#22 - Thinking Through Thought Experiments

Increments

In this episode, we discuss Peter Singer's famous drowning child thought experiment, the role of moral theories, and the role of thought experiments in moral reasoning. From our perspectives, the conversation went something like this:
Ben's POV: Bravely and boldly trying to think through problems, Ben puts forward a stunningly insightful theory about the role of moral argumentation. Vaden, jealous of the profundity of Ben's message, tries to disagree but can't.
Vaden's POV: What the eff is Ben talking about? I disagree. No wait nvm I agree. Let's change the subject.
References in intro segment:

• Talk by Joseph Agassi
• Robert Sapolsky's book Behave
• Milgram experiments
• Stanford Prison Experiments (see also: Radio Lab's The Bad Show)

References in main segment:

• Famine, Affluence, and Morality by Peter Singer
• The Organization for the Prevention of Intense Suffering (OPIS)
• Reasons and Persons by Derek Parfit
• Galileo's thought experiment: Parts of Falling Objects
• Einstein's thought experiments

Put on a suit and drown a child before sending your best moral theory to [e-mail].
Support Increments