Grand Theories

Philosophers of time generally debate whether time is a flowing, fleeting idea, or it is a fixed, static, omnipresent aspect of physical space. Despite the contentiousness, almost all of them agree that time has an arrow, and that the arrow points in a forward direction. C Theorists upend this concept, claiming that time has no flow or direction at all. They propose that time can move in any direction. On this episode we explore what time is and how our objective and subjective experiences of time may not be so straightforward. Twitter: grand_theoriesInstagram: grandtheoriesFacebook: grandtheoriesMusic (in order of appearance):1. Benjamin Banger - "Bobby Drake" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud:@benjamin-bangerInstagram: @benjaminbanger2. Chris Zabriskie - "Another Version of You" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud: @chriszabriskie3. Chuki Beats - "DMT" Link to channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CHUKImusic4. Daniel Birch - "Deep in Peace" (Creative Commons 4.0 NonCommercial)5. Chuki Beats - "Grind" Link to channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CHUKImusic6. Chris Zabriskie - "Land on The Golden Gate" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud: @chriszabriskie7. Pipe Choir - "Exit Exit" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud: @pipe-choir-28. смерть в летнюю полночь - "когда же это было, Чайка" (Creative Commons 4.0)9. Daniel Birch - "Set Adrift" (Creative Commons 4.0 NonCommercial)Works cited: 1. Barbour, J., Koslowski, T. and Mercati, F. (2014). Identification of a gravitational arrow of time. Physical Review Letters. 113.2. Baron, S. et al. (2015). Temporal experience, temporal passage and the cognitive sciences. Philosophy Compass. 10(8). 560-571.3. Boroditsky, L., Fuhrman, O. and McCormick, K. (2010). Do English and Mandarin speakers think about time differently? Cognition. 118. 123-129. 4. Healy, K. et al. (2013). Metabolic rate and body size are linked with perception of temporal information. Animal Behaviour. 86(4). 685-696.5. Farr, M. (2018). Causation and time reversal. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. axx025.6. Farr, M. (2019). The C theory of time. Unpublished manuscript.7. Farr, M. (2019). Explaining temporal qualia. Accepted for publication in: European Journal for Philosophy of Science. 8. Kant, I. (2008) [1781]. Critique of pure reason. (M. Weigelt and M. Muller, Trans.). London: Penguin Classics.9. Kim, Y. et al. (2000). A delayed choice quantum eraser. Physical Review Letters. 84(1). 10. Mctaggart, J. (1908). The unreality of time. Mind. 17. 457-473.11. Nomura, N. et al. (2019). How does time flow in living systems? retrocausal scaffolding and e-series time. Biosemiotics. 12(2). 267-287.12. Núñez, R. and Sweetser, E. (2006). With the future behind them: convergent evidence from the Aymara language and gesture in the crosslinguistic comparison of spatial construals of time. Cognitive Science. 30(3). 401-450.13. Núñez, R. et al. (2012). Contours of time: topographic construals of past, present and future in the Yupno valley of Papua New Guinea. Cognition. 124(1). 25-35.14. [PBS Space Time]. (2016). How the Quantum Eraser Rewrites the Past | Space Time | PBS Digital Studios [video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ORLN_KwAgs&t=

What does it mean for something to be impossible? In the world of science, some might say that things like time travel or invincibility fall into this category. But in philosophy, bending the laws of physics is fair game. However, there are still some things that are considered philosophically impossible. An emerging class of philosophers takes these ideas to the next level by reasoning about impossible worlds: alternate universes that contain impossible situations and objects. What do these worlds look like, and are they real? On this episode, we explore the impossible and why impossible worlds may be a key part of the ultimate nature of who and what we are.Twitter: grand_theoriesInstagram: grandtheoriesFacebook: grandtheoriesMusic (in order of appearance):1. Benjamin Banger - "Bobby Drake" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud:@benjamin-bangerInstagram: @benjaminbanger2. Nctrnm - "Rider" (Creative Commons 4.0)3. Daniel Birch - "Deep in Peace" (Creative Commons 4.0 NonCommercial)4. Nctrnm - "Secretary" (Creative Commons 4.0)5. Glass Boy - "My Pretty Looking Clothes" (Creative Commons 3.0)6. Chris Zabriskie - "Another Version of You" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud: @chriszabriskie7. Pipe Choir - "Exit Exit" (Creative Commons 4.0)Soundcloud: @pipe-choir-28. Nctrnm - "Anthony" (Creative Commons 4.0)9. Chris Zabriskie - "Land on The Golden Gate" (Creative Commons 4.0)10. Music For Your Plants - "Tour Peru" (Creative Commons 2.5 NonCommercial)11. Daniel Birch - "Set Adrift" (Creative Commons 4.0 NonCommercial) Works Cited: 1. Ballarin, R. (2011). The perils of primitivism: Takashi Yagisawa’s worlds and individuals, possible and otherwise. Analytic Philosophy. 52(4). 272-282.2. Benovsky, J. (2006). Four-dimensionalism and model perdurants. In Valore, P. (ed.) Topics on general and formal ontology. Monza, Italy: Polimetrica. 3. Berto, F. (2018). Conceivability and possibility: problems for Humeans. Synthese. 195(6). 2697-2715.4. Berto, F. and Plebani, M. (2015). Ontology and metaontology: a contemporary guide. London: Bloomsbury Academic. 5. Berto, F. and Jago, M. (2019). Impossible worlds. Oxford: Oxford University Press.6. Cordova, V. (2007). How it is: the Native American philosophy of V.F. Cordova. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press.7. Ellis, G. (2006). The multiverse proposal and the anthropic principle. Presented at the Claremont Cosmology Conference, 2006. 8. Gendler, T. and Hawthorne, J. (2002). Introduction: conceivability and possibility. In Gendler, T. and Hawthorne, J. (eds.) Conceivability and possibility. New York: Oxford University Press. 1-70.9. Graham, A. (2015). From four- to five-dimensionalism. Ratio. 28(1). 14-28.10. Greene, B. (2011). The hidden reality: parallel universes and the deep laws of the cosmos. 11. Kaku, M. (2008). Physics of the impossible: a scientific exploration into the world of phasers, force fields, teleportation and time travel. New York: Doubleday Publishing.12. Lewis, D. (1986). On the plurality of worlds. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.13. Priest, G. (2016). Thinking the impossible. Philosophical Studies. 173(10). 2649-2662.14. Tegmark, M. (2014). Our mathematical universe: my quest for the ultimate nature of reality. New York: Knopf.15. Yagisawa, T. (2010). Worlds and individuals, possible and otherwise. New York: Oxford University Press.16. Yagisawa, T. (2017). S4 to 5D. Argumenta. 2(2). 241-261.

Happiness is unarguably considered one of the great aims of life. But finding happiness can be a frustrating and confusing process as there are numbers of philosophical pathways to get there. Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen's Capability Approach cuts through this confusion and offers a single way to ensure well-being for each and every person. On this episode we explore the Capability Approach and consider a way toward implementing it using a challenging philosophical thought problem.Instagram: @grandtheoriesTwitter: @grand_theoriesMusic: The following is utilized under a Creative Commons 4.0 License:1. BenJamin Banger – “Bobby Drake”, "New Horizons", "JB", "King Jaffe Joe", "Church"Instagram: @benjaminbangerSoundcloud: @benjamin-banger2. Chris Zabriskie – “Fly Inverted Past a Jenny” and "Another Version of You"Soundcloud: @chriszabriskie3. Pipe Choir – “Exit Exit”Soundcloud: @pipe-choir-2 4. Chuki Beats - "Soul"Soundcloud: @yuki-asemotaWorks cited:1. Anand, P., Santos, C. and Smith, R. (2008). The measurement of capabilities. In Basu, K. and Kanbur, R. (Eds.) Arguments for a better world: essays in honor of Amartya Sen: volume I: ethics, welfare and measurement. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2. Aristotle, -. (2011). Nicomachean ethics (R. Bartlett and S. Collins, Trans.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Original work written circa 340 B.C.). 