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What if everything you’ve ever done was inevitable — shaped by causes beyond your control? In this episode, we explore determinism not as a physics problem, but as a moral one. Why do we blame people? Why do we take credit? Nietzsche called it all a mistake — four great errors that have warped how we see the world and ourselves. But was he right?

We also take a sharp turn with Sartre, who thinks even in a determined world, freedom can still mean something — if we’re willing to own our choices without excuse.

This isn’t a debate between science and free will. It’s a challenge to how we judge, punish, and live with ourselves and others.

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In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and her famous idea of the “banality of evil.” Arendt argued that great wrongs can be carried out not just by monsters, but by ordinary people who fail to think critically about their actions. What does this mean for the rest of us—especially in today’s political climate?

From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America, this episode asks: What is our responsibility when our leaders do wrong? Can clear thinking really protect us from going along with injustice? And how do we stay human when the system tells us not to ask questions?

Whether you're new to political philosophy or just trying to make sense of the world, this one's for you.

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Explore the Brain in a Vat thought experiment.

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We’ve all been told that grades are how we measure success and learning in school. But what if that’s a lie we’ve all just accepted? In this episode, we take a hard look at the role of grades in education—not just how they work, but who they really serve.

Grades are often treated like neutral indicators of learning, but they shape the way students think, what teachers prioritize, and how schools define success. They create pressure, foster competition, and punish mistakes, even though mistakes are how we learn. They claim to reward merit, but often just reflect privilege.

So who are grades really for? Students? Teachers? Employers? Or are they part of a system that values sorting above individual growth?

If you’ve ever felt like grades don’t tell the whole story—this episode is for you.

Hit play and join the conversation that could change how you see school forever.

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Explore Schrödigner's Cat with me in 90 seconds.

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Can a machine really think—or just fake it well enough to fool us?

In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Alan Turing’s famous test for machine intelligence. The idea is simple: if a machine can carry on a conversation indistinguishable from a human, maybe it counts as “thinking.” But is that a good standard—or just clever imitation?

We explore why the Turing Test might be too generous, letting in machines that don’t really understand anything. And too strict—shutting out minds that don’t look like ours. Along the way, we meet Ada Lovelace, who saw these problems coming way back in the 1800s, and John Searle, whose “Chinese Room” challenges the whole idea of AI understanding.

If you've ever wondered whether machines can think—or what “thinking” even means—this one’s for you.

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Let's explore the idea that facts don't give us right and wrong.

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What does it really mean to say that sex is "biologically determined"? In this episode of American Socrates, we explore the science, philosophy, and politics behind one of the most heated debates of our time. We break down what biology can tell us about sex, what it can’t, and why that matters—not just in classrooms and courtrooms, but in everyday life.

Whether you're curious, skeptical, or just trying to make sense of the noise, this episode invites you to think deeper about categories we often take for granted.

#AmericanSocrates #PhilosophyPodcast #GenderAndSex #CriticalThinking

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