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Condensing recent work in metaphysics and the philosophy of science down to what matters. Hosted by Dr Sam Kimpton-Nye, research associate on the MetaScience project (ERC, Horizon 2020, grant agreement No 771509; www.metascience.xyz) at the Unversity of Bristol. Music: NaturesEye from Pixabay. Art: Francesca SmithThemes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Metaphysics • Philosophy of science • Modality • AI safety • Quantum mechanics • Biological individuality • Substance theory • Biochemical functions • Panpsychism • Naturalized metaphysics"Condensed Matter" is a podcast dedicated to exploring contemporary developments in metaphysics and the philosophy of science. Hosted by Dr. Sam Kimpton-Nye, the podcast aims to distill complex academic discourse into discussions that focus on essential elements of recent scholarly work. Each episode delves into specific philosophical topics, often featuring in-depth analyses of significant papers or books by leading philosophers and researchers.
The podcast explores a wide range of philosophical themes, with a strong emphasis on modality—encompassing possibility and necessity—and its implications for metaphysical inquiry. Other recurring subjects include the philosophy of science, the interplay between metaphysics and biology, and issues concerning the nature of laws, substance, and individuality. Discussions often venture into the implications of these theories for related fields like artificial intelligence, ethics, and evolutionary biology.
Episodes frequently feature interviews or guest appearances by the authors themselves, offering listeners a glimpse into the thought processes behind recent publications. There is a pattern of examining the intersection of science and philosophy, particularly how philosophical principles can inform or are informed by scientific practice. The podcast also addresses more abstract philosophical concepts such as social kinds, realist perspectives, and the nature of metaphysical explanation.
In addition to covering contemporary topics, the podcast occasionally revisits classic philosophical discussions, providing context and commentary on how these established ideas relate to current debates. The show balances in-depth analysis with accessibility, aiming to engage both specialists and those with a general interest in metaphysics and philosophy. Through thoughtful curation of topics, "Condensed Matter" provides a platform for understanding the diverse and evolving landscape of philosophical inquiry.
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37: "Why Being Necessary Really Is Not the Same As Being Not Possibly Not", Dana Goswick 2024-Jun-04 9 minutes |
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36: "The Singularity: A Philosophical Analysis", David Chalmers 2023-Jul-19 23 minutes |
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35: "There is no measurement problem for Humeans", Chris Dorst 2023-Jul-08 16 minutes |
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34: "The Limits of Modality", Sam Cowling 2023-Jan-19 13 minutes |
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33: "Biochemical Functions", Francesca Bellazzi (deep dive featuring the author!) 2022-Dec-22 37 minutes |
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32: "Substance", Donnchadh O'Conaill (deep dive featuring the author!) 2022-Aug-23 73 minutes |
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31: "Biological Individuality and the Foetus Problem", Will Morgan (deep dive featuring the author!) 2022-Jul-26 45 minutes |
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30: “How Skeptical is Quine’s “Modal Skepticism”?”, John Divers 2022-Jul-05 14 minutes |
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Ep. 29: "Modal Conventionalism", Ross Cameron 2022-Apr-06 9 minutes |
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Ep. 28: "Panpsychism", Thomas Nagel (CM classic!) 2022-Mar-16 9 minutes |
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Ep. 27: “Modal dispositionalism and necessary perfect masks”, Barbara Vetter and Ralf Busse 2022-Feb-02 11 minutes |
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Ep. 26: "An Apology for Naturalized Metaphysics", James Ladyman (deep dive featuring the author!) 2022-Jan-26 49 minutes |
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Ep. 25 "The Governing Conception of Laws", Nina Emery (deep dive featuring the author!) 2021-Dec-22 48 minutes |
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Ep. 24: “Going Beyond the Fundamental: Feminism in Contemporary Metaphysics”, Elizabeth Barnes 2021-Dec-15 9 minutes |
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Ep. 23: "Governing Without a Fundamental Direction of Time", Chen and Goldstein 2021-Dec-01 11 minutes |
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Ep. 22: "Aristotelian Supervenience", John Heil 2021-Nov-03 11 minutes |
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Episode 21: "Causal Content and Global Laws: Grounding Modality in Experimental Practice", Jenann Ismael 2021-Oct-27 10 minutes |
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Episode 20: "Disagreement in Metaphysics", Timothy WIlliamson 2021-Oct-20 12 minutes |
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Episode 19: "Realism Without Parochialism", Phillip Bricker 2021-Oct-13 10 minutes |
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Episode 18: "Metaphysics After Carnap: the Ghost Who Walks?", Huw Price 2021-Oct-06 13 minutes |
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Episode 17: "Social kinds are essentially mind-dependent", Rebecca Mason 2021-Sep-29 11 minutes |
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Episode 16: "Calculus and counterpossibles in science", Brian McLoone 2021-Sep-22 11 minutes |
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Episode 15: "The rationality of metaphysics", E.J. Lowe 2021-Sep-15 12 minutes |
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Episode 14: "Where Do You Get Your Protein? Or: Biochemical Realization", Tuomas Tahko (deep dive featuring the author!) 2021-Sep-08 40 minutes |
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Episode 13: "Norms and Modality", Amie Thomasson 2021-Sep-01 9 minutes |
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Episode 12: "What Everyone Should Say about Symmetries (and How Humeans Get to Say It)", Michael Townsen Hicks (deep dive featuring the author!) 2021-Aug-25 54 minutes |
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Episode 11: “Nomothetic Explanation and Humeanism about Laws of Nature”, Harjit Bhogal 2021-Aug-18 12 minutes |
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Episode 10: "Realism and the Absence of Value", Shamik Dasgupta 2021-Aug-11 14 minutes |
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Episode 9: "Megarian Variable Actualism", Toby Friend (deep dive featuring the author!) 2021-Aug-04 27 minutes |
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Episode 8: "Sideways music", Ned Markosian 2021-Jul-28 9 minutes |
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Episode 7: "The Ground Between the Gaps", Jonathan Schaffer 2021-Jul-21 11 minutes |
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Episode 6: "Conceptualizing causal powers: activity, capacity, essence, necessitation", Ruth Groff 2021-Jul-14 10 minutes |
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Episode 5: "There Are No Ahistorical Theories of Function", Justin Garson 2021-Jul-07 8 minutes |
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Episode 4: "Troubles with Theoretical Virtues: Resisting Theoretical Utility Arguments in Metaphysics", Otávio Bueno and Scott Shalkowski 2021-Jul-07 9 minutes |
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Episode 3: "Ramseyan Humility", David Lewis 2021-Jul-07 8 minutes |
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Episode 2: "Fundamental Powers, Evolved Powers, and Mental Powers", Alexander Bird; "Evolved Powers, Artefact Powers, and Dispositional Explanations", Barbara Vetter 2021-Jul-07 16 minutes |
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Episode 1: "How scientific models can explain", Alisa Bokulich 2021-Jul-07 10 minutes |
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Episode 0: Introducing Condensed Matter 2021-Jul-07 2 minutes |