Ben Stiller's superb series, Severance, raises fascinating questions about the nature of personal identity. Are we minds or brains? Is it possible for two persons to inhabit the same body? And can a person survive gaps in their existence?
[00:00] Introduction to Severance
[01:24] Philosophical Questions on Personal Identity
[05:59] Real-Life Analogies and Thought Experiments
[11:26] Ethical Implications and Moral Questions
[22:20] Utilitarian Views and Moral Calculations
[30:57] Navigating Hypothetical Moral Dilemmas
[34:32] Severance and the Ethics of Suicide
[38:42] Retirement and the Ethics of Ending Lives
[41:02] Philosophical Puzzles of Personal Identity
[49:11] The Anesthesia Conundrum
[53:52] The Problem of Gradual Change in Identity
[01:00:28] The Intractable Nature of Personal Identity
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1:00:59
Anti-Semitism | Mark Oppenheimer
What do anti-semites and ultra-orthodox Jews have in common? How did the ivy league discriminate against Jews? Is America still a safe haven for Jews? Follow Mark's work on https://markoppenheimer.substack.com/
[00:00] Introduction and Confession
[00:17] The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting
[03:59] Historical Context of Jewish Persecution
[07:15] Understanding Antisemitism
[13:38] Antisemitism and Bigotry
[25:53] Jewish Identity and Group Affinity
[35:04] Jewish Humor and Self-Deprecation
[38:14] Jews in the Ivy League: A Historical Perspective
[41:14] Direct vs. Indirect Discrimination
[46:34] Affirmative Action and Quotas
[55:59] The Complexity of Anti-Zionism
[01:02:19] Concluding Thoughts on Jewish Identity
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1:04:08
What Is a Woman? | Alex Byrne (Rebroadcast)
Oxford University Press refused to publish Alex Byrne's book on gender. We discuss whether women are adult human females and whether sex is the same as gender.
[00:00] Introduction and Thought Experiment
[02:38] Exploring Gender Identity
[11:22] Historical Context and Gender Roles
[19:00] Biological and Social Perspectives
[27:51] Understanding Social Identity: 'One of the Boys'
[28:17] Conrad Lorenz and the Ducklings: A Metaphor for Social Roles
[33:58] The Debate on Context-Dependent Definitions of Sex
[38:21] Legal and Social Implications of Gender Identity
[52:41] The Controversy Over Publishing Gender Philosophy
[01:00:49] Reflections on Academic Freedom and Gender Discourse
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1:01:59
Sex Work or Prostitution? | Lori Watson (Rebroadcast)
Is sex work actually work? Is prostitution always a form of exploitation? And show we legalize or decriminalize prostitution?
[00:00] Introduction and Opening Remarks
[00:14] The Moral and Legal Concerns of Prostitution
[04:11] Debating Terminology: Prostitution vs. Sex Work
[06:37] Legal Frameworks and Models of Prostitution
[11:24] The Unique Harms of Prostitution
[24:41] Sex Work as Labor: A Critical Examination
[34:15] Civil Rights and Sexual Autonomy in Prostitution
[35:33] Arguments Against Treating Prostitution as Regular Work
[38:14] Historical Context of Civil Rights Legislation
[45:52] The Nordic Model and Its Implications
[48:57] Exploring the Intersection of Pornography and Prostitution
[54:25] Consent and the Realities of Prostitution
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58:53
Is Monogamy Wrong? | Harry Chalmers (Rebroadcast)
Is the restriction on having additional sexual or romantic partners similar to the restriction on having additional friends? Should you allow your partner to be free to pursue other partners? And are we able to overcome the jealousy associated with non-monogamy?
[00:00] Introduction to the Debate on Monogamy
[00:11] Thought Experiment: Friendship Restrictions
[03:17] Defending Monogamy: Common Arguments
[06:35] The Morality of Consensual Restrictions
[13:53] Exploring the Concept of Exclusivity
[18:54] Workplace Analogies and Monogamy
[22:45] Balancing Risks and Benefits
[29:44] Questioning Monogamy's Blanket Ban
[33:50] Forms of Non-Monogamous Relationships
[37:52] Addressing Jealousy and Insecurity
[47:42] Social Implications of Non-Monogamy
[54:42] Monogamy vs. Non-Monogamy as Orientations
South Africa