Table of contents: Personal story: 1:30 The purpose of this video 3:19 Addressing counterarguments: 4:40 The really important part: 5:30 through 6:40 The argument presented clearly 7:27 Does this mean the Bible is for abortion? 7:50
These are the verses commonly cited in favor of the idea a fetus has a soul and abortion is murder: From Jeremiah 1 and Psalm 51 (Please go read these in context)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Table of contents: Personal story: 1:30 The purpose of this video 3:19 Addressing counterarguments: 4:40 The really important part: 5:30 through 6:40 The argument presented clearly 7:27 Does this mean the Bible is for abortion? 7:50
These are the verses commonly cited in favor of the idea a fetus has a soul and abortion is murder: From Jeremiah 1 and Psalm 51 (Please go read these in context)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”Properly Basic Belief in God?Testeverything5212021-02-22 | In this video I attempt to answer the question "Is belief in God properly basic?" and go on to offer an explanation and criticism of reformed epistemology.
A properly basic belief is a belief that is not based on evidence or argument (aka it is not a product of inference) but is still a rational thing to believe.
Reformed epistemology suggests that belief in God is not necessarily a product of inference, and because of our divine sense (called a sensus divinitatus) we can have non-inferentially justified belief in God.
I argue that our "sensus divinitatus" is not a sense that provides us with non-inferentially justified beliefs, but instead a description of how we make subconscious inferences about God.
When you see something that looks designed and you end up thinking a designer exists, you are subconsciously appealing to a teleological argument.
When you see a tree and immediately recognize it as a hickory tree, you are making a subconscious inference in order to correctly identify it.
These beliefs people are calling "properly basic" are actually a result of (potentially subconscious) inferences.
In short, a lot of philosophers use the term "basic" to describe things that I don't think actually qualify as "basic" beliefs.Classical Foundationalism - A CritiqueTesteverything5212021-02-11 | Classical Foundationalism, by historically choosing only starting points that are incorrigible, ends up excluding the actual "starting points" in favor of beliefs we are very certain are true. They correctly identify some beliefs that we can know are true, but they aren't actually "starting points" that can be successfully built on. In failing to conclude that our actual starting points are "proper", you end up unable to have a pathway to rational belief in inferential justification at all.
More modern types of foundationalism don't define their starting points (aka properly basic beliefs) in such a narrow way and do not run into the same problem.Is It Okay to Name and Shame a Nazi?Testeverything5212017-08-19 | We explore together the morality of doc dropping a Nazi.Trump Charlottesville Speech - Highlights and CommentaryTesteverything5212017-08-18 | The alt-left (antifa) and the alt-right (fringe groups like Nazis and White Supremacists) clashed this weekend in Charlottsville leaving one dead and 19 injured after a hit and run.
The President suggested both sides are to blame.
I highlight the things the President said that were truthful and the deceptions spoken by the President in an attempt to explain what folks are really upset about.Mansplaining - is it sexist?Testeverything5212017-06-27 | Dictionary definition: “A man explaining something, particular to a woman, in a manner regarded as patronizing or condescending.”
I agree mansplaining is a real and negative thing. Men do often talk down to women, sometimes without even realizing it. I actually identify as a type of feminist. I’m a humanist because I believe all people have value. And I’m a feminist because I believe women are particularly discriminated against and deserve to be treated as equals. For these reasons, I am against the use of the term mansplaining. I think it is inconsistent with the type of feminism I just described. There are two primary reasons I think the term undermines those values.
First one: To take a stereotypical negative behavior and label it after a specific gender is to create a sexist term. Think about negative traits that end up including female within the title. Two that come to my mind are “woman drivers” and “bridezilla”. All genders can be bad drivers. If you wish to insult bad driving, and you do so by disparagingly referring to someone as a “woman driver”, then you are both perpetuating a negative stereotype and linking that with a gender. A person’s gender should not be tied together with an insult or negative trait. It is entirely possible to combat sexism without embracing inherently sexist terminology. Using sexist terminology while trying to combat sexism seems to allow opponents of feminism to point out this hypocritical double standard and have the appearance of taking the moral high ground. It is very poor word choice and an ineffective way to point out the problem.
That brings me to the second and more significant point:
Even if we ignore that the term itself seems to be sexist in name, there is another way in which the term mansplaining becomes unmistakably sexist in usage. Mansplaining conveys a stereotype. Even though I think this negative stereotype is actually true, stereotypes are inherently problematic in a way that will influences how this term is used.
