Philosophy With Ralph: Recent Episodes
Ralph Lamberti
In this episode, we unpack an academic dialogue between a panpsychist and a proponent of the interface theory of perception, and explore what the sciences vs. philosophy can bring to the challenge of understanding consciousness.
Please reach out at rjl89@georgetown.edu with any comments, questions, or ideas!
Are you interested in philosophy and consciousness but don't know where to begin learning? Look no further!
In today's episode, I explain competing philosophical accounts of consciousness to Alison Zarrilli, an engineering student with no philosophical background.
Judge the quality of my explanation by whether you understand dualism, materialism, and panpsychism by the end of this podcast!
Tune into my conversation with fellow Georgetown students Pulast Thaker and Terence Coyne about the exciting relevance of psychedelics to both clinical practitioners and armchair philosophers. Our backgrounds in philosophy of mind, cultural anthropology, and psychedelic research made for a great discussion!
In this episode, I review themes of disenchantment, nihilism, and religious faith as they show up in Rock the Machine by Lisa O'Neill, Do Nothing by The Specials, and God's Song by Randy Newman.
Rock the Machine LyricsAudio Clip 1I'm losing will, love
My hands are soft as cotton gloves
Machine has eaten up my job
My meaning, my cause
Audio Clip 2Today, dear, I'm unemployed
Before I spoke, you read my eyes
I feared of nothing or no one
But I feel old and I'm so young
I miss the graft, I miss the boys
I plead for purpose in the void
Time is inward, ticking tighter
I wish my load was a mountain lighter
Audio Clip 3River rock the machine until it dies
River rock the machine down on the docks
River rock the machine until it stops
Do Nothing LyricsAudio Clip 1Each day I walk along this lonely street
Trying to find, find a future
New pair of shoes are on my feet
Cause fashion is my only culture
Nothing ever change, oh no
Nothing ever change
People say to me just be yourself
It makes no sense to follow fashion
How could I be anybody else
I don't try, I've got no reason
Nothing ever change, oh no
Nothing ever change
I'm just living in a life without meaning
I walk and walk, do nothing
I'm just living in a life without feeling
I talk and talk, say nothing
Audio Clip 2
They're just living in a life without meaning
I walk and walk, do nothing
They're just playing in a life without thinking
They talk and talk, say nothing
I'm just living in a life without feeling
I walk and walk, I'm dreaming
I'm just living in a life without feeling
I talk and talk, say nothing
I'm just living in a life without meaning
I walk and walk, do nothing
God's Song LyricsAudio Clip 1Cain slew Abel,
Seth knew not why
For if the children of Israel were to multiply
Why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord And the Lord said:
Man means nothing, he means less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower
Or the humblest Yucca tree
He chases round this desert
'Cause he thinks that's where I'll be
That's why I love mankind
Audio Clip 2And they began to speak
They said, "Lord, a plague is on the world
Lord, no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won't take care of us
Won't you please, please let us be?"
And the Lord said
And the Lord said:
I burn down your cities, how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say, "how blessed are we?"
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That's why I love mankind
You really need me
That's why I love mankind
In this inaugural episode, I speak with Professor David Lindeman about consciousness, objectivity, and much more.
After laying out some background information, I argue that illusionism loses its appeal with the realization of science's blind spot. Professor Lindeman played devil's advocate, pushing me to defend my position, and we rounded out the podcast with a fascinating discussion about the latest theories of consciousness.
Thank you to Professor Lindeman for speaking with me, and thank you all for listening!