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Dilemma Podcast

Dilemma Podcast

By Jay Shapiro

Solving the problems of what to do next with some of today's top thinkers and writers.

Hosted by Jay Shapiro.
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Jay's Special Comment on The Coup with Michael Scott Moore

Dilemma PodcastJan 09, 2021

00:00
14:17
The Palestine Collection - Zionism and a Speech For the Future

The Palestine Collection - Zionism and a Speech For the Future

In the final part of this series, Jay dissects the definition of the words Zionism, Israel, and Judaism and delivers a Speech he wishes a future Prime Minister of Israel would give. The entire collection and all resources can be found here: whatjaythinks.com

Feb 27, 202451:31
The Palestine Collection - Zionist to Palestinian Activist - Miko Peled

The Palestine Collection - Zionist to Palestinian Activist - Miko Peled

A conversation with Miko Peled on his journey from unquestioned Zionism to becoming an active Palestinian Activist.


In this episode we discuss:


Jacob Israel de Haan

Where are the Palestinian Nelson Mandelas?

How Miko changed his mind

When the only thing left is violence

Why Zionism is flawed from the beginning

What the future might hold for Israel

Zionism vs Judaism


and more...


Feb 26, 202401:04:56
The Palestine Collection - Resistance or Terror? - Richard English
Feb 24, 202401:26:53
The Palestine Collection - '48 Never Ended - Gideon Levy

The Palestine Collection - '48 Never Ended - Gideon Levy

A conversation with Haaretz journalist Gideon Levy where we take the pulse of Israel and discuss how he came to question the Zionist project and where we might go from here. In this episode he discusses: Two State Solutions What Israelis know How America ruined Israel Why journalists censor themselves The power of American Jews to change things If there is any hope Does Israel have a plan? More information and recommendations at whatjaythinks.com

Feb 23, 202401:01:39
The Palestine Collection - The Problem of History

The Palestine Collection - The Problem of History

Jay Shapiro breaks down arguments being presented by popular thinkers such as Sam Harris and from Zionists who defend Israel. He walks through the complications of deciphering the popularity of Islamism and Jihadism and Hamas and he outlines the mentality of "tribal essentialism".He teases a trilogy of upcoming episodes with Gideon Levy, Richard English, and Miko Peled.

In this episode he discusses:

Deciphering IDF intentions

Settler expansion

Roman Abramovich

Birthright

Zionism as Colonialism

The Arab Spring

Menachem Begin

Irgun, Stern Gang, Hagana

Two State Solutions

One State Hopes

More information and recommendations at whatjaythinks.com

Feb 22, 202450:53
S03E11: Monsters and Distance - David Livingstone Smith

S03E11: Monsters and Distance - David Livingstone Smith

David Livingstone Smith has been studying "dehumanization" for decades and has written three books on the subject. In this episode Jay and Smith apply his findings to the current conflict in Israel and broaden their scope to examine how a rising modern factor of "Distance" interplays with violence.

Nov 14, 202301:19:11
S03E10: Antisemitism and the Future of Analysis

S03E10: Antisemitism and the Future of Analysis

Jay Shapiro's personal essay and account of how the disfigurement of American Judaism has forged an existential crisis for something much bigger than survival of the state of Israel.

Oct 25, 202343:38
S03E09: Israel and Palestine - Malevolent Machinery
Oct 20, 202327:36
S03E07: Thinking of it That Way - Monica Guzman

S03E07: Thinking of it That Way - Monica Guzman

Is there any hope for that strained or broken relationship that's become a causality of the political divide? Is common ground found best by going towards our superficial commonalities or in the direction of our deepest existential fears and hopes? Are the toxic business models of social media too much for us to overcome?

Monica Guzman is the blue leaning daughter of two Trump voting Mexican immigrants and is the head of storytelling for Braver Angels - an organization dedicated to healing our partisan divide. She just published a book entitled "I Never Thought of it That Way". If she can't help us, no one can.

This episode also begins with a related special comment and essay from Jay about so-called "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and the current crises in Ukraine.

Aug 01, 202301:50:01
S03E08: Objects Without Us - Ian Bogost

S03E08: Objects Without Us - Ian Bogost

What is it like to be a baseball bat?