3. Easterlin, R. (1974). Does economic growth improve the human lot? some empirical evidence. In: David, P. and Reder, M. (Eds.) Nations and households in economic growth: essays in honor of Moses Abramovitz. New York: Academic Press.4. Joshanloo, M. and Weijers, D. (2014). Aversion to happiness across cultures: a review of where and why people are averse to happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies. 15(3). 717-735.5. Lutz, C. (1987). Goals, events and understanding in Ifaluk emotion theory. In Quinn, N. and Holland, D. (Eds.) Cultural models in language and thought. New York: Cambridge University Press.6. Nozick, R. (1974). Anarchy, state and utopia. New York: Basic Books.7. Nussbaum, M. (2011). Creating capabilities: the human development approach. Boston: Harvard University Press.8. Sen, A. (1981). Poverty and famines: an essay on entitlement and deprivation. Oxford: Clarendon Press.9. United States Central Intelligence Agency. The world factbook – GDP per capita (PPP). Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html10. United Nations Development Programme. (2014). GDP per capita (2011 PPP $) Retrieved from: http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/gdp-per-capita-2011-ppp11. [University of Chicago Law School]. (2013). Martha Nussbaum, “Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach” [video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYfFGDhbHUk&t=1954s

What exactly "nothing" is has enticed philosophers for quite some time. In 2014, philosopher-mathematician Graham Priest put forward his own two cents on the matter when trying to solve the metaphysical problem of what makes a bunch of parts into a whole. In doing so, he proposes that "nothing" is a crucial linchpin within the nature of everything. But he doesn't stop there. Priest also compares his own solution to a Western philosophical problem with the Eastern doctrine of Buddhism.Instagram: @grandtheoriesTwitter: @grand_theoriesMusic:The following is utilized with permission from the band:Ksyatriya - "The Human Ego Must be Obliterated for its Arrogant Reign of Tyranny - II", "Hazchem", and "Swimming in a Sea of Samsara" from the album "The Arduous Search for Freedom".Find Ksyatriya's music here: https://ksyatriya.bandcamp.com/Next album dropping in 2019The following is utilized under a Creative Commons 4.0 License:1. BenJamin Banger – “Bobby Drake”Instagram: @benjaminbangerSoundcloud: @benjamin-banger2. Chris Zabriskie – “Fly Inverted Past a Jenny” and "Another Version of You"Soundcloud: @chriszabriskie3. Pipe Choir – “Exit Exit”Soundcloud: @pipe-choir-2 Works cited:1. Bradley, F.H. (1893). Appearance and reality. Oxford: Clarendon Press.2. Priest, G. (2014). One: being an investigation into the unity of reality and of its parts, including the singular object which is nothingness. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 3. Priest, G. (2018). The fifth corner of four: an essay on Buddhist metaphysics and the catuṣkoṭi. Oxford: Oxford University Press.4. van Inwagen, P. (1996). Why is there anything at all? Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society. 70. 95-110.5. Unger, P. (1980). The problem of the many. Midwest Studies in Philosophy. 5(1). 411-468.6. [Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh]. (2018). 9 buddhism and science – Interview with Graham Priest [video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAbD8rdqKuk

What is the physical nature of humanity's social life? This question may seem odd, but it's legitimate; in a billiard ball world, we should technically be able to explain the physics of the social. But as expected, this question has been largely unexplored. This changed a bit in 2015 when renowned political scientist Alexander Wendt attempted to explain the physicality of the social sciences using the bizarre mechanisms of quantum physics. In doing so, he paints a novel, optimistic and inspiring picture of human nature.Twitter: @grand_theoriesInstagram: @grandtheoriesMusic:The following is utilized under a Creative Commons 3.0 License:1. Comfort Fit – “Planetary Picknick”2. t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 – “愛の瞬間” , “深夜の愛” , “星間性交” https://telepathtelepath.bandcamp.com/The following is utilized under a Creative Commons 4.0 License:1. BenJamin Banger – “Bobby Drake”Instagram: @benjaminbangerSoundcloud: @benjamin-banger2. Chris