I Think, Therefore I Google

We're back, baby! Fresh off of a long trip, jet lagged Thomas once again joins Dzido as they explore the philosophy of travel—why we do it, what we gain from getting lost, and whether the journey is worth the hype. From ancient wanderers to modern influencers, they break down the pros and cons of hitting the road.Following media mentioned (no major spoilers)The Beach (2000)Euro Trip (2004)Into the Wild (2007)One Week (2008)Skyfall (2012)Hitman: World of Assassination (2016)Further links/readingThe Philosophy of Travel and the Experience of Otherness - Matt Johnson - https://www.neuroscienceof.com/human-nature-blog/travel-philosophy-experience-otherness?format=ampWhy travel makes you smarter - Jonah Lehrer - https://amp.theguardian.com/travel/2010/mar/14/why-travel-makes-you-smarterThe Case Against Travel - Agnes Callard - https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/the-case-against-travelIn a Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson - https://www.amazon.ca/Sunburned-Country-Bill-Bryson/dp/0385259417/ref=asc_df_0385259417/?gad_source=1&hvadid=706830265619&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvlocint&hvlocphy=9000968&hvnetw=g&hvpone&hvpos&hvptwo&hvqmt&hvrand=15897999251135178339&hvtargid=pla-435997899833&linkCode=df0&mcid=0578333f5b573749b41676931dbfc583&psc=1&tag=googlemobshop-20

Thomas quickly chimes in to let you all know about the exciting year ahead for him.Thomas and Dzido WILL return...:)

A bonus episode tie-in to simulation theory! We love simulations so much we decided to bring you a discussion about the video games that have influenced us the most. A fun extra episode recorded as an homage to the great podcast My Perfect Console.ICE-T1000 (Thomas' console)Rock Band 2 (2008)Fallout: New Vegas (2010)Assassin's Creed IV:  Black Flag (2013)Halo 3 (2007)Super Mario Bros 3 (1988)Dzi-box (Dzido's console)Duke Nukem 3D (1996)Quake II (1997)Subnautica (2018)Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

Did we decide to record an episode about simulation theory or were we programmed to do so by the creators of our virtually-coded reality? Are we living on some super-futuristic civilization's hard drive? Join us as we question the very concept of our own reality and debate the probability that we exist in the one true universe instead of the potential infinite amount of simulated others. SPOILERS for the following mediaRick and Morty - "M Night Shaym-Aliens" - S01E04The Jokester - Isaac Asimov (1956)Total Recall (1990)Also mentioned (no spoilers)The Matrix (1999)Black MirrorFurther reading/linksUnrecord - Official Early Gameplay Trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK76q13Aqt0ChatGPT AI Game Prototypes - Lee Vermeulenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC_pSgAMbUUThe Simulation Argument - Nick Bostromhttps://simulation-argument.com/Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies - Nick Bostromhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Superintelligence-Dangers-Strategies-Nick-Bostrom/dp/0199678111Is Reality Real? The Simulation Argument - Kurzesagthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlTKTTt47WEFinal Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough - Adult Swimhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKjmDPGJI-4

Who's the id, who's the ego and who's the super-ego in this episode? Thomas and Dzido discuss one of Sigmund Freud's most famous concepts and delve into neuroses, psychoanalytic theory as well as Thanos and the Simpsons.

Let your imaginations run wild as Thomas and Dzido discuss the philosophy of creativity and try to figure out where our lightbulb moments inherently come from. Do we really come up with our own genius ideas or is it divine inspiration all the way down?Further linksThe War of Art - Steven Pressfieldhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026Creativity - Don't Hug Me I'm Scaredhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C_HReR_McQA Very Muppet Die Hard - Dzido Szoltysekhttps://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/rjhhg1/a_very_muppet_die_hard_actionmuppetry_77_pages/Krakow Culture Dance Video - Thomas Szoltysekhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG8UFObU50Q

Is the cold harsh reality of an uncaring universe getting you down as you struggle to find the meaning of it all? Then this week's episode on absurdism is for you! Thomas and Dzido discuss Albert Camus and his writings, absurdism in the arts, and how Sisyphus can find joy in his never-ending boulder-pushing task.SPOILERS for the following mediaEverything Everywhere All at Once (2022)The Tree of Life (2011)The Trial - Franz Kafka (1925)Further linksThe Trial - Franz Kafkahttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Trial-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141182903Optimistic Nihilism - Kurzesagt (In a Nutshell)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBRqu0YOH14The Myth of Sisyphus - Albert Camushttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Myth-Sisyphus-Penguin-Great-Ideas/dp/0141023996

If Thomas stayed on Earth and Dzido took off on a rocket travelling at relativistic speeds, would he return to earth with the same definition of time for this podcast episode or would the brothers disagree? This week's timely discussion includes topics such as the definition of time, relativity, the twins paradox and a list of time travel movies that meet Dzido's excessive standards.SPOILERS for the following mediaArrival (2016)Futurama - "The Late Philip J Fry" - S07E06Predestination (2014) - mildPrimer  (2004)Further linksThe Order of Time - Carlo Rovellihttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Order-Time-Carlo-Rovelli/dp/0241292522Welby CoffeeSpill - YouTube channel with break downs of Tenethttps://www.youtube.com/@WelbyCoffeeSpillDoes time exist? - Andrew Zimmerman Joneshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3tbVHlsKhs

