Contemplations of the Lotus Eaters

2021x1
City-States in European History
Episode overview

In the first episode of the Contemplations of the Lotus Eaters, Hugo and Josh discuss the model of city-states as an alternative present throughout history to the nation-states ubiquitous today.

2021x2
The World of Ten Thousand States
Episode overview

In this episode of the Contemplations of the Lotus Eaters, Hugo and Josh hypothesize what a world full of modern-day city-states might look like and whether it would be achievable or even desirable.

2021x3
The Potential of Artificial Intelligence
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss predictions about the future of AI, the benchmark for AI intelligence, where we are at currently, machine learning and whole brain emulation.

2021x4
Will Superintelligent AI Destroy Humanity?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the two models of superintelligent AI development and the potential dangers associated with superintelligence.

2021x5
Why Are Some Countries Poor and Others Rich?
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss different development theories with a focus on Acemoglu and Robinson’s theory of institutions, laid out in the book Why Nations Fail, and debate its merits.

2021x6
Is Democracy the Key to Development?
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss Acemoglu and Robinson’s theory of development, asking the question whether inclusive political institutions are synonymous with democracy, touching upon the distinction between democracy and good governance.

2021x7
Marx’s Life and How It Shaped His Beliefs: Part I
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss Marx’s early life, how his experiences, thoughts and behaviour shaped his views and make parallels between Marx’s life and that of his modern day devotees.

2021x8
Marx’s Life and How It Shaped His Beliefs: Part II
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss Marx’s life, how his experiences, thoughts and behaviour shaped his views and make parallels between Marx’s life and that of his modern day devotees.

2021x9
How Voting Systems Determine Political Results
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the implications of using different voting systems - what effects they have on parties, political conflicts, and the broader culture.

2021x10
Which Voting System Is the Best?
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the criteria for rating and comparing different electoral systems and look in more detail at several alternatives and less used systems.

2021x11
Does Personality Predict Our Political Views?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss research into politics and personality, it’s post-World War Two origins, and how people’s politics are associated with the Big 5 personality traits and personal values.

2021x12
The Science of Virtue Signalling
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss virtue signalling, why it occurs and the association with the Dark Triad of personality. They also discuss predictors of right-wing authoritarianism, prejudice and .. show full overview

2021x13
Theories of Punishment
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the different theories of punishment, trying to figure out which one makes the most sense, and dissect some problems that arise in relation to certain theories.

2021x14
How to Punish Best
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss various methods of administering punishment, weighing the pros and cons of each one.

2021x15
What Impact Does Collectivism Have On The Individual?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the evidence to suggest Individualism is growing among many societies around the world and weigh up the implications.

2021x16
Is Too Much Individualism Bad?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the origins of collectivism, the history of the psychological research, misconceptions and a more realistic picture.

2021x17
Regulation Defines Society
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss different forms of regulation - from state to social to economic - and examine the characteristics and consequences tied to each of them.

2021x18
Regulation by Competition
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the case for regulation by competition against regulation by state legislation.

2021x19
The Wisdom of Taoist Philosophy
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the history of Taoist philosophy and its advantages and disadvantages.

2021x20
The Wisdom of Buddhism
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the life and teachings of Siddharta Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Also discussed is the science underlying the practice of meditation.

2021x21
The Tale of Two Equalities
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the differences and similarities between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome and explore the possibility that the two might be closer to one another than one might think.

2021x22
Is Equality a Noble Goal?
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss egalitarianism and equality, looking at what they are, why they are so prominent in political debates, and whether they are noble values and desirable goals to strive towards.

2021x23
Why Is There a “Crisis” in the Human Sciences?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the current replication crisis in the sciences, in particular the human sciences. They discuss the philosophies of science and scientific practises that created the crisis and the current progress on solving the crisis.

2021x24
How to Best Classify Political Beliefs?
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the many ways to classify, distinguish, and group together political beliefs, trying to find out which one does the best job at representing the existing political .. show full overview

2021x25
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, looking in detail and discussing the merits of the progress and policy targets included in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

2021x26
The Impact of Social Media on the Individual
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss how social media impacts individuals in differing and complex ways and make suggestions on how to use social media in a positive way.

