The Philosophers Stoned

In this episode, we discuss the philosophy of war. Is war ever justified, and if so, under what conditions?

In this episode, we take some time to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Then, we look at Beauty, a controversial subject in philosophy. Is Beauty subjective or objective? Is "Edge of Tommorow" a better film than "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon?" Find out! Email all queries/comments to TPSpod420@gmail.com.

In this episode, we are joined by our second guest ever. He wishes to remain anonymous. We discuss the dilemma of social media and freedom of speech within the context of democracy and social justice. As always, please send your feedback to TPSpod420@gmail.com

In this epsiode, we revisit the philosophy of protests and how it applies to the recent "Freedom Convoy" protests in Canada, as well as historical "occupation" style protests.

In this episode we are joined by our first guest. Joel Strauss is a musician based out of Fredericton, New Brunswick (and happens to be Jordan's older brother). We discuss the recent Neil Young/Joe Rogan drama, the protest in Ottawa, and take a philosophical view of Imagination.source: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/imagination/, by Shen-yi Liao and Tamar Gendler

In this episode, we discuss how modern fMRI technology has revealed startling facts about mental imagery. We discuss how the visual cortex activates in response to mental images, the differences between aphantastics and hyperphantastics, and how involuntary mental imagery plays a role in racial biases. Please send your emails to TPSpod420@gmail.comsource: Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Bence Nanay, University of Antwerp

Scenario: Earth is faced with a crisis: the planet will soon be destroyed, and the only survivors will be those who can board the Ark ships to journey to Alpha Centauri to settle a brave new world.. The Ark ships can hold 10 million people, but the Earth's population is 8 billion. Many will be left behind. Suppose you are in charge of choosing who gets a spot on the Ark ships. Who will you draft for your Apocalypse fleet? Send your Apocalypse Draft to TPSpod420@gmail.com!

Suppose someone is born blind, and they are taught to distinguish a sphere and a cube by touch. Then, suppose this person's sight is restored, and they are shown a sphere and a cube. Could the person, using sight alone, distinguish the sphere from the cube? That is Molyneux's Problem.

Utopia. Not Fruitopia. BF Skinner imagined a Utopian community called "Walden 2," where people are raised in carefully controlled environments. Walden 2's Planners and Managers would use "behavioural engineering" to eliminate human flaws like greed and violence, allowing human nature to flourish. We discuss his brilliant but flawed Utopian project.

Can computers think or are they just unintelligent mechanisms that do whatever we tell them to? British mathematician Alan Turing, writing in the 1950s, proposed a game, or test, that he claimed would determine whether or not a computer could be considered intelligent. We discuss the Imitation Game and the many objections against it.

In this episode, we discuss Game Theory. Game Theory is a mathematical way of studying how self-interested, rational agents make decisions. In philosophy, Game Theory has been used to solve an old problem: is it ever in our best interests to act immorally or unjustly?

In this episode, there will be spoilers for "Dune" (2021). Posthumanism is an intellectual movement that argues many of humanity's challenges can be overcome by changing our minds and bodies with technology. The 2021 film "Dune" explores the uncertainty of a posthuman future populated by individuals who are barely recognizeable as human.

In this episode, we discuss He Who Shall Not Be Named (Jordan Peterson). Dr. Jordan Peterson is a professor of psychology and one of the most famous public intellectuals in the world. He is most famous for his opposition to Bill C-16, which made gender identity and expression protected grounds from discrimination. We discuss why the bill has failed to end Western Civilization.

This is the final episode of Season One of the Philosophers Stoned. Stay tuned for Season Two! In this episode, we discuss the beliefs of one of the most notorious thinkers in history, Karl Marx. In some ways similar to Hegel and Nietzsche, Marx believed that history was dialectical, or a struggle of opposing sides working towards an ultimate outcome. However, unlike Hegel and Nietzsche, Marx predicted that the labour classes, the united workers of the world, would eventually overthrow the elites, and usher in a golden age of Communism. Marx believed that Communism, when successful, would be a hybrid economic/social system that promoted human flourishing by allowing people to develop their personal capabilities and interests to their fullest extent, while participating in a vibrant community of equals. Although critics of Marx point to the terrible failures of the Soviet Union and the pseudo-Communism of modern China, many Marxist thinkers still believe Communism is inevitable. Send questions and comments for Season 2 to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com.

