Brain in a Vat

God Is Not Praiseworthy | Stephen Kershnar and Nathan Bray

Brain in a Vat is back from hiatus with a deep dive into the philosophy of religion. Stephen Kershnar and Nathan Bray join us to ask whether God can be morally responsible and whether worship makes sense if God could not have done otherwise.The discussion begins with a thought experiment about gratitude and worship. If worship expresses praise for morally responsible action, can a perfectly good God deserve it at all? Kershnar and Bray argue that divine perfection may undermine responsibility rather than secure it.From there, Kershnar and Bray explore compulsion, omnibenevolence, and free will. Along the way, we discuss moral saints, chess computers, Frankfurt-style cases, Patty Hearst, and the costs these arguments impose on traditional theism. We would love to hear your thoughts. Is worship grounded in gratitude, awe, or something else entirely? And does God need moral responsibility to be worthy of it?[00:00] Welcome Back to Brain in a Vat [00:45] Thought Experiment: Worship and Gratitude [02:59] The Compulsion Argument[05:04] The Role of Awe in Worship [13:21] Maximizing Goodness and Divine Discretion [20:26] The Problem of Evil and Divine Psychology [33:33] Exploring Patty Hearst's Psychology [40:19] The Nature of God's Perfection [46:57] Philosophical Debates on God's Existence[01:03:49] Concluding Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine (Rebroadcast)

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Brad Duchaine from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at Dartmouth discusses prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) – a condition where individuals see distorted faces.The episode explores various manifestations of PMO, including seeing demonic features, dragons, or entirely different faces, and distinguishes it from prosopagnosia (face blindness). It delves into the neurological basis of PMO, touching upon structural and functional differences in the brains of those affected.We discuss the significant impact PMO and prosopagnosia have on individuals' social interactions and quality of life, as well as potential management techniques such as using glasses or colored lights to reduce distortions.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction and Guest Presentation[00:20] Exploring the Case of Face Distortion[03:19] Understanding the Nature of Distortions[05:49] Comparing Prosopagnosia and PMO[07:17] The Role of Visual System in Face Recognition[10:01] Impact of Face Recognition on Social Interactions[14:16] The Spectrum of Face Recognition Abilities[16:20] The Role of AI and Hallucinations in Face Recognition[23:48] Understanding the Diagnosis of Face Recognition Disorders[30:20] Understanding Prosopagnosia: Prevalence and Characteristics[31:59] The Mystery of PMO: Prevalence and Need for More Research[32:46] Exploring the Impact of Prosopagnosia and PMO on Social and Sexual Relationships[33:23] The Intersection of PMO and Other Psychiatric Conditions[37:03] The Struggles and Challenges of Living with Prosopagnosia and PMO[41:02] Potential Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for PMO[51:22] The Neurological Basis of PMO and Prosopagnosia[54:51] Testing and Characterizing PMO: A Deep Dive into Research Methods[59:54] Understanding the Perception and Processing of Faces in PMO

Should We Stay or Should We Go | Lionel Shriver (Rebroadcast)

When is death preferable to living? Are there fates worse than death? And what sort of future society should we build?Lionel Shriver discusses her latest novel, Should We Stay or Should We Go.

Parental Licensing | Connor Kianpour (Rebroadcast)

Should you be required to get a parental license from the State before you can raise your own children? Do the wishes of parents matter at all – or should we only care about the best interests of their children?

Can AI Bring Our Loved Ones Back? Inside Reflekta AI’s Digital Afterlife | Miles Spencer

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, we step outside our usual format to interview Miles Spencer, founder of Reflekta — a company using cutting-edge AI to recreate digital reflections of loved ones who’ve passed away.Miles shares his personal journey of using Reflekta to reconnect with his late father and explains how the system blends voice recordings, photos, and written biographies to create realistic digital personas. The discussion covers the emotional impact, ethical questions, and philosophical issues raised by this technology, from preserving family memories to reviving historical or fictional figures.We also consider what it means to build a living legacy in the age of AI, and how this might change the way we understand grief, identity, and memory.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction[00:15] Meet Miles Spencer, Founder of Reflector AI[03:07] How the Technology Works[07:12] Philosophical Implications of Digital Afterlife[15:29] Living Legacies and Ethical Boundaries[23:12] Historical and Public Figures[26:33] Family, Memory, and AI Elders[33:17] Reflections on “The Rehearsal” and Reality[42:31] Future Implications[47:54] Legacy, Spirit, and the Human Story[51:21] Closing Thoughts