Podcast
The Uncertainty Podcast
Hosted by Miles K. Donahue · EN
A philosophy Ph.D. student working his way, with the world's leading thinkers, through the problems of philosophy, religion, science, and the existential struggle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - similar to Alex O'Connor, but more American. Who wants to come along for the ride?
mileskdonahue.substack.com
mileskdonahue.substack.com
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#84 Continental Philosophy: Genius or Gibberish? - Keegan Kjeldson
May 1501:49:13Tap to summarizeKeegan Kjeldson of the Untimely Reflections YouTube channel returns to the podcast to discuss the merits of continental philosophy. While he is largely in favor and I am not, we both agree that Hegel is abysmally obscure.Video of this interview is available on YouTube.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.Follow me on X because you’re awesome.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:18 Hegel vs Plantinga: obscurity and clarity00:03:07 Keegan’s defense of continental philosophy00:08:38 Why continental philosophy feels impenetrable00:11:15 Spinoza and intuitive knowledge00:14:25 Nietzsche, style, and philosophical insight00:18:07 Logical positivism and ethics00:22:21 What is metaethics?00:27:17 Utilitarianism and moral intuitions00:30:17 Do arguments bottom out in intuition?00:36:39 What is philosophy for?00:44:41 Moral realism and objective moral truth00:48:59 Judith Butler and the charge of gibberish00:54:10 Clear continental thinkers00:55:57 Heidegger and justified obscurity01:02:00 Is clarity always a virtue?01:06:49 Can poetry give us rational grounds?01:12:52 Moral knowledge vs moral persuasion01:15:29 Motivated reasoning in ethics01:25:21 Ethics, emotion, and objectivity01:28:14 The Nazi example and moral realism01:32:26 Abortion, personhood, and moral disagreement01:38:44 Objective truth in morality and science01:41:17 Has humanity made moral progress? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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#83 Answering (Almost) Every Objection to the Fine-Tuning Argument
May 701:50:39Tap to summarizeThe great, the one, the only Joseph C. Schmid returns to the podcast to offer a comprehensive reply to (almost) every objection to the fine-tuning argument for theism. Ever worried about puddles? Inverse gamblers? Stalking horses? Boltzmann Brains? Alex Malpass? Well, fear no more: we define, describe, and dispel (or defend!) all these concerns and more. Not gonna lie guys, this is one of my favorite discussions so far. Hats off to Joe for being 10/10 great.Video of this interview is available on YouTube.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.Follow me on X because you’re awesome.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:45 #1 The puddle analogy refutes the FTA00:05:49 #2 Other forms of life are possible!00:08:58 #3 The multiverse explains fine-tuning00:53:08 #4 Electrons in love01:16:06 #5 We couldn't have observed a non-fine-tuned universe01:21:09 #6 Maybe the constants are metaphysical necessary!01:33:38 #7 Our universe is hostile to life01:42:00 #8 Alex Malpass and the stalking horse objection01:47:54 #9 We cannot get a grip on divine psychology Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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#82 Does William Lane Craig Get Cosmology Wrong? - Dan Linford
Apr 3001:19:14Tap to summarizeDan Linford returns to the channel to offer his reply to my recent discussion with William Lane Craig, wherein he replied to critiques of his case for a cosmic beginning. We discuss probability theory, the BGV theorem, emergence of spacetime, and the relevance of quantum gravity to our scientific inferences about a beginning of the universe.Video of this interview is available on YouTube.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.Follow me on X because you’re awesome.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:01:24 Craig's modest claim00:10:27 How to calculate the probability of a conclusion00:15:21 The probabilistic fallacy in Craig's scientific case00:21:56 Craig - "I'm ruling out classes of models"00:26:33 Exceptions to the BGV theorem00:29:22 Do theories of time make a difference?00:42:28 Inference to the best explanation and low probability00:51:25 Craig's inconsistency: temporally finite models of the universe00:59:18 Why we need a quantum theory of gravity01:12:04 The emergence of spacetime Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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#81 Are There Objective Moral Truths? - David Enoch vs. Lance Bush