In the fourth episode on the intellectual climate that preceded the two World Wars, we discuss Utilitarianism. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) is widely regarded as the founder of Utilitarianism as a social and philosophical program. Bentham was the defacto leader of a group of British intellectuals called the Philosophical Radicals. The Radicals believed that British society needed to be drastically reformed from top to bottom in accordance with the Principle of Utility. All laws, all governments, all institutions of education and media, agriculture, industry, and so on, must conform to a single principle: that the best state of affairs is the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

In this episode, we discuss the philosophical and theological views of Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche, today recognized as one of the most influential thinkers in history, never achieved fame while he was alive. His books, polemical attacks on Christianity and "slave morality," did not sell. Nietzsche suffered from chronic ill-health, and was an invalid most of his life. In 1889, he went insane and died after a series of strokes. Nietzsche argued that the conventional notions of "good" and "evil" were mistaken, and in fact prevented humankind from evolving. According to Nietzsche, conventional morality cast as evil everything that he believed was good- the will to power, war, and conquest, vengeance, ambition, animalism, adventure, and knowledge. Nietzsche argued that we must embrace these so-called evils and transform the human race into the Ubermensch.

We continue our series on the philosophical and intellectual climate that preceded the two World Wars. In this episode, we discusss Jean Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau is known as the father of 18th century Romanticism. The Romantics sought to liberate human beings from the constraints of conventional morality. Rousseau believed that Science and the Arts had done more harm than good to humanity. He idealized hunter-gatherers, although he himself lived in fancy hotels paid for by his wealthy female patrons. Bertrand Russel said of Rousseau: “…the dictatorships of Russia and Germany are in part an outcome of Rousseau's teaching. What further triumphs the future has to offer to his ghost I do not venture to predict.” Find out why in this exciting episode! Send queries to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com.

In this episode, we begin our series on the philosophical climate that preceded the two World Wars. Today, we discuss the life and work of the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). Hegel argued that human history progresses according to a process called The Dialectic. At each stage in The Dialectic, one nation is responsible for pushing the world into the next stage of history, by force if necessary. In the 19th century, Hegel believed that this nation was Germany. Hegel argued that Nations were superorganisms, and that individual human beings were insignificant except as organs of the State. Further, he claimed War was good because War reminds everyone that Nations are permanent and people are temporary. Unfortunately, his theories became quite popular.

Immanuel Kant is notorious for being almost impossible to understand, which is the hallmark of a truly great philosopher. Send your comments to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com.

Isaac Newton's revolutionary theory of physics upended Aristotle's purpose-driven view of causation, and offered a new hope that we could finally obtain genuine scientific knowledge of the universe. But in a cruel twist of fate, a mysterious intellectual named David Hume emerged from the darkness of Scotland and struck at the heart of Newton's rebellion. Hume's arguments seemed to prove that humans could never find rational justification for any claims of scientific knowledge. Human reason, said Hume, was merely a slave to passions and custom.

This is the first episode in a three-part series on the philosophy of causation. In this episode, we discuss Aristotle's views on causation. Aristotle was one of the most influential philosophers of all time, and even served as Royal Tutor to the young Alexander the Great. Aristotle understood causation as a question about why things change. Why does a block of iron become a knife? Why do lions always grow sharp teeth? Aristotle argued that things change to fulfill their proper purpose and function. In Part Two, we will discuss David Hume's challenge to Aristotle, which upended over a thousand years of philosophy.

