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Majesty of Reason Philosophy Podcast

Majesty of Reason Philosophy Podcast

By Majesty of Reason

A podcast that explains, analyzes, and evaluates philosophical issues. Buckle up for philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and philosophy of time.
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Is Moral Realism the Common Sense View? with Lance Bush

Majesty of Reason Philosophy PodcastFeb 27, 2024
00:00
01:51:35
Pascal's Wager: A Crash Course

Pascal's Wager: A Crash Course

Are you rationally required to believe in God? Let's find out...Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:18 Expected Utility Theory7:17 Pascal’s Wager14:48 Pascal’s Wager14:58 Doxastic involuntarism19:53 Self-interest objection21:28 Many gods objection27:17 Fanaticism objection37:23 Mixed strategies objection40:38 Other Pascalian wagers42:14 ConclusionLINKS(1) Al Hajek and Liz Jackson, "Pascalian Expectations and Explorations": https://philpapers.org/archive/HAJPEA.pdf(2) My video with Liz and Al on Pascal's Wager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeSICId7Yhw(3) Some of Liz' Jackson's papers on Pascal's wager: (i) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACFTP-2 (ii) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACAPD-9 (iii) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACSPW(4) Some of Al Hajek's papers on Pascal's wager: (i) https://philpapers.org/rec/HJEWWO (ii) https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/(5) An earlier video I made with Liz on Pascal's Wager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qTC7OZB_1A(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(7) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Dec 21, 202543:09
The SECRET SAUCE for publishing in philosophy

The SECRET SAUCE for publishing in philosophy

How do you publish philosophy papers? Here you learn all the tricks of the trade.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro and Outline0:30 Preliminaries and pro-tips4:40 How to choose a topic18:17 How to do research22:45 How to outline25:21 The writing process30:49 The submission process40:27 Final thoughtsLINKS(1) This was a talk given to Reason & Rationality: https://www.reasonandrationality.com/(2) If you liked this video, you'll love my Doing Philosophy playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkbOGcxCZPjybRASmKynBfGN(3) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Dec 07, 202541:02
Do racist beliefs wrong others?

Do racist beliefs wrong others?

Here's a crash course on doxastic wronging. The central question is: can merely believing something about others wrong them?Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:30 Cases3:18 Definitions7:40 Significance9:47 Master Argument for Doxastic Wronging16:00 Outward actions argument20:11 The problem of control25:05 The coordination problem30:12 Going further & resources31:16 ConclusionLINKS(1) Basu and Schroeder, "Doxastic Wronging": https://philarchive.org/archive/BASDW(2) Schroeder, "Sins of Thought": https://philpapers.org/archive/SCHSOT-39.pdf(3) Enoch and Spectre, "There is no such thing as doxastic wronging": https://philpapers.org/archive/ENOTIN.pdf(4) My Epistemology playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZhajIOE7Q2FkwuuAS-8Z3C(5) How to Analyze Arguments Like a Philosopher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD5_2p-vUjs(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Nov 23, 202532:02
Did Jesus rise from the dead?

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

Today Jimmy Akin and Dr. James Fodor debate whether Jesus rose from the dead.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:57 James’ opening statement21:55 Jimmy’s opening statement49:26 Open discussion1:54:45 Concluding statementsRESOURCES(1) Jimmy's YouTube channel:  @JimmyAkin (2) Jimmy's website: https://jimmyakin.com/(3) Jimmy's Catholic Answers profile: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jimmy-akin(4) Jimmy's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0034PT6OE/allbooks(5) James’ website: https://jamesfodor.com/(6) James’ book, “Unreasonable Faith”: https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Faith-William-Overstates-Christianity/dp/1912701189(7) James’ YouTube channel:  @JamesFodor (8) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Nov 20, 202502:00:26
Philosophers RESPECTFULLY debate physicalism and dualism

Philosophers RESPECTFULLY debate physicalism and dualism

David Papineau and Brian Cutter debate physicalism, dualism, and much more besides. Buckle up for some juicy philosophy.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:58 Causal argument9:28 Epiphenomenalism14:12 Overdetermination21:12 Denying causal closure33:15 History-independence argument1:03:45 Causal closure again1:23:04 Intuition of distinctness1:37:37 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) David's website (with all his papers): https://www.davidpapineau.co.uk/(2) David's paper on the causal argument for physicalism, "The Rise of Physicalism": https://www.davidpapineau.co.uk/uploads/1/8/5/5/18551740/papineau_in_gillett_and_loewer.pdf(3) Brian's website (with all his papers): https://sites.google.com/site/cutterbc/home(4) My interview with Brian on arguments for dualism: https://youtu.be/RTGDbfr7S9E?si=MJPGwSZlqe3K0iAi(5) My interview with Brian on arguments against dualism: https://youtu.be/p41Ir-_9E-k?si=K6WAhobyLdcWfdTz(6) Brian's anti-physicalist arguments tier list: https://benthams.substack.com/p/anti-physicalist-arguments-a-tier(7) My Philosophy of Mind playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaqPW8ZSTTi1u2oKkRfN1yn(8) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Nov 15, 202501:38:06
Philosophers DEBATE whether souls exist

Philosophers DEBATE whether souls exist

Nov 09, 202501:09:53
How to Publish a Paper

How to Publish a Paper

just take a paper, and then publish it. the end

Sep 14, 202501:15:06
Does Fine-Tuning PROVE God's Existence?

Does Fine-Tuning PROVE God's Existence?

Is fine-tuning powerful evidence for theism? Troy Dana and Matthew Adelstein debate this question and more!


LINKS (1) Troy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Friction (2) Troy's other links: https://link.space/@Friction (3) Troy's PhilPapers profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/troy-dana (4) Troy's substack post criticizing the fine-tuning argument: https://fric.substack.com/p/cosmological-fine-tuning (5) Matthew's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@deliberationunderidealcond5105 (6) Matthew's substack post, "Fine-Tuning, Made by God": https://benthams.substack.com/p/fine-tuning-made-by-god (7) Matthew's substack post, "The Fine-Tuning Argument Simply Works": https://benthams.substack.com/p/the-fine-tuning-argument-simply-works (8) Matthew's PhilPapers profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/matthew-adelstein (9) My Design Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkax5OrwZmkqE1fY446O4i6g (10) My Bonus Soccer playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkb7WN8KlASj2P9ewLpXGeML (11) My Springer book with Dan Linford: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2 THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvH Join the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreason My website: https://josephschmid.com My PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Sep 01, 202502:05:38
How to Make Academic YouTube Videos

How to Make Academic YouTube Videos

Here's a crash course on how to make compelling, rigorous, and accessible YouTube videos.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro3:27 Tips for aspiring YouTubers18:45 Tips for AcademyTube28:33 How to make a video35:22 ConclusionLINKS(1) This was a talk given to Reason & Rationality: https://www.reasonandrationality.com/(2) If you liked this video, you'll love my Doing Philosophy playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkbOGcxCZPjybRASmKynBfGN(3) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 31, 202536:02
Philosophers DEBATE God's existence

Philosophers DEBATE God's existence

An atheist, agnostic, and theist walk into a debate...Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:23 Preliminaries4:20 Contingency argument26:05 Fine-tuning argument42:05 Problem of evil53:45 Divine hiddenness1:06:33 The case for agnosticismLINKS(1) This was a simulated debate for Reason & Rationality: https://www.reasonandrationality.com/(2) Noah's website: https://noahdmckay.wordpress.com/(3) Flo's substack: https://morallawwithin.substack.com/(4) Flo's hilarious X/Twitter account: https://x.com/morallawwithin(5) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202501:17:04
Every objection to dualism DEBUNKED

