In this philosophically mind-warping episode, Alberotle and Steveocrates (Paulato was out in the world thoroughly conducting an existential investigation) cast light on the ignorance of Bill Nye the so-called “Science Guy” when he half-heartedly responded to a question from a philosophy undergrad about whether philosophy is a “meaningless topic.” A & S then conceptually exercise their brain power on a cosmically “hot topic”: Is the universe a computer simulation? Apparently Neil deGrasse Tyson thinks this is a (literally) rambunctiously laughing matter. The debate took place at the Hayden Planetarium in memory of the late Dr. Isaac Asimov. The panelists who participated in this event were David Chalmers (philosopher), Zohreh Davoudi (theoretical physicist), James Gates (theoretical physicist), Lisa Randall (theoretical physicist), and Max Tegmark (cosmologist – not to be confused with cosmetologist).  Finally, A & S play a Musk-inspired game of Would You Rather: would you rather see Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders zip through a Hyperloop?

Direct link to download episode #23!

Credits:

“8-bit Detective” @ http://www.dl-sounds.com

“String Quintet in C Major, K. 515” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Royalty free music. Public domain and copyright free classical music)

“Borge City” @ http://www.dl-sounds.com

“Adagio from Piano in G” by Maurice Ravel (Royalty free music. Public domain and copyright free classical music)

“Simulated” by Volition

Meaningful Link:

Here are several reasons why philosophy is important and not “meaningless.”