The Uncertainty Podcast

Miles K. Donahue
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. Oct 2

    #101 We Must Save Science from Quantum Mechanics - Emily Adlam

    Emily Adlam discusses the problems facing several interpretations of quantum mechanics: principal among them, the probability problem. Prepare for discussion of self-locating credences, branch-counting, and whether a mechanism deposits consciousness throughout the branching wavefunction 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:52 The problem of recovering empirical confirmation 00:04:47 The many-worlds interpretation 00:07:01 The measurement problem 00:08:42 The probability problem in many-worlds 00:12:06 The decision-theoretic approach to probability 00:16:33 Self-locating evidence and Everettian quantum mechanics 00:19:20 Pure vs. superficial self-locating credence 00:25:08 Can the Born rule constrain self-locating credence? 00:30:15 Interpretations vs. theories of quantum mechanics 00:34:51 Can we save science from quantum mechanics? 00:44:30 What happened to the Copenhagen interpretation? 00:46:45 What do physicists believe about quantum mechanics? 00:48:27 The anthropic argument for God 00:56:22 Multiverses, fine-tuning, and self-locating evidence Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #101 We Must Save Science from Quantum Mechanics - Emily Adlam

  2. Sep 24

    #100 A Heated Discussion on Science, Probability, and Induction - John Norton

    In the hundredth episode of this podcast, I discuss the use, and misuse, of probability in science and philosophy with John Norton. Prepare for a contentious conversation about fundamental issues in probability theory, induction, and cosmic fine-tuning. This one does not disappoint. 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:30 Formal vs. material theories of induction 00:04:58 Does material induction make induction redundant? 00:11:15 Bayesianism vs. the material theory 00:16:47 Can we say evolution is “probably” true? 00:19:23 Evidential support without probabilities 00:23:16 Can Bayesianism capture inference to the best explanation? 00:25:00 The outcome space dispute 00:29:47 Probability and the danger of false precision 00:31:03 The simulation argument and misapplied probability 00:35:39 The doomsday argument and self-locating evidence 00:38:33 Objective vs. subjective Bayesianism 00:43:36 The bootstrapping problem for probability 00:50:53 Probability in cosmology and the multiverse 00:57:59 Does inflation make our universe more probable? 01:00:19 What is John Norton most uncertain about? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #100 A Heated Discussion on Science, Probability, and Induction - John Norton

  3. Sep 10

    #99 An Oxford Philosopher Investigates the Meaning of Life - Tim Mawson

    Tim Mawson, professor of philosophy at Oxford, discusses the contours of the newly emerging philosophical investigation into the meaning of life. What does it mean to say that life's meaning is subjective versus objective? Would life be meaningful if we were immortal? And what difference does God make, and not make, to whether life means anything? 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:55 Open theism and God's relationship to time 00:11:09 Returning to the meaning of life 00:12:06 Why philosophers neglected the meaning of life 00:15:48 What does it mean for life to have meaning? 00:19:20 Objectivism, subjectivism and hybrid theories 00:28:23 Objective meaning, subjective states and purpose 00:35:00 Can there be no meaning to life? 00:39:47 What can God add to life's meaning? 00:43:25 Vocation, purpose and meaningfulness 00:50:50 Does God give some people more meaningful lives? 00:59:20 Death, immortality and the meaning of life 01:00:25 Would eternal life become unbearably boring? 01:07:48 Does infinite time destroy urgency? 01:13:23 Would praising God forever become boring? 01:18:14 What God cannot add to life's meaning 01:21:55 Can God's existence make a life less meaningful? 01:24:18 What is the meaning of life? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #99 An Oxford Philosopher Investigates the Meaning of Life - Tim Mawson

  4. Sep 3

    #98 Every Argument for God, Refuted - Kevin Scharp

    Kevin Scharp comes back on the podcast to discuss William Lane Craig’s eight-part case for the existence of God: contingency, cosmology, mathematics, fine-tuning, consciousness, morality, miracles, and experience. 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:20 Behind the scenes: Kevin vs. William Lane Craig 00:14:11 Craig on probability & inference to the best explanation 00:23:07 Divine psychology and fine-tuning 00:27:06 Argument #1 - Contingency 00:43:30 Does everything need an explanation? 00:49:48 Argument #2 - Kalam cosmological argument 00:51:35 Actual infinity and Hilbert’s Hotel 01:03:06 Argument #3 - Fine-tuning 01:09:53 What does the Big Bang actually tell us? 01:11:53 Divine psychology 01:27:08 Argument #4 - Applicability of mathematics 01:35:08 Argument #5 - Consciousness 01:40:47 Does consciousness really get us to God? 01:45:41 Argument #6 - Morality 01:54:43 Argument #7 - The resurrection of Jesus 01:58:27 Miracles and the laws of nature 02:08:25 Argument #8 - Experience of God Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #98 Every Argument for God, Refuted - Kevin Scharp

