The Phantasmagorical Think Tank

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Scott and Matt put on their thinking caps and discuss the vast array of obscure, wondrous, and intellectual topics which the world has to offer. Did you know that some human languages are entirely whistled? Can an AI successfully masquerade as a human? Is


    • Dec 22, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 33 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Phantasmagorical Think Tank

    30. Time Travel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 26:45


    How have different movies depicted time travel? How do they differ? Which is more plausible? Find out in this episode of The Phantasmagorical Think Tank. Time Travel in Doctor Who: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmiefoRcfU&ab_channel=BBC Space and Time Flips in a Black Hole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KePNhUJ2reI&ab_channel=PBSSpaceTime

    29. Roko's Basilisk

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2020 36:15


    The most terrifying thought experiment ever made! (Unless there's a flaw in the reasoning.) Slate: https://slate.com/technology/2014/07/rokos-basilisk-the-most-terrifying-thought-experiment-of-all-time.html Kyle Hill : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut-zGHLAVLI&ab_channel=KyleHill Less Wrong Wiki: https://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Roko's_basilisk Rational Wiki: https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Roko%27s_basilisk Silicon Valley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUSt1d3M9NY&ab_channel=FunFuse

    28. Bigfoot, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 27:37


    How did the legend of Bigfoot come to be? Is he real? Why do we love him so much? Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8iiW--uX81YXsFcs0xmYl8bnZLU4GASgKbpWcDwkeA/edit?usp=sharing

    27. Bigfoot, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 30:20


    How did the legend of Bigfoot come to be? Is he real? Why do we love him so much? Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8iiW--uX81YXsFcs0xmYl8bnZLU4GASgKbpWcDwkeA/edit?usp=sharing

    26. Voting Systems & Arrow's Impossibility Theorem

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 31:48


    Is a perfect democracy mathematically possible? Bibliography TED-Ed on different voting systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaxVCsnox_4&ab_channel=TED-Ed PBS on Arrow's Impossibility Theorem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVR7gFMKNg&ab_channel=PBSInfiniteSeries PBS on the Condorcet paradox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoAnYQZrNrQ&ab_channel=PBSInfiniteSeries CGP Grey on problems with plurality voting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo CGP Grey on single transferrable vote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI The Guardian on political dissatisfaction: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/25/american-political-parties-democrats-republicans-representation-survey CNN on political dissatisfaction: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/04/politics/two-party-system-poll/index.html Exploratorium on voting paradoxes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJag3vuG834&ab_channel=Exploratorium

    25. Sleep and Dreams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 37:38


    Lucid dreaming, sleep paralysis, REM, biphasic sleep, and dream interpretation. How somniferous! Additional Resources Sleep Cycles: https://www.sleep.org/articles/what-happens-during-sleep/ Why Do We Need Sleep? https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/why-do-we-need-sleep Biphasic Sleep: https://academic.oup.com/ahr/article-abstract/106/2/343/64370?redirectedFrom=fulltext World's Most Relaxing Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXgqDlrqmzo Night School: Wake Up To The Power of Sleep: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1447248406/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1447248406&linkCode=as2&tag=httpricharcom-21 Why Do We Dream? https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-we-dream#why-do-we-have-nightmares 9 Common Dreams And What They Supposedly Mean: https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-your-dreams-2795935 Dream Dictionary: https://www.psychologistworld.com/dreams/dictionary/ The Science Behind Sleep Paralysis: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120711131030.htm What Is Sleep Paralysis? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295039#what_is_sleep_paralysis Koalas Sleep 17 Hours Per Day: https://www.livescience.com/27401-koalas-facts.html

    24. Ludonarrative Dissonance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2020 33:07


    Are video games an art form? What makes the art of video games unique? Folding Ideas presents LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04zaTjuV60A ChronoThoughts misunderstands LND (in our opinion): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqQ-mD1LlAs Errant Signal criticizes LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBN3R0m31bA Game Revo defends LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lluvrus0QY0 SolePorpoise specifies LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8PAWO4Y_rY Games as Literature inverts LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9fm7gtgW8U Clint Hocking with the article that started it all: https://clicknothing.typepad.com/click_nothing/2007/10/ludonarrative-d.html Folding Ideas discusses intended play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHmivGmkjJw Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A

    23. Ganzfeld Hallucinations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2020 24:29


    A totally safe, drug-free way to hallucinate in the comfort of your own home! Spooky, but enjoyable! Additional Resources How to Hallucinate with Ping Pong Balls (BBC): https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180124-how-to-hallucinate-with-ping-pong-balls Ganzfeld Reactions (Mulattolee Videography): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-loHQ0RfQqM More Ganzfeld Reactions (Spartan G695) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9qtI6lTwgo Changing Your Brain State Through the Ganzfeld Effect (PsychReg): https://www.psychreg.org/ganzfeld-effect/ Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A