Every objection to dualism DEBUNKED

Here Brian Cutter responds to every major argument against dualism (and for physicalism). Buckle up for philosophy of mind on steroids.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:44 What is dualism?1:52 Interaction problem13:45 Pairing problem35:58 Causal exclusion1:01:33 Conservation of energy1:12:00 Core Theory argument1:22:18 Nomological arguments1:28:37 Flatfooted response1:33:10 Hopeful response1:35:46 Normative complexity response1:47:55 Why think fundamental laws are simple?1:59:49 Non-naturalistic response2:05:40 Concluding remarksRESOURCES(1) My interview with Brian on arguments FOR dualism: https://youtu.be/RTGDbfr7S9E?si=MJPGwSZlqe3K0iAi(2) My interview with Brian on psychophysical harmony and nomological harmony arguments for theism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oEp_UVCm8M(3) Brian's anti-physicalist arguments tier list: https://benthams.substack.com/p/anti-physicalist-arguments-a-tier(4) Brian's PhilPeople profile with his papers: https://philpeople.org/profiles/brian-cutter(5) My Philosophy of Mind playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaqPW8ZSTTi1u2oKkRfN1yn(6) Cutter, "The Many-Subjects Argument against Physicalism", https://philpapers.org/rec/CUTTMA-5(7) Cutter, "Three Roads from Sensory Awareness to Dualism", https://philpapers.org/rec/CUTTRF(8) Cutter, "The Inconceivability Argument", https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/ergo/article/id/2268/(9) Cutter, "The modal argument improved", https://philpapers.org/rec/CUTTMA-4(10) Blackwell Companion to Substance Dualism (2018): https://www.amazon.com/Blackwell-Companion-Substance-Companions-Philosophy/dp/1119375266(11) The Waning of Materialism (2010): https://academic.oup.com/book/12724(12) Chalmers, "The Conscious Mind", https://personal.lse.ac.uk/ROBERT49/teaching/ph103/pdf/Chalmers_The_Conscious_Mind.pdf(13) Searle, "Mind: A Brief Introduction", https://coehuman.uodiyala.edu.iq/uploads/Coehuman%20library%20pdf/English%20library%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%83%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%8A/linguistics/SEARLE,%20John%20-%20Mind%20A%20Brief%20Introduction.pdf(14) My video with Josh Rasmussen on the interaction problem, pairing problem, and causal exclusion: https://youtu.be/WMbDrtRyaGc?si=8W-_c4I6_hNr8hCL(15) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202502:07:27
The ULTIMATE Guide to Divine Foreknowledge vs. Human Freedom

The ULTIMATE Guide to Divine Foreknowledge vs. Human Freedom

Today Dr. Taylor Cyr gives a COMPREHENSIVE guide to the problem of divine foreknowledge and human freedom. Buckle up for some epic philosophy.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro & Overview1:43 Background10:22 The argument18:01 Commentary on argument28:13 Popular responses30:03 Timelessness response39:20 Ockhamist response57:15 Dependence response1:33:05 Open theist response1:44:05 Sourcehood responses1:54:45 Tier list1:57:08 Concluding remarksLINKS(1) Taylor's website: https://taylorwcyr.com/(2) The Free Will Show ( @thefreewillshow2132 ): https://thefreewillshow.com/(3) Taylor and I respond to Huemer and Sapolsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOvu5mmTrmg(4) My discussion with Patrick Todd on the open future and open theism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmrOIqCEvQM(5) My Free Will playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka4SMFOH-KH-hdJoTz6fG5F(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202501:59:49
Is this the BEST argument for universalism?

Is this the BEST argument for universalism?

I’m joined by philosophers Eric Reitan and Adam Pelser to discuss the problem of heavenly grief for non-universalist views. Buckle up for one hell of a discussion! Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreason If you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmid OUTLINE0:00 Intro and outline2:31 Universalism, traditionalism, annihilationism5:07 Problem of heavenly grief14:21 Craig’s solution: shielded awareness26:30 Impassibility solution34:18 Rooney’s solution37:06 Aquinas’ solution38:40 Lewis’ solutions43:51 Adam’s favored solution1:16:42 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Eric's NEW book, "Troubled Paradise: Limited Salvation and the Problem of Heavenly Grief": https://www.amazon.com/Troubled-Paradise-Limited-Salvation-Heavenly/dp/1666765341(2) Eric’s PhilPeople profile (with lots of his papers): https://philpeople.org/profiles/eric-reitan(3) Eric’s book, “God’s Final Victory: A Comparative Philosophical Case for Universalism”, https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Final-Victory-Philosophical-Universalism/dp/1623568498/(4) Adam's website: https://www.adampelser.com/(5) Adam's paper, "Heavenly Sadness: On the Value of Negative Emotions in Paradise": https://www.academia.edu/28887253/Heavenly_Sadness_On_the_Value_of_Negative_Emotions_in_Paradise(6) Rasmussen and Reitan on universalism and hell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxQyKw04Ncg(7) Eric’s article on hard-heartedness and hell: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13f1VxRZ1YCB_wo0iOd5YKSo-f2bkWX4g/view?usp=sharing OTHER RESOURCES ON UNIVERSALISMTalbott’s “Inescapable Love of God”, https://www.amazon.com/Inescapable-Love-God-Second/dp/1625646909Parry and MacDonald’s “The Evangelical Universalist”, https://www.amazon.com/Evangelical-Universalist-Gregory-MacDonald/dp/149821553XRasmussen, “Could Everyone Eventually Be Saved?”, http://www.invadinghell.com/articles/could-all-be-saved.pdfRasmussen, “When Heaven Invades Hell”, https://www.amazon.com/When-Heaven-Invades-Joshua-Rasmussen/dp/1732383405Hartman’s article in Religious Studies, “​Free will and the moral vice explanation for hell’s finality”, https://philarchive.org/archive/HARFWA-5Keith DeRose, “Universalism and the Bible”, https://campuspress.yale.edu/keithderose/1129-2/Here are some resources on the dim prospects of offering theodicies without universalism:(a) Adams, Marilyn McCord (1993). “The Problem of Hell: A Problem of Evil for Christians,” in Reasoned Faith, ed. Eleonore Stump (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press), 301–27.(b) Adams, Marilyn McCord (1999). Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press).(c) Buckareff, Andrei A. and Allen Plug (2013). “Hell and the Problem of Evil,” in The Blackwell Companion to the Problem of Evil, ed. Justin McBrayer and Daniel Howard-Snyder (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell), 128–43.(d) Collins, Robin (2013). “The Connection-Building Theodicy,” in The Blackwell Companion to the Problem of Evil, 222–35.(e) Hick, John (2010). Evil and the God of Love (Houndsmills: Palgrave Macmillan).THE USUAL...My PhilPapers Profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmidMy website: https://www.josephschmid.com/Majesty of Reason PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvH

Aug 30, 202501:17:33
Philosophers CALMLY DISCUSS whether God exists

Philosophers CALMLY DISCUSS whether God exists

Alex Pruss and Josh Rasmussen join me in person for a CORDIAL and CALM DISCUSSION on whether God is real.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidRESOURCES(1) Pruss' website: http://alexanderpruss.com/(2) Pruss' blog: https://alexanderpruss.blogspot.com/(3) Rasmussen's PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-rasmussenTHE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202537:56
Why Natural Law Theory is FALSE

