- Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States
David Kyle Johnson
King's College, Pennsylvania, Philosophy, Faculty Member
I explain the two conceptions of time travel that make it logically possible and examine whether the time travel in The Orville is consistent with one of them.
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I use The Orville episode "If the Stars Should Appear" to debunk Climate Change denial.
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The introduction to my book, "Exploring The Orville" where I explain how it does philosophy best: by "cloaking bias to create cognitive dissidence."
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When regeneration changes the Doctor—when it makes him erratic or even violent enough to choke his own companion — we wonder (along with those traveling with him ) not only about whether he actually is “still the Doctor” but also about... more
When regeneration changes the Doctor—when it makes him erratic or even violent enough to choke his own companion — we wonder (along with those traveling with him ) not only about whether he actually is “still the Doctor” but also about how and why regeneration affects him so drastically. And if it because of physical changes to his body (and brain), we then wonder whether the Doctor really is free? If how he acts is determined by how his brain is configured, how free can he really be?
We ask similar questions about ourselves when we realize that ingesting a drug can, for example, impair the memory of someone who is suggestible. If a spike through the brain can turn a calm responsible person into one that is emotional and uncontrollable, how free can we really be?
Today, most areas of psychology shy away from such philosophical questions. But the broader field of psychology itself began as a topic within philosophy—a topic exploring the nature of the mind and questions about whether free will exists. Since this chapter is co-authored by a psychologist and a philosopher (who both love Doctor Who), let’s take this opportunity to dive back into the murky waters of these deep questions.
We ask similar questions about ourselves when we realize that ingesting a drug can, for example, impair the memory of someone who is suggestible. If a spike through the brain can turn a calm responsible person into one that is emotional and uncontrollable, how free can we really be?
Today, most areas of psychology shy away from such philosophical questions. But the broader field of psychology itself began as a topic within philosophy—a topic exploring the nature of the mind and questions about whether free will exists. Since this chapter is co-authored by a psychologist and a philosopher (who both love Doctor Who), let’s take this opportunity to dive back into the murky waters of these deep questions.
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In the Black Mirror multi-verse Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in many forms. There is the robotic version of Martha’s husband Ash in Be Right Back, which replicates how Ash behaved on social media. Hated in the Nation gave us robotic... more
In the Black Mirror multi-verse Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in many forms. There is the robotic version of Martha’s husband Ash in Be Right Back, which replicates how Ash behaved on social media. Hated in the Nation gave us robotic bees programed for pollination that are reprogramed by Garrett Scholes for extermination. Speaking of artificial intelligence bent on extermination, we can’t forget the robot dogs from Metalhead. And then there are the characters from Bandersnatch, who are living inside a “choose your own adventure” game.
The philosophical issues surrounding these examples have been addressed elsewhere in this volume. But there is yet another bit of AI in Black Mirror that deserves special attention: the creation of artificial systems that are conscious.
The philosophical issues surrounding these examples have been addressed elsewhere in this volume. But there is yet another bit of AI in Black Mirror that deserves special attention: the creation of artificial systems that are conscious.
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The Black Mirror episode “Bandersnatch” was called a “choose your own adventure” story. Given its multiple timelines and multiple endings, it raised multiple philosophical questions. For the new book Black Mirror and Philosophy: Dark... more
The Black Mirror episode “Bandersnatch” was called a “choose your own adventure” story. Given its multiple timelines and multiple endings, it raised multiple philosophical questions. For the new book Black Mirror and Philosophy: Dark Reflections, contributor Chris Lay and editor David Kyle Johnson put together a “choose your own philosophical” adventure chapter to explore that episode’s theme, where the reader can explore the questions they want to ask.
But now, thanks to the efforts of Chris Lay, while you are waiting for your copy of the book to arrive, you can work your way through Johnson and Lay’s chapter as an online experience.
Follow the Link: https://popcultureandphilosophy.itch.io/bandersnatch-a-choose-your-own-philosophical-adventure
But now, thanks to the efforts of Chris Lay, while you are waiting for your copy of the book to arrive, you can work your way through Johnson and Lay’s chapter as an online experience.
