The 2014 movie Transcendence explores a collection of Sci Phi ideas including the technological singularity, artificial intelligence, uploading a consciousness and immortality. We are going to look at the idea of uploading a mind and what theor

Why are all Utopia’s Dystopias? – SPS502

Nov 4th, 2014 14m 13s

Why do all apparent Utopia's turn out to be horrible Dystopian nightmares? It might just make good story telling but perhaps it is unavoidable, in practice it seems to be, so lets kick that idea around on this episode of the Sci Phi Show. Sci

The Simulation Hypothesis with David Kyle Johnson- SPS501

Oct 21st, 2014 45m 42s

Welcome back to the new season of the Sci Phi Show. I have a fascinating interview with Dr David Kyle Johnson on the Simulation Hypothesis. Also while I have been away I have been busy getting Sci Phi Journal launched, you can get it from Amaz

Time Travel, Metachronopolis and John C. Wright – SPS420

Aug 24th, 2014 45m 11s

John C. Wright and I chat about Time Travel in fiction and the idea of it as we discuss his new book City Beyond Time, The Fall of Metachronopolis. This will be the season finale and the show will be back in about 6 weeks. I will be working on

Is the Punisher ethical? – SPS 419

Aug 9th, 2014 12m 38s

The Punisher, a violent vigilante who wages a one man war against organized crime in New York city. Is the Punisher ethical? Show NotesThe Punisker AKA Frank CastleConsequentialismDeontologyVirtue EthicsVigilantismWestern Theories of Ju

The 100, Capital Punishment and Justice – SPS 418

Jul 26th, 2014 13m 29s

Have you seen the CW's new series “The 100”? I have been enjoying it and it furnishes an interesting backdrop for a discussion of Justice and Capital Punishment. I hope you find this discussion as interesting to listen to as I did to write. Sh

Emperor Palpatine as Machiavellian Prince – SPS 417

Jul 13th, 2014 12m 16s

Is Emperor Palpatine following Macheiavelli's playbook when it comes to ruling his Galactic Empire. Show NotesPalpatineNiccolo MachiavelliThe Prince by MachevelliThe Pazzi ConspiracySavonarolaWorth picking upIf you would like

The Joker, Nietzsche and the Will to Power – SPS 416

Jun 28th, 2014 11m 28s

What do the Dark Knight's Joker and the late 19th century philosopher Fredrich Nietzsche have in common? Lets look at that idea through his idea of the Ubermensch and the Will to Power. Show NotesThe Dark Knight movieThe JokerFriedrich Nie

John C. Wright, Transhuman and Subhuman and a Chat – SPS 415

Jun 14th, 2014 38m 58s

I have a chat with John C. Wright about his new collection of essays, Transhuman and Subhuman that is a fantastic read and well worth picking up. We chat about some of the ideas contained in the essays, I hope you enjoy. Show NotesJohn C. Wr

Babylon 5, The Vorlons and the Great Question – SPS 414

Jun 1st, 2014 11m 59s

This brings our Babylon 5 series to completion, looking at the question the Vorlon's ask, “Who are you?”. This is a good kicking off point to examine the question of different worldviews. Show NotesBabylon 5The VorlonsCome's the Inquisitor

Bill DeSmedt, Dualism and A Chat – SPS 413

May 18th, 2014 32m 45s

I have a chat with Bill DeSmedt about his awesome new book Dualism. If you haven't got it already click on the link in the show notes and buy it and read it. If you enjoy the show, and especially if you like Robert J Sawyer, you'll like it. Sho

Babylon 5, The Shadows and Thomas Aquinas Part 3 – SPS411

May 4th, 2014 11m 3s

The final part of out Shadows and Thomas Aquinas series on this episode of the Sci Phi Show. Lets see if we can find out what we want. Show Notes Babylon 5 The Shadows Mr Morden Centauri Londo Mollari Narn G'Kar Vir Cotto Thomas Aquinas Summa T

Babylon 5, The Shadows and Thomas Aquinas Part 2 – SPS410

Apr 20th, 2014 11m 44s

We will continue to explore Mr Morden's Question, “What do you want?” with the help of Thomas Aquinas on this episode of the Sci Phi Show. Show Notes Babylon 5 The Shadows Mr Morden Centauri Londo Mollari Narn G'Kar Vir Cotto Thomas Aquinas Sum