In the parlance of our times, an argument means a disagreement, and disagreements are often nothing more than people contradicting each other over and over again, and rarely lead to truth. But in philosophy, an argument means a series of premises that justify a conclusion. For example, Aristotle, who lived over 2000 years ago, invented a deductively valid argument known as a syllogism, which we still use today: P1: All humans are mortal.P2: You are a human.C: Therefore, you are mortal.This argument is valid because if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. We will discuss the rules of validity and soundness, as well as several different kinds of arguments, including: deduction, induction, and abduction. As always, send your comments and questions to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com.

If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? George Berkeley would say that if a tree falls in a forest, and no one perceives the tree, then the tree didn't even exist in the first place. Berkeley is often known as the father of Idealism. Berkeley believed that there is no such thing as physical matter. All that exists, according to Berkely, are ideas. In this episode, we discuss Berkeley's surprisingly powerful arguments in defense of Idealism. As always, send your emails to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com. (previously posted the wrong description for this episode, apologies!)

In philosophy, zombies are beings that are exactly like human beings in every single way except one. A philosophical zombie might talk about how great the coffee is, they might drive to work and answer the phone, they might go home and walk the dog. However, philosophical zombies lack one thing: consciousness. If it is possible that a being could be physically identical to a conscious human and yet lack consciousness, then consciousness must involve something more than physical matter. We discuss the zombie argument and some of its problems.

In this episode, we discuss Immanuel Kant's famous "Categorical Imperative." An imperative is a command- you ought to do such and such. Kant argues there are two kinds of Imperatives: Hypothetical imperatives and Categorical imperatives. A hypothetical imperative is something you should do if you have a particular goal in mind: for example, if you want to lose weight, you should exercise and eat healthy. Categorical imperatives, on the other hand, are things you should do regardless of your particular desires or goals. So, what is the categorical imperative?

In this perplexing episode, we discuss why there is something rather than nothing. Quantum physics says that there is something rather than nothing because the quantum energy field naturally fluctuates from potentiality to actuality. But philosophers-of-nothing persist: why is there is a quantum energy field at all? This question seems like an impossible riddle. However, as Ludwig Wittgenstein argued, a riddle without an answer is not really a riddle. If a question can't be answered, then either there is something wrong with the question, or the answer lies beyond the capacity of our language to express. Can "nothing" be?

In this episode we respond to questions from listeners about a variety of topics. We couldn't answer every question this week, but we will get through them all eventually. If you want your question read on the podcast, email TPSpodcast420@gmail.com.

In this episode, we discuss philosophical Anarchism. Anarchy means the absence of government authority. Anarchists come in many forms, but Anarchy does not necessarily mean moral nihilism and chaos. As Alan Moore writes in V for Vendetta: "Anarchy means 'without leaders,' not 'without order.'" The essence of anarchy as a political ideal is that human beings can be sufficiently rational and autonomous to rule themselves. However, as long as the State exerts paternalistic authority over us, human beings can never achieve their true potential. Therefore, all human beings have a moral obligation to overthrow the State. Send all questions and comments to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com

Social Contract Theory is a theory that the State's legitimate and justified authority over the individual is based on a mutual agreement between the individual and the State. In theory, we agree to give up certain rights (e.g. the right to steal your neighbor's cows) and in exchange, the State protects our other rights (e.g. the right to private property). Thomas Hobbes was one of the earliest proponents of Social Contract Theory. Writing in the bloody aftermath of the English Civil War, Hobbes argued that the State's authority is only justified if it can maintain peace and prevent civil war. However, Hobbes concluded that the only way a State can prevent civil war is if it is ruled by a Sovereign with absolute, unlimited power: the Leviathan.

The question of "Nurture vs Nature" to explain human behaviour has long interested psychologists and philosophers. Behaviourists believed the answer was definitely "Nurture"- everything about our behaviour can explained in terms of our environment. The most radical behaviourists believed that everything about human behaviour could be explained by studying rats in mazes. Today, however, behaviourism is a defunct research project. We discuss why behaviourism rose to dominate the field, and why its influence has faded. Send all questions to TPSpod420@gmail.com.

