'Twas the Week Before Christmas... | Skeptic Generation | Episode 31 Season 1

Vi's back and we are excited to celebrate the holidays with you. Give us a call at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to talk about what you believe and why. Or, call in to prep for that inevitable argument with family over Christmas dinner, we gotchu.

If you’re interested in sending us something, our P.O. box address is below:

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Alone this week and feeling blue about it? PurpleRhymesWithOrange is doing a 48 hour marathon for people struggling with depression. The livestream hasn't been scheduled yet, but here's the link to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleRhyme...
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Happy Holidays & Many Updates!
05:53 - Kit (they/them) - ID - Thanks For Doing What You Do!
08:24 - Wingo (he/him) - IL - Do We Have Free Will?
23:51 - Sunny (they/them) - IN - My Grandma Is Worried About My Soul, Help!
38:19 - Steven (he/him) - WA - How Do I Stop Being Anxious About The End of the World?
55:30 - Xander (he/him) - CO - Free Will, Shmee Will, It Doesn’t Matter!
01:15:05 - Mr. Cosmic (he/him) - BD - Is This Argument A No True Scotsman?

05:53
We kick things off with a really short and sweet call from Kit, who has recently found the new show and thanks Vi and Eric for all they do. We appreciate you too, Kit!

08:24
How do you define free will? Wingo is a theist, but doesn’t think we have free will as it is commonly described. Vi and Eric discuss the various versions of free will and the caller proposes a new definition: the ability to transcend our natural biological limitations by way of technological advancement. Is this a good or useful definition of free will?

23:51
Sunny’s grandma is deeply concerned about their immortal soul, and spends time together evangelizing. How should Sunny respond to these well-intentioned if uncomfortable and one-sided conversations? Vi give their perspective as someone dealing with the same issue, and Eric has some hard truths to share about holding people accountable.

38:19
“When is the Big One?” It’s a question people in the Pacific Northwest know well. Steven is asking how to use skepticism to get out of an anxious mindset that keeps him in fear of the end of the world. Vi and Eric point out some practical tips and tricks, but also advise going to therapy. As Vi says, being a skeptic includes making sure you have the best tools for the job, and sometimes that tool is therapy!

55:30
It doesn’t matter if we have free will or if it’s an illusion, says this caller. Society would not change one way or the other. Vi gets lost in some axiological weeds while Eric points out that the conversation is trying to address both “is” and “ought” at the same time.

1:15:05
How to identify a no true Scotsman fallacy in an argument? Mr. Cosmic is calling in from Bangladesh to ask for advice when dealing with people who make harmful, sweeping claims about a whole religious group. The hosts call out fallacious behavior and explain why such impulses are both inaccurate and dangerous.
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