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Brain in a Vat

Brain in a Vat
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Philosophy
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Near-Death Experiences
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Thought Experiments

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes281Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePhilosophy

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Latest Episodes

Amy Wax joins us to discuss the ideological landscape of higher education. Wax reflects on her conflict with the University of Pennsylvania and argues that universities have become increasingly hostile to conservative viewpoints. The conversation exp... more

Tomás Bogardus joins to discuss his book "The Nature of the Sexes" and argues for a reproductive-functional account of biological sex. According to Bogardus, males and females are defined by the reproductive function their bodies are structured to pe... more

Brain in a Vat is back from hiatus with a deep dive into the philosophy of religion. Stephen Kershnar and Nathan Bray join us to ask whether God can be morally responsible and whether worship makes sense if God could not have done otherwise.

The dis... more

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Brad Duchaine from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at Dartmouth discusses prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) – a condition where individuals see distorted faces.

The episode explores various manife... more

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Recent Guests

Amy Wax
Professor of Law who discusses higher education and free expression
University of Pennsylvania (former), Hillsdale College (current)
Episode: The Bias against Conservatism in Higher Education | Amy Wax
Nathan Bray
Young philosopher and budding scholar at St. Andrews, contributing to discussions on God's moral nature
St. Andrews University
Episode: God Is Not Praiseworthy | Stephen Kershnar and Nathan Bray
Sebastian Purcell
Philosopher and author focused on Aztec philosophy
Episode: Aztec Philosophy: What the Aztecs Knew About Life | Sebastian Purcell
Cécile Fabre
Philosopher specializing in the ethics of espionage and treason
Episode: The Moral Lives of Spies | Cécile Fabre
Raja Halwani
A philosopher who specializes in discussions on love and sex.
Philosopher
Episode: The Right to Sex | Raja Halwani (Rebroadcast)
Jessica Flanigan
Philosopher and author focused on ethical reasoning in politics and the sociology of sex work.
Episode: Decriminalizing Sex Work | Jessica Flanigan
Martha Nussbaum
One of the world's most influential philosophers
University of Chicago
Episode: Disgust | Martha Nussbaum (Rebroadcast)
Spencer Case
Host of Micro-Degressions and philosopher
Micro-Degressions
Episode: Patriotism Unpacked | Spencer Case (Rebroadcast)
Jared Millson
Philosopher at Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Episode: Are Conspiracy Theories Right? | Jared Millson and Ella Coleman

Hosts

Mark Oppenheimer
Co-host of Brain in a Vat, Brain in a Vat
Dr Jason Werbeloff
Co-host of Brain in a Vat, Host of Brain in a Vat

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 194 ratings
  • 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
    Canadaa month 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
    Canadaa year 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
  • An incredible podcast. Highly accessible, beautifully clear and well-argued philosophical discussions on a wide range of topics. A great option for anyone looking to examine their beliefs more deeply and learn more about philosophy.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    xolotlll
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are often top philosophers; discussions transcend simple takes on ethics.
Thought-provoking debates with rigorous, accessible philosophy.
A mix of provocative topics and deep analysis that rewards careful listening.

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 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.
Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine (Rebroadcast)
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the variety of ways in which PMO manifests?
We see a very wide variety of distortions, ranging from full face distortions to parts, and they change significantly between individuals.
Can AI Bring Our Loved Ones Back? Inside Reflekta AI’s Digital Afterlife | Miles Spencer
Q: Am I talking to your father? Or am I talking to what you would consider a replica, a reflection of your father?
It's a reflection. They're wire colors for a reason. It's not them. It is an image and likeness of them.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

Thought-provoking conversations centered on philosophical thought experiments, ethics, and contemporary dilemmas. Episodes span topics from gender and biology to artificial intelligence, cultural ethics, religion, espionage ethics, and the nature of rights, often featuring leading philosophers and well-versed scholars who challenge assumptions through rigorous reasoning and accessible dialogue. The show seems to attract listeners who enjoy rigorous debate, abstract reasoning, and nuanced positions on controversial topics, with a mix of academic and intellectually curious audiences. A standout aspect is the willingness to tackle provocative subjects with depth and playful thought experiments, making complex ideas approachable without sacrifi... more

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1. Philosophy Bites
2. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
3. Philosophy For Our Times
4. The Good Fight
5. Quillette Podcast

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Brain in a Vat launched 6 years ago and published 281 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. Amy Wax
2. Nathan Bray
3. Sebastian Purcell
4. Cécile Fabre
5. Raja Halwani
6. Jessica Flanigan
7. Martha Nussbaum
8. Spencer Case

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