The Badlands Politics & Philosophy Podcast
A group of trained philosophers explore the philosophical dimensions of contemporary politics, and make the case for progressive politics.
Episodes
94 episodes
94 - Success or Meaning?
In this episode, we continue discussing "success culture". Does it promote the goal of living a meaningful life, or do those goals come into conflict? What about happiness? Does success and achievement make anyone happy?To...
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1:05:24
93 - Against Success Culture Pt. 1: What is Success and Is It Good to be Successful?
In this episode, we discuss "success culture". What is success and is it a worthy goal? Or does it monopolize our lives in unhealthy ways?Toby Napoletano, Hanna Gunn
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1:09:26
92 - Is AI Replacing Artists?
In this episode, we discuss the complaints of artists that machine learning programs are using the works of human artists to mass produce similar kinds of art, and replacing the need for human artists. Can and does AI art have the same aestheti...
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1:37:01
91 - The Supreme Court Overturns Roe vs Wade (pt.2)
In this episode, we dig into the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v Wade, thereby eliminating a constitutional right to an abortion. There are two main questions at issue: Was the reasoning in Roe sound? And the...
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1:12:06
90 - The Supreme Court Overturns Roe vs Wade (pt.1)
In this episode, we dig into the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v Wade, thereby eliminating a constitutional right to an abortion. There are two main questions at issue: Was the reasoning in Roe soun...
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1:30:52
89 - Uh Oh, Have the Chat Bots Gone Sentient??
In today's episode, we discuss whether Google's "Lambda" chat bot is sentient. If not, is it intelligent? Does it have moral standing? What do these terms even mean?Toby Napoletano, Michael Hughes
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1:39:50
88 - Should We Get Rid of Applications? Pt. 2
In this episode, we continue discussing Adam Mastroianni's "Against All Applications" (https://experimentalhistory.substack.com/p/against-all-applications?s=r). What is wrong with the application process, both for hiring and for education, and ...
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1:34:42
87 - Should We Get Rid of Applications? Pt. 1
In this episode, we discuss Adam Mastroianni's "Against All Applications" (https://experimentalhistory.substack.com/p/against-all-applications?s=r). What is wrong with the application process, both for hiring and for education, and what are the...
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1:15:57
86 - Machine Learning and Ethics: The Toronto Declaration Pt. 2
In this episode, we continue to discuss some of the ethical problems surrounding machine learning technologies, and particular concerns about their discriminatory uses. We use the Toronto Declaration, which applies a human rights framework to m...
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1:13:40
85 - Machine Learning and Ethics: The Toronto Declaration Pt. 1
In this episode, we discuss some of the ethical problems surrounding machine learning technologies, and particular concerns about their discriminatory uses. We use the Toronto Declaration, which applies a human rights framework to machine learn...
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1:13:50
84 - Is Doping Wrong?
In this episode, we consider whether, and why, it is wrong to use various performance enhancing drugs in sports. Should they be allowed? How and where do we draw the line? And what even is fairness in the context of sports?Toby Napoletano, ...
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1:40:34
83 - Are We Living In A Failed Simulation?
On today's episode, we consider whether, given the depressing state of the world, we are actually just living in a failed simulation. Is there reason to think we are living in a simulation? And should we have hope that things will improve, or w...
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1:19:15
82 - Pope Says It's Selfish to Have Pets Instead of Kids
Pope Francis recently declared that couples who choose to have pets over kids are exhibiting a “form of selfishness” which “diminishes us and takes away our humanity.” In 2014 Francis claimed that having pets instead of children was “another ph...
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1:26:48
81 - Do Ecosystems Have Intrinsic Value? Pt. 2
In this episode, we discussed Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic", the idea that ecosystems--including the water, the soil, the rocks, the plants, animals, etc.--have intrinsic value. The idea sounds quite radical against a backdrop of standard moral t...
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1:14:21
80 - Do Ecosystems Have Intrinsic Value? Pt. 1
In this episode, we discussed Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic", the idea that ecosystems--including the water, the soil, the rocks, the plants, animals, etc.--have intrinsic value. The idea sounds quite radical against a backdrop of standard moral t...
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1:22:14
79 - Can You Be Anti-Abortion Without Being A Socialist Vegan? (Part 2)
In this episode, we dive into the ethics of abortion. In particular, we ask: what positions on personhood, harm, and sacrifice does one have to hold in order to be anti-abortion WITHOUT also being committed to the moral (or legal) requirement o...
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1:14:54
78 - Can You Be Anti-Abortion Without Being A Socialist Vegan? (Part 1)
In this episode, we dive into the ethics of abortion. In particular, we ask: what positions on personhood, harm, and sacrifice does one have to hold in order to be anti-abortion WITHOUT also being committed to the moral (or legal) requirement o...
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1:14:39
77 - Texas' Anti-Abortion Law
In today's episode, we discuss the recent anti-abortion law passed in the state of Texas, which effectively tries to eliminate most abortions that occur after six weeks of pregnancy. The law is a blatant attempt to get around Roe vs. Wade, and ...
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56:16
76 - The Conservative Mind and the Liberal Mind pt. 2
In this episode, we continue our discussion of conservative and liberal psychology. Is one cognitive style more rational than the other? How does philosophical conservatism fit in? And what, if anything, does this research suggest about how to ...
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1:25:42
75 - The Conservative Mind and the Liberal Mind
In today's episode, we begin discussing the psychological and cognitive research on the differences between the brains, minds, and personalities of liberals and conservatives. Toby Napoletano, Michael Hughes
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50:30
74 - Michael Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit pt. 2
On today's episode, we continue our discussion on meritocracy and Michael Sandel's recent book The Tyranny of Merit, which argues that meritocracy is "a hollow political project that reflects an impoverished conception of citizen...
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1:41:10
73 - Michael Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit pt. 1
On today's episode, we revisit the topic of meritocracy and begin discussing Michael Sandel's recent book The Tyranny of Merit, which argues that meritocracy is "a hollow political project that reflects an impoverished conce...
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1:16:36
72 - Is Morality Just Like Your Opinion, Man? Pt 2: Metaethics or Why Morality is Kind of Weird Though...
On today's episode, we continue our discussion of metaethics, explaining some of the traditional philosophical problems in metaethics, which have led some philosophers to think that anti-realist or relativist views of morality might actua...
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1:16:57
71 - Is Morality Just Like Your Opinion, Man? Pt 1: On Cultural Relativism
In this episode, we begin a discussion about the possibility that morality is all relative, subject, or perhaps merely opinion. We give some objections to the some of the simpler forms of moral relativism, and consider some of the more sophisti...
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1:10:33