Follow the Link: https://popcultureandphilosophy.itch.io/bandersnatch-a-choose-your-own-philosophical-adventure
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The Good Place is, obviously, about moral philosophy. But one reason everyone hates moral philosophers (especially other philosophers) is that they think everything is about ethics. It's not. And the same is true for The Good Place.... more
The Good Place is, obviously, about moral philosophy. But one reason everyone hates moral philosophers (especially other philosophers) is that they think everything is about ethics. It's not. And the same is true for The Good Place. Indeed, it raises two very interesting non-moral questions: (1) Could you ever actually know you were in The Good Place? And (2) would you even want to be? As we'll see, the answer to these questions are "no" and "hell no," respectively.
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On October 3, 1992, when Sinéad O’Connor called the Pope “the real enemy” and tore up his picture, the backlash was fierce; the episode effectively ended her career. But, when you think about it, her stunt wasn’t that different from other... more
On October 3, 1992, when Sinéad O’Connor called the Pope “the real enemy” and tore up his picture, the backlash was fierce; the episode effectively ended her career. But, when you think about it, her stunt wasn’t that different from other things that have been done on the show. From George Calrin’s opening monologue on the very first episode (where he essentially calls religion a crutch that can leave you permanently disabled), to sketches like “Djesus Uncrossed,” “God is a Boob Man,” and “The Religetables,” SNL has never been afraid to be blasphemous and sacrilegious. And I haven’t even mentioned The Church Lady, that time Jesus made fun of Tebow in the Bronco’s lockeroom, and that time Louis C.K. implied God was a serial killer. There was backlash about all these episodes too. So why didn’t they end anyone’s career? In this paper, I’ll explore these sketches and acts (and the public response to them) to try to get to the bottom of all of this. Ultimately, I’ll argue, they didn’t end anyone’s career because they probably make a pretty good point. And with that in mind, I’ll conclude by arguing that…well… we probably all owe Sinéad O’Connor a huge apology.
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This is my chapter in the forthcoming "Star Trek and Philosophy." I argue that Kirk's interference in the episodes "The Apple" and "The Paradise Syndrome" was unjustified--and that both (unlike Star Trek's usual progressive messages)... more
This is my chapter in the forthcoming "Star Trek and Philosophy."
I argue that Kirk's interference in the episodes "The Apple" and "The Paradise Syndrome" was unjustified--and that both (unlike Star Trek's usual progressive messages) promoted a conservative anti-communist 1960's message.
I argue that Kirk's interference in the episodes "The Apple" and "The Paradise Syndrome" was unjustified--and that both (unlike Star Trek's usual progressive messages) promoted a conservative anti-communist 1960's message.
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I argue that the liberal "War on Christmas" is a fiction, but that the modern attempts to suggest that there is such a war is the latest in a historically long effort, made by Christians, to claim the holiday for themselves.
Research Interests: Philosophy and Christmas
I argue that Tolkien was a just war theorist and examine whether the Battle of Five Armies, at the end of The Hobbit, was justified.
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The “Go God Go” saga raises some very important questions. In the episode, the scientific worldview stamps out religion. But are science and religion really in such irreconcilable conflict? Would the supremacy of a scientific worldview... more
The “Go God Go” saga raises some very important questions. In the episode, the scientific worldview stamps out religion. But are science and religion really in such irreconcilable conflict? Would the supremacy of a scientific worldview really lead to atheism? In
the future of 2546, Dawkins’ atheism becomes its own religion. But is the New Atheism really just a new religion? And would the elimination of religion and the triumph of science really diminish the amount of violence in the world, or will people always just find something else to wage war over?
the future of 2546, Dawkins’ atheism becomes its own religion. But is the New Atheism really just a new religion? And would the elimination of religion and the triumph of science really diminish the amount of violence in the world, or will people always just find something else to wage war over?
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I use the episode Cartmanland, and other examples from South Park, to explain and evaluate responses to the Problem of Evil. I conclude that it raises significant doubts regarding God's existence.
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I use the examples of faith in the movie Inception to define evaluate faith--belief without sufficient evidence. I suggest that it is not virtuous or praiseworthy.
