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Brain in a Vat

Brain in a Vat
Philosophy
Prostitution
Sex Work
Academic Freedom
Consent
Severance
Personal Identity
Artificial Intelligence
Affirmative Action
Morality
Factory Farming
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Art
Population Ethics
Ethics
Just War Theory
Gun Control
Gaming
Demographic Changes
Abortion

Thought experiments and conversations with philosophers. Hosted by Dr Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes293Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Brain in a Vat

Latest Episodes

Lionel Shriver returns to discuss her new novel, 'A Better Life,' and the philosophical debate over immigration and open borders.

Inspired by a proposed New York City program to pay residents to house migrants, the novel turns one family's home into... more

Nathan Cofnas, the academic who recently drew widespread attention for exposing plagiarism allegations against Cambridge professor Jason Arday, returns to Brain in a Vat to discuss academic freedom, institutional conformity, and his own controversial... more

Former Brain in a Vat producer Jimmy Mullen returns to discuss free speech in schools, exploring how educational institutions should balance student expression with their responsibility to maintain an environment conducive to learning.

Drawing on co... more

Colin McGinn joins to discuss sexual ethics on campus. Drawing on thought experiments and his own experiences in academia, McGinn argues that universities too often conflate harassment with consensual relationships while overstating the role of power... more

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Recent Guests

Lionel Shriver
Literary philosopher and author of A Better Life (on immigration)
Episode: The Costs of Open Borders | Lionel Shriver
Nathan Cofnas
Philosopher and author involved in high-profile free-speech dispute at Cambridge
Independent/Academic philosopher
Episode: The Man Who Exposed Jason Arday: Cancelled at Cambridge | Nathan Cofnas
Jimmy Mullen
Legal scholar focused on First Amendment law and school speech,
Brain in a Vat
Episode: Free Speech, Schools, and Children | Jimmy Mullen
Colin McGinn
Philosopher, author, and professor
Columbia University (as discussed in episode) or former university affiliations
Episode: Sexual Ethics on Campus: Consent and Power | Colin McGinn
Spencer Case
Philosopher and podcast guest
Independent philosopher/academic
Episode: The Philosophy of Pluribus | Spencer Case
Rivka Weinberg
Philosopher invited to discuss meaning of life
Episode: The Time-Meaning Conundrum | Rivka Weinberg
David Benetton
Author featured in the episode, discussing his book Living with Adversity
Author, Living with Adversity
Episode: A World Without Scarcity | Steven Kotler
Kevin Allison
Runs the Risk Podcast, storyteller
Risk Podcast
Episode: Risky Storytelling | Kevin Allison
Chloe Carmichael
Clinical psychologist and author of Can I Say That?
Clinical practice / Author
Episode: Free Speech, Hate Speech, and Mental Health | Chloe Carmichael

Hosts

Jason Werbeloff
Host with a focus on thought experiments and philosophy, often steering debates with rigorous questioning and curiosity.
Mark Oppenheimer
Co-host, contributes philosophical analysis and facilitates nuanced discussions with guests.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 204 ratings
  • Great!

    Really enjoyed the Free Speech episode with Dr. Carmichael!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RuitBier
    United States6 months ago
  • Kirk episode confusion

    I agree that civil debate is of critical import. I have seen Kirk debate in ways that viciously undermine and promote the discrimination, discrediting and devaluation of people who are different from him. His performance of moral disgust should not be construed as tolerance. Lament his death as a human, yes, but committed to civil debate he was not.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Willow Smithson
    Canada7 months ago
  • Amazing

    Great exercise for the brain

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vampingo
    Germanya year ago
  • Difficult to believe!

    Just listened to the ‘white privilege’ episode.. my first in this series… I am guessing it’s 3 white males bantering about how to “nuance” the concept of white male privilege in order to make the concept meaningless. The discussion reminded me of 3 kids coming up with ever more ridiculous “what about-isms” —- what about the colour of bandaids, what about all the animals, what about all the people who ever lived, what about really old people… the end goal is to say there’s nothing meaningful to s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    PHoward61
    Canada2 years ago
  • Engaging and Thought-Provoking 👍👍

    Brain In A Vat offers engaging conversations with contemporary philosophers that are both fun and intellectually stimulating. Dr. Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer excel at making complex ideas accessible. Once you start, you'll find yourself eagerly exploring their archive for more insightful episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anna [SOP]
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A wide range of guests and topics keeps me coming back.
Engaging debates that challenge conventional wisdom.
Thoughtful, rigorous discussions that are accessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Time-Meaning Conundrum | Rivka Weinberg
Q: Is ultimate meaning possible, even in an afterlife or immortal scenario?
No; ultimate meaning is metaphysically impossible because valued ends lie outside the ongoing projects that constitute a life, so eternity would still leave the meta-question unresolved.
Risky Storytelling | Kevin Allison
Q: How do you balance honesty with the potential harm of a story when it involves others?
The guest argues for a safe-space approach that allows telling ideas first and addressing repercussions afterward, while avoiding gratuitous harm and respecting boundaries, with contextual allowances for future reflection and apology.
The Bias against Conservatism in Higher Education | Amy Wax
Q: Do you think universities should curtail certain extremist or genocidal speech in classrooms?
She acknowledges some restrictions may be justified in pedagogy, but argues the principle should be carefully defined to avoid suppressing legitimate, though controversial, ideas while protecting students from harm; overall she opposes broad curtailment.
The Bias against Conservatism in Higher Education | Amy Wax
Q: What happened to you at the University of Pennsylvania that shaped your views on academic freedom?
Wax describes a rapid escalation from a provocative op-ed to widespread student protest, a formal condemnation by a faculty committee, and a suspension and loss of resources, followed by a job offer from Hillsdale that enabled continued teaching.
Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine (Rebroadcast)
Q: Is there a structural difference in someone's brain with PMO?
We're not anywhere close to being able to pick it out at the individual level, but there might be differences at the group level.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Brain in a Vat

What is Brain in a Vat about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful philosophy-focused show exploring cutting-edge ideas through rigorous dialogue and provocative thought experiments. Conversations span academic freedom, free speech in education, ethics of power and consent on campus, debates about torture and punishment, and provocative takes on meaning, adversity, and risk storytelling. Noteworthy are the wide range of expert guests—philosophers, legal scholars, ethicists, and authors—plus a steady balance between rigorous argument and accessible delivery. Listeners likely value clear reasoning, moral nuance, and challenging established norms, making it appealing to academics, students, and curious thinkers alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to Brain in a Vat?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Brain in a Vat:

1. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
2. Philosophize This!
3. Very Bad Wizards
4. Conversations with Tyler
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Brain in a Vat are there?

Brain in a Vat launched 6 years ago and published 293 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Brain in a Vat?

Recent guests on Brain in a Vat include:

1. Lionel Shriver
2. Nathan Cofnas
3. Jimmy Mullen
4. Colin McGinn
5. Spencer Case
6. Rivka Weinberg
7. David Benetton
8. Kevin Allison

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