2021x27
What Adaptations Make Human Beings Exceptional?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the evolutionary adaptations that modern humans have and how they have contributed to our species dominance.

2021x28
‘Our Common Agenda’ for a Post-Covid World
Episode overview

Hugo and Carl review the United Nations’ emerging “Our Common Agenda” coming out of the UN’s 75th anniversary, including the declaration setting out its main outlines, and discuss the future of the UN more broadly.

2021x29
How Bad Is the War on Drugs?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss Western policies towards drugs and drug use by looking at the effects of drugs, recreational use, addiction, and the damage the current status quo causes.

2021x30
How to Tell If We Are Living in Socialism
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the nature of the Western political systems and whether what we have now is closer to capitalism or socialism.

2021x31
Methods of Cultivating Virtue
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss concepts of virtue, meta-cognitive strategies of thinking about virtues, and their specific uses.

2021x32
Democratic Peace Theory
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss whether democracies really are peaceful with respect to one another, and if so, what the best explanation for it might be.

2021x33
What Are the Most Effective Means of Political Participation?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss what you can do to engage with politics to best further your own aims.

2021x34
Political Representation
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the concept of political representation, what the alternative views of it are, and whether the idea corresponds to what really happens in politics.

2021x35
How to Rig an Election
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss different strategies that are employed by those who wish to subvert the results of an election.

2021x36
The Border Debate
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh review the debate around borders and migration, trying to expand it with arguments not usually present when the issue is discussed among the public.

2021x37
The Science of Conformity
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss some classic psychological studies into conformity and contemporary neuroscientific research.

2021x38
Are There Human Rights?
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the concept of human rights, including its many variations and difficulties.

2021x39
What Is Intelligence?
Episode overview

Josh and Hugo discuss the basis of intelligence and compare different interpretations in how it is defined.

2021x40
The Tragedy of Schooling
Episode overview

Hugo and Josh discuss the nature and history of government schooling, what school does to children and their learning and development, and mention some available alternatives.

2021x41
Is Music Really Becoming Worse?
Episode overview

Josh and Rory discuss the oft-cited view that Music as an artform is on the decline.

2021x42
Diogenes the Dog’s Perfect Society
Episode overview

Josh and Beau discuss what life would be like in a society organised by the principles of Diogenes the Cynic.

2021x43
The Science of Dadism
Episode overview

Josh and Carl discuss the scientific basis for Dadism.

2021x44
Ghosts and Telling the Future
Episode overview

Josh and Thomas discuss the field of parapsychology which applies the scientific method to claims of the paranormal. The two such claims examined here are those of the existence of ghosts and the ability to tell the future.

2021x45
How Can “Bad People” Become Popular and Liked?
Episode overview

Josh and Harry discuss how morally bad people can appear to be well liked by others and how this can come to be.

2021x46
Philosophical Idealism
Episode overview

Josh and Thomas discuss Philosophical Idealism. How some variations of idealism are used by the left, what the original proponents actually argue for and the limitations of these .. show full overview

2021x47
Free Will Is an Illusion
Episode overview

Josh and Carl discuss the debate around the existence of free will, with Carl arguing that it exists and Josh arguing that it does not.

2021x48
Tribalism and Group Preference
Episode overview

Josh and Beau discuss some of the more reliable findings of social psychology and sociology concerning tribalism and group preferences.

2021x49
How Effective Is the Westminster Parliamentary System?
Episode overview

Josh and Callum outline the Westminster Parliamentary Model, it’s unusual idiosyncrasies and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the system.

2021x50
The Culture and Politics of South Korea
Episode overview

Josh and John provide an overview of the Geography, history, culture, politics and economy of South Korea.

2021x51
Altruism and Selfishness
Episode overview

Josh and Beau discuss the research into human altruism and selfishness, whether they are as distinct as they seem and try to establish which of the conflicting theories is most accurate.

2021x52
The Culture and Politics of Russia : Part I
Episode overview

Josh and Beau provide an overview of the Geography, history, culture, politics and economy of Russia. In this part, they discuss the history and geography of the country.