  5. Aug 27

    #97 Why Belief in the Soul Makes Sense - Ralph Stefan Weir

    Ralph Weir answers all my questions about the mind-body problem, how we define "physical," whether I can conceive of philosophical zombies, and where panpsychism fits into all this. 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:35 How Ralph got into philosophy of mind 00:05:52 Eliminativism: do mental states exist? 00:09:00 What is illusionism? 00:10:56 What is phenomenal consciousness? 00:17:53 What are qualia? 00:21:33 What does “physical” actually mean? 00:29:03 Is panpsychism a form of physicalism? 00:35:45 Mapping the mind-body problem 00:45:16 Property dualism vs. substance dualism 00:53:10 What is the strongest case against physicalism? 01:00:32 Philosophical zombies and modal skepticism 01:10:23 Can science settle the mind-body problem? 01:18:20 Mental causation and physical anomalies 01:22:31 Does the evidence favor physicalism? 01:34:07 Which philosophical view is Ralph most uncertain about? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #97 Why Belief in the Soul Makes Sense - Ralph Stefan Weir

  6. Aug 20

    #96 Does God Exist? - Michael Huemer vs. Joshua Rasmussen

    You do NOT want to miss this debate on the perennial question that human beings have wondered about for thousands of years: does God exist? Josh presents both a cumulative case for theism, as well as his signature argument from arbitrary limits. Mike presents his novel argument against God's infinite attributes. 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:48 Joshua Rasmussen’s opening statement 00:17:05 Michael Huemer’s opening statement 00:33:26 Moderated discussion begins 00:35:43 Infinity and the nature of God 00:45:18 What grounds an eternal reality? 00:48:13 God, consciousness, and omniscience 00:54:18 Platonism, infinity, and the digits of π 01:01:18 Can God have unlimited power? 01:07:29 Does theism best explain reality? 01:14:08 Fine-tuning and the multiverse 01:20:27 Does a multiverse actually explain life? 01:26:39 Suffering and the problem of evil 01:32:56 Closing statements Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #96 Does God Exist? - Michael Huemer vs. Joshua Rasmussen

  7. Aug 13

    #95 Does Buddhism Teach Annihilation? And Other Questions - Emily McRae

    Emily McRae, professor of philosophy at the University of New Mexico, offers an overview of Buddhist philosophy. In particular, we discuss the different traditions within Buddhism - Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, and Zen - the doctrine of emptiness, the Four Noble Truths, and the ontology of Nirvana: annihilation, eternal bliss, or a state of mind in the here and now? 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:55 Moral ignorance in Buddhist philosophy 00:06:47 What drew Emily to Buddhist philosophy? 00:10:36 Analytic philosophy vs. Buddhist philosophy 00:13:41 What kind of ethical theory is Buddhism? 00:21:26 Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy? 00:24:37 The major schools of Buddhism 00:29:56 Emptiness and the Buddhist theory of the self 00:37:47 Why the Buddha refused to answer some questions 00:43:02 The Four Noble Truths 00:46:01 The first Noble Truth: suffering 00:51:04 The second Noble Truth: the causes of suffering 00:53:43 The third Noble Truth: the end of suffering 00:56:10 What is nirvana? 01:00:14 Does Buddhism ultimately teach annihilation? 01:07:15 Buddhism vs. Christianity on desire 01:12:18 The fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path 01:16:16 What reason is there to believe Buddhism is true? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #95 Does Buddhism Teach Annihilation? And Other Questions - Emily McRae

  8. Aug 6

    #94 Everything Wrong with the Case for Eternal Hell - Randal Rauser

    In my recent discussion with Ethan Muse, he made a case for the compatibility of God's perfect love and the doctrine of eternal conscious torment. Randal Rauser returns to the channel to respond. Are we far more wicked than we realize? Does any sin merit infinite punishment? What should we do if we struggle with fear of eternal hell? We discuss these questions 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 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:06 Randal’s approach to YouTube 00:03:08 Initial reactions to Ethan Muse’s defense of hell 00:08:34 Is the problem emotional or intellectual? 00:16:07 The authority of the Catholic Church 00:22:16 The three Christian views of hell 00:25:00 Are human beings wicked enough to deserve hell? 00:31:02 Does every sin merit infinite punishment? 00:36:29 Moral culpability and ignorance 00:43:08 Is rejecting God an infinitely serious sin? 00:47:08 Will most people go to hell? 00:53:19 Would creation be a net moral failure? 00:56:30 Did Jesus teach eternal conscious torment? 01:03:29 The central moral argument against eternal hell 01:07:18 Do the noetic effects of sin undermine moral intuition? 01:12:19 Should we trust the moral judgment of Catholic saints? 01:20:48 Does moral disagreement undermine our intuitions? 01:24:07 Different degrees of suffering in hell 01:28:16 How should Christians cope with the fear of hell? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

    #94 Everything Wrong with the Case for Eternal Hell - Randal Rauser
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Miles K. Donahue
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Miles Donahue
  • Show Website
    The Uncertainty Podcast

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