Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 in total
Is that glass of water really there?
With deep experience, qualifications and credentials, we examine the views of Donald Hoffman. He thinks that reality as we experience it is just our consciousness in a...
In anarchy, would a leader emerge?
In anarchy, would a leader emerge?Our SummaryIn a bid to reach peak fact-free discussion, we attempt to use Peter the Great era Russia as a springboard for talking ove...
What is amnesia?
We learn that Jon hates being wheeled around and we can’t resist making bad jokes about colonoscopies. Oh, and pain? What is that? Would you care about it if you could...
Technology, are we better off now?
Well, we may be in a 200 year hangover period after the tech bender of the 90s and 2000s. It’srough now on balance, but it might get way better than ever in the future...
What can Terminator 2 teach us about Kant?
Episode 22, in which Matt repeatedly avoids Jon’s really good and important question: what is the basis for determining what is right and wrong? Terminator 2 Judgement...
What do you think about inflation? (pt. 2)
In which we explore the depths of ignorance while opining about the veracity of Milton Friedman’s economic principles. Are we big fans of inflation? Tune in to find ou...
What do you think about inflation? (pt. 1)
Does anyone understand inflation? We don't! That doesn't stop us from talking about it though. Seems like we are aiming for some hot government control. It's hard to t...
What is liberty?
What is the difference between anarchy and liberty? Does liberty come from the government, or maybe it's something that the government infringes upon? We don't know, a...
What is the sad truth about being smart?
Is intelligence automatically good? How many kinds of smart are there? Why do we glorify smarts? Also, Jon can't stand people wearing gray sweatpants. Just try and ski...
What exactly is policy?
Policy? What even is that thing? We don't really know, but it is the policy of this podcast to assist you in getting to sleep. Just click play. We will walk you throug...
Is capitalism a good thing?
Big railroad? Big oil? What about Big Deviled Ham? Rules are for suckers, or, an episode in which we discover that government-haters must also hate capitalism, that th...
Are sports evil?
45+ minutes of bashing sports as a concept while agreeing how much we love sports. We are nothing if not consistent. Oh, and we talk about how exceptional we are as pa...
What does crypto have to do with violence?
There are limited resources. Animals fight over resources. Humans are animals. Crypto guards resources, it can't be stolen. Discuss. AI's Summary Could the answer to ...
What could pick up where religion left off?
Here, we achieve apex impracticality. Maybe 50+ minutes good be best summarized by the Golden Rule. Also, maybe VR could be useful for more than virtual roller coaster...
Are abstract ideals bad?
Can you hold an abstract ideal as a primary aim and not lose a consistent morality? Can Matt ever stop talking? No one knows.AI's Summary Can our pursuit of a grand v...
Would life be better or worse without secrets?
In which we wring our hands about where lying and secrets sit on the spectrum of violence, when lying might be expected or necessary. Like when we eat your food. AI's ...
What is owed to a child by a parent and vice versa?
In which we talk about needy needy needs and how Matt was worried about peeing wrong for 20 years.AI's Summary Unlock the labyrinth of parent-child relationships and ...
Is 'follow your passion' the worst advice ever given?
Are dreams worth following? Can passion cash out? Maybe try tracking 3 things: skills, passion and market needs. And maybe a fourth? Listen to find out. It may spread ...
What do my kids think I believe? (Belief pt. 3)
Gather round while we examine what Matt's kids think he believes. We settle long-standing arguments about science and religion. And if that wasn't enough, Jon nails th...
Is the US in decline?
Our Summary Is America in decline? Yes! Yes it is. Listen along as we figure out that a society can only last as long as people's suffering is just right. Not too muc...
What do I believe? (Belief pt. 2)
Our Summary In which we realize we don't believe in anything, that we forget where our 'original' ideas come from, the challenges related to bitchy resting face, A.I....
How much control do we have?
In which we have no choice but to explore the depths of our lack of control, we worry about exposing ourselves to the wrong thing and we lie to remain heroic, if only ...
How do you decide what you believe? (Belief pt. 1)
In which we realize we don't know the world is round, but we know that flat Earthers are the worst. We sound out ep-is-ta-mah-lah-gee and then are embarrassed for usin...
What do you know about gravity?
In which 'gravitons' are misnamed 'Gravitrons' by a moron. Wait, what?! Gravity isn't a force pulling objects towards other objects with larger mass? Objects are movi...
What do you know about relativity?
In which we feel truly ignorant. Intuition fails. Is there no language other than beyond-us-math to comprehend such things as a clock running faster in orbit vs. on th...
Why is stoicism a slave's philosophy?
In which Jon and Matt explore Matt’s extremist reaction to Jon’s interest in Stoicism ("It’s a slave’s philosophy!”). The idea here is that Stoicism can be a philosoph...