Why Natural Law Theory is FALSE

Amos Wollen joins me to assess Natural Law Theory. We talk about sex, bubblegum, and everything in between.OUTLINE0:00 Intro1:37 Preamble3:26 Classical NLT and Perverted Faculty Argument7:54 Attributivism17:18 Intrinsic teleology and theism29:00 Egoism objection and animal ethics37:04 Reductios42:10 Bubblegum1:03:53 Smoking1:04:18 Pica and purging1:10:28 Bleach and bright lights1:11:13 Lying1:14:22 Intellectual powers and falsity pills1:18:39 Animal ethics (again)1:21:56 New NLT1:29:57 Against gay sex1:33:03 (Appropriate) Pleasure as intrinsically good1:35:07 Pursuing ‘illusions’1:39:28 Disintegration argument1:51:31 Is Marriage a basic good?1:57:04 One body?2:06:34 Reductios2:13:22 Final remarks2:18:51 OutroRESOURCES(1) Amos' PhilPapers profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/amos-wollen(2) Amos' substack, "Going Awoll": https://wollenblog.substack.com/(3) Amos' YouTube channel:  @going_awoll (4) Discussion on NLT and sexuality between Dustin Crummett and Brian Besong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPen831EkYg&pp=ygUfYnJpYW4gYmVzb25nIHZzIGR1c3RpbiBjcnVtbWV0dA%3D%3D(5) Amos' first discussion with Brian Besong on NLT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oltLyImVkd0(6) Amos' second discussion with Brian Besong on NLT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Frt7U50Y4(7) My first discussion with Brian Besong on NLT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07MaWJFzuwM(8) My second discussion with Brian Besong on NLT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC-34AJqO_A(9) Applied Ethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaYPueOwJRE0CPj6xyIWfxb

Aug 30, 202502:20:30
Causal Finitism and Grim Reaper Paradoxes | A Panel Discussion

Causal Finitism and Grim Reaper Paradoxes | A Panel Discussion

Alex Pruss and Josh Rasmussen join me at the Pacific APA to discuss causal finitism, Benardete paradoxes, and infinite lotteries... oh my!Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Alex’s opening16:33 Josh’s opening30:37 Joe’s opening49:41 Open discussionRESOURCES(1) My abbreviated handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12NhspObDIouCIEVYOKjtnbf-wsg2qZhx/view?usp=sharing(2) Do you want my EXTENSIVE, 14-page, 6500-word handout? Become a patron! :)(3) Josh's handout: https://worldviewdesign.substack.com/p/the-infinite-liar-paradox(4) Pruss' website: http://alexanderpruss.com/(5) Pruss' blog: https://alexanderpruss.blogspot.com/(6) Pruss' book: https://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Causation-Paradox-Alexander-Pruss/dp/0198810334(7) My work on Benardete Paradoxes and Causal Finitism: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2024/05/28/responses-to-the-grim-reaper-kalam/(8) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSRTHE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202501:25:26
The Mind-Body Problem SOLVED?

The Mind-Body Problem SOLVED?

Dr. Josh Rasmussen joins me to discuss the interaction problem, the causal exclusion problem, and the pairing problem. Your existence might be on the line.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro2:07 Problems of mental causation4:28 Interaction problem24:19 Causal exclusion problem1:05:09 Pairing problem1:13:43 Decombination problem1:20:38 Final commentsRESOURCES(1) Josh's PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-rasmussen(2) Josh's YouTube channel:  @WorldviewDesignChannel (3) Josh's co-authored paper, "No Pairing Problem": https://andrewmbailey.com/PairingForthcoming.pdf(4) Josh's book, "Who Are You Really?": https://www.ivpress.com/who-are-you-really(5) One self view resources: (a) https://nautil.us/is-everyone-the-same-person-1193378/ (b) https://philarchive.org/rec/ZUBOST(6) Philosophy of mind playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaqPW8ZSTTi1u2oKkRfN1ynTHE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202501:23:25
Why physicalism is FALSE

Why physicalism is FALSE

Here I interview Brian Cutter in person to talk about arguments against physicalism. Do they work?Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:15 Physicalism3:10 Non-physicalism5:50 Many-subjects argument30:20 Sensory awareness arguments36:31 Conceivability arguments51:48 Inconceivability argument56:58 Knowledge argument1:08:07 Explanatory gap arguments1:12:51 Arguments from personal identity1:20:07 Mereological nihilism argument1:28:38 Just too different!1:32:07 Other arguments1:33:06 The best argument against dualism?1:46:17 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Cutter, "The Many-Subjects Argument against Physicalism", https://philpapers.org/rec/CUTTMA-5(2) Cutter, "Three Roads from Sensory Awareness to Dualism", https://philpapers.org/rec/CUTTRF(3) Cutter, "The Inconceivability Argument", https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/ergo/article/id/2268/(4) Cutter, "The modal argument improved", https://philpapers.org/rec/CUTTMA-4(5) Cutter & Crummett, "Psychophysical Harmony: A New Argument for Theism", https://philarchive.org/archive/CUTPHA(6) My other live interview with Brian Cutter: https://youtu.be/1oEp_UVCm8M?si=oE-mED-EiO-jtBrd(7) Cutter's PhilPeople profile with his papers: https://philpeople.org/profiles/brian-cutter(8) Bailey and Rasmussen, "A new puppet puzzle", https://andrewmbailey.com/PuppetPuzzle.pdf(9) Rasmussen, "Building Thoughts From Dust: A Cantorian Puzzle", https://joshualrasmussen.com/articles/building-thoughts-from-dust.pdf(10) Rasmussen and Bailey, "How to Build a Thought", https://andrewmbailey.com/HowToBuild.pdf(11) Rasmussen's popular explanation of the counting argument: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw7ynh8w-tU(12) Blackwell Companion to Substance Dualism (2018): https://www.amazon.com/Blackwell-Companion-Substance-Companions-Philosophy/dp/1119375266(13) The Waning of Materialism (2010): https://academic.oup.com/book/12724(14) Chalmers, "The Conscious Mind", https://personal.lse.ac.uk/ROBERT49/teaching/ph103/pdf/Chalmers_The_Conscious_Mind.pdf(15) Searle, "Mind: A Brief Introduction", https://coehuman.uodiyala.edu.iq/uploads/Coehuman%20library%20pdf/English%20library%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%83%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%8A/linguistics/SEARLE,%20John%20-%20Mind%20A%20Brief%20Introduction.pdf(16) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Aug 30, 202501:47:36
Does evolution DEBUNK morality?

Does evolution DEBUNK morality?

Today Dr. Dan Korman and Noah McKay join me to discuss evolutionary debunking arguments. Can our moral beliefs survive skeptical threats?Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:40 Debunking arguments6:22 Three kinds of debunking arguments14:43 Telic debunking argument22:05 Explanationist pushback38:51 Swampman pushback59:51 New function pushback1:16:45 Dan’s favored approach1:25:01 Concluding thoughtsRESOURCES(1) Dan’s website (with his papers): https://danielzkorman.weebly.com/(2) Noah’s website (with his papers): https://noahdmckay.wordpress.com/(3) Dan’s paper, "Debunking Arguments", https://philarchive.org/archive/KORDA-2(4) Dan’s paper, “An explanationist Account of Genealogical Defeat“, https://philpapers.org/rec/KORAEA-4(5) Noah’s paper, “Can Rational Reflection Save Moral Knowledge from Debunking?”, https://philpapers.org/rec/MCKCRR(6) Noah’s paper, “Moral knowledge and the existence of God”, https://philpapers.org/rec/MCKMKA(7) My Metaethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkbIsKrv640jcBmNCFbU-ZQy(8) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 27, 202501:26:44
Professional ethicist REBUTS Catholic apologist on sexual ethics

