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Brain in a Vat

Brain in a Vat
Morality
Gun Control
Abortion
Pediatric Gender Medicine
Self-Defense
Autonomous Weapon Systems
Violence Prevention
Gun Rights Advocacy
Black Women
Societal Disparities
Police Militarization
Guns
Philosophy
Consciousness
Evolutionary Psychology
Near-Death Experiences
Gender Incongruence
Historical Context
Mental Health
Thought Experiments

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes278Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePhilosophy

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Artwork for Brain in a Vat

Latest Episodes

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

When is death preferable to living? Are there fates worse than death? And what sort of future society should we build?

Lionel Shriver discusses her latest novel, Should We Stay or Should We Go.

Should you be required to get a parental license from the State before you can raise your own children? Do the wishes of parents matter at all – or should we only care about the best interests of their children?

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, we step outside our usual format to interview Miles Spencer, founder of Reflekta — a company using cutting-edge AI to recreate digital reflections of loved ones who’ve passed away.

Miles shares his personal... more

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Recent Guests

Stephen Kershnar
Philosopher and commentator on cultural appropriation
Episode: Cultural Appropriation | Stephen Kershnar (Rebroadcast)
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
Jason Brennan
Philosopher and author focusing on democracy and political behavior
American University
Episode: The Problem with Democracy | Jason Brennan (Rebroadcast)

Hosts

Dr. Jason Werbeloff
Host of conversations focusing on thought experiments and philosophical inquiries, often bringing an analytical and engaging perspective to complex topics.
Mark Oppenheimer
Co-host involved in philosophical discussions, known for his engaging dialogue style that balances intellectual rigor with accessibility.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 191 ratings
  • Amazing

    Great exercise for the brain

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vampingo
    Germany7 months 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 Statesa year 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
    a year ago
  • Not a great place for philosophy after all

    Some great episodes but the latest Israelipuff piece with absolutely no real debate about the ethics of the conflict is just embarrassing really. We want discussion, not propaganda please. How disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dargaret & Mavid
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the engaging and intellectually stimulating content offered by the hosts.
There are critiques regarding the handling of controversial topics, with some feeling that certain episodes are overly simplistic or lacking diverse perspectives.
Overall, the podcast is recommended for anyone interested in thoughtful discourse and producing new insights on pressing societal issues.
Listeners frequently commend the accessibility of complex philosophical ideas, making them relatable and enjoyable.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Procreative Ethics | Rivka Weinberg (Rebroadcast)
Q: Where do you think that we could have either of those two parental licensing schemes, whether they'd be permissible or required?
I would not be in favor of that due to potential abuses and problems with state powers over deep personal choices.
Procreative Ethics | Rivka Weinberg (Rebroadcast)
Q: Do you think we can owe these beings something given that they don't yet exist?
Yes, but it's complicated. I think we do owe things to future people if we have a good reason to think they're going to be there.
Is Tarot a Tool for Thought? | Georgi Gardiner
Q: How do you view the interplay of thought while engaging with Tarot?
It's a mix of both evidence of current thoughts and a creative tool to spark new ideas and dialogue.
Is Tarot a Tool for Thought? | Georgi Gardiner
Q: Do you think that Tarot provides us with unique insights into the truth, even if it comes through an unconventional pathway?
Yes, Tarot can help us navigate difficult questions and uncover truths we may avoid otherwise.

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?

This podcast offers deep and engaging conversations centered around thought experiments conducted with contemporary philosophers. Themes often explored include ethics, morality, and social justice, frequently inviting scrutiny of current societal norms through philosophical lenses. Episodes dissect complex topics, such as free speech, gender roles, capitalism, and the implications of artificial intelligence, making intricate ideas accessible and enjoyable for listeners. The hosts strive to create a space conducive to open dialogue, allowing for a mix of serious inquiry and light-hearted banter, thereby keeping the conversations intellectually stimulating yet relatable.

One unique aspect is the focus on controversial and timely subjects tha... more

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How many episodes of Brain in a Vat are there?

Brain in a Vat launched 6 years ago and published 278 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. Stephen Kershnar
2. Sebastian Purcell
3. Cécile Fabre
4. Raja Halwani
5. Jessica Flanigan
6. Martha Nussbaum
7. Spencer Case
8. Jared Millson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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