Do we underestimate the ability of High Schoolers to tackle complex politically charged existential and moral philosophy problems with nuance, intelligence, and compassion? I hope this episode will convince you that we absolutely do. Jay has served as a judge for the High School Ethics Bowl for six years. In this episode he speaks with 5 students who participated this year on the view of the world from high school, their favorite and least favorite cases, their future excitement and trepidation, and the endless dilemma of the tension between "making money" and "finding happiness." To follow along, see the full case list from this year and past years, and get involved directly: https://nhseb.unc.edu/

Dilemma Podcast

S02E22: High School Philosophy - Lawrenceville Ethics Bowl Team

Quantum mechanics, mathematical robustness, dream state deja vu oddities... these are all things that one would expect to find in a simulated world. Wait, so are we in a simulation? Author, investor, and video game pioneer Rizwan Virk joins Jay for a deep conversation taking on the Simulation Theory first made famous by Nick Bostrom. They strike gold when the conversation shifts to the philosophical and psychological implications of the theory rather than the truth of the theory itself.

S02E21: Are we in a simulation? Does it matter? - Rizwan Virk

What kind of environmental and individual factors lead to the proliferation of conspiracy theories? Jay is joined by co-authors and researchers Hugo Drochen and Annemarie S Walter to discuss their paper "Conspiracy Thinking in Europe and America: A Comparative Study". Jay opens by telling his personal story of flirtation with conspiracy and pays homage to a good friend who recently took his own life, Ellery Samson.

S02E20: Conspiracies Everywhere - Hugo Drochen and Annemarie S Walter

Have artificial intelligence fears been overblown? Are we glossing over the much more pressing issue of weaponized quantum computing? Or are these tandem problems? What the heck is a computer anyway and what would make one "quantum"? Jay discusses these issues and more with philosopher, consultant, and co-Founder of the QC Ethics Initiative (QCEthics.org) Sean Holland. In the open, three famous rules of technology from Arthur C. Clarke help Jay demystify the computer with metal buckets, rocks, ropes and pulleys on the side of a desert cliff.

S02E19: Quantum Computing - Sean Holland

Michael Scott Moore was held captive by pirates in Somalia for 977. He recounts what philosophies and psychological tactics got him through the experience while he and Jay ponder the moral dilemma of whether or not to pay ransoms to criminals and terrorists. Discussed in this episode: stoicism, a message from the Pope, living with guilt and gratitude, the elasticity of the human mind, and the loose analogy to being held captive by COVID-19. Subscribe to Jay's low key email reminders to keep up with when he writes something new, releases something new, appears as a guest on something, plans a live event, or has an urgent book or film recommendation at whatjaythinks.com

S02E18: Hostage - Michael Scott Moore

On the using of the word "coup" to describe the events in Washington on Jan 6 2021.

Jay's Special Comment on The Coup with Michael Scott Moore

Seth Andrews was a Christian Radio host in Tulsa Oklahoma before he began his intellectual journey to atheism. Jay and Seth discuss the philosophies underpinning the religious worldview and how it continues to inform our political landscape. Jay lays out exactly what the title of this episode means with the help of his favorite Richard Feynman clip.

S02E17: Atheistic search for god - Seth Andrews

Why do we avoid intimacy when we know it is the deepest need we have? Scott Barry Kaufman is an author, psychologist, and podcast host. His latest book "Transcend" continues the work of Abraham Maslow who introduced the hierarchy of needs. Jay and Scott discuss: peak experience, 1st order and 2nd order desires, the danger of gurus, the vulnerability of intimacy, the higher grumbles, utopias, and much more. Jay ponders the tragedy of Jonestown and also asks the listeners for a future show idea.  Send stuff here: dilemmaideas@gmail.com

S02E16: The Silence Beyond Sound - Scott Barry Kaufman

Are the kids alright? Sigal Ben-Porath and Jay discuss the thorny issues of free speech on college campus by first traversing some philosophical groundwork offered by Hannah Arendt. Together they explore what speech is "beyond the pale", "a waste of time", "too dangerous", or simply disingenuous cover for nefarious politics. Ultimately, the questions of what kinds of responsibilities educational (and housing) institutions have to their students and tenants and what the purpose of school really is become central to the conversation.

S02E15: Speech on Campus - Sigal Ben-Porath

Jay and his mom Sally talk about old age, being thankful in a strange year, and the lessons they're learning from COVID. Video posted on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oeboanFZOG8 Happy Thanksgiving from Dilemma

S02E14: Thanksgiving 2020 - Mom

Did Charles Darwin discover something much more fundamental than the origin of species? A defense and exploration of the field of memetics with Professor Susan Blackmore. Jay and Susan make their way through the common confusions, problems, and good and bad questions to ask about memetics.

S02E13: The Power of Memes - Susan Blackmore

Jay goes down the dark paths that might lie ahead spurred by the 2020 US election with Mike Selinker. Mike is an award winning game designer and game theorist who writes frequently about politics. What are the historical analogies that could warn us and help us steer clear of the dangers? This episode follows the format of Mike's viral essay "A wargame designer defines our four possible civil wars". Available here: https://medium.com/@mikeselinker/a-wargame-designer-describes-our-four-possible-civil-wars-cf5b2e980099

S02E12: How To Avoid a Civil War - Mike Selinker

A look at the philosophical side of sports and what we can learn about human behavior in the time of COVID altered stadiums. Jay speaks with veteran sports writer Jon Wertheim as they focus in a particular chapter from his book Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won all about "home field advantage" and what exactly caused home teams to win so much... before COVID changed everything.

S02E11: Home Field Advantage - Jon Wertheim

What do you NOT want to know? Jay is joined by the prolific and influential behavior economist Cass Sunstein for a conversation about his latest book: Too Much Information. Discussed in this episode: The Garden of Eden, Willingness to Pay and Willingness to Accept metrics, the social media habit, the right to know vs the consequences of information, the usefulness of informing one's vote, the focus of attention and editorial choices, and whether Cass really did "ruin popcorn."

S02E10: Too Much Information - Cass Sunstein

Jay tackles the age old question of philosophically defining art with the incredible street artist SWOON (Caledonia Curry). Together they wonder, can machines make art? Swoon's recent piece: The Medea 

S02E09: What is Art? - SWOON

The Dilemma Podcast features prominent thinkers discussing a different moral dilemma in every episode. Hosted by Jay Shapiro & Coleman Hughes with moral dilemmas to soothe your existential dread.

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Dilemma Podcast

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