Professional ethicist REBUTS Catholic apologist on sexual ethics

Trent Horn ( @TheCounselofTrent ) recently made a video defending very conservative views on sexual ethics. Dr. Dustin Crummett joins me to respond.OUTLINE0:00 Intro1:30 Trent’s video2:23 Disgust and morality4:52 Consent6:26 Natural law theory7:59 Perverted faculty argument13:53 Skepticism about Aristotelian teleology14:51 Natural teleology doesn’t deliver their judgments15:54 Morality isn’t about natural teleology16:32 Counterexamples21:04 Wrong source of normative reasons23:32 Another counterexample?29:57 Alternative accounts of function31:54 Dustin’s sexual ethics42:54 The moral significance of sex47:39 Homosexuality was crazy!51:18 Dendrophilia and Necrophilia54:36 Moral disgust?58:01 Contempt for people who misuse sex1:01:13 Sexual exclusivity and monogamy1:07:01 Monogamy and natural law theory1:12:02 Sex and friendship1:16:29 Monogamy again1:20:12 Infertility and impotence1:34:32 The right to be conceived through sex?1:40:51 Trent’s summary1:50:16 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Dustin’s website (with links to his papers): https://dustincrummett.com/(2) Dustin's YouTube channel:  @dustin.crummett (3) The discussion on natural law theory and sexuality between Dustin and Brian Besong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPen831EkYg&pp=ygUfYnJpYW4gYmVzb25nIHZzIGR1c3RpbiBjcnVtbWV0dA%3D%3D(4) Responses to Trent Horn playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaUBJZkQ5kYe9i2bUqjtQYV(5) Applied Ethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaYPueOwJRE0CPj6xyIWfxb(6) Sexual Ethics in a Secular Age: Is There Still a Virtue of Chastity?: https://www.routledge.com/Sexual-Ethics-in-a-Secular-Age-Is-There-Still-a-Virtue-of-Chastity/Silverman/p/book/9780367522773(7) The Palgrave Handbook of Sexual Ethics: https://www.amazon.com/The-Palgrave-Handbook-of-Sexual-Ethics/dp/303087785X(8) John Corvino's book, "What's Wrong with Homosexuality?": https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Wrong-Homosexuality-Philosophy-Action-ebook/dp/B00AWOTA7S/(9) Corvino and Gallagher, "Debating Same-Sex Marriage": https://www.amazon.com/Debating-Same-Sex-Marriage-Point-Counterpoint-ebook/dp/B007ZQBO0W/(10) Corvino's YouTube channel:  @johncorvino (11) Corvino's PhilPeople profile (with links to his papers on the ethics of homosexuality): https://philpeople.org/profiles/john-corvino

Feb 27, 202501:53:38
The ULTIMATE Guide to the Problem of Evil

The ULTIMATE Guide to the Problem of Evil

Today Dr. Justin Mooney gives a comprehensive survey of the problem of evil.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro2:50 Presentation begins3:52 What is the problem of evil?10:09 Main topics in the literature12:00 Kinds of inference13:07 Logical arguments from evil22:36 Evidential arguments from evil35:47 Kinds of evil54:18 Other arguments from evil1:03:44 Theodicies and defenses1:06:50 Conditions for a successful theodicy1:14:44 Free will theodicies1:33:26 Soul-making theodicies1:39:46 Karma and rebirth theodicies1:49:27 Global value theodicies1:53:27 Other theodicies1:59:15 Epistemic defenses1:59:57 Skeptical theism2:11:56 The anomaly defense2:19:41 Appealing to counter-evidence2:26:59 Meta-Theodicy2:27:26 Constraints on successful theodicy2:35:40 Gratuitous evil compatible with theism?2:38:37 Sufferer-centered theodicies2:41:05 Other topics in meta-theodicy2:43:07 Recommended resources2:44:54 Concluding remarksRESOURCES(1) Justin's website: https://www.justinmooney.net/(2) Justin's 120-page bibliography on the problem of evil: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dprquqrzQxJsmOArxEoBDaMx15T9T--P8dagUqX6kQI/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.x1uym8fk8fq3(3) My video with Dr. Perry Hendricks on skeptical theism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDqi5U44f7E(4) Poston, "Social evil": http://tedposton.org/Documents/Socialevil.pdf(5) Crummett, “The problem of evil and the suffering of creeping things": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11153-017-9619-0(6) My Problem of Evil playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkY98E3QMwBvHcYqWtIhizko(7) Jordan's ( @TheAnalyticChristian ) Problem of Evil playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlVH-ThCazKk0YOU-K-AWIphUjToiBBC6(8) Other versions of the problem of evil (and links to papers) can be found in Dr. Felipe Leon's list of 200 (or so) arguments for atheism: https://exapologist.blogspot.com/2023/03/200-or-so-arguments-for-atheism.html(9) VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: The unspeakable atrocities of unit 731: https://youtu.be/xLcNvGaSvCo?si=BNWdz0VXLcNd4TGL(10) VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: The horrors inflicted on Junko Furuta: https://youtu.be/YGSN2MTmzDQ?si=xi_2NObfCkYNOkCk(11) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 27, 202502:46:52
The best argument for atheism you've NEVER heard

The best argument for atheism you've NEVER heard

Here I explain Paul Draper's decisive evidence argument for atheism. Does it succeed?Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro2:35 Decisive Evidence Argument4:13 The syllogism7:23 Why accept the premises?7:38 First premise8:21 Second premise10:54 Third premise20:33 Responses20:56 Contra premise (1)25:35 Contra premise (2)26:59 Contra premise (3)28:58 Conclusion30:32 Bonus soccerRESOURCES(1) Draper's SEP entry, "Atheism and Agnosticism": https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/(2) My 12-hour long video responding to 150+ theistic arguments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP0Mh42jvV4&pp=ygUfbWFqZXN0eSBvZiByZWFzb24gMTAwIGFyZ3VtZW50cw%3D%3D(3) Over 200 arguments for atheism: https://exapologist.blogspot.com/2023/03/200-or-so-arguments-for-atheism.html(4) My Ontological Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZ7oLLpd6Joxl2VS1gOce6t(5) My Bonus Soccer playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkb7WN8KlASj2P9ewLpXGeML(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 27, 202535:02
Debunking Arguments

Debunking Arguments

What are debunking arguments? How are they defended? And how are they attacked? Does the evolutionary debunking argument against moral realism work? Here I explore these questions and more.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro2:00 Debunking arguments3:05 Varieties of debunking arguments11:22 Structure of debunking arguments17:49 Explanatory premise19:30 Epistemic premise21:01 Categories of response23:35 Explanationist responses24:57 Alethic28:29 Doxastic29:42 Minimalist responses31:37 Indirect defense33:56 Unstable minimalism35:35 Stable minimalism39:33 Third factor response44:03 Plenitudinist response46:00 Direct defense55:55 Overgeneralization responses58:32 Moorean responses1:02:49 Summary1:04:17 Flowchart1:09:29 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Korman (2019), "Debunking Arguments", https://philarchive.org/archive/KORDA-2(2) Dan Korman's other papers on debunking arguments can be found here: https://danielzkorman.weebly.com/papers-and-books.html(2) Wielenberg (2016), "Ethics and Evolutionary Theory", https://philpapers.org/rec/WIEEAE-4(3) My Metaethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkbIsKrv640jcBmNCFbU-ZQy(4) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 27, 202501:11:02
Why Cameron Bertuzzi MUST take atheism seriously

Why Cameron Bertuzzi MUST take atheism seriously

Here I respond to a recent video by  @CapturingChristianity . I explain why you should probably still take atheism seriously, and I also explore problems for limited god hypotheses.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:27 Cameron’s video11:53 Four main responses12:37 Response #1: Arguments for global atheism16:12 Response #2: Problems for a limited god16:56 Imprecision17:47 Arbitrariness20:00 Probabilistic tension23:13 Evidential dilemma38:29 Deontological problem of evil39:34 Ad hoc, likelihood ratio rigging, and unfalsifiability42:02 Response #3: Atheistic arguments disconfirm theism49:43 The Joy of Bayesianism59:21 Twitter interaction1:04:48 Response #4: The same problem applies to theism1:11:09 Parody1:17:05 TakeawaysRESOURCES(1) The video to which I’m responding: https://youtu.be/oj6eCF63DAw?si=1UaTNK28TIV5JBRg(2) Oppy, “The Best Argument Against God”: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Argument-against-Palgrave-Pivot/dp/1137354135(3) Oppy and Pearce, “Is There A God?”: https://www.amazon.com/There-Little-Debates-about-Questions/dp/0367243946(4) Schmid, “Naturalism, Classical Theism, and First Causes”: https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHNCT-4(5) Felipe Leon’s post collecting over 200 arguments for atheism: https://exapologist.blogspot.com/2023/03/200-or-so-arguments-for-atheism.html(6) Draper’s SEP entry “Atheism and Agnosticism”: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/(7) My response to Cameron’s video on 150+ arguments for God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP0Mh42jvV4(8) Aikin, “The Problem of Worship”: https://www.academia.edu/7062247/The_Problem_of_Worship(9) John Buck clip is from  @EmersonGreen 's here: https://www.youtube.com/live/mlMBzYTGuW4?si=IaPzPihfOuhOZ9qN(10) My response to  @TheCounselofTrent  on the problem of evil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tctHQlYbl6E(11) My Bayes’ Theorem video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1MdtyLL3Uw&pp=ygUfbWFqZXN0eSBvZiByZWFzb24gYmF5ZXMgdGhlb3JlbQ%3D%3D(12) Steinhart, “Six Axiarchic Arguments”: https://ericsteinhart.com/articles/axiarchicargs.pdf(13) Nagel, “Mind and Cosmos”: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Cosmos-Materialist-Neo-Darwinian-Conception/dp/0199919755(14) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(15) My Contingency Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZkl5I5QDUXW5CauOfO_bs1(16) My Design Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkax5OrwZmkqE1fY446O4i6g(17) My Ontological Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZ7oLLpd6Joxl2VS1gOce6t(18) My co-authored SEP entry “Ontological Arguments”: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/(19) My Springer book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(20) My website: https://josephschmid.com

