Episode 102, The Richard Swinburne Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Welcome to ‘Episode 102 (Part II of II)’, in which we’ll be concluding our discussion with Richard Swinburne.

The existence of God is the most discussed, and perhaps the most important, question in philosophy. For the majority of the world’s population, God provides meaning, morality, metaphysics, and hopefully, salvation.

A rich history of scholarship defending God’s existence has meant theism has long been considered to be a reasonable worldview; however, with the rise of secularism and the new atheist movement, a fiery and passionate debate has ensued: one of science vs. religion. Our question: can the two be reconciled?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing God’s existence with one of contemporary philosophy’s most influential thinkers, Professor Richard Swinburne. Best known for his great trilogy of books – The Coherence of Theism, The Existence of God, and Faith and Reason – Professor Swinburne’s impact on philosophy of religion has been enormous... from high school classrooms to university halls, every teacher knows his name and every student must wrestle with his work.

According to Swinburne, theism is the friend – and not the enemy – of science; for God ‘explains everything that we observe’, from the universe’s existence and the scientific laws which operate within it, to its extraordinary miracles and conscious creatures. ‘If we want a complete explanation of the universe’, says Swinburne, ‘then science needs God.’

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/grows closer to God

Contents

Part I. Is there a God?

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 102, The Richard Swinburne Interview (Part I - Is there a God?)

Welcome to ‘Episode 102 (Part I of II)’, in which we’ll be discussing the existence of God with Richard Swinburne.

The existence of God is the most discussed, and perhaps the most important, question in philosophy. For the majority of the world’s population, God provides meaning, morality, metaphysics, and hopefully, salvation.

A rich history of scholarship defending God’s existence has meant theism has long been considered to be a reasonable worldview; however, with the rise of secularism and the new atheist movement, a fiery and passionate debate has ensued: one of science vs. religion. Our question: can the two be reconciled?

In this episode, we’ll be discussing God’s existence with one of contemporary philosophy’s most influential thinkers, Professor Richard Swinburne. Best known for his great trilogy of books – The Coherence of Theism, The Existence of God, and Faith and Reason – Professor Swinburne’s impact on philosophy of religion has been enormous... from high school classrooms to university halls, every teacher knows his name and every student must wrestle with his work.

According to Swinburne, theism is the friend – and not the enemy – of science; for God ‘explains everything that we observe’, from the universe’s existence and the scientific laws which operate within it, to its extraordinary miracles and conscious creatures. ‘If we want a complete explanation of the universe’, says Swinburne, ‘then science needs God.’

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/grows closer to God

Contents

Part I. Is there a God?

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 101, Talking about the Mind (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Welcome to ‘Episode 101 (Part II of II)’, in which we’ll be concluding our discussion of Philosophers on Consciousness.

Imagine the smile on your parent’s face as you rush to meet them at the school gates, the soft heat of the sand between your toes on a first holiday, waking up in the haze of a late afternoon after dancing all night, the drop in your stomach when you realize you’ll never hear their voice again. These are conscious experiences. Without them, what is there to life? In this sense, we all know what consciousness is – there’s nothing we know more intimately – yet it remains one of life’s greatest mysteries. Despite the incredible advances made in physical science, it doesn’t seem like we’re any closer to an explanation of where consciousness comes from. How is it, exactly, that the brain’s 86 billion neurons give rise to conscious experience? As we’ll see, our answer to this question will not only shape our understanding of the human mind, but the fabric of reality itself. – Extract from Philosophers on Consciousness

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/rids itself of the zombie implant

Contents

Part I. The Fabric of Reality

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 101, Talking about the Mind (Part I - The Fabric of Reality)

Welcome to ‘Episode 101 (Part I of II)’, in which we’ll discussing our forthcoming book, Philosophers on Consciousness.