    22. Conway's Game of Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 29:31


    A bizarre, complex, and beautiful world created by simple math. Additional Resources Play with it here: https://bitstorm.org/gameoflife/ Stephen Hawking discusses the Game of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgOcEZinQ2I The Chinese Room Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/ Planck Time: https://www.universetoday.com/79418/planck-time/ The Acorn: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Acorn The R-Pentomino: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/R-pentomino Gosper Glider Gun: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Gosper_glider_gun Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A

    21. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 32:28


    New words to describe our complex emotions Additional Resources The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: https://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/ Sonder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkoML0_FiV4 Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A

    20. The Trolley Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 44:02


    You can sit there and let five innocent people die, or you can actively cause the death of one innocent person. What do you do? Additional Resources The Guardian on the Trolley Problem: https://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2016/dec/12/the-trolley-problem-would-you-kill-one-person-to-save-many-others Philippa Foot: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/philippa-foot/ Consequentialism: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consequentialism/#ClaUti Deontology: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/ Human cause more self-driving accidents than humans (proportionately): https://fortune.com/2018/08/29/self-driving-car-accidents/ Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A

    19. The Saint Petersburg Paradox

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 22:30


    You could win infinite money from this game. Or could you? Additional Resources The Saint Petersburg Paradox: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/paradox-stpetersburg/ Pascal's Wager: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/ Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A

    18. Vexillology

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2020 34:30


    The science and art of flag-making! Good Flag, Bad Flag: https://nava.org/digital-library/design/GFBF_English.pdf Artifexian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXan6Sw_okc Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=3PWC50_oTYaWcKd3O_-i0g

    17. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 28:11


    If you've got ninety-nine problems, how does your brain choose what to do first? CORRECTION! When Scott brings up Plato, he actually meant Epicurus. Bibliography Simply Psychology: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html Very Well Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760 PsycheTruth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM8SwZkvCIY&feature=youtu.be More about Çatalhöyük: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1405/ Epicurus: https://daily-philosophy.com/daily-seeds/reading-epicurus-pleasure-and-pain/ Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1WsP5M7rsE

    1.5. El Silbo Gomero and Whistled Languages (Re-Release)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 11:59


    Did you know that some human languages are entirely whistled? Bibliography UNESCO (El Silbo Gomero): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgEmSb0cKBg Scientific American (Sfyria): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTHzOag8msM Deutsche Welle (Kus Dili): https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-whistling-instead-of-speaking/av-51108780 BBC (Sfyria): http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170731-greeces-disappearing-whistled-language UCSD (Tonal vs. Non-Tonal languages): http://idiom.ucsd.edu/~rose/Whistled%20and%20drum%20languages.pdf Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=9_Eoo7T6Q46Gq_S5DUwWaw

    16. The Mandela Effect

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 26:49


    You might be wrong about more than you think. Common Historical Misconceptions: https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/12-common-historical-misconceptions Collective False Memories: https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/collective-false-memories-whats-behind-the-mandela-effect Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=HB88xeq1TSahz6M5pBwfEg

    Episode 15: The Library of Babel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 18:18


    The Library of Babel by Jorge Louis Borges: https://maskofreason.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/the-library-of-babel-by-jorge-luis-borges.pdf The Library of Babel website: https://libraryofbabel.info/ Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=TUp5hKerTEm-SpkYnyDtiQ

    Episode 4.5: The Turing Test (Re-Release)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 23:39


    Can you tell the difference between a human and a computer algorithm? It might be harder than you think! The Imitation Game (2014): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/ Eliza: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/ego/eliza A short documentary about Eliza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMK9AphfLco Mitsuku: https://www.pandorabots.com/mitsuku/ About the Loebner Prize: https://www.aisb.org.uk/events/loebner-prize Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=TUp5hKerTEm-SpkYnyDtiQ

    Episode 14: What's The Difference?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 38:41


    A gameshow! A huge thank you to Krystal, Selena, and Pei for participating. Theme Music is "Dimensions" by DJ AG. https://open.spotify.com/track/0xgBWyuDA87TZcjTXIO6UE?si=hCBGUEy5Sg-Rr2wPE-gBVg

    Episode 6.5: The Fermi Paradox (Re-Release)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 23:48


    Where are all the aliens? Theme Music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=1JSHYEOoSvSZUH9nI9RTig Bibliography: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/math/a24826/riddle-of-the-week-12/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhhvQGsMEc

    Episode 13: Doomsday

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 32:19


    It's the end of the world! Theme Music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ Selected Bibliography: Heaven's Gate: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavens-gate-cult-members-found-dead Hilarious apocalypse predictions: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessmom/2018/06/14-hilarious-apocalypse-predictions/ Why we're obsessed with doomsday: https://www.newsweek.com/doomsday-postpone-again-heres-why-were-obsessed-end-world-according-psychology-670860 The Big Bang: https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/09/21/the-big-bang-wasnt-the-beginning-after-all/#7767e91d55df The Heat Death and Big Rip: https://phys.org/news/2015-09-fate-universeheat-death-big-rip.html

    Episode 12: The Rise of Skywalker Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 63:03


    Hello there! Scott and Matt share their compliments and criticisms of Star Wars IX. Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ

    Episode 11: Of Magic and Mind-Melding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 41:17


    Matt's monologue, followed by a post-monologue discussion. Penn and Teller clear cups: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8osRaFTtgHo Penn and Teller Saturday Night Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwkmgqbYXdE Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ

    Episode 10: The Qualia Argument

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2020 62:30


    Scott monologues about the nature of morality, revisiting some of the ideas discussed in Episode 5. Check out this visualization: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bTyvorrhUP8VpIroHV_WDtBEun59prrl/view?usp=sharing Theme music is Levitation by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ

    Episode 9: Of Freedom, Ninnypiddlers, and Munchkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2020 80:38


    Back to basics. In this episode, Scott and Matt discuss free will and urban legends. Follow along the urban legends segment with this optional slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ExeRiEaWH0M1odkvQLe48fD4Kao6oiy08dC-9_B2JIU/edit?usp=sharing Use of copyrighted music falls under the Fair Use policy, as per Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. Music Credit: Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Revolution 9 by The Beatles, and Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles Theme music is Levitation by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ

    Episode 8: A Linear Choose-Your-Own-Adventure

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 96:09


    Matt and Scott have constructed interactive, bifurcating stories for each other, which the other gets to experience. Which path will kill you? Which path will win? Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here:https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=VtkCb7VjR_-Q2D_6g-d7QQ

    Episode 7: The Exquisite Corpse Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2019 77:24


    Five friends conduct a quirky exercise in creative writing. Bibliography and Additional Resources Our Exquisite Corpse Project in paper form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W1_i78P6el40Kd7FqtyiB3ZITE6gNA-J/view?usp=sharing Full movie of Olde English's Exquisite Corpse Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3fXT63Zs8M Trailer for Olde English's Exquisite Corpse Project: https://vimeo.com/41669721 Theme music is ‘Levitation' by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=VtkCb7VjR_-Q2D_6g-d7QQ

    Episode 6: Of Moai, Aliens, and Good Ol' Pals

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2019 60:47


    The stone colossi of Rapa Nui. The Fermi Paradox. An Idiolect Test. Boy, is it good to be back! Bibliography and Additional Resources Rapa Nui (1:07) https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/el-gigante-and-the-stone-moai-of-easter-island https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/the-pacific/a/easter-island-moai https://www.easterisland.travel/easter-island-facts-and-info/moai-statues/ https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/the-pacific/v/voyage-moai NOTE: The story Scott told about ecological disaster on Rapa Nui might actually not true. Check it out: https://www.livescience.com/616-view-easter-island-disaster-wrong-researchers.html Fermi Paradox (18:09) https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/math/a24826/riddle-of-the-week-12/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhhvQGsMEc Idiolect Test (40:29) https://www.britannica.com/topic/idiolect Music Credit 'Levitation' by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=VtkCb7VjR_-Q2D_6g-d7QQ 'Seasons' by DJ AG: https://open.spotify.com/track/7Ag8UznbBqMBS5Hl4GwNrD

    Episode 5: Of Meta-Ethics, Storytelling, and Memory Distortion

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2019 71:49


    Is morality objective, subjective, or somewhere in between? What makes a story fantastic? Just how unreliable is the human mind? Matt and Scott welcome you back to The Phantasmagoria Think Tank. A huge thank-you to Yasmin, Tray, and Selena for guest-starring in this episode. Additional Resources Sam Harris' Moral Landscape: https://samharris.org/books/the-moral-landscape/ Kantian Philosophy (Crash Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bIys6JoEDw Contractarianism (Crash Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Co6pNvd9mc&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNgK6MZucdYldNkMybYIHKR&index=38 Pixar's 22 Rules of Phenomenal Storytelling: https://www.slideshare.net/powerfulpoint/pixar-22rulestophenomenalstorytellingpowerfulpointslideshare/1 Rewrite of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSQJ9W4SxiQ Sir Frederic Bartlett and The War of the Ghosts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p00f8n47 The Plight of Roger Newman: https://www.tes.com/lessons/QIuxYy2U9ZCWpw/introduction-to-early-american-history Theme music is "Seasons" by DJ AG: https://open.spotify.com/album/6KF0kxLurhP9eRF94fB2cP