Feb 27, 202501:18:51
William Lane Craig responds to me (and makes even more mistakes)

William Lane Craig responds to me (and makes even more mistakes)

William Lane Craig responded to my video with Dr. Daniel Linford and Phil Halper on what Craig gets wrong about science and the beginning of the universe. Here, we respond in turn.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Introduction1:42 Craig’s response2:39 Thermodynamics and entropy7:53 Philosophical case9:03 Craig’s approach12:38 Hartle-Hawking model17:57 No viable beginningless models?18:44 Craig and Sinclair’s argument26:06 Singularity and BGV theorems34:05 Beginningless models (again)46:16 Mischaracterizing science48:11 BGV Theorem (again)51:01 Timeless physical things1:08:03 Craig misunderstands Joe1:12:33 Joe’s VICIOUS ad hominem ATTACK1:14:33 Craig misuses Vilenkin’s quote1:17:11 Misusing science1:21:30 Concluding commentsRESOURCES(1) The podcast to which we're responding ( @ReasonableFaithOrg ): https://www.reasonablefaith.org/media/reasonable-faith-podcast/does-william-lane-craig-misuse-science(2) Our previous response to Craig: https://youtu.be/7CiOudgSdeE?si=qBdm3IrulDrfKx61(3) Dan and I respond to the scientific case and stage two: https://youtu.be/35tICdYtHsQ?si=oQ-LfJuWjSo6mWYb(4) Dan's dissertation, “Cosmic Skepticism and the Beginning of Physical Reality”: https://philarchive.org/archive/DAN_SA-15(5) Phil’s book, “Battle of the Big Bang”: (a) https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo244963115.html (b) https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Big-Bang-Cosmic-Origins/dp/0226830470(6) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(7) My responses to the Grim Reaper Kalam: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2024/05/28/responses-to-the-grim-reaper-kalam/(8) Linford, “A modal condition for the beginning of the universe”: https://philarchive.org/rec/LINAMC-2(9) Linford, “Neo-Lorentzian Relativity and the Beginning of the Universe”: https://philarchive.org/rec/LINNRA-3(10) Linford, "Big Bounce or Double Bang? A Reply to Craig and Sinclair": http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/17188/1/FORTHCOMING_Big_Bang_or_Double_Bounce_Erk_Sub.pdf(11) Linford, “The Kalam Cosmological Argument Meets the Mentaculus”: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16833/1/Online_Final_BJPS_Kalam_Mentaculus_Submission.pdf(12) Halper, "The Kalam cosmological argument: Critiquing a recent defence": https://philarchive.org/rec/HALTKC (13) My Springer book with Dan: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(14) My website: https://josephschmid.com

Feb 27, 202501:26:49
Answering a DOZEN objections to effective altruism

Answering a DOZEN objections to effective altruism

What is effective altruism? What motivates it? And what about the many objections to effective altruism? JD Bauman and Matthew Adelstein join me to talk about these topics and more.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:16 What is effective altruism?4:04 Motivating effective altruism9:25 Utilitarianism objection15:57 Incommensurability objection23:44 Demandingness objection29:10 Earn-to-give objection33:26 Individualism, institutional critique, and capitalism39:28 Too longtermist47:50 Triviality objection50:10 Sociological criticisms at the margins56:15 Epistemic objection1:00:08 Timmerman’s dilemma1:10:08 Incompatible with Christianity1:11:38 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) GiveWell (for a well-researched list of effective charities): https://www.givewell.org/(2) Christians for Impact (JD's organization): https://bit.ly/3Ca1sLT(3) 80,000 hours website: https://80000hours.org/(4) EA for Christians: https://www.eaforchristians.org/(5) One For the World (1% pledge): https://1fortheworld.org/(6) Giving What We Can (10% pledge): https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/(7) Matthew's YouTube channel:  @deliberationunderidealcond5105 (8) Matthew's substack: https://benthams.substack.com/(9) JD's YouTube channel:  @eaforchristians460 (10) My video with Dr. Travis Timmerman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mySfT7wMVRo(11) The MacAskill & Pummer article I mentioned: https://philpapers.org/rec/PUMEA(12) My Applied Ethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaYPueOwJRE0CPj6xyIWfxb(13) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 27, 202501:13:53
Philosophers RANK arguments for and against God's existence

Philosophers RANK arguments for and against God's existence

Daniel Rubio joins me to make a tier list of arguments for and against God’s existence.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:28 Old Kalam5:00 New Kalam16:31 Contingency arguments23:27 Thomistic arguments25:18 Scotistic arguments28:25 Anselm’s ontological argument32:40 Modal ontological argument36:15 Moral argument39:32 Moral knowledge44:49 Paley’s design argument46:53 Fine-tuning argument57:20 Psychophysical harmony1:03:30 Nomological harmony1:11:11 Miracles1:12:48 Religious experience1:17:18 Problem of evil1:21:28 Divine hiddenness1:24:00 God is superfluous1:25:22 Improvability argument1:26:16 ConclusionFURTHER RESOURCES(1) Daniel's website: https://www.danielkfrubio.com/(2) Daniel's papers: https://philpeople.org/profiles/daniel-rubio(3) List of arguments for God's existence: https://www.camcintosh.com/theistic/(4) List of arguments against God's existence: http://exapologist.blogspot.com/2023/03/200-or-so-arguments-for-atheism.html(5) Over 100 Arguments for God ANSWERED: https://youtu.be/iP0Mh42jvV4?si=2qiyco0OXNsw3GIz(6) My interview with Brian Cutter: https://youtu.be/1oEp_UVCm8M(7) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(8) My Contingency Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZkl5I5QDUXW5CauOfO_bs1(9) My Argument from Change playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka2JpwLJaSaXdDZlBYkd9Cn(10) My Existential Inertia playlist: https://youtu.be/Jr44d_1_sGk?si=TFMubHijCyAAK8Vf(11) My Ontological Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZ7oLLpd6Joxl2VS1gOce6t(12) My Moral Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaUcAQpHXN9ZNF2RxZLe7U_(13) My Design Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkax5OrwZmkqE1fY446O4i6g(14) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 27, 202501:27:46
Does this philosopher have the BEST arguments for God?

Does this philosopher have the BEST arguments for God?