Stereotypes, even the ones you don’t believe, prime you to see the world a certain way. If culture keeps telling me women are bossy, even if I believe culture is wrong, being aware of the stereotype will make you more aware of when a woman is acting in a way that could possibly be labeled bossy. When a man acts bossy, you will find some excuse as to explain why it is a coincidence or isn’t representative of his entire gender. In the absence of the stereotype, you would have done the same for a woman. Because you are aware of the stereotype, your brain will remember and make note of when a woman acts in a bossy way and it will appear as evidence to confirm the stereotype. Stereotypes are self-fulfilling in this way. BUT HERE IS WHERE IT GETS PROBLEMATIC. The result of this internalized expectation is that it primes you to see the world through the lens of this stereotype. If the stereotype says that women are bossy, then just being aware of this stereotype can bias us. The bias makes it so that and actions which would normally be called confident or passionate becomes mislabeled as bossy or crazy. Our brains set out to make the world conform to meet the stereotypical internalized expectations.. It soon ceases to matter whether or not the individual actually conforms to the negative stereotype or not, because our biased brains will convince us it does either way.
Mansplaining is just one particular example of a negative stereotype. When you prime people to expect man to explain things in patronizing and condescending ways, that will become a stereotypical internalized expectation. Soon any explanation performed by men, whether patronizing and condescending or not will be mislabeled as mansplaining. Even this video, although not patronizing or condescending, could and likely will be mislabeled as mansplaining simply because a man was doing the talking at the beginning. When the word mansplaining is used to shut down any explanation simply because it comes from men, mansplaining becomes unmistakably sexist. To test whether or not this happens, just check the comments section. Those who are not likely to have watched this far into the video are the same ones likely to call this video mansplaining simply because the thumbnail has a picture of a man.
The proliferation of negative stereotypes is the enemy. It is an enemy of humanism, which makes it an enemy of feminism.
As always, test everything, hold on to the good.Webcam Morality and Christianity Hangout TrailerTesteverything5212016-10-16 | Subscribe to Bert Poole
There will be more videos of me using another version of the shirt change prank on some of my other students in an effort to explain Descartes.
For the basketball video use this link: youtube.com/watch?v=YSA-tlvU9A8Leg Lengthening Miracle ExposedTesteverything5212015-10-26 | The Bible tells us that the truth will set you free. Lies will do nothing but destroy your credibility. Don't lie for Jesus, if He is real He doesn't need you to lie for Him.
In this video I expose the leg healing trick which is flaunted as a miracle. I demonstrate how to do the trick as well as give examples of people pretending to do the "miracle".
As Christians, remember that you cannot trick or manipulate anyone into salvation. Telling lies, even if you think you are helping, does nothing but make other Christians look fake.
Don't let you deceptive actions taken in His name be a stumbling block to others. I don't think God would be very happy with that.Todays Free Daily Horoscope (Guaranteed Accuracy Relevant TODAY)Testeverything5212015-10-23 | What do the stars have to say about your future? Stay tuned to find out, this may be the most important horoscope you will ever need to hear.Teaching with Pranks Episode 2: Correlation Does Not Equal CausationTesteverything5212015-10-16 | In this video I used a prank to demonstrate a fallacy that essentially shows us that correlation does not equal causation.What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus (Bloopers included)Testeverything5212015-10-14 | What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus?
I explore this question using some analogies and little publicized Bible verses.
Taking a lesson from Socrates and admitting our own ignorance is the first and most important step, but it is fun to speculate about these things and see if we can gain some insight from looking at relevant Bible verses.Faith, Doubt, and SocratesTesteverything5212015-10-07 | In this video I talk about blind faith and whether or not that is a good thing. We also hear some wise words from Socrates related to the topic, and a few Bible verses that seem to mirror his sentiments.
The best line from the video: Follow truth wherever it leads, If Christianity is true you have nothing to worry about, and if Christianity is false then you shouldn't believe it.
Verses used: 1 Thessalonians 5:21 1 Corinthians 15:17 Psalm 146:3 Proverbs 3:5Do I benefit From Being Moral? Plato LectureTesteverything5212015-09-26 | In order for this video to make sense, you need to be familiar with the "Myth of the Charioteer".
Plato gave us an example of a chariot that had three parts (this represents the three parts of the human soul). It had a wild horse (representing our desires), a tame horse (representing our spirit) and a charioteer or chariot driver (representing reason).
He argued that a good chariot would be one where the charioteer (reason) has control over the horses (our desires and our spirit).
A drug addict lives a poor life, not because pleasure isn't good, but because they allow pleasure to govern their lives. Their life is like a chariot that is out of control and has been taken over by the wild horse (desire). A bad life is symbolic of inner turmoil or disharmony within yourself.
A good life is one where you have internal harmony. The best and happiest life will be one where reason guides your life and your desires and spirit do not run the show. Understanding this analogy will help make sense of a lot of what is said in this video.Drunk Sex is RapeTesteverything5212015-09-25 | In this video I discuss the problem of sexual assault on campus and suggest more effective ways of trying to address it.
