Tomás Bogardus joins to discuss his book "The Nature of the Sexes" and argues for a reproductive-functional account of biological sex. According to Bogardus, males and females are defined by the reproductive function their bodies are structured to perform: producing sperm or eggs. Even when that function is not realized and no sperm or eggs are produced, a person’s sex remains the same, because it is grounded in biological organization. To defend this view, Bogardus considers intersex and DSD cases, critiques contextualist accounts that treat sex as domain-dependent, and argues for a unified meaning of “male” and “female.” The conversation later turns to whether sex is essential or changeable, as well as debates about pronouns, sports, and medical interventions for minors.

[00:00] Introduction to the Debate on Sex

[00:23] The Delivery Room Thought Experiment: "It’s a Boy/Girl"

[02:04] Sex as Reproductive Function

[07:41 ]Gametes, Competitor Theories, and the Non-Producers Objection

[11:29] Intersex & DSD Cases

[19:23] Contextualism and Cluster Concepts: Sex in Sports, Bathrooms, Dating?

[26:23] Conjunction Reduction & Animal Examples: Rooster vs Crocodile

[30:24] One Unified Meaning of Sex Terms

[32:06] Are ‘Man’ and ‘Woman’ Social Roles or Biological Sexes?

[37:15] Is Sex Essential or Contingent? Souls, Brains, and Hylomorphism

[42:23] Surgery and Embryo Gene Editing

[47:15] Fairness in Sports/Prisons

[54:38] Should Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Minors Be Criminalized?

[01:04:09] Conclusion

Read "The Nature of the Sexes: Why Biology Matters": https://www.routledge.com/The-Nature-of-the-Sexes-Why-Biology-Matters/Bogardus/p/book/9781041029533

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Brain in a Vat is back from hiatus with a deep dive into the philosophy of religion. Stephen Kershnar and Nathan Bray join us to ask whether God can be morally responsible and whether worship makes sense if God could not have done otherwise.

The discussion begins with a thought experiment about gratitude and worship. If worship expresses praise for morally responsible action, can a perfectly good God deserve it at all? Kershnar and Bray argue that divine perfection may undermine responsibility rather than secure it.

From there, Kershnar and Bray explore compulsion, omnibenevolence, and free will. Along the way, we discuss moral saints, chess computers, Frankfurt-style cases, Patty Hearst, and the costs these arguments impose on traditional theism.

We would love to hear your thoughts. Is worship grounded in gratitude, awe, or something else entirely? And does God need moral responsibility to be worthy of it?

[00:00] Welcome Back to Brain in a Vat

[00:45] Thought Experiment: Worship and Gratitude

[02:59] The Compulsion Argument

[05:04] The Role of Awe in Worship

[13:21] Maximizing Goodness and Divine Discretion

[20:26] The Problem of Evil and Divine Psychology

[33:33] Exploring Patty Hearst's Psychology

[40:19] The Nature of God's Perfection

[46:57] Philosophical Debates on God's Existence

[01:03:49] Concluding Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Brad Duchaine from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at Dartmouth discusses prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) – a condition where individuals see distorted faces.

The episode explores various manifestations of PMO, including seeing demonic features, dragons, or entirely different faces, and distinguishes it from prosopagnosia (face blindness). It delves into the neurological basis of PMO, touching upon structural and functional differences in the brains of those affected.

We discuss the significant impact PMO and prosopagnosia have on individuals' social interactions and quality of life, as well as potential management techniques such as using glasses or colored lights to reduce distortions.

Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction and Guest Presentation

[00:20] Exploring the Case of Face Distortion

[03:19] Understanding the Nature of Distortions

[05:49] Comparing Prosopagnosia and PMO

[07:17] The Role of Visual System in Face Recognition

[10:01] Impact of Face Recognition on Social Interactions

[14:16] The Spectrum of Face Recognition Abilities

[16:20] The Role of AI and Hallucinations in Face Recognition

[23:48] Understanding the Diagnosis of Face Recognition Disorders

[30:20] Understanding Prosopagnosia: Prevalence and Characteristics

[31:59] The Mystery of PMO: Prevalence and Need for More Research

[32:46] Exploring the Impact of Prosopagnosia and PMO on Social and Sexual Relationships

[33:23] The Intersection of PMO and Other Psychiatric Conditions

[37:03] The Struggles and Challenges of Living with Prosopagnosia and PMO

[41:02] Potential Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for PMO

[51:22] The Neurological Basis of PMO and Prosopagnosia

[54:51] Testing and Characterizing PMO: A Deep Dive into Research Methods

[59:54] Understanding the Perception and Processing of Faces in PMO

When is death preferable to living? Are there fates worse than death? And what sort of future society should we build?

Lionel Shriver discusses her latest novel, Should We Stay or Should We Go.

Should you be required to get a parental license from the State before you can raise your own children? Do the wishes of parents matter at all – or should we only care about the best interests of their children?

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, we step outside our usual format to interview Miles Spencer, founder of Reflekta — a company using cutting-edge AI to recreate digital reflections of loved ones who’ve passed away.

Miles shares his personal journey of using Reflekta to reconnect with his late father and explains how the system blends voice recordings, photos, and written biographies to create realistic digital personas. The discussion covers the emotional impact, ethical questions, and philosophical issues raised by this technology, from preserving family memories to reviving historical or fictional figures.

We also consider what it means to build a living legacy in the age of AI, and how this might change the way we understand grief, identity, and memory.

Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction

[00:15] Meet Miles Spencer, Founder of Reflector AI

[03:07] How the Technology Works

[07:12] Philosophical Implications of Digital Afterlife

[15:29] Living Legacies and Ethical Boundaries

[23:12] Historical and Public Figures

[26:33] Family, Memory, and AI Elders

[33:17] Reflections on “The Rehearsal” and Reality

[42:31] Future Implications

[47:54] Legacy, Spirit, and the Human Story

[51:21] Closing Thoughts

Is it permissible for members of one group to appropriate the cultural practices of another? Is there anything wrong with cultural appropriation at all, or are there benefits to cultural appropriation?

How did the Aztecs understand life, morality, and human purpose? What can Aztec philosophy teach us about living well?

Sebastian Purcell guides us through Aztec thought, beginning with a thought experiment from Homer’s Odyssey and moving into the core ideas of Aztec wisdom.

Along the way, he contrasts Aztec ethics with Western traditions and applies them to modern debates on morality, from sex and meat consumption to life’s ultimate purpose. The conversation also takes on difficult topics like human sacrifice and sexual norms, showing how Aztec thought continues to challenge and enrich philosophy today.

Chapters:

[00:32] Odysseus and the Genie: A Thought Experiment

[04:40] The Concept of Rootedness

[08:17] Aztec Obligations and the Good Life

[19:12] Shared Agency and Virtue

[27:51] The Challenge of Community Bubbles

[28:58] Aztec Views on Community and Travel

[32:44] Human Sacrifice: Myth or Reality?

[48:51] Aztec Moral Framework and Applied Ethics

[53:03] Sexual Ethics in Aztec Society

[57:06] Conclusion and Final Thoughts