Here I interview Brian Cutter in person to talk about the psychophysical and nomological harmony arguments.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:24 Best arguments for God4:01 Consciousness & psychophysical harmony10:00 Evolution13:08 Normative error theory18:00 First-person realism parody?25:08 Contingent normative roles30:30 A priori physicalism36:36 Strengthens the problem of evil46:52 Revenge problem51:35 Nomological harmony1:06:53 ConclusionFURTHER RESOURCES(1) Cutter & Crummett, "Psychophysical Harmony: A New Argument for Theism", https://philarchive.org/archive/CUTPHA(2) Cutter & Saad, "The Problem of Nomological Harmony", https://philarchive.org/archive/CUTTPO-9(3) Cutter's PhilPeople profile with his papers: https://philpeople.org/profiles/brian-cutter(4) Cutter explaining psychophysical harmony on  @CapturingChristianity : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_TlYmVuxQQ&pp=ygUmY3V0dGVyIGFuZCBnb2ZmIHBzeWNob3BoeXNpY2FsIGhhcm1vbnk%3D(5) A blog post critical of the psychophysical harmony argument: https://naturalismnext.blogspot.com/2023/03/introduction-note-1-this-post-is.html(6) Cutter explaining nomological harmony on  @TheAnalyticChristian : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k90r59vwbG4&t=40s&pp=ygUaY3V0dGVyIG5vbW9sb2dpY2FsIGhhcm1vbnk%3D(7) Builes, "Eight Arguments for First-Person Realism", https://philarchive.org/archive/BUIEAF(8) Design Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkax5OrwZmkqE1fY446O4i6g(9) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 26, 202501:07:49
Why the moral argument for God's existence fails

Why the moral argument for God's existence fails

Here I explain what's wrong with the moral argument for God.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE00:00 Intro1:14 Overview of criticisms16:40 Different kinds of arguments18:43 Morality is independent of God’s stances23:16 Why is it so effective?26:50 Euthyphro dilemma38:31 Bruteness48:37 A trilemma for the moral arguer51:09 Essences under naturalism53:12 Wielenberg’s view59:33 But some atheists disagree with me!1:05:43 Animal morality1:11:20 Evolutionary debunking1:22:44 Q and ALINKS(1) The original video with  @intellectualcatholicism : https://www.youtube.com/live/eScm9Aoc05E?si=jxnqALAx9wxj3UJK(2) A brief survey of literature criticizing Craig-style moral arguments: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xjweiT6HE9kNVsWJeqVxpGekrWpnddnXiZryKSAZcJI/edit?usp=sharing(3) The notes I used in this video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O-VhI6Tt7c6l6bB-rineREWtAKkdooBj/view(4) Moral Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaUcAQpHXN9ZNF2RxZLe7U_(5) Response Videos playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaNtpoOwEZm9fuJq423BUrW(6) The video from  @TruthUnites  to which I'm responding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFXWmadid0(7) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 26, 202501:32:39
How William Lane Craig misrepresents science

How William Lane Craig misrepresents science

I'm joined by Dr. Daniel Linford and Phil Halper to explain what Craig gets wrong about science's bearing on the beginning of the universe. Specifically, we respond to a recent video by  @ReasonableFaithOrg .Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro2:22 Craig’s video9:22 Material causality18:14 Beginning to exist20:05 Big Bang and cosmological models33:18 No particular model is probable?36:26 Past finitude doesn’t imply beginning51:57 Quantum gravity55:51 Window shade analogy1:00:10 BGV Theorem1:17:13 Vilenkin’s paper1:26:00 Sean Carroll and Guth1:38:12 The fixed Kalam1:41:20 Abstract object counterexamples?1:51:45 Second law of thermodynamics1:55:10 The universe as a counterexample?1:57:56 Document! Don’t just assert!2:06:45 ConclusionNOTEAt 1:15:05, I wanted to summarize the problems with Craig’s use of the BGV theorem. I didn’t provide the most helpful summary in the video, so here’s a summary:(1) At best, the BGV theorem shows that a spacetime region which has been expanding on average throughout its history could not have been expanding forever. Such an expanding region must have begun its expansion at some finitely distant point in the past. This does *not* imply that all of spacetime *itself* has a beginning because all of spacetime may not have been expanding on average throughout its history. In such a case, the BGV Theorem would be inapplicable to the whole of spacetime itself. In fact, as pointed out in the video, both Guth and Vilenkin explicitly say that the BGV theorem only shows that the *inflation* of the universe has a beginning, it doesn’t show that the *universe as a whole* or *spacetime as a whole* has a beginning.(2) Recent literature purports to give grounds to doubt the BGV theorem. Whether or not this recent literature is correct, it reveals that this is not a settled issue. Instead, it is an active area of research and debate. Relevant papers here include Lesnefsky et al (2023) https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.107.044024, Geshnizjani et al (2023) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP10(2023)182, Nomura (2012) https://arxiv.org/abs/1205.5550, and Aguirre (2007) https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.0571.(3) The BGV theorem is only a theorem about classical spacetimes. But we probably don’t live in a classical spacetime. We have good reasons internal to the standard model and general relativity for thinking that these theories will be surpassed by a new theory able to incorporate both. So our current understanding of spacetime will be replaced by something else. So the BGV theorem does not apply to the spacetime we live in.(4) Even if we do live in a classical spacetime, the Malamant-Manchak theorems show that, in all likelihood, we couldn’t ever know enough about the global structure of spacetime to know that *all* of spacetime had a beginning.(5) Even if the BGV theorem shows that the past is finite — and, as explained above, it does not — we cannot infer that the universe (i.e., the totality of all physical reality) began to exist, for the reasons given in the section of the video entitled “Past finitude does not entail beginning to exist”.

Feb 26, 202502:08:46
The new REBUTTED case for God's existence

The new REBUTTED case for God's existence

Trent Horn ( @TheCounselofTrent ) recently explained the new case for God's existence. In this video, I rebut his new case for God's existence.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:04 Trent’s preliminaries3:49 Argument from change27:14 Kalam29:27 Scientific case30:59 Hilbert’s Hotel1:08:09 Benardete paradoxes1:24:40 Modal contingency argument1:49:42 Fine-tuning argument2:00:29 Argument from miracles2:18:45 Moral argument2:33:18 Conclusion2:34:16 A story2:41:38 Bonus soccerLINKS(1) Want the script? Become a patron :)(2) Trent's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22qUGVZXlGg&pp=ygUKdHJlbnQgaG9ybg%3D%3D(3) Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(4) Argument from Change playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka2JpwLJaSaXdDZlBYkd9Cn(5) Response Videos playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaNtpoOwEZm9fuJq423BUrW(6) Moral Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaUcAQpHXN9ZNF2RxZLe7U_(7) Contingency Argument playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZkl5I5QDUXW5CauOfO_bs1(8) Classical Theism playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka0E9laGDA83gN2UbQoa4F2(9) Design Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkax5OrwZmkqE1fY446O4i6g(10) My Free Will playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka4SMFOH-KH-hdJoTz6fG5F(11) My Common Mistakes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkY8lCiJY7XZFkfBChK1VdMK(12) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 26, 202502:45:38
If God exists, is everything permitted? | Dr. Justin Mooney & Dr. Luis Oliveira

If God exists, is everything permitted? | Dr. Justin Mooney & Dr. Luis Oliveira

Today I’m joined by Justin Mooney and Luis Oliveira to discuss a new aspects of the problem of evil.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:45 Summary of the paper28:40 Symmetry argument34:33 Necessary evil theodicies56:32 Necessary permission theodicies1:12:03 Divine right theodicies1:26:28 Final thoughts1:34:00 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Justin's website with all his papers: https://www.justinmooney.net/(2) Luis' PhilPeople profile with all his papers: https://philpeople.org/profiles/luis-r-g-oliveira(3) Luis' article "God and gratuitous evil: between the rock and the hard place": https://philpapers.org/archive/OLIGAG.pdf(4) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202501:35:02
Against single-issue pro-life voting