Zabriskie – “Land on the Golden Gate”Soundcloud: @chriszabriskie3. Pipe Choir – “Exit Exit”Soundcloud: @pipe-choir-2 Works Cited:1. Heidegger, M. (2000). Introduction to metaphysics. (G. Fried and R. Polt, Trans.). New Haven: Yale University Press. (Original work published 1953)2. Rousseau, J-J. (2011). Discourse on the origin of inequality. (D. Cress, Trans.). Hackett: Indianapolis. (Original work written 1754).3. Thucycides, -. (2017). The history of the Peloponnesian war. (R. Crawley, Trans.). Digireads.com Publishing: Overland Park, KS. (Original work written circa 400 B.C.)4. Wendt, A. (1999). Social theory of international politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.5. Wendt, A. (2003). Why a world state is inevitable. European Journal of International Relations. 9(4). 491-542.6. Wendt, A. (2006). Social theory as cartesian science: an auto-critique. In Guzzini S. and Leander A. (Eds.) Constructivism and international relations. Milton Park: Routledge. 181-219.7. Wendt, A. (2015). Quantum mind and social science: unifying physical and social ontology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.8. Wendt, A. (2018). The mind-body problem and social science: motivating a quantum social theory. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 48(2). 188-204.9. [Critical Realism Network]. (2016). Beyond the mechanistic paradigm: towards a quantum social science – Professor webinar Alex Wendt [video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYWq8EwdDLk&t=831s

Cosmopsychism is a school of thought which argues that the universe possesses a conscious mind. While the idea itself can be traced back many thousands of years, there are arguably very few philosophers who take the idea seriously today. Enter Philip Goff, who in recent years is attempting to take his arguments for a conscious universe to the mainstream. In this episode, we explore the mechanics of consciousness and cosmopsychism, look at modern arguments made by philosopher Philip Goff, and ultimately use a variety of ideas to hypothesize what a conscious universe might look like and mean for humanity.Twitter: grand_theoriesInstagram: grandtheoriesFacebook: grandtheoriesEmail: grandtheories@gmail.comMusic:All music utilized under Creative Commons Attribution License 4.01. BenJamin Banger - Tracks: "Bobby Drake", "June", "Not the Cypher", "Jungle" and "Wave Emoji"Album: The GxOD Prequel Instagram: @benjamin-bangerhttps://soundcloud.com/benjamin-banger2. Chris Zabriskie - Tracks: "Take Off and Shoot a Zero", "Another Version of You" and "Land on the Golden Gate"https://soundcloud.com/chriszabriskie3. Steak - Track: "140DOPE" (early draft)https://soundcloud.com/steakmusic4. Pipe Choir - Track: "Exit Exit"https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/exit-exitWorks Cited:1. Chalmers, D. (1995). Facing up to the problem of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies. 2(3). 200-219. 2. Goff, P. (2018). Did the universe design itself? International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 85(1), 99-122.3. Hameroff, S. (2017). The quantum origin of life: How the brain evolved to feel good. In Tibayrenc, M. and Ayala, F. (Eds.), On human nature: Biology, psychology, ethics, politics, and religion. 333-353.4. Hassan, Z. [Zia Hassan]. (2012). 9 year old discusses the meaning of life and the universe [video file]. Retrieved from: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvMiXk2gGSk5. Kaku, M. (2010). The physics of interstellar travel: To one day reach the stars. Retrieved from: http://mkaku.org/home/articles/the-physics-of-interstellar-travel/ 6. Kardashev, N. (1964). Transmission of information by extraterrestrial civilizations. Soviet Astronomy. 8(2). 217-221.7. Lovelock, J. (1983). Gaia as seen through the atmosphere. Biomineralization and Biological Metal Accumulation, 15-25.8. Sagan, C. (2000) [1973]. Carl Sagan’s cosmic connection: An extraterrestrial perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.9. Schopenhauer, A. (1966). The world as will and representation. New York: Dover Publications.10. Wendt, A. (2004). The state as person in international theory. Review of International Studies, 30(02), 289-316.