrel Ray

Alex Guerrero, Rutgers philosophy professor and author of Lottocracy, explores replacing elections with lottery-based political selection. He discusses why elections fail, how sortition could improve representation, rethinking executives and courts, designing fair random sampling and pay, and cautious, local rollout strategies for radical democratic reform.

C. Thi Nguyen, a philosophy professor at the University of Utah and author of 'The Score,' dives into the essence of games and their impact on society. He explores the pitfalls of quantifying values and why scoring systems can drain our institutional life. Nguyen shares insights on how grading culture shapes education and emphasizes the need for smaller communities to define their values. He also unveils the complexities of bureaucracy, arguing that both capitalism and centralized systems contribute to our obsession with metrics.

In this engaging discussion, Matt McManus, an assistant professor of Political Science at Spelman College and author of The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, unpacks the intricate relationship between liberalism and socialism. He articulates how these concepts can coexist for societal flourishing and defines core principles like economic democracy and developmental ethics. Matt critiques traditional liberalism for overlooking economic domination and explores the viability of models like Nordic socialism and the potential for universal basic income, shedding light on the evolving landscape of American socialism.

My guest this week is anarchist activist William Gillis, author of the book Did the Science Wars Take Place? The Political and Ethical Stakes of Radical Realism. We cover the many flavors of anti-realism Gillis lays out in his book, and which ones seem harmfully prevalent on the left. Enjoy!Did the Science Wars Take Place? https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/william-gillis-did-the-science-wars-take-placeMusic by GW RodriguezEditing by Adam WikSibling Pod:Philosophers in Space: https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com/Support us at Patreon.com/EmbraceTheVoidIf you enjoy the show, please Like and Review us on your pod app, especially iTunes. It really helps!This show is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.Next Episode: Liberal Socialism with Matt McManus

My returning guest this week is the most pleasant of bureaucrats ever to serve the the blood god, associate professor of philosophy at the London school of economics and political science Liam Kofi Bright. Folks might not know this, but when Liam isn’t verifying verification or whatever epistemologists do, he writes some hilarious fanfic about philosophy and logistics in the world of 40k. Since I’m convinced that 40k is somehow central to understanding modern politics, I’ve asked Liam on to help me parse that intuition.The Office for Ceremonial Calculations: https://archiveofourown.org/series/4703680Unjust Deserts: https://sherdenpact.neocities.org/GuestPostLuckMusic by GW RodriguezEditing by Adam WikSibling Pod:Philosophers in Space: https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com/Support us at Patreon.com/EmbraceTheVoidIf you enjoy the show, please Like and Review us on your pod app, especially iTunes. It really helps!This show is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.Next Episode: Did the Science Wars Take Place? with William Gillis

In this discussion, Alastair Lichten, a humanist organizer and writer, delves into the intriguing connection between autism, neurodivergence, and non-religion. He explores how autistic thinking styles might challenge social taboos, leading to a questioning of religious beliefs. Alastair also addresses the implications of assuming correlations between neurodivergence and beliefs, the significance of justice sensitivity, and the potential for neurodivergent individuals to contribute uniquely to moral philosophy, emphasizing the need for inclusive practices.

My guest this week is Kevin Bolling, executive director of the Secular Student Alliance, the largest organization in the country representing secular and nonreligious students. We discuss how things are going on the youth secular organizing front, including community moderation and coping with the resurgence of White Christian Nationalism. Enjoy!Secular Student Alliance: https://secularstudents.org/Music by GW RodriguezEditing by Adam WikSibling Pod:Philosophers in Space: https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com/Support us at Patreon.com/EmbraceTheVoidIf you enjoy the show, please Like and Review us on your pod app, especially iTunes. It really helps!This show is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.Next Episode: Autism and Humanism with Alistair Lichten

Matthew Facciani, a social scientist at Notre Dame and author of 'Misguided', dives deep into the origins and spread of misinformation. He explores the psychological mechanisms that allow false beliefs to persist, and how identity dynamics fuel susceptibility to misinformation, especially regarding health issues like vaccinations. Facciani emphasizes the need for media literacy and improved communication to rebuild trust in institutions. The conversation also tackles radical societal changes necessary for human flourishing in today’s polarized world.

Jonathan Church, a chartered financial analyst and author known for challenging social justice narratives, returns to share his evolving views on wokeness and anti-woke movements. He discusses his disillusionment with the anti-woke sentiment and highlights how once-revered thinkers have veered into conspiracy ideologies. The conversation also explores political identity, economic equity, and the impact of media polarization on societal discourse. Church advocates for engaging dialogue and deliberative democracy as means to bridge divides and foster understanding.