Enjoy this new podcast about Artificial Intelligence generated by Thomas and Dzido's deep learning neural nets. Topics covered include Narrow vs. General AI, the Turing Test, whole brain emulation and Nazi chatbots. Fun for the whole family!Further links/readingSuperintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies - Nick BostromThe Last Question - Isaac Asimovhttps://www.physics.princeton.edu/ph115/LQ.pdf The Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence - Philosophy Academyhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLptvJN0FGdSwI_kVITUyTqFOI_qjwOPEI

Thomas and Dzido are back with a cursed Eldritch monster of an episode as they tackle Lovecraftian horror. Will you be able to contemplate your inconsequential existence in a world filled with unimaginable horrors festering just outside of your view, or will you go mad simply by listening? Join us and find out!MINOR SPOILERS for the following mediaBird Box (2018)Event Horizon  (1997)Annihilation (2018)The Thing (1982)The Void (2016)Color Out of Space (2019)

Back to Greece again in this episode as Thomas and Dzido take on Zeno's paradoxes. It's a finite 30 minutes of fun that could be divided into an infinite number of moments. Come join us for a whirlwind tour of parables, math jokes and the guys' realization that they don't remember any high school calculus.Further links3 Paradoxes That Gave Us Calculus - Up and Atomhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbHqtENNnSYZeno's paradox - I.Q. (1994)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuftF3ZnMZMZeno's Paradox - Numberphilehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Z9UnWOJNY

We dream big with this episode, looking to understand why it is that when we fall asleep our minds can take us on the strangest adventures.  What is the science of dreams?  Why do we have them? We look at REM sleep, lucid dreaming, communication with dreamers, Dzido's thoughts on bears flying airplanes and more!MINOR SPOILERS for the following mediaDr Strange In the Multiverse of Madness (2022)Inception (2010)Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind  (2004)Further linksDream theories - Khan Academyhttps://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/processing-the-environment/sleep-and-consciousness/v/dream-theories-freud-activation-synthnesis-hypothesisHow do blind people dream? - NBC Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20130124114342/http://bodyodd.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/09/10602730-how-do-blind-people-dream?lite

Thomas and Dzido are back to ask the all-important question: would a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil lead to an all-new episode of the podcast about chaos theory?  If the initial conditions aren't measured precisely enough, the topic could be completely different. Listen in as the guys discuss the origins of chaos theory, fractal dimensions and that one Ashton Kutcher movie about time travel.MINOR SPOILERS for the following mediaBlind Chance (1987)"Remedial Chaos Theory"  - S03E04 (2011)Further linksChaos Theory - In Our Time: Science, BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548f6Jim Al-Khalili Chaos Documentary, BBChttps://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxpghzWhat Is Chaos - Five part online course from University of Texashttp://order.ph.utexas.edu/chaos/Mandelbrot sethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelbrot_setLorenz attractorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_systemJeff Goldblum explaining chaos theory in Jurassic Park (1993)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-mpifTiPV4Parks and Recreation radio scene (2012)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYKYPeufTTo

Season's greetings!  A bite-sized podcast gift under the Christmas tree for our listeners as Thomas and Dzido tackle the subject of traditions.  Why do we have traditions?  Are they always useful?  What are some of the weirder traditions out there? Listen in to find out and to hear one of the worst attempts at singing Fiddler on the Roof in podcast history.No major spoilers this episodeSuggested further researchThe pizza effecthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_effect"Submitting to my husband like its 1959": Why I became a Tradwife - BBC Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwT-zYo4-OMMari Lwydhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XFafIKsbKE

Übermensches Thomas and Dzido discuss the background and works of Friedrich Nietzsche, a philosopher whose very name evokes deep ideas of nihilism and death, of God and supermen.  Was Nietzsche actually such a downer?  Is God really dead?  Did Nietzsche have the musical skills to write a hit song?  Listen to today's episode to find out!No major spoilers this episodeSuggested further researchPHILOSPHY - Nietzsche - The School of Lifehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHWbZmg2hzUNIETZSCHE ON: The Superman - The School of Lifehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxiKqA-u8y4Becoming Who You Really Are - The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche - Pursuit of Wonderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUjoFzT0VNINietzsche's Genealogy of Morality - In Our Time: Philosophyhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nietzsches-genealogy-of-morality/id463701671?i=1000380027716