In this episode, we take a break from philosophy and discuss recent events from stand-up comedy. Tony Hinchcliffe is a stand-up comedian who has hosted the live show/podcast Kill Tony for many years. Kill Tony is a lottery show where anyone can put their name in a hat for a chance to perform 60 seconds of material in front of a live audience. After the set, Tony and a guest offer critiques. The guests often include the most famous comedians in the world, such as Russell Peters and Bill Burr. Last week Tony was dropped by his talent agency and all Kill Tony live shows were cancelled. Find out why in this mysterious episode.

In this episode we discuss a range of topics, from the Mayan Ball Game, to the essential characteristics of sports, to the controversial topic of transgender athletes. Sports have traditionally been segregated based on sex: men's leagues and women's leagues. However, transgender athletes have challenged the efficacy of sex segregation. Is it time for a new way to form sports leagues, perhaps based on other factors besides sex? As always, email your thoughts and questions to TPSpod420@gmail.com.

In this episode, we discuss the work of Domincan-born philosopher Dan-el Padilla Peralta, currently Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University. "Classics" is the study of ancient Greece and Rome, including their languages and philosophy. Peralta argues that the future of classics is in jeopardy, because these ancient societies fully embraced slavery. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle argued that slavery and racial supremacy are morally acceptable because they are part of the "natural order." Pro-slavery politicians like Thomas Jefferson appealed to these arguments in the United States, and these arguments remain popular with white supremacists to this day. What will happen to Classics? Send your answers to TPSpod420@gmail.com!

Many animals appear to have the capacity for moral behavior- altruism and kinship exists in many species, not just humans. This suggests that much of our moral behavior was selected for by evolutionary processes. Some biologists have concluded that ethics is now in the province of evolutionary biology, not philosophy. Are moral philosophers out of a job? Are the Philosophers Stoned on EI? Find out in this surprising episode! Send all queries and cash donations to the TPSpodcast420@gmail.com

In this episode, we philosophically review the 2020 horror film, "The Empty Man." There will be spoilers, so we recommend that you watch the movie first, then listen to the review. The Empty Man is an alien entity that promotes a philosophy of murderous nihilism, and is the very epitome of Nietzsche's infamous warning, "If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." This film is pure horror-philosophy, so definitely check it out!

In this episode, we discuss a paper by Canadian philosopher and fantasy novelist R. Scott Bakker. In his paper, "On Alien Philosophy," Bakker argues that the evolutionary forces that caused Earth species to develop intelligence and philosophy could likely cause alien species to develop their own intelligence and philosophy. And, like us, their philosophers, "Martian Socrates" or "Little Green Nietzsche," would struggle to answer questions about the external world, and themselves. Bakker argues that to truly understand ourselves, we must see ourselves in the light of Alien Philosophy.

In this episode, we join the hosts of the Bible Beaters Podcast, Caleb Campbell and Kyle Vestner, for a stimulating menage a quatre to compare and contrast three revolutionary thinkers: Did you know Jesus, Socrates, and Buddha all wore the same brand of sandals (Adidas)? And none of them ever had a real job? Did you know Jesus and Socrates were both so annoying they were sentenced to death? And that Buddha originally wrote "I Am the Walrus" as a poem about reincarnation? Tune in for more Truth!

This week we struggle to comprehend the ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism. Daoism is believed to have originated with the mystical sage Laozi, or "Old Philosopher." Dao means, "way" or "path." The way you do everything- the philosophy you live by. your morning routine, the way you walk down the street- is your dao. Dao is for humans as water is for fish- Zhuangzi. Even the act of choosing between daos is itself a dao- a dao of choosing. You can dao a dao. "Dao that can be dao-ed is not constant dao,"- Laozi. Confused yet?

In this episode we examine the ancient philosophy of Stoicism. The Stoics denounced all passions and were terrible guests at orgies. We delve deep into the Stoic's theory about the origins of the universe, which involves divine sperm and an endless cycle of Conflagrations, and we also examine their theory of knowledge, ethics, and emotion. Finally, we respond to an email about whether Jordan is actually a simulation!