Against single-issue pro-life voting

If the pro-life view is correct, should we prioritize abortion over every other issue in politics and voting? Dustin Crummett argues that the answer is no.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:50 Overview3:30 Body Count Reasoning8:04 Four notes13:18 Embryo Rescue Case19:17 Objection: death vs. unjust killing20:57 Objection: committing unjust killing23:25 Objection: cooperating with evil29:22 Objection: timing of abortion31:59 Objection: non-inferential beliefs38:20 Crummett himself52:02 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Crummett (2023), "Is abortion the only issue?", https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/ergo/article/id/2270/(2) McNabb and DeVito's response paper, "Basic Beliefs, the Embryo Rescue Case, and Single-Issue Voting", https://www.pdcnet.org/ncbq/content/ncbq_2021_0021_0002_0203_0208?file_type=pdf(3) Debate between  @TheCounselofTrent  and  @dustin.crummett : https://youtu.be/RKfa4vAAaPI?si=uaDtEoQXZ-6-_jgR(4) Crummett's interview on  @going_awoll : https://youtu.be/7m0fSYIWn8g?si=U04p-u-Hc4dzzB8c(5) My Applied Ethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaYPueOwJRE0CPj6xyIWfxb(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202554:02
Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles | Ft. @Friction ​

Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles | Ft. @Friction ​

The Grim Reaper Paradox does not support the Kalam cosmological argument. In this video, Troy and I explain why.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro & Outline1:44 Benardete Paradoxes6:43 Connection to the Kalam8:31 Finitist B-Arguments10:20 Grim Reaper Argument21:40 Our first objection22:41 A finite Benardete-like paradox24:24 Our first premise27:45 Our second premise34:49 Our second objection43:14 Diagnosis45:48 ConclusionLINKS(1) Troy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Friction(2) Troy's other links: https://link.space/@Friction(3) The paper discussed in the video is “Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles: Severing the Case for Finitism”, Journal of Philosophy (Forthcoming): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHGRP-4(4) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(5) Blog post, "Responses to the Grim Reaper Kalam", https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2024/05/28/responses-to-the-grim-reaper-kalam/(6) Other papers of mine mentioned in the video:(6.1) “Branching Actualism and Cosmological Arguments”, Philosophical Studies (2023, with Alex Malpass): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBAA-22(6.2) “Benardete paradoxes, patchwork principles, and the infinite past”, Synthese (2024): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBPP-3(6.3) “The End is Near: Grim Reapers and Endless Futures”, Mind (Forthcoming): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHTEI-19(6.4) "Benardete Paradoxes, Causal Finitism, and the Unsatisfiable Pair Diagnosis", Mind (Forthcoming, with Alex Malpass): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHBPC(7) My Springer book with Dr. Dan Linford: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(8) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202547:37
Arguments for and against Molinism | Dr. Daniel Rubio

Arguments for and against Molinism | Dr. Daniel Rubio

Molinism is a popular view of divine providence, but it has serious problems. I'm joined by Daniel Rubio to explore these problems and more.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:50 Key definitions19:30 Molina’s argument23:34 Theological utility35:00 Mooney’s argument37:37 Hasker’s ‘might’ argument44:42 Objective probability argument48:30 Grounding objection58:42 TSB argument1:03:55 Bruteness argument1:08:15 Explanatory priority argument1:14:28 Swenson’s dilemma1:24:00 Explaining freedom away1:31:50 God’s unlucky day1:33:37 Voodoo Argument1:41:07 Kryptonite argument1:45:45 Providential collapse argument1:54:54 Tier List1:56:59 ConclusionRESOURCES(1) Dr. Rubio’s website: https://www.danielkfrubio.com/(2) Climenhaga & Rubio, “Molinism: Explaining Our Freedom Away”: https://philpapers.org/archive/CLIMEO.pdf(3) Rubio, “Still Another Anti-Molinist Argument”: https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/theologica/article/view/84353(4) Law, “If Molinism is true, what can you do?”: https://philpapers.org/archive/LAWIMI.pdf(5) Rasmussen, “On creating worlds without evil given divine counterfactual knowledge”: https://philpapers.org/rec/RASOCW(6) Rusavuk, “Molinism’s Kryptonite: Counterfactuals and circumstantial luck”: https://philpapers.org/archive/RUSMKC.pdf(7) Zimmerman, “Yet another anti-molinist argument”: https://fas-philosophy.rutgers.edu/zimmerman/Anti.Molinist.arg.proofs.pdf(8) Mooney’s argument for molinism (by  @TheAnalyticChristian ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzv37U2alAo(9) Swenson’s argument against molinism (by  @TheAnalyticChristian ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE0fxXY3hjE(10) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202501:58:34
A problem for effective altruism? | Dr. Travis Timmerman

A problem for effective altruism? | Dr. Travis Timmerman

Effective altruism faces a serious dilemma. How might the effective altruist solve it? I'm joined by Dr. Travis Timmerman to explore this question as well as the actualism/possibilism debate in ethics.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:18 Effective altruism9:22 Actualism and possibilism18:20 Not Demanding Enough Objection22:11 Bad Behavior Objection25:25 Non-Ratifiability Problem29:03 Worst Outcome Objection34:34 Asymmetry Objection38:58 Hybridism51:40 Dilemma for effective altruism1:08:21 A hybridist solution?1:15:15 Other practical implicationsRESOURCES(1) Dr. Timmerman's website: https://www.travistimmerman.com/(2) "Effective Altruism's Underspecification Problem": https://philpapers.org/rec/TIMEAU(3) Dr. Timmerman's co-authored SEP entry on actualism and possibilism: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/actualism-possibilism-ethics/(4) "Sweatshops and Free Action: The Stakes of the Actualism/Possibilism Debate for Business Ethics": https://philpapers.org/rec/TIMSAF(5) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202501:17:37
The Modal Ontological Argument: An Analysis

The Modal Ontological Argument: An Analysis

Here's your comprehensive guide to the modal ontological argument for God's existence!


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OUTLINE


0:00 Intro & Outline

2:06 General structure of MOA

12:55 Representative argument

15:16 Simpler variant

16:17 Criticisms

26:43 Symmetry Breakers

32:59 Presumption of possibility

40:45 Conceivability

45:07 Deontic

56:12 Ontomystical

1:06:33 Motivational centrality

1:11:05 Godelian

1:27:25 Maximal God

1:33:07 Modal continuity

1:44:23 Desire

1:54:08 Open-mindedness

1:59:30 Explicability

2:06:39 Conclusion


RESOURCES


(1) My co-authored SEP entry with Oppy and Rasmussen: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/


(2) The paper on PhilPapers: https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHSBF-2


(3) Ontological Arguments playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZ7oLLpd6Joxl2VS1gOce6t


(4) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs-ebook/dp/B0BNMHRW63 (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2


THE USUAL...


Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvH


Join the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreason


My website: https://josephschmid.com


My PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202502:07:57
Causal finitism is NOT the best solution to infinity paradoxes

Causal finitism is NOT the best solution to infinity paradoxes

How should we solve paradoxes of infinity like the Grim Reaper Paradox? One candidate solution is causal finitism. In this video, Alex Malpass and I argue that there’s a better solution: the unsatisfiable pair diagnosis (UPD).Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:45 Summary of the paper3:08 Grim Reaper paradox8:07 The Kalam9:52 Causal finitism12:55 The UPD23:16 Problems with causal finitist solution44:30 Mysterious force objection56:47 Patchwork objection1:13:20 Finite Benardete-like paradoxes1:15:35 Final notesLINKS(1) The original video from  @PhilHalper1 : https://youtu.be/vgLzMkxhEiQ?si=cIM4SZzykNmoOvod(2) The paper discussed in the video is “Benardete Paradoxes, Causal Finitism, and the Unsatisfiable Pair Diagnosis”, Mind (Forthcoming, with Alex Malpass): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHBPC(3) My Kalam playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkZzH2YffI32ViTZ73Tu8jSR(4) Here are four other papers of mine mentioned in the video:(4.1) “Branching Actualism and Cosmological Arguments”, Philosophical Studies (2023, with Alex Malpass): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBAA-22(4.2) “Benardete paradoxes, patchwork principles, and the infinite past”, Synthese (2024): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHBPP-3(4.3) “The End is Near: Grim Reapers and Endless Futures”, Mind (Forthcoming): https://philpapers.org/rec/SCHTEI-19(4.4) “Grim Reaper Paradoxes and Patchwork Principles: Severing the Case for Finitism”, Journal of Philosophy (Forthcoming, with Troy Dana): https://philarchive.org/rec/SCHGRP-4(5) My Springer book with Dr. Dan Linford: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(6) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202501:19:18
Are we moral monsters? | Peter Singer on Charitable Giving