Imagine the smile on your parent’s face as you rush to meet them at the school gates, the soft heat of the sand between your toes on a first holiday, waking up in the haze of a late afternoon after dancing all night, the drop in your stomach when you realize you’ll never hear their voice again. These are conscious experiences. Without them, what is there to life? In this sense, we all know what consciousness is – there’s nothing we know more intimately – yet it remains one of life’s greatest mysteries. Despite the incredible advances made in physical science, it doesn’t seem like we’re any closer to an explanation of where consciousness comes from. How is it, exactly, that the brain’s 86 billion neurons give rise to conscious experience? As we’ll see, our answer to this question will not only shape our understanding of the human mind, but the fabric of reality itself. – Extract from Philosophers on Consciousness

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/rids itself of the zombie implant

Contents

Part I. The Fabric of Reality

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode X, The Cave

The Panpsycast is now five years old. In which time, we have never failed to release a weekly instalment of the show. We’re exceptionally proud of what we’ve accomplished with your support. From our audiobook and upcoming book series to our big interviews and collaborations with leading organisations – it’s incredible that so many of you tune in week in, week out and support us on Patreon.

Producing the podcast takes a lot of work, and every project has its peaks and valleys. The beginning of the pandemic marked a difficult time for us behind the scenes, and we’ve reached a point where we need to take a short step back. The Panpsycast will be taking a break; set to return on November 7th, 2021. 

Throughout our hiatus, we’ll be pausing all Patreon payments. So, for August, September, and October, you won’t be charged anything if you’ve already pledged your support. We hope that you’ll stick around so we can keep producing the show when we return, and we’re incredibly grateful for your patience and understanding.

If you’re missing us over the next three months, we’ve got over 250 instalments of the show in our back-catalogue, a 24-chapter Christianity audiobook on our website, and absolutely loads of bonus content over on our Patreon – including heaps of After Shows and insider interviews. If you’ve already been through our content… then, wow! You should really check out Philosophy Bites… just kidding. We’re incredibly grateful for your support and hope the content we’ve released will inspire you to hit the book shops whilst we’re away.

We know how much the show means to so many of you, and we haven’t taken this decision lightly. Producing the show means so much to all of us, and we can’t wait to get back. 

We’ll see you back here on November 7th, 2021.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/takes a short break

The Cave, written and performed by Andrew Horton.

Episode 100, Plato's Cave (Part II - Souls)

Welcome to ‘Episode 100 (Part II of II)’, in which we’ll discussing the nature of the Platonic soul.

A philosophical education can feel like a long and arduous path. Sometimes you think you have seen the light; you think that you have knowledge, only to discover you knew nothing. It is times like this where the learner must examine their blind spots and begin their path to understanding once again while accepting that the next attempt might too end where it began.

The philosopher Plato likened this path to the ascent from a dark cave up into the light of the sun. He also said that those who have seen the illuminated world above have a responsibility to go back to show others the way. Today we go back, not because we have seen the sun, but because we have travelled the path enough to know we can do a little better than we did before. The blind leading the blind? Perhaps, but we might stumble into something interesting along the way.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/escapes the cave

With special thanks to the following creators for their sound samples.

InspectorJ, InspectorJ(2), InspectorJ(3), InspectorJ(4), straget, jameswrowles, JG_Booysen, ethang, womb_affliction, bennychico11, HerbertBoland, ShadyDave, and 3bagbrew.

Contents

Part I. Forms

Part II. Souls

Episode 100, Plato's Cave (Part I - Forms)

Welcome to ‘Episode 100 (Part I of II)’, in which we’ll be discussing Plato’s allegory of the cave.

A philosophical education can feel like a long and arduous path. Sometimes you think you have seen the light; you think that you have knowledge, only to discover you knew nothing. It is times like this where the learner must examine their blind spots and begin their path to understanding once again while accepting that the next attempt might too end where it began.

The philosopher Plato likened this path to the ascent from a dark cave up into the light of the sun. He also said that those who have seen the illuminated world above have a responsibility to go back to show others the way. Today we go back, not because we have seen the sun, but because we have travelled the path enough to know we can do a little better than we did before. The blind leading the blind? Perhaps, but we might stumble into something interesting along the way.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/escapes the cave

With special thanks to the following creators for their sound samples.

