Breaking Consensus

Kevin von Niederhäusern
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  • PHILOSOPHY
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A podcast that challenges mainstream views through deep conversations on the forces shaping our world. Guests include philosophers, researchers, and curious thinkers who push us to reconsider what we often take for granted.

Episodes

  1. MAY 15

    #6 Miles Donahue - How To Actually Develop Critical Thinking

    Miles Donahue is an analytic philosopher and PhD candidate at Oxford specialising in philosophy of religion, with a focus on the fine tuning argument for the existence of God and multiverse theories. He hosts The Uncertainty Podcast, where he engages professional philosophers on the biggest questions in metaphysics and religion. 00:00 What Is Philosophy? 05:11 Should We Always Pursue Truth? 10:11 Theism, Absurdism, and Life's Meaning 12:23 Which Argument Forced You To Change Your Beliefs? 16:40 What Are The Tools Of The Philosopher? 19:58 Is What Seems True Actually True? 23:53 The Difference Between Philosophers and Non-Philosophers 25:33 How To Keep Your Friends (for Philosophers) 31:25 Engaging in Philosophical Conversations35:42 Is Philosophy Niche? 41:39 What Skills Are Developed Through Studying Philosophy? 44:03 The Journey of Belief and Skepticism 50:14 How To Discuss Emotional Topics? 55:07 Maintaining Integrity in Debates

    1h 2m

  2. APR 29

    #5 Michael Gerlich - Why AI Makes You Feel Smarter While Making You Dumber

    Prof. Dr. Michael Gerlich is a sociologist and behavioural scientist specialising in the impact of AI on human cognition and society. His research was among the first to empirically demonstrate that AI negatively affects critical thinking — findings that have since been confirmed by multiple independent studies — making him one of the leading voices on the human cost of AI adoption. His latest book, The Convenience Trap, argues that the most dangerous thing about AI is not that it is too powerful — but that it is too convenient. 00:00 The Impact of AI on Critical Thinking 02:38 Cognitive Offloading vs. Cognitive Outsourcing 05:52 AI vs. Google 08:47 The Influence of AI on Social Media and Beliefs 11:42 Using AI to Enhance Critical Thinking 14:46 Corporate Challenges with AI Implementation 17:41 The Role of AI in Efficiency and Workload 20:49 The Future of Work 23:53 Critical Thinking in the Age of AI 37:29 Creating Friction in AI Processes 41:42 Market Forces and AI Competition 43:59 The Challenges of AI Implementation 47:46 Perception vs. Reality of AI Impact 54:28 The Irreversibility of AI Development 59:49 The Need for Dialogue on AI Regulation 01:04:28 Preparing Society for AI's Impact

    1h 5m

  3. FEB 20

    #4 Elise Crull - Why Science Can't Answer Its Own Deepest Questions

    Elise Crull is a philosopher of science and Associate Professor at The City College of New York. Her work bridges philosophy and physics, focusing on the conceptual foundations of modern physics, especially quantum mechanics and relativity. Recently named a Fellow of the American Physical Society, she has also appeared twice on StarTalk, where she discussed the philosophical foundations of physics with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Timestamps: 00:00 – The Intersection of Philosophy and Science 02:37 – Defining Science and Its Boundaries 05:40 – What Is Matter? 13:48 – The Value of Philosophy in Science 19:42 – What Is Objectivity? 29:48 – Falsifiability and the Nature of Scientific Theories 33:07 – Quantum Mechanics: Determinism vs Indeterminism 36:03 – The Limits of Science and God 38:38 – The Multiverse Interpretation of Quantum Physics 42:10 – Does Science Provide Explanations? 46:30 – Einstein's Revolution: From Newtonian to Relativistic Physics 53:42 – Is There Progress in Science? 57:44 – Are Scientific Theories True? 01:02:28 – Measuring Time and Space: A Philosophical Inquiry 01:06:37 – Diving Deeper Into Einstein's Special Relativity 01:08:47 – This Is Why Science Needs Philosophers

