Have you considered that you might be a brain in a vat of liquid floating in a laboratory somewhere? How can you know that the world around you is real, not just a simulation being piped directly to your brain? In episode 30, Ellie and David unpack one of philosophy's favorite thought experiments: the brain in a vat. They also analyze our cultural obsession with the brain, common criticisms of this thought experiment from consciousness studies, and precursors in Descartes and science fiction. Also--what's with the Italian neuroscientist who keeps trying to do head transplants?Works discussed:Daniel Dennett, "Where Am I?"Gilbert Harman, ThoughtAlva Noë, Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your BrainEvan Thompson and Diego Cosmelli, "Brain in a Vat or Body in a World? Brainbound Versus Enactive Views of Experience"Shaun Gallagher and Dan Zahavi, The Phenomenological MindBronwyn Parry, "Technologies of Immortality: The Brain on Ice"John Desmond Bernal, The World, the Flesh and the DevilRaymond Roussel, Locus SolusJohn Tresch, "In a solitary place: Raymond Roussel’s brain and the French cult of unreason"Harry Smit and Peter M. S. Hacker, "Seven Misconceptions About the Mereological Fallacy: A Compilation for the Perplexed"Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the ScoreSupport the showSubstack | overthinkpod.substack.com Website | overthinkpodcast.comInstagram & Twitter | @overthink_podEmail | [email protected] | Overthink podcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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