This episode is a dive into the philosophical approach known as Object Oriented Ontology (OOO) with the author and philosopher Ian Bogost. Ian Bogost is a video game designer, author, and philosopher known for his most recent book Play Anything, but this episode is all about his book Alien Phenomenology: or What is it Like to be a Thing?

Mar 07, 202201:51:06
S03E06: Aspirational Nations - Tero Lundstedt

S03E06: Aspirational Nations - Tero Lundstedt

How many countries are there? 197? 193? 180? It depends who you ask and who is counting. What constitutes a "state"? How does that differ from a "nation"? Why do certain claims of self determined statehood go unrecognized while others are accepted and others are disputed. How do we respond to Putin's actions in Ukraine? How does the diminished and tarnished role of US global leadership affect world stability? Will Europe step up and fill the void? Is China really the threat that we fear they are? Have western democracies and economies become overconfident in a post-Cold War period?

In a conversation which places current headlines in a historical and legal context, Finish International Lawyer and Scholar Tero Lundstedt breaks down the blind spots in international law which continue to haunt the once-believed-to-be-peaceful breakup of the Soviet Union.

Feb 21, 202201:31:42
S03E05: What Kind of Truth? - Spencer Greenberg

S03E05: What Kind of Truth? - Spencer Greenberg

Does 2+2 really equal 4? What realm of truth am I in when I speak about my pain? What kind of truth claim is it to speak about the existence of "Poland"? How about the existence of ghosts and gods?

Spencer Greenberg breaks down his taxonomy of truth claims to help us better understand what we and others might be saying when we declare something to be true. He also lays out his personal philosophy of Valuism, a deceptively simple yet illuminating framework that can guide your behavior and focus your mind on what really matters to you.

Spencer's work and his intrinsic values test can all be found here: https://www.clearerthinking.org/

Spencer's essay on the "Seven Realms of Truth" can be found here: https://www.spencergreenberg.com/2019/03/the-7-realms-of-truth-framework/

Jan 17, 202201:33:05
S03E04: The Limits of Libertarianism - Nick Gillespie

S03E04: The Limits of Libertarianism - Nick Gillespie

Is it possible that the default position of libertarianism which has so deeply influenced politics, economics, and philosophy since the enlightenment could produce an ecosystem which stalls our ability to handle the existentially daunting task of freedom? Does the political structure of libertarianism dissolve into a fantasy the moment it encounters a problem of the commons like COVID or climate change? Is a conception of libertarianism as a "freedom from" preferrable to a conception of it as a "freedom to"? Have the economists owned the conversation for too long in this arena? Is a strong-arm government really the biggest threat to individual freedom? Will intentional libertarian blindness maximize a version of our selves that we aren't so proud of? Where does libertarianism end and anarchy begin?

Jay tangles with the editor of Reason Magazine and proud libertarian Nick Gillespie in a 2 hour conversation through the weeds of freedom.

Jan 10, 202202:16:56
S03E03: Competing Against Everything - Alfie Kohn

S03E03: Competing Against Everything - Alfie Kohn

What if much of what we do to our children works directly against what we profess we ultimately want for them?

Alfie Kohn argues that things like homework, grades, systems of praise and punishment, reward and sanction, and generally the enforcement of an atmosphere of fierce competition in education all undermine our stated goals.

So are the goals wrong? Are the goals false? Or is something much more fundamental to society in need of a major rethink?

Alfie Kohn is an accomplished author, speaker, and psychologist who has been advocating for reform in education and parenting for over 25 years. His impressive collection of talks, books, and essays can all be found at https://www.alfiekohn.org/

Jan 03, 202245:10
S03E02: The Abortion Question - Bethel McGrew
Nov 01, 202101:57:09
S03E01: Our Modern Disquiet - Benjamin Storey
Oct 25, 202101:30:17
S02E22: High School Philosophy - Lawrenceville Ethics Bowl Team

S02E22: High School Philosophy - Lawrenceville Ethics Bowl Team

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/

Mar 15, 202101:03:29
S02E21: Are we in a simulation? Does it matter? - Rizwan Virk

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

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.

Mar 03, 202101:17:40
S02E20: Conspiracies Everywhere - Hugo Drochen and Annemarie S Walter
Feb 22, 202101:42:02
S02E19: Quantum Computing - Sean Holland

S02E19: Quantum Computing - Sean Holland

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.