In this episode we begin responding to a listener question about Epicurus, Stoics, and Taoists. Epicurus was a philosopher from Ancient Greece who developed a unified theory of particle physics, consciousness, human social evolution, language and psychology. He was also a flat-Earther but we'll forgive it just this once ;) Please send your questions, comments, hate-mail, death threats, LSD and CA$H donations to TPSpodcast420@gmail.com

In this episode, we discuss the concepts of speciesism and the moral consideration of animals under utilitarianism and the philosophy of animal rights. Shoutout to Matt Pusch for his heroic editing of this trainwreck of an episode.

In this episode, Sam and Jordan follow their tradition of discussing some random nonsense and then digging into a deep philosophical topic. This week it's possible worlds. Some philosophers, like some physicists, believe in a multiverse of "parallel universes" or "possible worlds." But philosopher David Lewis didn't need any fancy telescopes to develop his theory; all he had to do was sit in a comfortable armchair, stroke his beard, and ask questions like, "Am I Batman in another possible world?" Well, maybe he didn't ask that question. But WE do!

In this episode, we respond to a listener question about the Sophists of Ancient Greece. Gorgias (AKA Lil Gorgeous) claimed that he did not teach the art of living well, but rather the art of persuasion. Persuasion is value-neutral- the artful persuader can lead people to a life of virtue and knowledge, but they could also lead people into vice and ignorance. How should we deal with weaponized persuasion in the age of deep fakes and the internet?

In this episode, Sam and Jordan discuss Agent Smith's theory about humans from "The Matrix." and the moral dilemmas that arise when considering whether to colonize other worlds or make a sustainable home on Earth. Also, an interesting listener email about Rhetoric and the Sophists of Ancient Greece.

Jordan discusses the trials and tribulations of working at a Willy-Wonka-esque brewery. Then, the boys dig deep into the mailbag to answer your questions, including a question on Toxic Masculinity. Disclaimer: This episode is fraught with technical difficulties. Please consider this an "optional" episode.

In this episode, we discuss the philosophy and ethical justification of civil disobedience, radical protest, and revolution. Whereas civil disobedience involves peacefully breaking the law, radical protest and revolution involve violence, terror, and militant action. Sometimes radical protest is justified; other times, it is not. We discuss Ghandi's peaceful revolution in India, Mohammed Ali and Rosa Parks' civil disobedience, the late Nelson Mandela, CHAZ, and the recent violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building.

We kick off the New Year with a response to a listener email! We discuss utilitarian and egalitarian approaches to vaccine distribution, and the ethics of allocating scarce medical resources at both the international and national levels. Neither a pure cost-benefit analysis nor a pure egalitarian approach is satisfactory, so the debate focuses on carving out a middle ground that is both ethically and medically sound. Bonus discussion of President Trump's perfectly legal and very cool phone call!

In this episode, Sam and Jordan discuss the concept of evil. Throughout history, "evil" has been used to describe people, events, and practices that seem beyond merely "bad." Sometimes, however, the punishment of "evil" is used to justify atrocities, like the Salem witch trials. Is "evil" really a useful concept for understanding human nature?

Philosophers have long believed that people act according to their better judgment. Given the choice between A and B, people will choose the best course of action to achieve their goal. And yet...sometimes we act against our better judgment. I know I should eat a salad and go for a run, but instead I buy a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of vodka. What is going on?

Should people continue to procreate and have children, or is it time for the human race to voluntarily extinguish itself to save future generations from needless suffering? Also, who should Jake Paul really fight? Find out in this festive, pre-Christmas episode!

In this episode, our hosts grapple with the philosophy of time. Is time actually money?Can there be time without change? Will Jordan's brain explode as he struggles to understand these paradoxes? Find out in this magnificent episode! Also, tremendous shoutout to Matthew Pusch (Insta: mpusch88) for mastering our audio.