    Episode 4: Of Impostors, Wizards, and Hangmen

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 60:48


    Can a computer convince Matt and Scott that it's a human? What should a fantasy author know before writing his or her tale? Can you be 100% certain about something and still be wrong? Matt and Scott investigate these cognitively salubrious quandaries in the fourth installment of their quirkily euphonious podcast. Bibliography & Additional Resources The Turing Test The Imitation Game (2014): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/ Eliza: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/ego/eliza A short documentary about Eliza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMK9AphfLco Mitsuku: https://www.pandorabots.com/mitsuku/ About the Loebner Prize: https://www.aisb.org.uk/events/loebner-prize Sanderson's Laws Sanderson himself explains his laws: https://brandonsanderson.com/sandersons-first-law/ Hello Future Me explains his take on hard magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMJQb5bGu_g Unexpected Hanging The Rest of Us explains the Paradox of the Unexpected Hanging: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlCiV_axQ0 Music Urban Jungle 2061: https://soundimage.org/sci-fi/ Epic Boss Battle: https://freepd.com/epic.php La Citadelle: https://freepd.com/romantic.php Vinylpunk: https://www.freemusicpublicdomain.com/royalty-free-dance-trance-techno-music/ Seasons: https://open.spotify.com/search/results/seasons%20DJ%20AG

    Episode 3: Of Adventure, Skulduggery, and Humongous Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2019 45:46


    What can Dungeons and Dragons tell us about the way humans tell stories? A game you can always win—if you play it right. An obscure monetary system that poses deep questions about the nature of money. Matt and Scott entertain all of these and more in this episode of T.P.T.T. Bibliography and Additional Resources Dungeons and Dragons Episode 1 of The Adventure Zone, an actual-play podcast: www.maximumfun.org/adventure-zone/ep-1-here-there-be-gerblins-chapter-one Basic Rules for Dungeons and Dragons: http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules Nim and Prisoner's Dilemma Standupmaths explains the game of Nim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KABcmczPdg Yapese Currency Atlas Obscura, which contains an entry on Rai Stones: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Obscura-Explorers-Worlds-Wonders/dp/0761169083 NPR shines light onto the Rai Stones: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/02/15/131934618/the-island-of-stone-money Music The Ranch by Rafael Krux: fhttps://freepd.com/epic.php Drum Roll: https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/soundeffects Seasons by DJ AG: https://open.spotify.com/search/results/seasons%20dj%20ag

    Episode 2: Of Ghosts, Ravens, And The Politics Of Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 51:31


    Buckle up and plunge once more into the analytical wonderland of Phantasmagoria. In this episode, Matt and Scott discuss the spine-tingling science behind the supposedly supernatural Ouija board, reconcile the mind-bending Paradox of the Ravens (so that it will frustrate us… nevermore), and seek to properly categorize the multifaceted political opinions of the world. Bibliography & Additional Resources Ouija Boards Clip from National Geographic's Brain Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNk8-A1gRMo Steven Woodford (aka Rationality Rules) debunks the Ouija Board (quick trigger warning: his tone and word choice in this particular video is somewhat condescending, but there's still some great science in there): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4W5bF7H-1A Penn & Teller: B.S.! Season 1, Episode 12: Ouija Boards & Near Death Experiences (IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode is not appropriate for children): https://www.sho.com/penn-and-teller-bullshit/season/1/episode/12/ouija-boards-near-death-experiences The Paradox of the Ravens Wireless Philosophy explains the paradox of the ravens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SKmqh5Eu4Y&vl=en Meta-politics The Political Compass: https://www.politicalcompass.org/ 8Values: https://8values.github.io/ Political Typology: http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/ Theme Music: Seasons by DJ AG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46qQWSbSJSo The President's March: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_United_States_Army_Old_Guard_Fife_and_Drum_Corps/Celebrating_50_Years/

    Episode 1: Of Sailing Ships, Spaceships, And Whistles

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2019 56:10


    Scott and Matt put on their thinking caps and discuss the philosophical quandary known as The Ship of Theseus, the blockbuster movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and the obscure yet elegant whistled languages found around the globe. Bibliography The Ship of Theseus http://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil1020/Hobbes3.pdf https://www.utne.com/mind-and-body/ship-of-theseus-identity-ze0z1311zjhar https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/enquiries/view/the-ship-of-theseus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQHBAdShgYI http://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil1020/Hobbes3.pdf Whistled Languages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTHzOag8msM http://idiom.ucsd.edu/~rose/Whistled%20and%20drum%20languages.pdf http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170731-greeces-disappearing-whistled-language https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQf38Ybo1IY Theme Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46qQWSbSJSo

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