Are we moral monsters? | Peter Singer on Charitable Giving

Peter Singer argues that you are morally obliged to donate to charity even at considerable personal cost. Is he right?Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidRESOURCES(1) Peter Singer's famous paper "Famine, Affluence, and Morality", originally published in 1972: https://personal.lse.ac.uk/robert49/teaching/mm/articles/Singer_1972Famine.pdf(2) Applied Ethics: An Impartial Introduction: https://www.amazon.com/Applied-Ethics-Introduction-Elizabeth-Jackson/dp/1647920116(3) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(4) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202519:15
Pascal's Wager | Dr. Al Hájek and Dr. Liz Jackson

Pascal's Wager | Dr. Al Hájek and Dr. Liz Jackson

Should you wager on God? Let's find out.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro and outline2:48 Key background15:52 The wager23:36 Many gods objection32:16 Mixed strategies objection39:00 Al’s dilemma51:21 Pascal’s mugging1:01:02 Is wagering even possible?1:10:34 Is wagering impious?1:14:25 St. Petersburg Paradox1:30:17 Closing remarksLINKS(1) The paper Liz and Al co-authored on Pascal's wager: https://philpapers.org/archive/HAJPEA.pdf(2) Liz's YouTube channel ( @lizjackson111 ) and website: https://liz-jackson.com/(3) Al's PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/alan-hajek(4) Some of Liz's papers on Pascal's wager: (i) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACFTP-2 (ii) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACAPD-9 (iii) https://philpapers.org/rec/JACSPW(5) Some of Al's papers on Pascal's wager: (i) https://philpapers.org/rec/HJEWWO (ii) https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/(6) An earlier video I made with Liz on Pascal's Wager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qTC7OZB_1A(7) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2(8) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202501:34:51
Why atheists can blame Trent Horn for his bad arguments

Why atheists can blame Trent Horn for his bad arguments

Trent Horn ( @TheCounselofTrent ) recently argued that atheists cannot blame Christians for anything. In this video, I explain why he's wrong.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro1:00 Definitions1:48 Trent’s video4:24 Are atheists blaming Craig?6:05 ‘Should’ implies alternative possibilities?8:14 Power to change the future8:50 Linguistic incaution10:39 Sapolsky11:49 Trent’s core argument16:11 What’s the difference???20:12 Leeway freedom24:22 Atheism and reductive physicalism25:51 Humans vs. animals28:24 Libertarianism and laws of nature32:55 Does theism preclude moral responsibility?38:56 Luck objection42:43 Punishment and moral responsibility47:07 Old Testament God = North Korea48:53 Clarifying compatibilism51:54 Trent contra compatibilism54:19 Trent’s second argument57:21 Frankfurt cases1:04:20 Flickers of freedom1:11:02 Resources and conclusionCORRECTIONS(1) In the section entitled "Should’ implies alternative possibilities?", I contest the idea that 'S should φ' implies 'S could do something alternative to φ-ing'. I think my counterexamples to that idea are correct, but I don't think they actually address Trent's claim in the preceding clip. In particular, Trent's claim was instead that 'S should φ' implies 'S could φ'. Importantly, though, many of my examples can be modified to motivate denying this claim too. For instance, just imagine the boulder-trapping-arm case to be one in which you're compelled *not* to hack off your arm by your psychology (maybe you're very queasy). Still, it seems like you *should* hack off your arm!LINKS(1) My Response Videos playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkaNtpoOwEZm9fuJq423BUrW(2) My Free Will playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXka4SMFOH-KH-hdJoTz6fG5F(3) My Common Mistakes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkY8lCiJY7XZFkfBChK1VdMK(4) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4(5) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202501:13:13
How to excel at philosophy

How to excel at philosophy

What is philosophy? Why is it valuable? And how do we do it well? Here I talk about these topics and more.Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreasonIf you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmidOUTLINE0:00 Intro0:56 The nature of philosophy11:43 The value of philosophy14:30 Is reason beautiful?19:07 Intellectual virtues25:34 How to communicate and engage philosophically33:45 Pervasive mistakes36:55 Mind changes40:11 Personal factors46:31 RecommendationsLINKS(1) Original video with  @NaHoa : https://youtu.be/3TPIgKRvc7o?si=eNRYtjUqjDFZozwO(2) Doing Philosophy playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkbOGcxCZPjybRASmKynBfGN(3) The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy/dp/B086FW6XV4(4) How to Analyze Arguments like a Philosopher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD5_2p-vUjs&pp=ygUqaG93IHRvIGFuYWx5emUgYXJndW1lbnRzIGxpa2UgYSBwaGlsb3NvcGh5(5) Common Mistakes series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhaLyXxXkY8lCiJY7XZFkfBChK1VdMK(6) My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Inertia-Classical-Theistic-Proofs/dp/3031193148/ (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2THE USUAL...Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uNcGselvKphtKSKvHJoin the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreasonMy website: https://josephschmid.comMy PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/joseph-schmid

Feb 25, 202549:02
Avoid These 15 Mistakes about Free Will, Christianity, and Consciousness

Avoid These 15 Mistakes about Free Will, Christianity, and Consciousness

In this final part of the common mistakes series, we cover mistakes about free will, Christianity, and consciousness.


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Feb 27, 202401:10:47
LEVEL UP by avoiding These Mistakes about God

LEVEL UP by avoiding These Mistakes about God

Level up your philosophy of religion game by avoiding these common mistakes about models of God, divine simplicity, Thomism, and more.


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Feb 27, 202459:58
Grim Reapers and Endless Futures: A Problem for the Kalam

Grim Reapers and Endless Futures: A Problem for the Kalam

The Grim Reaper Paradox has been used to support the Kalam Cosmological Argument. Here I mount a grim challenge to this sort of reasoning: implying the impossibility of an endless future.


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Feb 27, 202452:44
Debate Review: Does Free Will Exist? with Sapolsky vs. Huemer

Debate Review: Does Free Will Exist? with Sapolsky vs. Huemer

I’m joined by Dr. Taylor Cyr to review the recent debate between Dr. Robert Sapolsky and Dr. Michael Huemer on free will.


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Feb 27, 202401:51:34
These Mistakes are RUINING your Philosophy of Religion Gains

These Mistakes are RUINING your Philosophy of Religion Gains

Build your mental muscle by avoiding these mistakes about the problem of evil and divine hiddenness.


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Feb 27, 202401:16:36
Common Mistakes about the Moral Argument, Fine-Tuning, and Ontological Arguments

Common Mistakes about the Moral Argument, Fine-Tuning, and Ontological Arguments

In this fourth installment of my common mistakes series, I cover mistakes relating to the moral argument, fine-tuning argument, and ontological arguments.


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Feb 27, 202401:46:38
32 CAREER-ENDING Mistakes about the Kalam and Contingency Arguments

32 CAREER-ENDING Mistakes about the Kalam and Contingency Arguments

In this third installment of my common mistakes series, I cover mistakes relating to the Kalam cosmological argument and contingency arguments.


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Feb 27, 202401:57:42
Fine-Tuning, Cosmic Purpose, and Psychophysical Harmony with Philip Goff

Fine-Tuning, Cosmic Purpose, and Psychophysical Harmony with Philip Goff

Is there purpose behind the universe? Philip Goff joins me to explain why he thinks the answer is yes. We cover fine-tuning, psychophysical harmony, and more.


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Feb 27, 202401:22:33