Feb 08, 202101:20:53
S02E18: Hostage - Michael Scott Moore
Jan 25, 202101:11:53
Jay's Special Comment on The Coup with Michael Scott Moore
Jan 09, 202114:17
S02E17: Atheistic search for god - Seth Andrews
Jan 04, 202101:33:15
S02E16: The Silence Beyond Sound - Scott Barry Kaufman
Dec 14, 202001:25:25
S02E15: Speech on Campus - Sigal Ben-Porath
Dec 07, 202001:50:30
S02E14: Thanksgiving 2020 - Mom
Nov 26, 202046:48
S02E13: The Power of Memes - Susan Blackmore
Oct 21, 202001:09:38
S02E12: How To Avoid a Civil War - Mike Selinker
Oct 12, 202001:19:02
S02E11: Home Field Advantage - Jon Wertheim

S02E11: Home Field Advantage - Jon Wertheim

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.

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

Sep 28, 202001:10:58
S02E10: Too Much Information - Cass Sunstein
Sep 21, 202001:08:48
S02E09: What is Art? - SWOON

S02E09: What is Art? - SWOON

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

https://swoonstudio.org/#/the-canyon/

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


Sep 14, 202001:06:02
S02E08: Your Right To Say It - David Goldberger
Sep 07, 202001:09:57
S02E07: The Lessons of Black Panther - Chloe Valdary
Aug 31, 202001:42:52
S02E06: Illusionism Part 2 : Finding Each Other - Keith Frankish
Aug 25, 202001:00:18
S02E05: Illusionism Part 1 : What Needs Explaining - Keith Frankish
Aug 17, 202001:02:25
S02E04: History Rhymes - Uyghur Genocide - Rahima Mahmut

S02E04: History Rhymes - Uyghur Genocide - Rahima Mahmut

An urgent episode about a genocide unfolding in China.

Rahima Mahmut is the U.K. Project Director, World Uyghur Congress. https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/

Crowdfunding link here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-Uyghur-genocide

www.stopuyghurgenocide.org.uk

Study about the global supply chains stained with Uyghur slave labor: Uyghurs for Sale  https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale

PBS’s Undercover China documentary: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/china-undercover/

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

Aug 06, 202001:12:36
S02E03: Virtual Afterlives - Candi Cann

S02E03: Virtual Afterlives - Candi Cann

Are virtual worlds any different than real worlds?

A mother is reunited with her deceased daughter in virtual reality for a South Korean TV show.

Jay Shapiro speaks with Associate Professor and author Candi Cann about the ways in which technology is intersecting with death and grief rituals. Professor Cann's book on the subject is available here.

Find a bonus conversation with Adelle Archer, the founder of eterneva diamonds at dilemmapodcast.com

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

Aug 05, 202053:59
S02E02: The Meaning of Travel - Emily Thomas
Jul 20, 202001:24:43
S02E01: Unattractive Discrimination - Francesca Minerva
Jul 06, 202001:21:52
S01E18: Can We Sue China? - William Burke-White

S01E18: Can We Sue China? - William Burke-White

International law scholar and professor William Burke-White speaks with Jay Shapiro during the ongoing global COVID19 crises.

They discuss the philosophical foundations of international law, why globalism needs to re-brand itself to be more "local", the legal process of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the apparent absence of the United Nations in this pandemic, the rapidly changing role of China on the world stage, the potential for international legal and political retribution, and much more.

William Burke-White is the Richard Perry Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. From 2009-12, Burke-White served in the Obama administration on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, where he was principal drafter of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, Secretary Clinton’s hallmark initiative to reform the Department of State and reshape U.S. foreign policy.

Apr 10, 202001:27:21
S01E17: Surviving a Slow Motion Disaster - Amanda Ripley

S01E17: Surviving a Slow Motion Disaster - Amanda Ripley

Amdana Ripley, best selling author of "The Unthinkable: Who Survives when Disaster Strikes and Why" talks with Jay Shapiro during coronavirus lock down.

Topics discussed: Ripley's work with ignored hurricane warnings, 9/11 rescues, stampedes at the Hajj, surviving plane crashes, what good risk communication sounds like, what personal resilience means for our collective safety, and the danger of "negative panic"

What habits are we learning now and what might we want to retain when this is over? 

Mar 30, 202001:14:50
S01E16: Pandemic Special: Invisible Responsibility COVID-19

S01E16: Pandemic Special: Invisible Responsibility COVID-19

Jay and Coleman discuss the giant trolley problem that we're all living through in the midst of the  pandemic. 

