Aggie Agora

Aggie Agora

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Ever wonder the "why's" and "how's" people thinking the ways they do? Aggie Agora is podcast put on by the Philosophy Program at Utah State University. Host Michael Otteson, assistant professor of Philosophy, chats with community leaders across the state to find how philosophy and ethics plays a role in shaping the state.

Michael Otteson & CHaSS Communications


    • Nov 22, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 56m AVG DURATION
    • 17 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Aggie Agora

    Physicalism and Emergence in Contemporary Metaphysics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 71:57


    In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Professor John Symons.  Professor Symons is a professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas, and he works in metaphysics and the philosophy of technology.  In this discussion, we talk about the state of physicalism and emergence in contemporary metaphysics.

    Does Artificial Intelligence Think? (ft. David Ménager, Ph. D.)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 64:01


    David Ménager, Ph. D. , Emerging Leader in Cognitive AI Systems, works for a non profit that works on how humans integrate with emerging tech. He talks with host Michael Otteson, from the Utah State University Philosophy Program about how artificial intelligence and neuro-networks process information. Does this process mimic when a human thinks? What differences? This deep dive approaches the question.

    A Discussion with Former Mayor of North Logan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 108:02


    Michael Otteson and Damon Cann discuss the ups, downs, and challenges that face small towns like North Logan, Utah

    Apocalyptic Mormonism with Christopher Blythe

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 102:12


    Host Michael Otteson speaks with Christopher Blythe, the author of Terrible Revolution: Later-day Saints and the American Apocalypse. They cover a range of historic to modern prophecy and how it has played into the molding of many of not only main stream mormonism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but also many of its off shoots. What role does apocalyptic prophesy play and how central is it? How do members balance the beliefs of the world ending along side preparing for tomorrow? Christopher Blythe Studies just that.

    Remakes, Reboots, and Romans (Ft. Mark Damen)

    Play Episode Play 32 sec Highlight Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 79:28


    Prof. Mark Damen, USU Classics, speaks to the nature of remakes throughout human history and how that may affect our view of the large amounts of remakes and reboots around us.

    Utah Water and the Great Salt Lake (ft. Patrick Belmont, PhD.)

    Play Episode Play 29 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 63:21


    Host Michael Otteson and Prof. Patrick Belmont, Hydrologist and Geomorphologist at Utah State University, talk over what the water concerns of Utah are and how the Great Salt Lake changing creates a cascade of problems. Belmont discusses different approaches that have been considered and what people could do to make a difference.

    Pathways Towards Peace: Russia and Ukraine, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 52:48


    This week, Anna Pechenkina, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Utah State University, joins Michael Otteson to discuss the complicated history of Russia and Ukraine's current conflict. This is the second part of a two-part discussion.

    Pathways Towards Peace: Russia and Ukraine

    Play Episode Play 17 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 56:46


    This week, Anna Pechenkina, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Utah State University, joins Michael Otteson to discuss the complicated history of Russia and Ukraine's current conflict. This is the first part of a two-part discussion.

    Cache Valley Food Pantry

    Play Episode Play 27 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 42:40


    This week, Michael Otteson is joined by Matthew Whitaker, the director of the Cache Valley Food Pantry, an organization which works to provide no-cost food to individuals and families in need throughout the Cache Valley community. Together, they discuss the concept of food pantries, what it takes for one to operate, and what they're working to accomplish.

    When Hell Freezes Over: A Case for Christian Universalism, Part 2

    Play Episode Play 24 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 48:49


    Episode 4, Part 2:  This week on Aggie Agora, Michael Otteson is joined by Dr. Jordan Wood who specializes in the christian church fathers to discuss universalism, an issue found at the heart of one of the world's great religions.

    When Hell Freezes Over: A Case for Christian Universalism

    Play Episode Play 18 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 39:27


    Episode 4, part 1:  This week on Aggie Agora, Michael Otteson is joined by Dr. Jordan Wood who specializes in the christian church fathers to discuss universalism, an issue found at the heart of one of the world's great religions.

    I'm Thinking of a Number: Mathematical Platonism, Part 2

    Play Episode Play 22 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 32:01


    Episode 3 part 2: Numbers are everywhere, but what are they really? This week philosophy professor Eileen Nutting from the University of Kansas joins Micheal Otteson to discuss what a number really is by considering mathematical platonism and philosophy.

    I'm Thinking of a Number: Mathematical Platonism

    Play Episode Play 23 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 48:11


    Numbers are everywhere, but what are they really? This week philosophy professor Eileen Nutting from the University of Kansas joins Micheal Otteson to discuss what a number really is by considering mathematical platonism and philosophy.

    Pt 2: Refugees and Immigration in Cache Valley Utah (ft. CRIC)

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 35:14


    Host Michael Otteson continues his conversation about how refugee relief has developed in cache valley through CRIC. The Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) has been serving the cache valley community for nearly a decade. They assist relocated peoples in gaining access to public services and navigate the hardships of start life somewhere completely new. But how does that look like? Host Michael Otteson talks with CRIC leadership to find the ins and outs of how a non profit like CRIC works.

    Refugees and Immigration in Cache Valley Utah (ft. CRIC)

    Play Episode Play 42 sec Highlight Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 38:11


    The Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) has been serving the cache valley community for nearly a decade. They assist relocated peoples in gaining access to public services and navigate the hardships of start life somewhere completely new. But how does that look like? Host Michael Otteson talks with CRIC leadership to find the ins and outs of how a non profit like CRIC works.

    EP1: What is Science? (feat. Charlie Huenemann) Pt 2

    Play Episode Play 47 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 20, 2021 32:01


    Welcome to the inaugural episode of Aggie Agora. Michael Otteson, of Utah State University's (USU) philosophy program, hosts a discussion with Charlie Huenemann, one of his mentors as an undergrad at USU. Huenemann is a professor of philosophy with a focus on the history of ideas and philosophy of culture. In this episode, they uncover the origin of the word “science” and discuss its often-complicated principles that lead to the question, "What is science?" Listen in as they follow the history of what defined science and how it relates to public thinking about politics, religion, and individuals' personal priorities.

    EP1: What is Science? (feat. Charlie Huenemann) Pt 1

    Play Episode Play 54 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 40:45


    Welcome to the inaugural episode of Aggie Agora. Michael Otteson, of Utah State University's (USU) philosophy program, hosts a discussion with Charlie Huenemann, one of his mentors as an undergrad at USU. Huenemann is a professor of philosophy with a focus on the history of ideas and philosophy of culture. In this episode, they uncover the origin of the word “science” and discuss its often-complicated principles that lead to the question, "What is science?" Listen in as they follow the history of what defined science and how it relates to public thinking about politics, religion, and individuals' personal priorities.

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