Enjoy the melodic sounds of Thomas and Dzido discussing the philosophy of music.  What is music?  Can silence be a song?  Why does the minor key evoke feelings of sadness and longing?  And most importantly, what led Thomas to finally appreciate aggressive metal electronica?No major spoilers this episodeSuggested further researchIndifference to dissonance in native Amazonians reveals cultural variation in music perception - Josh McDermott and cohttps://www.nature.com/articles/nature18635Emotional responses to music: The need to consider underlying mechanism - Patrick N Juslin and Daniel Vastfjallhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18826699/Is There a Formula Behind Good Music? - Seekerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTZhrscLuo4Why Does Music Move Us?  - It's Okay to Be Smarthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT3O93-nxDcIs Sad Music Actually Sad? - PBS Idea Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWWYE4eLEfkYour brain on music - Alan Harvey - TEDx Perthhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZFFwy5fwYIBig Think - Derek Thompsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwmijEZ5sbMJohn Cage 4'33'' (the silent orchestral piece)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWVUp12XPpUA Psychological Approach to Musical Form: The Habituation–Fluency Theory of Repetition - David Huron https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/currentmusicology/article/view/5312 

The boys are back from a break, but if their cells have been regularly renewing while they were away then is it truly the same boys that are back?  Time to talk about identity and the Ship of Theseus thought experiment.  It asks, if all the components of an object have been replaced, is it still the same object?BEWARE OF SPOILERS for the following mediaWandavision (2021)"The Six Million Dollar Mon" - S07E07 of Futurama (2012)The Prestige (2006)Bicentennial Man (1999)Regarding the Star Trek teleportation debateAccording to the article linked below, there are several instances that suggest that there IS a continuity of consciousness when using the teleportation device. This is confirmed by Star Trek novelist Christopher L Bennett. However, the actual science fiction behind it is still much debated. Proposed solutions include stuff involving quantum physics, dimensional transfers/wormholes and the persistence of the soul. Overall its a very good read to anyone interested, and it even references our favourite ship!Suggested further researchIs beaming down in Star Trek a death sentence? - Ars Technica - https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/09/is-beaming-down-in-star-trek-a-death-sentence/#:~:text=Probably%20not.,NOT%20involve%20killing%20the%20person. The Ship of Theseus - Stuff to Blow Your Mind (Podcast) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-vault-the-ship-of-theseus/id350359306?i=1000456957019The Ship of Theseus: Metaphysics - Wireless Philosophy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYAoiLhOuao

Did you decide to search for a philosophy podcast today or was your search simply a cause-and-effect result of the unbroken chain of sequential events stretching back to the beginning of time?  Determinism, moral responsibility, omniscience, Watchmen debates... all this and more in this month's podcast about free will!Further reading/viewingSplit Brain Experiments - https://www.nature.com/news/the-split-brain-a-tale-of-two-halves-1.10213Brain tumour causes uncontrollable paedophilia - https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2943-brain-tumour-causes-uncontrollable-paedophilia/Charles Whitman - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman#AutopsyCrash Course Philosophy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAIFrequencies - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequencies_(film)Arrival - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(film)Watchmen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen

The holiday season is upon us as Thomas and Dzido bring you the gift of a discussion about altruism.  What are Santa's true motivations?  Can someone be truly selfless or do I scratch your back solely so that you scratch mine?  Listen to this month's podcast to find out!

If a Mount Rushmore of Philosophers existed in the real world, or even just as a Platonic ideal, this man's face would feature prominently.  The guys tackle one of the grand-daddies of philosophy, Plato himself.  Topics discussed include Plato's history, his style of discourse as well as his famous Theory of Forms.

Enjoy this discussion about the history and philosophy of hedonism.  Or don't, if seeking pleasure isn't what drives you.  Thomas and Dzido look at different types of hedonism, issues that arise with trying to define "pleasure", and our inevitable Matrix-like fate in "The Experience Machine."

Has looking into the void for too long left you with existential angst? Facing the absurd have you questioning what it all means? Join Thomas and Dzido as they attempt to unpack existentialism with a discussion that touches on Kierkegaard, Sartre, Dostoyevsky, Fight Club, Japanese anime(?!) and more.Further reading:Webster University Entry on Philosophy by Bob Corbetthttp://faculty.webster.edu/corbetre/philosophy/existentialism/whatis.htmlInternet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Existentialismhttps://iep.utm.edu/existent/School of Life - Sartrehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bQsZxDQgzU&t=173sMentioned films/shows:Fight Clubhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight_ClubGroundhog Dayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)Neon Genesis Evangelionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion

Philosophy meets science in this jam packed episode! What constitutes being "alive"?  Is there one single definition? And are viruses truly alive? Thomas and Dzido try to answer these questions and more.Extra notes:3:00 - small correction, Georg Ernst Stahl (not Dahl) was a supporter of vitalism53:50 - Indeed in The Matrix (1999), Agent Smith says, "Human beings are a disease, cancer of this planet."Mentioned books/links:Scale: The Universal Laws of Life and Death in Organisms, Cities and Companies - Geoffrey WestAre Viruses Alive? - Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-viruses-alive/What Is Life? Is Death Real? - Kurzgesagt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOCaacO8wus

This episode Thomas and Dzido dive headfirst into learning about stoicism. How can the teachings of the school of stoicism be helpful during times of crisis, and was Seneca really just an emotionless robot?