Apr 2301:29:38Tap to summarizeDavid Enoch and Lance Bush face off over the question of whether objective moral truths exist. They debate the intuitiveness of moral realism, whether most people are moral realists, question-begging, radical skepticism, and much else besides.Video of this interview is available on YouTube.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.Follow me on X because you’re awesome.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:38 David's opening statement00:13:21 Lance's opening statement00:26:05 "I don't give a damn if most people aren't moral realists"00:31:59 Who is begging the question on whom?00:35:55 Is realism the intuitive position?00:40:35 Is Lance a radical skeptic?00:43:39 Realists misattribute metaethical claims to most people00:57:48 "People in general are idiots"01:02:06 Does ordinary moral discourse support realism?01:10:42 What are the costs of realism and anti-realism?01:18:15 On the strengths and weaknesses of analytic philosophy01:22:33 What do you mean when you say something is “wrong,” Lance? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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#80 Something Exists; Therefore, God Exists - Josh Rasmussen
Apr 1601:30:50Tap to summarizeJoshua Rasmussen explains his cosmological argument for God's existence: the existence of contingent things requires an explanation, and God fits the bill. Roughly stated, for sure, but that's the idea.Video of this interview is available on YouTube.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.Follow me on X because you’re awesome.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:57 Why the question matters00:10:29 Is ultimate reality beyond logic?00:14:55 Contingent vs. necessary things00:20:44 Stage #1 - From contingent things to a necessary being00:26:38 What is an "explanation"?00:36:23 Why should there be an explanation of all contingent things?00:47:37 Should we trust what intuition tells us?00:55:56 Conflicting empirical generalizations - a la Joe Schmid01:04:04 Stage #2 - From a necessary being to God01:12:52 Even a limitless God requires explanation01:23:37 Graham Oppy's necessary initial state of nature Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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#79 Did the Universe Begin? William Lane Craig Cross-Examined
Apr 900:55:38Tap to summarizeWilliam Lane Craig, Christian philosopher and apologist, returns to the channel to defend his use of cosmology in support of the kalam cosmological argument. In particular, we focus on recent critiques of his work from Daniel Linford, Phil Halper, Niayesh Afshordi, and others.Video of this interview is available on YouTube.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.Follow me on X because you're awesome.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:06 Craig's case for a cosmic beginning02:55 "We don't have a quantum theory of gravity"09:24 Has Craig misunderstood probabilities?15:44 Can you give a parody argument against a beginning?20:23 Finite past vs. beginning to exist24:08 The emergence of spacetime28:05 The Malament-Manchak theorem35:42 The BGV theorem and its limits42:08 The generalized second law of thermodynamics44:26 Sean Carroll's model of an eternal universe47:58 Why don't all cosmologists agree about a beginning?50:39 Does your scientific case require your philosophical case? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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#54 It Matters Whether God Exists | Joe Folley
Oct 16Tap to summarizeJoe Folley and I discuss our philosophical differences regarding fine-tuning, the problem of evil, skeptical theism, pragmatic justification for God, apatheism, and much else besides.Check out Joe's excellent YouTube channel.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee. Feel free to follow me on Twitter.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:15 The fine-tuning argument00:12:30 Can the constants really vary?00:18:41 What is "possibility"?00:34:54 Is probability just frequency?00:48:16 Is there common ground between theist and atheist?00:58:04 We should not be apathetic about God's existence01:10:38 There are more options besides theism and naturalism01:19:50 Skeptical theism01:28:29 Does evil disprove God?01:32:04 Philip Goff's limited God01:43:55 Life is better if you believe in God01:53:40 Should we take the red pill?01:58:59 Problems with moral realism02:12:50 What motivates you in running a YouTube channel? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe
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