Along the way we get to talk about Aristotle, see a magic trick, discuss the meaning of consent, and think about whether or not minors can consent to sex.Kim Davis: Final ThoughtsTesteverything5212015-09-24 | In this video I discuss religious accommodation, separation of church and state, free speech, compelled speech, and the legal role of a signature.
youtube.com/user/RobTheMonk8/videosGay Marriage Doesnt Exist?Testeverything5212015-09-20 | A lot of Christians have been arguing that gay marriage does not exist, and have been saying the Bible supports their position. In this video, I explore whether or not that is true.Religious AccommodationTesteverything5212015-09-20 | In this video I talk about some pros and cons of religious accommodation.
Here is the link to the video about the Kosherswitch. It isn't supposed to be funny, but it is. youtube.com/watch?v=NdbkvJznmwUProfessor Teaches Using Pranks! Episode 1Testeverything5212015-09-18 | In this video I prank my students in order to teach them about something called the "argument from disagreement".
The argument from disagreement is one of the most common arguments against the idea that humans can know facts about morality.How to be a better boyfriend/girlfriend challengeTesteverything5212015-08-06 | Just recently I think I found an easy way to be a better boyfriend or girlfriend and have a partner with higher self-esteem. I stumbled onto this psychological phenomenon called the gaslight effect that I thought was pretty profound and I wanted to share it with you guys. I want to explain this phenomenon a little bit, and then give you all a little challenge.
Have you ever called someone or been on the receiving end of one of these lines? You are crazy. You are being really overly-sensitive right now. You are being so dramatic. You are really high maintenance. You are being really irrational. You are being so naggy.
Have you ever called someone on been on the receiving end of one of these lines? You are so stubborn. You are so lazy. You are so insensitive. You are so jealous. You are so angry all the time.
If so, then you may be causing or a victim of the gaslight effect.
Hopefully this video will help us understand what the gaslight effect is and understanding that will help you see the need to pass this challenge.
youtube.com/watch?v=l9SBIJDrIA0Aristotle proves God using Morality?Testeverything5212014-12-12 | On this channel I talk about the moral argument for God's existence quite a bit. Aristotle has his own version of this argument. It only seems to apply to views which try to figure out what is moral by playing "the why game" but it is still an interesting argument to consider.
I am quite curious what you guys think about this particular argument. Let me know in the comments section if you have the time.Understanding the Naturalistic FallacyTesteverything5212014-10-03 | What is the naturalistic fallacy? Watch the video to find out!
G.E. Moore's explanation of the naturalistic fallacy: "That "pleased" does not mean "having the sensation of red", or anything else whatever, does not prevent us from understanding what it does mean. It is enough for us to know that "pleased" does mean "having the sensation of pleasure", and though pleasure is absolutely indefinable, though pleasure is pleasure and nothing else whatever, yet we feel no difficulty in saying that we are pleased. The reason is, of course, that when I say "I am pleased", I do not mean that "I" am the same thing as "having pleasure". And similarly no difficulty need be found in my saying that "pleasure is good" and yet not meaning that "pleasure" is the same thing as "good", that pleasure means good, and that good means pleasure. If I were to imagine that when I said "I am pleased", I meant that I was exactly the same thing as "pleased", I should not indeed call that a naturalistic fallacy, although it would be the same fallacy as I have called naturalistic with reference to Ethics."
That can be found in his book titled "Principia Ethica" on page 9.
In this video I hope to give a simple overview of the naturalistic fallacy and what Moore hopes it will prove.Murder Mystery Bible Quiz (Interactive)Testeverything5212014-09-15 | This is the first interactive Bible quiz on youtube that I'm aware of. I hope you enjoy.The Church and AbortionTesteverything5212014-09-11 | In this video we talk about the early church, the implications of ensoulment at conception, the role of science, and the views of St. Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas.
When two men brawl they accidentally kill the fetus (v22) the penalty is a fine. When two men brawl and they accidentally kill the mother (v23) the penalty is death. Despite it being an accident, the brawler is given the penalty for murder when the mother dies yet not when the fetus dies. Let me know what you guys make of this.
Links used in the analogy: youtube.com/watch?v=_UU4zYC1GgIPaleo?Testeverything5212013-12-26 | In this video I talk about a new diet I am considering and explaining the reasoning behind my decision.
I will let you guys know if the steps I take here help me eliminate acid reflux.