Topics discusses: The "worry-wart" paradox. Invisible responsibility of spreading a virus. Social media etiquette and how to deal with accounts with large follower totals in a time of crisis. The case for pure scientific research. Countries focused on how not "get" it versus countries focused on how not to "give it. And of course which movies, board games, shows, and books to enjoy while you're stuck inside.

Wash your hands.

Mar 16, 202001:18:46
S01E15: Season 1 in Hindsight - Jay Shapiro

S01E15: Season 1 in Hindsight - Jay Shapiro

Jay reviews Season 1 with the help of his girlfriend, a piano, and a glass of wine.

Submit your Season 2 Dilemma Ideas to DilemmaIdeas@gmail.com

Mar 09, 202001:11:49
S01E14: Selecting for Deafness - David Deutsch

S01E14: Selecting for Deafness - David Deutsch

In the finale of Dilemma Season 1 famed author of "The Fabric of Reality" and "The Beginning of Infinity", David Deutsch, sits down with Jay Shapiro to discuss the ethics of a situation where deaf parents wish to use genetic selection techniques to intentionally choose having a deaf child. Deutsch lays out his intricately developed theories on knowledge, creativity, explanation, persons, and moral realism in order to address this complex question.

Co-Hosts Jay Shapiro and Coleman Hughes juggle these topics while comparing which generational references the other won't understand.

Get ready, this one is a real brain twister.

Feb 26, 202002:20:10
S01E13: Self Driving Cars - Matthew B. Crawford

S01E13: Self Driving Cars - Matthew B. Crawford

The best selling author of Shop Class As Soulcraft and The World Beyond Your Head has a new book coming out entitled Why We Drive. He sits down with Jay Shapiro to ponder the philosophical and psychological transformations afoot in a future world of automated driving. "Human Intelligent Action", "Deskilling", "Mass Infantilization", The Luddites, London taxi drivers, speed limits on the Autobahn, and what happens when the traffic lights go out.

 These topics and more are explored in this deep dive.

Co-Hosts Coleman Hughes and Jay Shapiro also share their experiences in the High School Ethics Bowl and discuss the notions of "Play" as a central feature of sentience as first laid out by Johan Huizinga.

Feb 10, 202002:20:26
S01E12: Medically Assisted Death - Steven Pinker

S01E12: Medically Assisted Death - Steven Pinker

"If I lose my mind, just kill me."

Co-Hosts Jay Shapiro and Coleman Hughes discuss the philosophical borders and ethical complications of Medically Assisted Dying with Steven Pinker, cognitive psychologist, linguist, and best selling author of Enlightenment Now.

Dec 18, 201901:33:24
Thanksgiving Hindsight

Thanksgiving Hindsight

Jay Shapiro is joined by a very special guest... his mother, Sally.

They speak about Jay's moral upbringing, Judaism, Atheism, Africa, and giving thanks.

Nov 27, 201943:55
S01E11: A Camera, A Child, and A Vulture - Larissa MacFarquhar

S01E11: A Camera, A Child, and A Vulture - Larissa MacFarquhar

In the depths of a brutal famine in Sudan in 1993, Kevin Carter took a photo of a starving child and a perched vulture which appeared on the front page of newspapers all over the world. Readers bombarded the editors with the question "What happened to the child?"

Co-Hosts Jay Shapiro and Coleman Hughes discuss this difficult ethical case with Larissa MacFarquar, best selling author of Strangers Drowning 

Nov 22, 201901:51:05
S01E10: Clara Barton's Placebo - Stephen Finlay

S01E10: Clara Barton's Placebo - Stephen Finlay

A battlefield of wounded and dying soldiers in front of you. You hover over a mortally wounded man. You have medicine in one pocket and water in another. The soldier looks into your eyes and asks if you can help him with some medicine... You reach for the water...

Meta-ethicist, philosophy professor, and author Stephen Finlay joins Jay Shapiro for a conversation through the complex dilemma of placebo usage.

Nov 11, 201901:04:53
Ep 9: In Hindsight with Jay Shapiro

Ep 9: In Hindsight with Jay Shapiro

Do you have hill worth dying on?

Jay Shapiro reflects on Dilemma Episode 9: Hurricane at a Hospital with Lisa Tessman

Oct 29, 201915:47