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Brain in a Vat

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes286Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePhilosophy

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Artwork for Brain in a Vat

Latest Episodes

We welcome back Stephen Kershnar to discuss the ethics of torture. Kershnar argues that some criminals deserve torture because severe wrongdoing can cause a person to forfeit protections against extreme punishment. He critiques the idea that there ar... more

What happens to human beings in a world without scarcity? If all our needs were met, would we actually be better off? Will technological progress lead to utopia or collapse?

Humans are living through massive improvements in material conditions. More... more

What does it mean to live with adversity? How ought we respond to the suffering of others? How can we adapt to hardship?

Adversity is a universal experience. Nearly everyone, at some point, faces physical, psychological, or social challenges, and ye... more

Kevin Allison, creator of the RISK! podcast, recounts a high school prank at an all-boys Jesuit school in 1986. After a crush teased him by repeatedly spitting on him, Kevin later mailed him a sealed container of feces labeled “enjoy the cookies.”

more

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Recent Guests

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
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
Stephen Kershnar
Philosopher and author, involved in discussions about the nature of God and moral responsibility
St. Andrews University
Episode: God Is Not Praiseworthy | Stephen Kershnar and Nathan Bray
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)

Hosts

Jason Werbeloff
Host with a focus on thought experiments and rigorous philosophical discussion.
Mark Oppenheimer
Co-host engaging with guests to probe philosophical topics and public discourse.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 197 ratings
  • Great!

    Really enjoyed the Free Speech episode with Dr. Carmichael!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RuitBier
    United States3 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
    Canada4 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
    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

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate challenging, well-argued debates on controversial topics.
High-quality guests and smart host dynamics are frequently highlighted.
Thoughtful, rigorous philosophy made accessible and engaging.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

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?

Thoughtful, rigorously argued discussions centered on philosophy, ethics, and thought experiments. Across episodes, listeners encounter deep dives into topics like torture, free speech, academic freedom, cultural norms, and the nature of mind and society, often featuring philosophers, authors, and scholars who push controversial ideas into careful debate. The show tends to favor rigorous analysis, live-trial ideas, and nuanced positions, with hosts challenging objections while inviting guests who can illuminate complex concepts. It may be especially compelling for listeners who enjoy cerebral discourse, ethical puzzles, and the practical implications of philosophical theories in politics, law, and culture.

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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. Philosophy For Our Times
2. Philosophy Bites
3. Philosophize This!
4. Robinson's Podcast
5. Within Reason

How many episodes of Brain in a Vat are there?

Brain in a Vat launched 6 years ago and published 286 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. David Benetton
2. Kevin Allison
3. Chloe Carmichael
4. Amy Wax
5. Stephen Kershnar
6. Nathan Bray
7. Sebastian Purcell
8. Cécile Fabre

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