This is one of the most difficult arguments to refute, but easiest argument to reject. To many people this feels like a word game and people will have a hard time accepting it even if they can't figure out what is wrong with it. Most counter arguments seem to be based upon a misunderstanding of the argument. Hopefully together we can come to understand it better.The Moral Relativism ChallengeTesteverything5212013-09-27 | Make sure annotations are turned ON.
In this video I discuss several arguments against the notion that God's characteristics are logically coherent.Teaching philosophy and other updatesTesteverything5212013-08-20 | Here is a link to the1janitor's video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDqxcg95N58Pascals WagerTesteverything5212012-10-26 | Sorry about the wind! I think I might try that whole video on a boat tactic later, but I will use a quiet boat and figure something out about how to fix the wind problem. SisyphusRedeemed's video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTHN_eQaEaI
Contrapoints' video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYWJdxsLZC8Mitt Romney on Gay Marriage and ReligionTesteverything5212012-09-07 | A gay veteran did an interview with Mitt Romney on ABC and asked some questions pertaining to gay marriage. Romney's answers were, interesting, to say the least.
Here is a link to the ABC article: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/gay-veteran-steals-the-show-at-romney-endorsement-eventSo You Still Think Homosexuality is Sinful?Testeverything5212012-08-19 | In this video I sit down with one of my closest friends and talk about a poster that I have seen quite a few times on Facebook that discusses whether or not homosexuality is sinful, and we also discuss whether or not that actually has implications about whether or not gay marriage should be illegal.
My friend's channel: http://www.youtube.com/lmeyyappanThe Search for a ChurchTesteverything5212012-08-14 | In this video I provide a little update to some stuff going on in my life. I discuss my search for a new church, my past experiences with churches, and stuff that is likely to be on my mind and the topic of future videos.
Do you guys like this kind of video, or do you prefer if I just stick to videos arguing for, critiquing, or analyzing a specific argument?Miracles and CreationismTesteverything5212012-08-13 | In this video I offer the question of whether or not an omnipotent deity must interact with the world in ways which violate the laws of nature to bring about His goals, or if he could bring about His goals in a way that use rather than violate the laws of nature.
I then explore the question, "If God can achieve his goals without violating the laws of nature, would we still call those actions a miracle?"
In this video I turn my attention to an argument put forward in support of gay marriage that I think is ultimately more harmful than helpful. It is often argued that we have a right to marriage. Some argue this is a human right while others argue it is merely a civil right. In this video, I explain the difference between human and civil rights, explain a bit about the difference between positive and negative rights, and then explain what I believe is a more beneficial way to talk about whether or not gay marriage should become legal than appealing to rights.
In this video I take a critical look at an argument that homosexual marriage should be illegal. Often conversations about whether or not same sex marriage should be legal turn into whether or not same sex marriage is moral or not. I believe that conversation is worth having, but is not actually as relevant to whether or not it should be legal as many people seem to believe.
My next video on the topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSJeAW2Kghg&list=UUIfhPRlif-LJjTp4lZChKEg&index=1&feature=plcpHomosexual Marriage: Sacred vs SecularTesteverything5212012-06-04 | In this video I take a look at an argument that arises fairly often in reguards to whether or not homosexual marriage should be legal or not. Many Christians (particularly televangelists) argue that the government is trying to redefine what is sacred and holy by allowing homosexual marriage. I take at reasons that argument may not work as well as many people think.
To see my next video on Homosexual Marriage here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2wkdvpieOsEvolution, Magneto, and MoralityTesteverything5212012-06-01 | This video addresses magneto's argument that evolution gives us reason to think eugenics is moral.T-bonedTesteverything5212012-04-20 | I should probably be dead right now, but I am more or less uninjured. I thought I'd let you guys know.Goatee Advice and Walmart StoriesTesteverything5212012-01-16 | Lemme know what you think.Guest Speaking on the Fish of Time Show.Testeverything5212012-01-05 | The Fish of time show. Topic: Morality
Let me guys know if there is anything you guys would like to see discussed in particular.
Thunderf00t is pretty good at science but has completely butchered philosophy. This distrust of philosophy is not the type of thing I am glad to see spread to the eyes of tens of thousands of people.Trust in Science?Testeverything5212011-12-03 | Should we trust in science, and to what extent? This is a response to ChristopherL. His video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSYNwwYhOWQ&feature=g-uThe Moral HierarchyTesteverything5212011-12-01 | This video takes a look between the potential differences between a value hierarchy and a moral hierarchy. A value hierarchy describes what we do value. A moral hierarchy describes what we ought to value.
Our conscience helps us see that sometimes the way we ought to behave is inconsistent with what we personally value.
At the end of the day, I am arguing that pleasure is not bad in and of itself. Something like pleasure only becomes bad when we value that pleasure above something else like the rights of others. It only becomes bad when it causes us to act on a disordered desire.