    1h 9m

  4. 10/30/2025

    #3 Jeanette Andrews - What Magic Teaches Us About Beliefs & Polarization

    Jeanette Andrews is a New York–based artist and magician whose work bridges illusion, installation, and conceptual art. Her performances function as live thought experiments — multisensory investigations into perception, cognition, and belief. Jeanette Andrews is a New York–based artist and magician whose work bridges illusion, installation, and conceptual art. Her performances function as live thought experiments — multisensory investigations into perception, cognition, and belief. She has presented commissioned works with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Québec City Biennial, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, among many others, and has been affiliated with Harvard’s metaLAB and held a fellowship with MIT’s Center for Art, Science and Technology. More from Jeanette Andrews: Website: https://www.jeanetteandrews.com/ Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanetteandrewsmagic/ Timestamps: 0:00 – What Is Magic, Really? 5:15 – The Power of Framing: How Context Impacts Perception 11:47 – Consensual Deception: When We Agree to Be Fooled 13:12 – Magic, Manipulation, and the Ethics of Belief 19:04 – The Real Purpose of Illusion 24:58 – What Magic Reveals About the Mind and Perception 26:37 – Where Art Meets Philosophy and Science 35:00 – Deception, Bias, and the Architecture of Belief 40:06 – How Magicians Exploit (and Expose) Our Cognitive Traps 46:40 – A Live Experiment in Cognitive Magic 50:01 – Inside Jeanette Andrews’ MIT Project The Attestation 1:05:20 – [Announcement] What Is Coming Next For Jeanette Andrews

    1h 7m

  5. 07/06/2025

    #2 Tristram McPherson - Should You Act Ethically Even If It Changes Nothing?

    Tristram McPherson is a moral philosopher and Professor at The Ohio State University. His work bridges ethics, metaethics, and political philosophy, with a focus on the moral challenges of contemporary life. More from Tristram McPherson: Website: https://sites.google.com/site/drtristram/ Publications: https://sites.google.com/site/drtristram/publications?authuser=0 Timestamps: 00:00 Crowley The Modern Demon 07:10 The “Drop in the Bucket” Problem 12:43 Can Tiny Actions Have Huge Consequences? 18:08 Morality by the Numbers: A Problem? 26:34 Can Consequences Make a Wrong Action Right? 34:20 Being Part Of A Group 36:31 What If You Didn’t Know It Was Wrong? 43:05 What About Necessary Harms? 53:10 How Much Can We Reasonably Be Expected to Do?

    59 min

  6. 06/05/2025

    #1 Liz Jackson - Can You Choose What You Believe?

    Liz Jackson is a leading voice in contemporary epistemology and an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. Her work challenges how we think about rational belief, evidence, and faith. Known for defending doxastic voluntarism and epistemic permissivism, she brings fresh insight to debates on belief, responsibility, and disagreement. More from Liz Jackson: Website: ⁠⁠https://liz-jackson.com/⁠⁠ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQ8f0Ws8uZ2mWaI2vFr6Yg Academia edu page: ⁠⁠https://isluportal.academia.edu/LizJackson Timestamps: 00:00:00 - What Is Epistemology, And Why Should Anyone Care? 00:06:13 - Why Is Knowledge So Hard To Define? 00:13:33 - Do We Have A Responsibility To Form Rational Beliefs? 00:17:22 - Are Beliefs Morally Accountable, Or Just Epistemically? 00:26:27 - What Is Doxastic Voluntarism? (Belief At Will) 00:29:28 - If Beliefs Drive Actions, Can We Really Have Free Will? 00:31:28 - What Kind Of Control Can We Have Over Beliefs? 00:36:11 - Does Deliberation Count As Voluntary Control? 00:39:28 - Are Beliefs Something We Choose Or Just Acquire? 00:43:58 - Can We Really Compare Beliefs And Actions? 00:47:19 - Is Faith Just Belief With Desire? What About Sam Harris? 00:54:18 - Why Do Philosophers Keep Arguing Over Definitions? 01:00:41 - What Motivates You To Practice Public Philosophy?

    1h 7m
  • 6 Episodes

About

A podcast that challenges mainstream views through deep conversations on the forces shaping our world. Guests include philosophers, researchers, and curious thinkers who push us to reconsider what we often take for granted.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin von Niederhäusern
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kevin von Niederhäusern
  • Show Website
    Breaking Consensus