InspectorJ, InspectorJ(2), InspectorJ(3), InspectorJ(4), straget, jameswrowles, JG_Booysen, ethang, womb_affliction, bennychico11, HerbertBoland, ShadyDave, and 3bagbrew.

Contents

Part I. Forms

Part II. Souls

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Welcome to ‘Episode 99 (Part IV of IV)’, in which we’ll be discussing practical solutions to the problems of animal suffering.

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/enters our moral sphere

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part III - Mere Instruments)

Welcome to ‘Episode 99 (Part III of IV)’, in which we’ll be discussing animal experimentation and farming.

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/enters our moral sphere

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part II - Fellow Creatures)

Welcome to ‘Episode 99 (Part II of IV)’, in which we’ll be discussing the moral philosophies of Christine Korsgaard and Peter Singer.

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/enters our moral sphere

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 99, Animal Rights (Part I - History)

Welcome to ‘Episode 99 (Part I of IV)’, in which we’ll be discussing the place of non-human animals within the history of philosophy.

It cannot have escaped your attention that there is a small contingent of our nation that poses a threat to our way of life.

They want us to stop farming our most prized delicacy on the grounds of their ‘moral concerns’. We must not let them push us around. As you well know, it has always been an important part of our culture. Why should we assume that this small group of radicals have got it right and that our ancestors have all been wrong? Think of all the memories we’ve shared when eating the meat around the table with our families. It is a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I have yet to come across anyone who doesn’t gain great satisfaction from the delicious taste of the meat. Whether it is in patties, ground mince or slices, it is enjoyed by billions every day. Imagine the backlash if we showed sympathy to the radicals! Think about all the businesses that rely on meat for their income. It would be political suicide.

Finally, and most importantly, we must always remember the natural order of things. We are top of the food chain, and it is our right to exercise our dominion. Every test we have conducted on the creatures have proven them to be inferior, be it intelligence, strength, or a capacity to live what we’d all say is a fulfilling life.

I know that you must feel the same; all I ask is for permission to deal with the radicals. Eating human meat should never be up for debate.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/enters our moral sphere

Contents

Part I. History

Part II. Fellow Creatures

Part III. Mere Instruments

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 98, The William Lane Craig Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Welcome to ‘Episode 98 (Part II of II)’, in which we’ll be discussing Christianity and evil with William Lane Craig.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable?

Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig’s work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world’s most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, ‘It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.’

Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/loves you unconditionally

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Reasonable Faith

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 98, The William Lane Craig Interview (Part I - Reasonable Faith)

Welcome to ‘Episode 98 (Part I of II)’, in which we’ll be discussing the existence of God with William Lane Craig.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world: with almost 2.5 billion followers across the globe, nearly one in three people have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essential to the Christian worldview is the belief that the universe was created by a maximally great God: a being who is invested in the moral lives of his people and offers salvation to all who embrace his teachings. He is a God of three persons, a God of maximal power and intelligence, and a God who loves us all unconditionally. For many Christians, this belief is a matter of faith, but is this faith reasonable?

Joining us this episode to discuss the nature and existence of God is Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University, Dr William Lane Craig. With over thirty books and two hundred publications, Dr Craig has had a profound and lasting impact on academic debates within philosophy and theology. As well as being one of the leading philosophers of our time, Dr Craig’s work extends beyond the dusty chalkboards of university campuses. As the founder of the hugely popular non-profit organisation Reasonable Faith, Dr Craig is best known for his online lectures and for taking on the world’s most prominent philosophers and scientists in defence of Christianity. In the words of James Porter Moreland, ‘It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century.’

Without God, says Craig, morality is groundless, metaphysics is hopeless, and life is meaningless. The God of Christianity is the wellspring from which all life and values come into being. It is God who made us without dust, and it is to God to whom we shall return.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/loves you unconditionally

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Reasonable Faith

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 97, ‘Lessons from Lockdown’ with Vittorio Bufacchi (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Welcome to ‘Episode 97 (Part II of II)’, in which we’ll be wrapping up our discussion on the philosophy of COVID-19 with Vittorio Bufacchi.

Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we’ve longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We’ve hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they?

What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change.

Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi’s work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/sanitises its hands

Contents

Part I. The Pandemic

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 97, ‘Lessons from Lockdown’ with Vittorio Bufacchi (Part I - The Pandemic)

Welcome to ‘Episode 97 (Part I of II)’, in which we’ll be discussing the philosophy of COVID-19 with Vittorio Bufacchi.

Over a year has passed since COVID-19 forced the world to shut its doors. Millions of lives have been lost, and millions more have undergone radical change. At times, many of us have wished to see loved ones, friends, and colleagues; we’ve longed to play sports, attend shows, and travel the world. We’ve hoped that everything can return to normal. But should they?

What if this pandemic has highlighted issues in our societies that have been ignored or marginalised for too long? What if normal made the pandemic worse than it needed to be, and what if normal is part of the problem? According to philosopher Vittorio Bufacchi, this is precisely the case: everything must change.

Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, specialising in questions concerning social injustice, human rights, and political violence. As we shall see, Bufacchi’s work demonstrates that philosophy can and should engage with the most pressing social issues of our time. Philosophy, says Bufacchi, can navigate us towards better ideas and a better world; and it is during times of crisis that we need it most.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/sanitises its hands

Contents

Part I. The Pandemic

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 96, Pride and Anger (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Panpsycast Logo 2020.jpg

Welcome to ‘Episode 96 (Part III of III)’, in which we’ll be concluding our discussion of pride and anger.

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/reflects on its character

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 96, Pride and Anger (Part II - Anger)

Panpsycast Logo 2020.jpg

Welcome to ‘Episode 96 (Part II of III)’, in which we’ll be discussing the virtue (or vice) of anger.

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/reflects on its character

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 96, Pride and Anger (Part I - Pride)

Panpsycast Logo 2020.jpg

Welcome to ‘Episode 96 (Part I of III)’, in which we’ll be discussing the virtue (or vice) of pride.

If I told you I was a proud and angry person, what would you think of me? Would you conjure up the image of an entitled, arrogant aggressor? The devil’s turn from God was born of pride after all. What if you thought of a person with standards, a person with integrity who wants the best for themselves and others? Would that be a fair assumption?

What I’m asking is: are pride and anger virtues or vices? In the right light, emotions seem to lead to a better life… or perhaps they just create that impression until we realise we’ve become something we’d rather not admit. These two emotions govern our self-worth, they shape our relationships with others, and they determine how we bring about a better world. In short, how we think about these two emotions matters and it’s imperative that we understand their nature.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/reflects on its character

Contents

Part I. Pride

Part II. Anger

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 95, Conspiracy Theories (Part III - Further Analysis and Discussion)

Panpsycast Logo 2020.jpg

Welcome to ‘Episode 95 (Part III of III)’, in which we’ll be discussing the assassination of JFK, as well as engaging in some further analysis.

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’?

Who are ‘they’?

Ah, I see.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/follows the gingerbread crumbs

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion

Episode 95, Conspiracy Theories (Part II - Solutions)

Panpsycast Logo 2020.jpg

Welcome to ‘Episode 95 (Part II of III)’, in which we’ll be discussing the dangers and philosophical solutions to conspiracy theories.

Conspiracies happen. Sometimes there really are people who are plotting. Sometimes people use their power to undermine the power of others and harm people for their own personal gain. Sometimes, your paranoia is justified.

Perhaps then, we should all be a little more suspicious. After all, don’t we want to protect the freedoms of our families, friends, and neighbours?

Perhaps… but perhaps not. What if our suspicions lead us down a never-ending rabbit hole? What if our quest for ‘seeing things as they really are’ only erodes our ability to see the truth? What if our convictions and suspicions actually make it easier for truly dangerous people to remain hidden from our view?

What do you mean ‘that’s exactly how they want you to think’?

Who are ‘they’?

Ah, I see.

The file size is large, please be patient whilst the podcast buffers/downloads/follows the gingerbread crumbs

Contents

Part I. Origins

Part II. Solutions

Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion