Last December, with Argentina minutes away from a World Cup championship, friend of the show Yoel texted David “congratulations.” David was furious, and soon after (with less than 2 minutes left in extra time) France’s Mbappe scored a game-tying goal to send the match into penalty kicks. (Argentina ended up winning or Yoel might have become ‘former friend of the show.’) David says he doesn’t believe in jinxes at all but his actions suggest otherwise. We talk about a paper on this phenomenon of “half-belief”: when your behavior and your stated beliefs don’t align. Plus Tamler and David take a survey and discover that they lead radically different inner lives.   James Steele's Tweet  Caspi, A., Shmuel, E., &amp; Chajut, E. (2023). A quantitative examination of half-belief in superstition. Journal of Individual Differences. Sponsored by:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW 

Last December, with Argentina minutes away from a World Cup championship, friend of the show Yoel texted David “congratulations.” David was furious, and soon after (with less than 2 minutes left in extra time) France’s Mbappe scored a game-tying goal to send the match into penalty kicks. (Argentina ended up winning or Yoel might have become ‘former friend of the show.’) David says he doesn’t believe in jinxes at all but his actions suggest otherwise. We talk about a paper on this phenomenon of “half-belief”: when your behavior and your stated beliefs don’t align. Plus Tamler and David take a survey and discover that they lead radically different inner lives.  <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesSteeleII/status/1686386924519555072?s=20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> James Steele's Tweet </a> <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-83188-001" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Caspi, A., Shmuel, E., &amp; Chajut, E. (2023). A quantitative examination of half-belief in superstition. Journal of Individual Differences.</a> Sponsored by: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul>

I Want to Half-Believe

The Summer of Cormac McCarthy continues – this time we dive into his one piece of non-fiction, the short essay “The Kekulé Problem.” How does our unconscious mind solve problems that conscious deliberation can’t crack? Why does it often work elliptically, in code, rather than giving us the answer directly in language? Is McCarthy right that the unconscious doesn’t trust language because it’s such a newcomer to the human brain? Plus we select the finalists for our listener selected episode – thanks to our beloved patrons for all their terrific suggestions! "The Kekulé Problem" by Cormac McCarthy  Pinker &amp; Bloom 1990  Dijksterhuis &amp; Strick 2016 Sponsored by:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Rocket Money: Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions, and manage your expenses the easy way, by going to RocketMoney.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW 

The Summer of Cormac McCarthy continues – this time we dive into his one piece of non-fiction, the short essay “The Kekulé Problem.” How does our unconscious mind solve problems that conscious deliberation can’t crack? Why does it often work elliptically, in code, rather than giving us the answer directly in language? Is McCarthy right that the unconscious doesn’t trust language because it’s such a newcomer to the human brain? Plus we select the finalists for our listener selected episode – thanks to our beloved patrons for all their terrific suggestions! <a href="https://nautil.us/the-kekul-problem-236574/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Kekulé Problem"</a> by Cormac McCarthy <a href="https://stevenpinker.com/files/pinker/files/pinker_and_bloom_1990_natural_language.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Pinker &amp; Bloom 1990</a> <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1745691615615317?casa_token=IWZFZYYKlm4AAAAA:sEw4KGBcNL-P2XNPr10B2QrjesTXbWRFOO8ELGLXb-gwhKOYKWnerf7yUeaFNaKEQwpZ3wEIrYoj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Dijksterhuis &amp; Strick 2016</a> Sponsored by: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> <li><a href="https://rocketmoney.com/vbw" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Rocket Money: Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions, and manage your expenses the easy way, by going to RocketMoney.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW</a></li> </ul>

Episode 265: Kekulé (Oh Yeah!)

A new mini-series with Tamler Sommers and Robert Wright on the range of politically acceptable discourse for a given topic and how this “Overton window” changes over time.  This episode is available for free for everyone, the remaining episodes will appear at the Very Bad Wizards Patreon and Robert Wright’s Nonzero Newsletter on Substack. 00:33 What is this new Overton Windows series about? 10:05 Tamler’s connections to Israel and Bob’s experiences there 19:22 What does Zionism mean in practice? 27:35 The shifting Overton window around Israel/Palestine 45:35 The heavy-handed response to the BDS movement 57:13 What the Israel/Palestine discourse says about Overton windows 1:02:09 So where should the boundaries be set

A new mini-series with Tamler Sommers and Robert Wright on the range of politically acceptable discourse for a given topic and how this “Overton window” changes over time. This episode is available for free for everyone, the remaining episodes will appear at the <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Very Bad Wizards Patreon</a> and <a href="https://nonzero.substack.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Wright’s Nonzero Newsletter</a> on Substack. 00:33 What is this new Overton Windows series about? 10:05 Tamler’s connections to Israel and Bob’s experiences there 19:22 What does Zionism mean in practice? 27:35 The shifting Overton window around Israel/Palestine 45:35 The heavy-handed response to the BDS movement 57:13 What the Israel/Palestine discourse says about Overton windows 1:02:09 So where should the boundaries be set

[BONUS] Overton Windows Episode 1: Israel and Palestine

David and Tamler dive into the Coen brothers’ bleak and beautiful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel "No Country for Old Men." What’s the underlying philosophy that animates Anton Chigurh? Does he have a code of any kind, or is he just a ghostly symbol of human brutality and a pitiless indifferent universe? Does he represent a new kind of evil or is Sheriff Bell just getting old? What elements, if any, in the film are more dream than reality? And speaking of moral decline, a new Nature study claims that we have the illusory belief that people are getting worse - but can they really establish that it’s an illusion?  Mastroianni, A. M., &amp; Gilbert, D. T. (2023). The illusion of moral decline. Nature, 1-8.  Mastroianni blog post about the illusion of moral decline No Country for Old Men (movie) [wikipedia.org] Sponsored by:   BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW 

David and Tamler dive into the Coen brothers’ bleak and beautiful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel "No Country for Old Men." What’s the underlying philosophy that animates Anton Chigurh? Does he have a code of any kind, or is he just a ghostly symbol of human brutality and a pitiless indifferent universe? Does he represent a new kind of evil or is Sheriff Bell just getting old? What elements, if any, in the film are more dream than reality? And speaking of moral decline, a new Nature study claims that we have the illusory belief that people are getting worse - but can they really establish that it’s an illusion? <a href="https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-illusion-of-moral-decline?utm_source=profile&amp;utm_medium=reader2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mastroianni, A. M., &amp; Gilbert, D. T. (2023). The illusion of moral decline. Nature, 1-8.</a> <a href="https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-illusion-of-moral-decline?utm_source=profile&amp;utm_medium=reader2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mastroianni blog post about the illusion of moral decline</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Country_for_Old_Men" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No Country for Old Men (movie) [wikipedia.org]</a> Sponsored by:  <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul>

Episode 264: The Rule You Follow (The Coen Brothers' "No Country for Old Men")

A VBW exclusive report! For years David and Tamler have been a little dismissive of fears about cancel culture in academia but now the SJWs have come for one of our own! We welcome back Yoel Inbar to talk about his experience applying for a position at UCLA psychology only to have his candidacy pulled at the last minute because of remarks he made on his podcast (!) about diversity statements. What does this mean for freedom of expression in academia? Should we advise our students and younger faculty to watch what they say when it comes to politically charged topics? Are they really going to start combing through podcast episodes now – is nothing sacred? Plus another case of fraud in psychology comes to light courtesy of the Data Colada guys. Data Colada post about Gino fraud Sponsored by:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Rocket Money: Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions, and manage your expenses the easy way, by going to RocketMoney.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW 

A VBW exclusive report! For years David and Tamler have been a little dismissive of fears about cancel culture in academia but now the SJWs have come for one of our own! We welcome back Yoel Inbar to talk about his experience applying for a position at UCLA psychology only to have his candidacy pulled at the last minute because of remarks he made on his podcast (!) about diversity statements. What does this mean for freedom of expression in academia? Should we advise our students and younger faculty to watch what they say when it comes to politically charged topics? Are they really going to start combing through podcast episodes now – is nothing sacred? Plus another case of fraud in psychology comes to light courtesy of the Data Colada guys. <a href="http://datacolada.org/109" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Data Colada post about Gino fraud</a> Sponsored by: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> <li><a href="https://rocketmoney.com/vbw" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Rocket Money: Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions, and manage your expenses the easy way, by going to RocketMoney.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW</a></li> </ul>

Episode 263: Free Yoel

David and Tamler dive into the first two parts of Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil which contain some of Nietzsche’s best drive-bys on philosophers like Plato, Descartes, the Stoics, Kant, and Hegel along with beliefs in free will, hard determinism, Christianity, morality, conceptual analysis, objectivity, and the value of truth. We argue about Nietzsche’s metaphilosophy and the implications of thinking that all philosophy amounts to a personal confession by the author.  Plus – have David’s prayers been answered? Does quantum theory entail that our consciousness outlives the death of our physical bodies? A blog post about a somewhat recent book says yes! Sponsored By:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW NordVPN: Keep your internet connection safe, and enjoy streaming services when you travel abroad with NordVPN! NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for peace of mind when you use public Wi-Fi, access personal and work accounts on the road, or want to keep your browsing history to yourself. Exclusive! Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/VBW Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Promo Code: VBW 

David and Tamler dive into the first two parts of Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil which contain some of Nietzsche’s best drive-bys on philosophers like Plato, Descartes, the Stoics, Kant, and Hegel along with beliefs in free will, hard determinism, Christianity, morality, conceptual analysis, objectivity, and the value of truth. We argue about Nietzsche’s metaphilosophy and the implications of thinking that all philosophy amounts to a personal confession by the author. Plus – have David’s prayers been answered? Does quantum theory entail that our consciousness outlives the death of our physical bodies? A blog post about a somewhat recent book says yes! Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> <li><a href="https://nordvpn.com/VBW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NordVPN</a>: <a href="https://nordvpn.com/VBW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keep your internet connection safe, and enjoy streaming services when you travel abroad with NordVPN! NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for peace of mind when you use public Wi-Fi, access personal and work accounts on the road, or want to keep your browsing history to yourself. Exclusive! Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/VBW Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul>

Episode 262: Supposing Truth is a Woman (Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil")

What’s the meaning of a work of art? Does the text mean just what the author intends it to mean? Does it matter what Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark thinks about the end of 2001? Or is the artist’s interpretation just one interpretation among many once the text is out in the world? We explore the question of authorial intent, and brace yourselves - this is just about as postmodern as David gets. Plus – do we have what it takes to get an invite to the thought criminals club?  Links  The Party is Canceled [newyorker.com] Was I Wrong About The Irishman? by Thomas Flight [youtube.com] Authorial Intent [wikipedia.org] Sponsored By:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW NordVPN: Keep your internet connection safe, and enjoy streaming services when you travel abroad with NordVPN! NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for peace of mind when you use public Wi-Fi, access personal and work accounts on the road, or want to keep your browsing history to yourself. Exclusive! Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/VBW Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Promo Code: VBW 

What’s the meaning of a work of art? Does the text mean just what the author intends it to mean? Does it matter what Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark thinks about the end of 2001? Or is the artist’s interpretation just one interpretation among many once the text is out in the world? We explore the question of authorial intent, and brace yourselves - this is just about as postmodern as David gets. Plus – do we have what it takes to get an invite to the thought criminals club?  Links <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/the-party-is-cancelled" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Party is Canceled</a> [<a href="http://newyorker.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">newyorker.com</a>] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o5WVCCONsA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Was I Wrong About The Irishman? by Thomas Flight</a> [<a href="http://youtube.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">youtube.com</a>] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorial_intent" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Authorial Intent</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>] Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> <li><a href="https://nordvpn.com/VBW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NordVPN</a>: <a href="https://nordvpn.com/VBW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keep your internet connection safe, and enjoy streaming services when you travel abroad with NordVPN! NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for peace of mind when you use public Wi-Fi, access personal and work accounts on the road, or want to keep your browsing history to yourself. Exclusive! Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/VBW Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul>

Episode 261: Death of the Author

David and Tamler take the first excursion into the work of Haruki Murakami and talk about his short story “Sleep.” A thirty-year-old woman, the wife of a dentist and mother of a young boy, has a terrifying dream and when she wakes up, she no longer needs to sleep. This isn’t insomnia, it’s something else – she has never felt so alive, strong, and awake. She can swim laps for an hour in the afternoon and read Anna Karenina with perfect concentration until dawn. What is this condition? Is it real? What does it tell us about her past, her sense of self, her alienation from friends, family, and her role? This is a banger of a story folks, check it out. Plus - if you had to say one word or sentence to distinguish yourself from an AI, what would you say? Sponsored By:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW Aura Frames: From phone to frame, enjoy all your memories with ease with Aura digital frames. Use code "VBW" at checkout for %30 off of their best-selling frames. Offer is good until May 14! (Just in time for Mother's Day shopping). Promo Code: VBW NordVPN: Keep your internet connection safe, and enjoy streaming services when you travel abroad with NordVPN! NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for peace of mind when you use public Wi-Fi, access personal and work accounts on the road, or want to keep your browsing history to yourself. Exclusive! Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/VBW Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Promo Code: VBW  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  One word Turing test The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami 

David and Tamler take the first excursion into the work of Haruki Murakami and talk about his short story “Sleep.” A thirty-year-old woman, the wife of a dentist and mother of a young boy, has a terrifying dream and when she wakes up, she no longer needs to sleep. This isn’t insomnia, it’s something else – she has never felt so alive, strong, and awake. She can swim laps for an hour in the afternoon and read Anna Karenina with perfect concentration until dawn. What is this condition? Is it real? What does it tell us about her past, her sense of self, her alienation from friends, family, and her role? This is a banger of a story folks, check it out. Plus - if you had to say one word or sentence to distinguish yourself from an AI, what would you say? Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> <li><a href="https://auraframes.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aura Frames</a>: <a href="https://auraframes.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From phone to frame, enjoy all your memories with ease with Aura digital frames. Use code "VBW" at checkout for %30 off of their best-selling frames. Offer is good until May 14! (Just in time for Mother's Day shopping).</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> <li><a href="https://nordvpn.com/VBW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NordVPN</a>: <a href="https://nordvpn.com/VBW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keep your internet connection safe, and enjoy streaming services when you travel abroad with NordVPN! NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for peace of mind when you use public Wi-Fi, access personal and work accounts on the road, or want to keep your browsing history to yourself. Exclusive! Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/VBW Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTUwMTI5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One word Turing test</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTUwMTI4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami</a></li> </ul>

Episode 260: The Scream That Never Found a Voice (Murakami's "Sleep")

Paul Bloom

The great Paul Bloom returns to the show to explore the many mysteries of Todd Field’s 2022 film “Tár.” Is it a ghost story? A movie about cancel culture and abuse of power? Guilt? Professional disappointment? The anxiety of getting old, losing touch with youth and reality? Reminds me of my freshman year at Smith… Plus – Paul gets into trouble on Twitter for saying he’s mildly pro-trigger warnings in certain cases. But is he ignoring the science??? Special Guest: Paul Bloom. Sponsored By:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Paul Bloom on Twitter: "I agree with this decision-nobody should force profs to use trigger warnings. But I'm mildly pro-TW and have used them in the past. It's often basic decency to warn people--and this includes students--before exposing them to shocking material. https://t.co/ap8gxHgsp8" / Twitter Tár - Wikipedia 

The great Paul Bloom returns to the show to explore the many mysteries of Todd Field’s 2022 film “Tár.” Is it a ghost story? A movie about cancel culture and abuse of power? Guilt? Professional disappointment? The anxiety of getting old, losing touch with youth and reality? Reminds me of my freshman year at Smith… Plus – Paul gets into trouble on Twitter for saying he’s mildly pro-trigger warnings in certain cases. But is he ignoring the science??? Special Guest: Paul Bloom. Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQ5NDk2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paul Bloom on Twitter: "I agree with this decision-nobody should force profs to use trigger warnings. But I'm mildly pro-TW and have used them in the past. It's often basic decency to warn people--and this includes students--before exposing them to shocking material. https://t.co/ap8gxHgsp8" / Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQ5NDk1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tár - Wikipedia</a></li> </ul>

Episode 259: Losing Time ("Tár" with Paul Bloom)

David and Tamler talk about William James’ chapter on mysticism from his book "Varieties of Religious Experience." What defines a mystical experience? Why do they defy expression and yet feel like a state of knowledge, a glimpse into the window of some undiscovered aspect of reality? Is Tamler right that David has a little mystic inside of him just waiting to burst forth from his breast? Plus – another edition of VBW does conceptual analysis and we’re sticking with ‘c’ words – this time the definitive theory of ‘creepy.’ Sponsored By:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  The Varieties of Religious Experience - Wikipedia The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature by William James [Project Gutenberg Free e-book] 

David and Tamler talk about William James’ chapter on mysticism from his book "Varieties of Religious Experience." What defines a mystical experience? Why do they defy expression and yet feel like a state of knowledge, a glimpse into the window of some undiscovered aspect of reality? Is Tamler right that David has a little mystic inside of him just waiting to burst forth from his breast? Plus – another edition of VBW does conceptual analysis and we’re sticking with ‘c’ words – this time the definitive theory of ‘creepy.’ Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQ4NzEx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Varieties of Religious Experience - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQ4ODQ4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature by William James [Project Gutenberg Free e-book]</a></li> </ul>

Episode 258: Mystic Peeza 

Very Bad Wizards is a podcast featuring a philosopher (Tamler Sommers) and a psychologist (David Pizarro), who share a love for ethics, pop culture, and cognitive science, and who have a marked inability to distinguish sacred from profane. Each podcast includes discussions of moral philosophy, recent work on moral psychology and neuroscience, and the overlap between the two.

I’ve been following these two for at least three years. Always look forward to new episodes.

Long time fan

I thought I was listening to PEL. I rode the red rocket until culmination and was not disappointed.

Disgustingly Satisfying

Very Bad Wizards

Dave and Tamler celebrate their 75th episode by welcoming six BFFs of the podcast and asking them to share the biggest thing they've changed their minds about in their professional careers. You'll hear Dan Ariely on our moral duty to take science into the real world, Laurie Santos on the the role of neuroscience in explaining psychological findings, Yoel Inbar on what it means to do good science as a psychologist, Eric Schwitzgebel on his metaphysical epiphany about materialism, Nina Strohminger on breaking-up with priming research, and Sam Harris on Artificial Intelligence and its perils, and his recently changed views about vegetarianism. (Sadly, we had a technical glitch with the audio when we recorded our most-frequent guest Paul Bloom, but we'll bring him on again soon.) Plus we play some hilarious mash-ups, raps, and voicemails sent in from listeners. Links to info about our Guests  Dan Ariely Laurie Santos Yoel Inbar Nina Strohminger Eric Schwitzgebel Sam Harris  Â  Listener-Created Music in this Episode  Special Guests: Dan Ariely, Eric Schwitzgebel, Laurie Santos, Nina Strohminger, Sam Harris, and Yoel Inbar. Support Very Bad Wizards

Dave and Tamler celebrate their 75th episode by welcoming six BFFs of the podcast and asking them to share the biggest thing they've changed their minds about in their professional careers. You'll hear Dan Ariely on our moral duty to take science into the real world, Laurie Santos on the the role of neuroscience in explaining psychological findings, Yoel Inbar on what it means to do good science as a psychologist, Eric Schwitzgebel on his metaphysical epiphany about materialism, Nina Strohminger on breaking-up with priming research, and Sam Harris on Artificial Intelligence and its perils, and his recently changed views about vegetarianism. (Sadly, we had a technical glitch with the audio when we recorded our most-frequent guest Paul Bloom, but we'll bring him on again soon.) Plus we play some hilarious mash-ups, raps, and voicemails sent in from listeners. Links to info about our Guests <ul> <li><a href="http://advanced-hindsight.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dan Ariely</a></li> <li><a href="http://psychology.yale.edu/people/laurie-santos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laurie Santos</a></li> <li><a href="http://yoelinbar.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yoel Inbar</a></li> <li><a href="http://ninastrohminger.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nina Strohminger</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~eschwitz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eric Schwitzgebel</a></li> <li><a href="http://samharris.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sam Harris</a></li> </ul> Â  Listener-Created Music in this Episode Special Guests: Dan Ariely, Eric Schwitzgebel, Laurie Santos, Nina Strohminger, Sam Harris, and Yoel Inbar. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 75: A Golden Shower of Guests

David and Tamler try to control their emotions (with varying success) as they go deep into Franz Kafka's masterful novella "The Metamorphosis." What kind of a story is this? A Marxist or religious allegory? A work of weird fiction? A family drama? A dark comedy? Why does a story about a man who turns into a giant insect get under our skins so much? Plus a study that links insomnia to our fear of death. What a cheerful summer episode! (Actually we're fairly proud of this one... As always we suggest reading the text before you listen or soon after). This episode brought to you by Prolific.co, and by the support of our listeners. Sponsored By:  Prolific: Just for listeners of Very Bad Wizards-get $100 added on to your account when you start an account and top it off at $250 or more!  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Life is short, stay awake: Death anxiety and bedtime procrastination. - PubMed - NCBI 2nd Annual BEworks Summit for Behavioural Science in Business The Metamorphosis - Wikipedia On Translating Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” | The New Yorker Franz Kafka - Wikipedia 

David and Tamler try to control their emotions (with varying success) as they go deep into Franz Kafka's masterful novella "The Metamorphosis." What kind of a story is this? A Marxist or religious allegory? A work of weird fiction? A family drama? A dark comedy? Why does a story about a man who turns into a giant insect get under our skins so much? Plus a study that links insomnia to our fear of death. What a cheerful summer episode! (Actually we're fairly proud of this one... As always we suggest reading the text before you listen or soon after). This episode brought to you by <a href="http://www.prolific.co/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prolific.co</a>, and by the support of our listeners. Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="http://prolific.co/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prolific</a>: <a href="http://prolific.co/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Just for listeners of Very Bad Wizards-get $100 added on to your account when you start an account and top it off at $250 or more!</a></li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NjMxNTQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Life is short, stay awake: Death anxiety and bedtime procrastination. - PubMed - NCBI</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NjM3NDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2nd Annual BEworks Summit for Behavioural Science in Business</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NjMxNTM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Metamorphosis - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NjMxNTY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On Translating Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” | The New Yorker</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NjMxNjE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Franz Kafka - Wikipedia</a></li> </ul>

Episode 169: A Bug's Life (Kafka's "The Metamorphosis")

David and Tamler talk about the perils of trying to step outside of your own perspective in ethics, science, and politics. What do Rawls' "original position" thought experiment, Pascal's Wager, and Moral Foundations Theory have in common? (Hint: it involves baking.) Plus, what movies (and other things) would serve as a litmus test when deciding on a potential life partner? What might liking or not liking a certain film, book, or TV series tell you about a person, and whether or not the relationship would work? And what sexual position is it rational to choose under the veil of ignorance? (It's a night episode...) Links  Part 1: Litmus Tests  The Bad News Bears (1976) [imdb.com] A Confederacy of Dunces [wikipedia.org] Drive [imdb.com]  Every Frame A Painting--Drive: The Quadrant System [youtube.com]   Ferris Bueller's Day Off [imdb.com] The Far Side [wikipedia.org] Frank [imdb.com] Hustle and Flow [imdb.com] Jackie Brown [imdb.com] Key and Peele [imdb.com] Miracle of Morgan's Creek [imdb.com] The Office (UK) [imdb.com] Pulp Fiction [imdb.com] Spaghetti Western [wikipedia.org]  ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement/Dubbing) [wikipedia.org]   Sullivan's Travels [imdb.com] Spellbound [imdb.com] Slapshot [imdb.com] What We Do in the Shadows [imdb.com]   Part 2:   Williams, B. (1981).  Rawls and Pascal’s Wager. Moral Luck, 94-100. [verybadwizards.com]   Moral Luck [amazon.com affiliate link]    Moral Foundations Questionnaire (30-item) [moralfoundations.org]    Support Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler talk about the perils of trying to step outside of your own perspective in ethics, science, and politics. What do Rawls' "original position" thought experiment, Pascal's Wager, and Moral Foundations Theory have in common? (Hint: it involves baking.) Plus, what movies (and other things) would serve as a litmus test when deciding on a potential life partner? What might liking or not liking a certain film, book, or TV series tell you about a person, and whether or not the relationship would work? And what sexual position is it rational to choose under the veil of ignorance? (It's a night episode...) Links <ul> <li>Part 1: Litmus Tests <ul> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074174/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bad News Bears (1976)</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confederacy_of_Dunces" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Confederacy of Dunces</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Drive</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>] <ul> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsI8UES59TM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Every Frame A Painting--Drive: The Quadrant System</a> [<a href="http://youtube.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">youtube.com</a>]</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091042/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ferris Bueller's Day Off</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Far_Side" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Far Side</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605717/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frank</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410097/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hustle and Flow</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119396/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jackie Brown</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981558/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Key and Peele</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037077/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Miracle of Morgan's Creek</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290978/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Office (UK)</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pulp Fiction</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti_Western" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spaghetti Western</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>] <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbing_(filmmaking)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement/Dubbing)</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>]</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034240/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sullivan's Travels</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0334405/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spellbound</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076723/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slapshot</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3416742/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What We Do in the Shadows</a> [<a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>]</li> </ul> </li> <li>Part 2:  <ul> <li>Williams, B. (1981). <a href="http://verybadwizards.com/s/Rawls-and-Pascals-Wager-B-Williams.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Rawls and Pascal’s Wager.</a> Moral Luck, 94-100. [<a href="http://verybadwizards.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">verybadwizards.com</a>] <ul> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521286913/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0521286913&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=verbadwiz-20&amp;linkId=G3QJCMGTQGS2MFML" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Moral Luck</a> [<a href="http://amazon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.com</a> affiliate link]</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://www.moralfoundations.org/sites/default/files/files/MFQ30.doc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Moral Foundations Questionnaire (30-item)</a> [<a href="http://moralfoundations.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moralfoundations.org</a>]</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 84: Lifting the Veil

David and Tamler dive into Sigmund Freud’s world of unconscious drives, death instincts, and thwarted incestuous urges in his classic text “Civilization and its Discontents.” If society has made so much progress, why are human beings perpetually dissatisfied? Can religion help us or is it a big part of the problem? What’s really going on when you piss on a fire to put it out? Also: how seriously should we take Freud today given some of his wackier ideas? And is he a psychologist, a philosopher, or something else entirely? Plus we select the finalists from a huge list of suggested topics for the Patreon listener-selected episode! Sponsored By:  BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Anal retentiveness - Wikipedia Anal expulsiveness - Wikipedia Psychosexual development - Wikipedia Civilization and Its Discontents - Wikipedia 

David and Tamler dive into Sigmund Freud’s world of unconscious drives, death instincts, and thwarted incestuous urges in his classic text “Civilization and its Discontents.” If society has made so much progress, why are human beings perpetually dissatisfied? Can religion help us or is it a big part of the problem? What’s really going on when you piss on a fire to put it out? Also: how seriously should we take Freud today given some of his wackier ideas? And is he a psychologist, a philosopher, or something else entirely? Plus we select the finalists from a huge list of suggested topics for the Patreon listener-selected episode! Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BetterHelp</a>: <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/vbw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw.</a> Promo Code: VBW</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODM4NTM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anal retentiveness - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODM4NTQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anal expulsiveness - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODM4NTU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Psychosexual development - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODM0MDk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Civilization and Its Discontents - Wikipedia</a></li> </ul>

Episode 189: The Anality of Evil (Freud's "Civilization and its Discontents")

David and Tamler discuss famous 'split brain' experiments pioneered by Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga. What happens when you cut off the main line of communication between the left and right hemispheres of our brain? Why under certain conditions do the the left and right brains seem like they have different abilities and desires? What does this tell us about the ‘self’? Do we have two consciousnesses, but only that can speak? Does the left brain bully the right brain? Are we all just a bundle of different consciousnesses with their own agendas? Thanks to our Patreon supporters for suggesting and voting for this fascinating topic! Plus, physicists may be able to determine whether we’re living in a computer simulation – but is it too dangerous to try to find out? Sponsored By:  GiveWell: This holiday season, open your heart to those in need, and consider donating through Givewell.org. Givewell.org is an organization that cares about finding the most effective charities in the world, so that you can make each charitable dollar work as hard as possible. And for our listeners who are first time donors, Givewell.org will match your donation (up to $1,000). Promo Code: Verybadwizards Outlier.Org: Enrich your mind and earn college credits with one of the new courses from Outlier.Org. From the co-founders of MasterClass, Outlier.Org brings you beautifully crafted and filmed courses taught by some of the top professors in the world. Spaces are limited, so sign up today for classes beginning in January 2020.  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Opinion | Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? Let’s Not Find Out - The New York Times Physicists find we’re not living in a computer simulation | Cosmos Nagel, T. (1971). Brain bisection and the unity of consciousness. /Synthese/, /22/(3), 396-413. CGP Grey video - You Are Two Split brains - Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Gazzaniga, M. S. (1995). Principles of human brain organization derived from split-brain studies. /Neuron/, /14/(2), 217-228. Split brain: divided perception but undivided consciousness | Brain | Oxford Academic Interaction in isolation: 50 years of insights from split-brain research | Brain | Oxford Academic Dennett, D. C. (2014). The self as the center of narrative gravity. In /Self and consciousness/ (pp. 111-123). Psychology Press. 

David and Tamler discuss famous 'split brain' experiments pioneered by Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga. What happens when you cut off the main line of communication between the left and right hemispheres of our brain? Why under certain conditions do the the left and right brains seem like they have different abilities and desires? What does this tell us about the ‘self’? Do we have two consciousnesses, but only that can speak? Does the left brain bully the right brain? Are we all just a bundle of different consciousnesses with their own agendas? Thanks to our Patreon supporters for suggesting and voting for this fascinating topic! Plus, physicists may be able to determine whether we’re living in a computer simulation – but is it too dangerous to try to find out? Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="http://www.givewell.org/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GiveWell</a>: <a href="http://www.givewell.org/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This holiday season, open your heart to those in need, and consider donating through Givewell.org. Givewell.org is an organization that cares about finding the most effective charities in the world, so that you can make each charitable dollar work as hard as possible. And for our listeners who are first time donors, Givewell.org will match your donation (up to $1,000).</a> Promo Code: Verybadwizards</li> <li><a href="http://www.outlier.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Outlier.Org</a>: <a href="http://www.outlier.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Enrich your mind and earn college credits with one of the new courses from Outlier.Org. From the co-founders of MasterClass, Outlier.Org brings you beautifully crafted and filmed courses taught by some of the top professors in the world. Spaces are limited, so sign up today for classes beginning in January 2020.</a></li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NjQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Opinion | Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? Let’s Not Find Out - The New York Times</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NjU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Physicists find we’re not living in a computer simulation | Cosmos</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NTk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nagel, T. (1971). Brain bisection and the unity of consciousness. /Synthese/, /22/(3), 396-413.</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NjE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CGP Grey video - You Are Two</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NjA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Split brains - Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NjM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gazzaniga, M. S. (1995). Principles of human brain organization derived from split-brain studies. /Neuron/, /14/(2), 217-228.</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA3MTk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Split brain: divided perception but undivided consciousness | Brain | Oxford Academic</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA3MjE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Interaction in isolation: 50 years of insights from split-brain research | Brain | Oxford Academic</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzA1NjI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dennett, D. C. (2014). The self as the center of narrative gravity. In /Self and consciousness/ (pp. 111-123). Psychology Press.</a></li> </ul>

Episode 176: Split-Brains and the (Dis)Unity of Consciousness

Philosophers can be funny and funny movies can be philosophical. David and Tamler welcome frequent VBW guest and arch-enemy of empathy Paul Bloom to discuss their five favorite comic films with philosophical/psychological themes. Groundhog Day was off-limits for our top five (we would've all chosen it) so we start by explaining why it's the quintessential movie for this topic. Links [all movie links are to imdb.com]  Paul's Top 5  The Big Lebowski Shaun of the Dead The Man with Two Brains/All of Me Stranger than Fiction Being There   Tamler's Top 5  Defending Your Life/Lost in America Modern Times Seven Psychopaths/In Bruges Barton Fink/Sullivan's Travels Purple Rose of Cairo   David's Top 5  Office Space Dr. Strangelove  Pinker, S. (1999). "The Doomsday Machine" in How the mind works. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 882(1), 119-127.   Brazil Trading Places  Mr. Skin   The Princess Bride    Special Guest: Paul Bloom. Support Very Bad Wizards

Philosophers can be funny and funny movies can be philosophical. David and Tamler welcome frequent VBW guest and arch-enemy of empathy Paul Bloom to discuss their five favorite comic films with philosophical/psychological themes. Groundhog Day was off-limits for our top five (we would've all chosen it) so we start by explaining why it's the quintessential movie for this topic. Links [all movie links are to <a href="http://imdb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imdb.com</a>] <ul> <li>Paul's Top 5 <ul> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Big Lebowski</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365748/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shaun of the Dead</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085894/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Man with Two Brains</a>/<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086873/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">All of Me</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stranger than Fiction</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078841/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Being There</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Tamler's Top 5 <ul> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101698/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Defending Your Life</a>/<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089504/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lost in America</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027977/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modern Times</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1931533/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seven Psychopaths</a>/<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In Bruges</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101410/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barton Fink</a>/<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034240/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sullivan's Travels</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089853/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purple Rose of Cairo</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>David's Top 5 <ul> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Office Space</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Strangelove</a> <ul> <li>Pinker, S. (1999). <a href="http://verybadwizards.com/s/Pinker-The-Doomsday-Machine.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Doomsday Machine"</a> in How the mind works. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 882(1), 119-127.</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086465/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trading Places</a> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.mrskin.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Skin</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Princess Bride</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> Special Guest: Paul Bloom. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 85: A Zoo with Only One Animal (with Paul Bloom)

David and Tamler return to the minefield of campus politics and talk about recent events at Yale, Missouri, and Amherst. Are the protests are long overdue response to systematic oppression and prejudice? Or is this new generation of students coddled, hypersensitive, and hostile to free speech? A little bit of both? Can our hosts get through this episode without fighting?    Links   The New Intolerance of Student Activism by Conor Friedersdorf [theatlantic.com]  President Peter Salovey's statement to Yale community [news.yale.edu]  2015 University of Missouri Protests [wikipedia.org] Amherst College Uprising (with list of demands) [amherstuprising.com] Vlad Chituc (@vladchituc) [vladchituc.com]    Support Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler return to the minefield of campus politics and talk about recent events at Yale, Missouri, and Amherst. Are the protests are long overdue response to systematic oppression and prejudice? Or is this new generation of students coddled, hypersensitive, and hostile to free speech? A little bit of both? Can our hosts get through this episode without fighting?    Links <ul> <li><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/the-new-intolerance-of-student-activism-at-yale/414810/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The New Intolerance of Student Activism</a> by Conor Friedersdorf [<a href="http://theatlantic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">theatlantic.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://news.yale.edu/2015/11/17/statement-president-salovey-toward-better-yale" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> President Peter Salovey's statement to Yale community</a> [<a href="http://news.yale.edu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">news.yale.edu</a>]</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_University_of_Missouri_protests" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 2015 University of Missouri Protests</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://amherstuprising.com/demands.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amherst College Uprising (with list of demands)</a> [<a href="http://amherstuprising.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amherstuprising.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://vladchituc.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vlad Chituc</a> (@vladchituc) [<a href="http://vladchituc.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vladchituc.com</a>]</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 78: Wizards Uprising

Yoel Inbar

Hello, listener. Hello, listener? That's lame. Maybe I should give you a name, but that's a slippery slope. You're only in my head. Or maybe we're in your head. Are you listening to this with headphones? Shit. It's actually happened, I'm talking to imaginary listeners.   What I'm about to tell you is top secret, a conspiracy bigger than all of us. There's a powerful group of people out there that are secretly running the world. I'm talking about the guys no one knows about, the guys that are invisible. The top 1% of the top 1%, the guys that play God without permission. That's right, it's the Partially Examined Life guys. And now I think they're following me. Special guest Yoel Inbar joins us to talk about the best show of last year. Warning: This episode is full of spoilers. Do not listen until you've seen Season 1 of Mr. Robot. Links  Mr. Robot   IMDB Wikipedia    Special Guest: Yoel Inbar. Support Very Bad Wizards

Hello, listener. Hello, listener? That's lame. Maybe I should give you a name, but that's a slippery slope. You're only in my head. Or maybe we're in your head. Are you listening to this with headphones? Shit. It's actually happened, I'm talking to imaginary listeners.   What I'm about to tell you is top secret, a conspiracy bigger than all of us. There's a powerful group of people out there that are secretly running the world. I'm talking about the guys no one knows about, the guys that are invisible. The top 1% of the top 1%, the guys that play God without permission. That's right, it's the Partially Examined Life guys. And now I think they're following me. Special guest Yoel Inbar joins us to talk about the best show of last year. Warning: This episode is full of spoilers. Do not listen until you've seen Season 1 of Mr. Robot. Links <ul> <li>Mr. Robot  <ul> <li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4158110/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IMDB</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Robot_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> Special Guest: Yoel Inbar. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 81: Domo Arigato, Mr. Robot (With Yoel Inbar)

David and Tamler take a break from moral grandstanding to talk about moral grandstanding. How often do we moralize to make us look respectable? Does grandstanding make us more cynical about ethical debates? Does it contribute to outrage exhaustion and increased polarization? Most importantly, who does it more, David or Tamler? Plus: some of our favorite answers to this year's Edge.org question. (You can read the paper by Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke on the links page.) Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  What Scientific Term or Concept Ought to Be More Widely Known? | Edge.org Edge.org - Brian Eno "The Confirmation Bias" Edge.org - Daniel Rockmore "The Trolley Problem" Edge.org - Michael Gazzaniga "The Schnitt" Edge.org - Sean Carroll "Bayes' Theorem" Edge.org - Lisa Randall "Effective Theory" Tosi, J., &amp; Warmke, B. (2016). Moral Grandstanding. [full text preprint] Gross Anatomy: In This Political Climate, When Are We Right to Feel Disgusted? | News &amp; City Life | Houstonia Minson, J. A., &amp; Monin, B. (2012). Do-gooder derogation disparaging morally motivated minorities to defuse anticipated reproach. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(2), 200-207. Acknowledgement of Traditional Aboriginal Territory in British Columbia | Safe Harbour - Respect for All Leave Britney Alone (Complete) Newman, G. E., &amp; Cain, D. M. (2014). Tainted Altruism When Doing Some Good Is Evaluated as Worse Than Doing No Good at All. Psychological science, 25(3), 648-655. 