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We use the movie Inception to examine the concept of free will. We raise doubts about its existence, and examine Frankfurt's argument for compatiblism using an Inception inspired version of his famous thought experiment. We suggest that... more
We use the movie Inception to examine the concept of free will. We raise doubts about its existence, and examine Frankfurt's argument for compatiblism using an Inception inspired version of his famous thought experiment. We suggest that his attempt to defend compatiblism was not successful.
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I exmanine the relationship between science and religion, suggest that they are largely incompatible, and that science is slowly replacing religion (and theistic belief) as the dominate world view.
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I use the regenerations of Doctor Who to examine the concept of personal identity and the question of how it is that we are numerically (one in the same) person over time. I suggest that the concept of "person" may be a fiction.
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I argue that the comedian Stephen Colbert has “got to be kidding” —that he can’t really believe the arguments and positions that he espouses on his show The Colbert Report. To support this conclusion, I show that the positions and... more
I argue that the comedian Stephen Colbert has “got to be kidding” —that he can’t really believe the arguments and positions that he espouses on his show The Colbert Report. To support this conclusion, I show that the positions and arguments that Colbert defends on his show—individual and cultural relativism, truthiness, and a “right” to uninformed opinions—are so obviously flawed that the principle of charity demands that we interpret Colbert as only kidding.
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I argue that parents should stop lying to their children about Santa--that they should stop promoting literal belief in Santa Claus in their children. It's an immoral lie, it is a bad parenting practice (e.g., it creates trust issues),... more
I argue that parents should stop lying to their children about Santa--that they should stop promoting literal belief in Santa Claus in their children. It's an immoral lie, it is a bad parenting practice (e.g., it creates trust issues), and it encourages credulity.
An updated and expanded version of this argument appears in
David Kyle Johnson’s:
The Myths that Stole Christmas:
Seven Misconceptions that Hijacked the Holiday
(And How We Can Take it Back)
It can be ordered at:
http://www.humanistpress.com/david-kyle-johnson.html
An updated and expanded version of this argument appears in
David Kyle Johnson’s:
The Myths that Stole Christmas:
Seven Misconceptions that Hijacked the Holiday
(And How We Can Take it Back)
It can be ordered at:
http://www.humanistpress.com/david-kyle-johnson.html
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I use Colbert to examine the concepts of Truthiness and Gut Thinking to lay a groundwork for how to do philosophy.
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I use the events of the NBC show Heroes to argue that foreknowledge is incompatible with freewill, and to examine different understandings of the concept of fate.
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Using Peter's "Church of the Holy Fonz" as an example, I argue that religious exclusivism is not justified, that Scripture, Historical Tradition, and religious Experience (“SHiTE” for short) can’t justify religious belief, and that there... more
Using Peter's "Church of the Holy Fonz" as an example, I argue that religious exclusivism is not justified, that Scripture, Historical Tradition, and religious Experience (“SHiTE” for short) can’t justify religious belief, and that there are not grounds by which to claim that Peter’s worship of the Fonz is not “real religion.”
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I argue that it seems that affirmative action is, ultimately, unjustified but only because its laudable goals could likely be accomplished in better, more effectual, ways.
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I use The Obscene Watermark incident, from The Office, to examine how businesses should balance their moral obligations with their obligations to be profitable.
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Lance and I defend Johnny Cash's positions on prison reform and capital punishment. Prisons should be reformative, not retributive, and capital punishment should be abolished.
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I use the story of the Battlestar Galactica reboot to examine possibilities of fate and freewill.
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Indy and I argue that fictional characters, like Batman, can be used as moral exemplars--in fact, they might even be better than non-fictional persons as such.
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Are we supposed to show mercy, like Jules in Pulp Fiction, or seek revenge, like the Bride in Kill Bill? Although it might not seem so at first, Tarantino does have a consistent view when it comes to our obligations regarding showing... more
Are we supposed to show mercy, like Jules in Pulp Fiction, or seek revenge, like the Bride in Kill Bill? Although it might not seem so at first, Tarantino does have a consistent view when it comes to our obligations regarding showing mercy and enacting revenge. In fact, even though we might not like to admit it, his view is likely the view that most people share.