Babylon 5, The Shadows and Thomas Aquinas Part 1 – SPS409

Apr 5th, 2014 14m 11s

The Shadow Agent, Mr Morden asks a question of those he seeks to influence, “What do you want?”, that is the question we will look at with the help of the Medieval Philosopher Thomas Aquinas on this episode of the Sci Phi Show. Show Notes Babyl

Doctor Who, the Daleks and Consequentialism – SPS408

Mar 23rd, 2014 12m 47s

This is the final part of our three part series on Dr Who and the Daleks, we are looking at the ethical theory known as Consequentialism. Show Notes Doctor Who The Daleks Consequentialism Utilitarianism John Stewart Mill Jeremy Bentham Desirism

Doctor Who, the Daleks and Deontology – SPS407

Mar 9th, 2014 13m 43s

The question of Deontology as an ethical framework and how this would apply to a decision to eliminate the Daleks is what we will consider on this episode of the Sci Phi Show. Show Notes Doctor Who The Daleks Deontological Ethics Immanuel Kant

Doctor Who, the Daleks and Virtue Ethics – SPS406

Feb 23rd, 2014 12m 11s

The question of Virtue Ethics as an ethical framework and how this would apply to a decision to eliminate the Daleks is what we will consider on this episode of the Sci Phi Show. Show Notes Doctor Who The Daleks Davros Skaro Virtue Ethics Socra

Plato, The Matrix and the Allegory of the Cave – SPS405

Feb 9th, 2014 10m 58s

The Matrix is a film that provides a new twist on an ancient Allegory that Plato recorded in his book the Republic. On this episode of the Sci Phi Show we'll explore the Allegory of the Cave and how the Matrix takes it in a new direction. Show

Immortality, Ennui and Death Wish – SPS404

Dec 10th, 2013 11m 49s

Would you want to live forever? Are there upsides or downsides to this? Those are some questions we will consider on this episode of the Sci Phi Show Show Notes Star Trek: TNG, The Neutral Zone Star Trek: Voyager, Death Wish Immortality in Fict

Foreknowledge, Free Will and Cassandra – SPS403

Nov 25th, 2013 12m 21s

On this episode of the Sci Phi show we look at the question of Foreknowledge and Free Will using a wonderfully funny episode of the Sci Fi comedy Red Dwarf. Show Notes Red Dwarf Cassandra Foreknowledge and Free Will Fatalism The Bajoran Prophet

Statistical Probabilities and Free Will – SPS402

Nov 11th, 2013 12m 56s

What does it mean to have free will? Do we have choices or are we all just actors reading lines determined long before our birth? We are using the Star Trek Deep Space 9 episode Statistical Probabilities to explore the question. Show Notes Stat

Occam’s Razor, Abduction and a Cloaked Bird of Prey! – SPS401

Nov 3rd, 2013 13m 30s

How do you reason with incomplete information and how do you come up with the most plausible explanation? In this episode we look at Star Trek VI and the problem of a cloaked bird of prey. Show Notes Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Abduc

Welcome to season 4 – SPS400

Oct 28th, 2013 54s

Welcome back, you will notice that the number on the show has changed. This in part reflects a change to a new network, the Noodle.mx network. Also, there was a lot of old Sci Phi Show content and Daniel the network owner and I decided to renum

SPS 1×20 – 1984 & Brave New World, Which is Worse?

Aug 25th, 2013 14m 6s

Which dystopian hell would you prefer to live in? 1984 or Brave New World? That is the question we will tackle on this season finale episode of the Sci Phi Show. Show Notes George Orwell 1984 Aldous Huxley Brave New World Utopia Dystopia Thomas

SPS 1×19 – Lying and Deception In the Pale Moon Light

Aug 11th, 2013 13m 45s

When is it ok to lie? Does Wartime make it acceptable? Using the Star Trek Deep Space 9 episode In the Pale Moon Light we will have a look at questions of what makes behavior ethical. Show Notes In the Pale Moon Light, episode description The D