David and Tamler take a break from moral grandstanding to talk about moral grandstanding. How often do we moralize to make us look respectable? Does grandstanding make us more cynical about ethical debates? Does it contribute to outrage exhaustion and increased polarization? Most importantly, who does it more, David or Tamler? Plus: some of our favorite answers to this year's <a href="http://Edge.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edge.org</a> question. (You can read the paper by Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke on the links page.) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxNw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Scientific Term or Concept Ought to Be More Widely Known? | Edge.org</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkwOA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edge.org - Brian Eno "The Confirmation Bias"</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkwOQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edge.org - Daniel Rockmore "The Trolley Problem"</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxMA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edge.org - Michael Gazzaniga "The Schnitt"</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxMQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edge.org - Sean Carroll "Bayes' Theorem"</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxMg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edge.org - Lisa Randall "Effective Theory"</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxMw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tosi, J., &amp; Warmke, B. (2016). Moral Grandstanding. [full text preprint]</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxNQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gross Anatomy: In This Political Climate, When Are We Right to Feel Disgusted? | News &amp; City Life | Houstonia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxNA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Minson, J. A., &amp; Monin, B. (2012). Do-gooder derogation disparaging morally motivated minorities to defuse anticipated reproach. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(2), 200-207.</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MjAzOA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Acknowledgement of Traditional Aboriginal Territory in British Columbia | Safe Harbour - Respect for All</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MjAzNw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leave Britney Alone (Complete)</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTkxNg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Newman, G. E., &amp; Cain, D. M. (2014). Tainted Altruism When Doing Some Good Is Evaluated as Worse Than Doing No Good at All. Psychological science, 25(3), 648-655.</a></li> </ul>

Episode 106: American Grandstand

Eleventh Century Japan. A samurai and his wife are walking through the forest and come across a bandit. The bandit attacks the samurai and has sex with/rapes his wife. A woodcutter finds the samurai, stabbed to death. Who killed the samurai and with what? What role did his wife play in his death? Kurosawa gives us four perspectives, told in flashbacks within flashbacks. Who’s telling the truth? Is anyone? Can we ever know what really happened? A simple story on the surface becomes a meditation on epistemological despair. Plus, your lizard brain is out to get you and you only have 90 seconds to stop it! Sponsored By:  Prolific: Prolific is giving away $50 to VBW listeners who want to give online sampling a go! Whether you’re a social scientist doing research, part of a marketing group, or even a high school student interested in doing a social science project, prolific can offer you fast, reliable, quality data to answer your research questions. Promo Code: verybadwizards GiveWell: Givewell searches for the charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar. Consider a donation this holiday season--your dollar goes a lot further than you might think! Promo Code: verybadwizards  Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  When Your Lizard Brain Burns You Out And Short-Circuits Your Career Triune brain - Wikipedia Cesario, J., Johnson, D. J., &amp; Eisthen, H. (2019). Your Brain Is Not an Onion with a Tiny Reptile Inside. David talks Watchmen on the Pretty Much Pop Podcast Tamler Sommers Talks Honor on Stoa Podcast Rashomon - Wikipedia Rashomon (1950) | The Criterion Collection Rashomon | The Current | The Criterion Collection Rashomon Analysis - Rashomon's Problem with Truth | Topic Every Frame A Painting: The Bad Sleep Well (1960) - The Geometry of a Scene - YouTube Akira Kurosawa - Composing Movement 

Eleventh Century Japan. A samurai and his wife are walking through the forest and come across a bandit. The bandit attacks the samurai and has sex with/rapes his wife. A woodcutter finds the samurai, stabbed to death. Who killed the samurai and with what? What role did his wife play in his death? Kurosawa gives us four perspectives, told in flashbacks within flashbacks. Who’s telling the truth? Is anyone? Can we ever know what really happened? A simple story on the surface becomes a meditation on epistemological despair. Plus, your lizard brain is out to get you and you only have 90 seconds to stop it! Sponsored By: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.prolific.co/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prolific</a>: <a href="https://www.prolific.co/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prolific is giving away $50 to VBW listeners who want to give online sampling a go! Whether you’re a social scientist doing research, part of a marketing group, or even a high school student interested in doing a social science project, prolific can offer you fast, reliable, quality data to answer your research questions.</a> Promo Code: verybadwizards</li> <li><a href="http://www.givewell.org/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GiveWell</a>: <a href="http://www.givewell.org/verybadwizards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Givewell searches for the charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar. Consider a donation this holiday season--your dollar goes a lot further than you might think!</a> Promo Code: verybadwizards</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3MzM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When Your Lizard Brain Burns You Out And Short-Circuits Your Career</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3NDM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Triune brain - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3NDU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cesario, J., Johnson, D. J., &amp; Eisthen, H. (2019). Your Brain Is Not an Onion with a Tiny Reptile Inside.</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3NDY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David talks Watchmen on the Pretty Much Pop Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ5NTg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tamler Sommers Talks Honor on Stoa Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3MzA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rashomon - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3MzE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rashomon (1950) | The Criterion Collection</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3MzI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rashomon | The Current | The Criterion Collection</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3MzQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rashomon Analysis - Rashomon's Problem with Truth | Topic</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3MzU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Every Frame A Painting: The Bad Sleep Well (1960) - The Geometry of a Scene - YouTube</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NzQ3NDc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Akira Kurosawa - Composing Movement</a></li> </ul>

Episode 180: Chekhov's Schrödinger's Dagger (Kurosawa's "Rashomon")

With a global pandemic and a collapsing economy upon us, it's time to ask ourselves some tough questions. Sex robots or platonic love robots - what are you more excited for? If you walked in on your partner with one of them, which would make you more jealous? Are you male or female? Can evolutionary psychology explain sex-linked preferences for sensitive, empathetic Alexas? We then dive into the shadowy echo-filled streets of post-war Vienna - and talk about one of our favorite movies, a true noir classic: The Third Man. Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Frontiers | Friends, Lovers or Nothing: Men and Women Differ in Their Perceptions of Sex Robots and Platonic Love Robots | Psychology Break Music: Framed Your Eyes by peez The Third Man - Wikipedia Allied-occupied Austria - Wikipedia Dutch angle - Wikipedia 

With a global pandemic and a collapsing economy upon us, it's time to ask ourselves some tough questions. Sex robots or platonic love robots - what are you more excited for? If you walked in on your partner with one of them, which would make you more jealous? Are you male or female? Can evolutionary psychology explain sex-linked preferences for sensitive, empathetic Alexas? We then dive into the shadowy echo-filled streets of post-war Vienna - and talk about one of our favorite movies, a true noir classic: The Third Man. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODA5MDY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frontiers | Friends, Lovers or Nothing: Men and Women Differ in Their Perceptions of Sex Robots and Platonic Love Robots | Psychology</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODE1NTQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Break Music: Framed Your Eyes by peez</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODA5MDc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Third Man - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODA5MDg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Allied-occupied Austria - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/ODA5MDk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dutch angle - Wikipedia</a></li> </ul>

Episode 187: More Zither 

Tamler and Dave discuss recent work in philosophy and psychology about the differences in moral values and practices across cultures. We talk about the implications of moral diversity: does  it mean that we cannot criticize that practices of other cultures? How should we regard moral disagreement? Are there objective “truths” in ethics? Somehow we need to play clips from The Big Lebowski and Pulp Fiction in order to resolve these questions. Links "No Donnie, these men are nihilists, nothing to be afraid of." Interview with Jon Haidt. "Pigs are filthy animals" Support Very Bad Wizards

Tamler and Dave discuss recent work in philosophy and psychology about the differences in moral values and practices across cultures. We talk about the implications of moral diversity: does  it mean that we cannot criticize that practices of other cultures? How should we regard moral disagreement? Are there objective “truths” in ethics? Somehow we need to play clips from The Big Lebowski and Pulp Fiction in order to resolve these questions. Links <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AEMiz6rcxc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"No Donnie, these men are nihilists, nothing to be afraid of."</a> <a href="http://www.believermag.com/issues/200508/?read=interview_haidt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Interview with Jon Haidt.</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_Tl1kvlQU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Pigs are filthy animals"</a> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 3: "We believe in nothing!" (Cultural diversity, relativism, and moral truth)

Award-winning screenwriter and medieval philosophy scholar Yoel Inbar joins us for a deep dive on the Charlie Kaufman/Michel GondREY masterpiece Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When relationships go bad is it better to believe they never happened? What is the nature of memory, how is it constructed, and is it possible to zap them out existence with an Apple IIe? Will Tamler have a more optimistic take on the ending of the movie than David? (Hint: yes) Also--only two more weeks to preorder Why Honor Matters and get your free bonus episode! Upload your receipt here Special Guest: Yoel Inbar. Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Yoel Inbar Michel Gondry - IMDb Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - IMDb Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Movie Review (2004) | Roger Ebert The Science of Sleep (2006) - IMDb Be Kind Rewind (2008) - IMDb Jay Electronica - Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) (Full 15-minute version) - YouTube 

Award-winning screenwriter and medieval philosophy scholar Yoel Inbar joins us for a deep dive on the Charlie Kaufman/Michel GondREY masterpiece Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When relationships go bad is it better to believe they never happened? What is the nature of memory, how is it constructed, and is it possible to zap them out existence with an Apple IIe? Will Tamler have a more optimistic take on the ending of the movie than David? (Hint: yes) Also--only two more weeks to preorder Why Honor Matters and get your free bonus episode! <a href="https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/tamler-sommers/why-honor-matters/9780465098873/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Upload your receipt here</a> Special Guest: Yoel Inbar. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MzA3MDg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yoel Inbar</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MzA3MDI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michel Gondry - IMDb</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/Mjk4Mzk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - IMDb</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/Mjk4NDA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Movie Review (2004) | Roger Ebert</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MzA3MDE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Science of Sleep (2006) - IMDb</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MzA3MDM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Be Kind Rewind (2008) - IMDb</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MzA3MDc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jay Electronica - Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) (Full 15-minute version) - YouTube</a></li> </ul>

Episode 138: Memory, Pain, and Relationships (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

David and Tamler dive into the book of Ecclesiastes, an absurdist classic that is somehow also a book of the Bible. Is everything meaningless, vain, and a chasing after the wind? Are humans just the same as animals? Are wise people no better off than fools? Will God judge us after we die, rewarding the good people and punishing the shit-heels? What if there is no afterlife and this is all we get? How should we deal with our pointless, unjust existence? Plus we return to our opening-segment bible— Aeon—and talk about an argument for replacing jealousy with...wait for it…compersion. Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Love without jealousy: consider the benefits of compersion | Aeon Essays Break Music: Back From Salina | SoundCloud Just to say thanks to the wizards : VeryBadWizards Ecclesiastes - Wikipedia Ecclesiastes 1 NIV - Everything Is Meaningless - The words - Bible Gateway 

David and Tamler dive into the book of Ecclesiastes, an absurdist classic that is somehow also a book of the Bible. Is everything meaningless, vain, and a chasing after the wind? Are humans just the same as animals? Are wise people no better off than fools? Will God judge us after we die, rewarding the good people and punishing the shit-heels? What if there is no afterlife and this is all we get? How should we deal with our pointless, unjust existence? Plus we return to our opening-segment bible— Aeon—and talk about an argument for replacing jealousy with...wait for it…compersion. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NTM1NjY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Love without jealousy: consider the benefits of compersion | Aeon Essays</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NTQxNzc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Break Music: Back From Salina | SoundCloud</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NTM2NDA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Just to say thanks to the wizards : VeryBadWizards</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NTM1Njc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/NTM1NjU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 1 NIV - Everything Is Meaningless - The words - Bible Gateway</a></li> </ul>

Episode 160: Everything is Meaningless: The Book of Ecclesiastes

David and Tamler have their first real fight in a while over an article defending "social mixing"--distributing babies randomly across families such that no infant is genetically related to the parents who raise them.. Then they discuss a study published in Science in 2013 in which participants could earn money if they agreed to let mice be killed in a gas chamber.  Do free markets threaten our moral characters and cause us to abandon our principles? What are mechanisms behind this phenomenon when it happens? And why does David hate mice so much? Episode Links  Maus by Art Spiegelman [wikipedia.org]  If babies were randomly allocated to families, would racism end? by Howard Rachlin and Melvin Frankel [aeon.co] Falk, A., &amp; Szech, N. (2013). Morals and markets. Science, 340, 707-711. [sciencemag.org]  .pdf available here [gtcenter.org]    Support Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler have their first real fight in a while over an article defending "social mixing"--distributing babies randomly across families such that no infant is genetically related to the parents who raise them.. Then they discuss a study published in Science in 2013 in which participants could earn money if they agreed to let mice be killed in a gas chamber.  Do free markets threaten our moral characters and cause us to abandon our principles? What are mechanisms behind this phenomenon when it happens? And why does David hate mice so much? Episode Links <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maus by Art Spiegelman</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>]</li> <li><a href="https://aeon.co/ideas/if-babies-were-randomly-allocated-to-families-would-racism-end" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> If babies were randomly allocated to families, would racism end?</a> by Howard Rachlin and Melvin Frankel [<a href="http://aeon.co" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">aeon.co</a>]</li> <li>Falk, A., &amp; Szech, N. (2013). <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/340/6133/707" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Morals and markets.</a> Science, 340, 707-711. [<a href="http://sciencemag.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sciencemag.org</a>] <ul> <li>.pdf available <a href="http://www.gtcenter.org/Archive/2013/Conf/Szech1612.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> [<a href="http://gtcenter.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gtcenter.org</a>]</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 90: Of Mice and Morals

David and Tamler do their best to talk frankly about intelligence and IQ research. (It's our Patreon listener-selected topic! We probably would never have chosen this one on our own...). Is intelligence a meaningful, definable concept? Can we reliably test for it? How much of the variability in IQ across individuals is due to heritable factors? Are people with higher IQ happier, wealthier, or healthier than people with lower IQ? And why is this topic so controversial anyhow? Plus in the intro segment Tamler and David discuss why you probably don't need fMRI to know what your dog wants, and why cognitive neuroscience seems to confuse otherwise intelligent folks. (Note: This is Part 1 of our discussion on intelligence. In Part 2 will delve into the slightly more controversial topics of IQ, race, and gender). Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  What Does Your Dog Really Want? - Scientific American Blog Network A Very Bad Wizard: Morality behind the curtain by Tamler Sommers [amazon.com affiliate link] — David does the links, so it's him telling you to support Tamler and buy his book! The Simpsons - Crayon in Homer's brain - YouTube Ritchie, S. (2015). Intelligence: All that matters. Hodder &amp; Stoughton. [amazon.com affiliate link] — Stuart Ritchie's very well-written primer on intelligence. Accessible to a wide audience, but with all the nuance you'd expect from a clear-thinking academic. It's also a very quick read. Stuart Ritchie (@StuartJRitchie) | Twitter Stuart Ritchie | The University of Edinburgh 

David and Tamler do their best to talk frankly about intelligence and IQ research. (It's our Patreon listener-selected topic! We probably would never have chosen this one on our own...). Is intelligence a meaningful, definable concept? Can we reliably test for it? How much of the variability in IQ across individuals is due to heritable factors? Are people with higher IQ happier, wealthier, or healthier than people with lower IQ? And why is this topic so controversial anyhow? Plus in the intro segment Tamler and David discuss why you probably don't need fMRI to know what your dog wants, and why cognitive neuroscience seems to confuse otherwise intelligent folks. (Note: This is Part 1 of our discussion on intelligence. In Part 2 will delve into the slightly more controversial topics of IQ, race, and gender). <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQwODY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Does Your Dog Really Want? - Scientific American Blog Network</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQzOTY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Very Bad Wizard: Morality behind the curtain by Tamler Sommers [amazon.com affiliate link]</a> — David does the links, so it's him telling you to support Tamler and buy his book!</li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQxNDA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Simpsons - Crayon in Homer's brain - YouTube</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQxMzk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ritchie, S. (2015). Intelligence: All that matters. Hodder &amp; Stoughton. [amazon.com affiliate link]</a> — Stuart Ritchie's very well-written primer on intelligence. Accessible to a wide audience, but with all the nuance you'd expect from a clear-thinking academic. It's also a very quick read.</li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQyODk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuart Ritchie (@StuartJRitchie) | Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTQyOTA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuart Ritchie | The University of Edinburgh</a></li> </ul>

Episode 122: Nothing but a "G" Thing (Intelligence Pt. 1)

What happens when we discover why we believe the things we believe? What if we discover that our values are the product of our cultural tradition, or personal experience, or natural selection? Should we be more skeptical of our values once we learn their history? Plus, data on Google porn searches reveal that you're all a bunch of sick fucks. Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Proof that Americans are lying about their sexual desires - Vox Doris, J. M. (2009). Genealogy and Evidence: Prinz on the History of Morals. Kahane, G. (2011). Evolutionary debunking arguments. Noûs, 45(1), 103-125. The Splintered Mind: Tamler Sommers Break Music: Everything Is Wrong by peez 

What happens when we discover why we believe the things we believe? What if we discover that our values are the product of our cultural tradition, or personal experience, or natural selection? Should we be more skeptical of our values once we learn their history? Plus, data on Google porn searches reveal that you're all a bunch of sick fucks. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTEyNzU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Proof that Americans are lying about their sexual desires - Vox</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTEyNzc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Doris, J. M. (2009). Genealogy and Evidence: Prinz on the History of Morals.</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTEyNzY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kahane, G. (2011). Evolutionary debunking arguments. Noûs, 45(1), 103-125.</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTE1NDI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Splintered Mind: Tamler Sommers</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTE1NDY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Break Music: Everything Is Wrong by peez</a></li> </ul>

Episode 119: A Brief History of Values

We try (with varying success) to wrap our heads around Thomas Nagel’s classic article “What is it Like to be a Bat?" Does science have the tools to give us a theory of consciousness or is that project doomed from the outset? Why do reductionist or functionalist explanations seem so unsatisfying? Is the problem that consciousness is subjective, or is it something about the nature of conscious experience itself? Is this ultimately an epistemological or metaphysical question? What are we talking about? Do we even know anymore? Plus, the return of Mr. Robot! We talk about the big new mystery at the heart of the new season. Support Very Bad Wizards Links:  Mr. Robot - Season 4 - IMDb Nagel, T. (1974). What is it like to be a bat? The Philosophical Review, 83, 435-450. [pdf] What Is it Like to Be a Bat? - Wikipedia Mortal Questions by Thomas Nagel 

We try (with varying success) to wrap our heads around Thomas Nagel’s classic article “What is it Like to be a Bat?" Does science have the tools to give us a theory of consciousness or is that project doomed from the outset? Why do reductionist or functionalist explanations seem so unsatisfying? Is the problem that consciousness is subjective, or is it something about the nature of conscious experience itself? Is this ultimately an epistemological or metaphysical question? What are we talking about? Do we even know anymore? Plus, the return of Mr. Robot! We talk about the big new mystery at the heart of the new season. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a> Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/Njk3NzY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Robot - Season 4 - IMDb</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/Njk3Nzc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nagel, T. (1974). What is it like to be a bat? The Philosophical Review, 83, 435-450. [pdf]</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/Njk3NzQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Is it Like to Be a Bat? - Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://click.fireside.fm/e/Njk3NzU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mortal Questions by Thomas Nagel</a></li> </ul>

Episode 175: At Least We Didn’t Talk About Zombies (Nagel’s “What is it Like to be a Bat?”) 

Dave and Tamler don’t agree about much, but one thing they do share is an affinity for character-based approaches to ethics. Using Tamler’s interview with Georgetown Philosopher Nancy Sherman as their guide (link to chapter included), they discuss two ancient perspectives on how to develop good character and live happy, virtuous lives: Aristotle's and that of the Stoics. Why did Aristotle focus so much on friendship and what happens when those friendships get too "watery"? Are emotions crucial for developing virtues or are they “so much mist on the windshield?” Are the stoics right that we shouldn’t get attached to things that are beyond our control? Plus, a new Twitter account has David and Tamler polishing their CVs, and a request for listener suggestions for our 100th episode.  Note: We recorded this episode after the police shootings in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis but before the shootings of the police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. We talk a bit about the violence, but not about what happened after Minneapolis. Links  Very Bad Wizards No Context (@vbw_no_context) Effective altruism [wikipedia.org] Nancy Sherman Homepage [nanycsherman.com] Nancy Sherman "Navigating our Moral World." In Sommers, T. (2016). A Very Bad Wizard: Morality behind the curtain. Routledge. [verybadwizards.com]  Support Very Bad Wizards

Dave and Tamler don’t agree about much, but one thing they do share is an affinity for character-based approaches to ethics. Using Tamler’s interview with Georgetown Philosopher Nancy Sherman as their guide (link to chapter included), they discuss two ancient perspectives on how to develop good character and live happy, virtuous lives: Aristotle's and that of the Stoics. Why did Aristotle focus so much on friendship and what happens when those friendships get too "watery"? Are emotions crucial for developing virtues or are they “so much mist on the windshield?” Are the stoics right that we shouldn’t get attached to things that are beyond our control? Plus, a new Twitter account has David and Tamler polishing their CVs, and a request for listener suggestions for our 100th episode. Note: We recorded this episode after the police shootings in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis but before the shootings of the police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. We talk a bit about the violence, but not about what happened after Minneapolis. Links <ul> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/VBW_No_Context" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Very Bad Wizards No Context</a> (@vbw_no_context)</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_altruism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Effective altruism</a> [<a href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://nancysherman.com/author.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nancy Sherman Homepage</a> [<a href="http://nanycsherman.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nanycsherman.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://verybadwizards.com/s/Chapter-5-final-Sherman.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nancy Sherman "Navigating our Moral World."</a> In Sommers, T. (2016). A Very Bad Wizard: Morality behind the curtain. Routledge. [<a href="http://verybadwizards.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">verybadwizards.com</a>]</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 94: Buttery Friendships

Inspired by a recent ProPublica report on racial bias in an algorithm used to predict future criminal behavior, David and Tamler talk about the use of analytic methods in criminal sentencing, sports, and love. Should we use algorithms to influence decisions about criminal sentencing or parole decisions? Should couples about to get married take a test that predicts their likelihood of getting divorced? Is there something inherently racist about analytic methods in sports? Plus, David asks Tamler some questions about the newly released second edition of his book A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain. Links   Machine Bias by Julia Angwin, Jeff Larson, Surya Mattu and Lauren Kirchner [propublica.org]  Mission Impossible: African-Americans &amp; Analytics by Michael Wilbon [theundefeated.com] A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain [amazon.com affiliate link to the Kindle version of 2nd edition. Eight new interviews. And an all-new foreword by Peez.]   Paperback version of the 2nd edition (currently only available on the publisher's website) [routledge.com]    Support Very Bad Wizards

Inspired by a recent ProPublica report on racial bias in an algorithm used to predict future criminal behavior, David and Tamler talk about the use of analytic methods in criminal sentencing, sports, and love. Should we use algorithms to influence decisions about criminal sentencing or parole decisions? Should couples about to get married take a test that predicts their likelihood of getting divorced? Is there something inherently racist about analytic methods in sports? Plus, David asks Tamler some questions about the newly released second edition of his book <a href="http://amzn.to/1t6JDEn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain.</a> Links <ul> <li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Machine Bias</a> by Julia Angwin, Jeff Larson, Surya Mattu and Lauren Kirchner [<a href="http://propublica.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">propublica.org</a>]</li> <li><a href="https://theundefeated.com/features/mission-impossible-african-americans-analytics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mission Impossible: African-Americans &amp; Analytics</a> by Michael Wilbon [<a href="http://theundefeated.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">theundefeated.com</a>]</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/1t6JDEn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain</a> [<a href="http://amazon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.com</a> affiliate link to the Kindle version of 2nd edition. Eight new interviews. And an all-new foreword by Peez.] <ul> <li><a href="https://www.routledge.com/A-Very-Bad-Wizard-Morality-Behind-the-Curtain-2nd-Edition/Sommers/p/book/9780415858793" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Paperback version of the 2nd edition</a> (currently only available on the publisher's website) [<a href="http://routledge.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">routledge.com</a>]</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/verybadwizards" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Very Bad Wizards</a>

Episode 91: Rage Against the Machines

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