how would YOU solve a moral dilemma?

ethical thought experiments seem to pique everyone's interests. but are they actually helpful for ethical decision-making? how do we expand our range of possible choices in a given situation. i consider the power and limits of moral imagination.
this video was so disorganized, i'm sorry... but hey, screw systematic structure, we're talking about particularism today!
**CORRECTION: by Tim Chappell, i mean Sophie Grace Chappell. my brain did a weird mixing of tim in tim-the-terrorist and chappell lol.
thank you sisphyus 55 and BABILA. for their animations and voiceovers!
@Sisyphus55 @BABILA.
EDITOR:
youtube: @pishifat and twitter: / pishifat
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: i'd love to hear what you all have to say *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 intro
00:19 the baby problem (thanks sisyphus 55)
00:48 applied ethics vs. metaethics
4:19 baking brookies for you
5:45 systematic/scientific ethics
8:52 what's wrong with systematic ethics?
9:51 oppy's atomic bomb dilemma
16:00 the importance of imagining the impossible
18:07 why our imagination can be crap
25:45 "tim the terrorist" (thanks sisyphus 55 & BABILA.)
30:36 improving moral imagination
34:51 outro
★・・・・・★・・・・・★
If you want extra ways to support my channel and get more content, check out my PATREON: patreon.com/oliSUNvia
socials:
,, instagram: @olisunvia
,, tiktok: @olisunvia (v lame pls don't judge)
,, spotify: liv sun
FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES:
[e-mail]
★・・・・・★・・・・・★
SOURCES:
Arpaly, Nomy. (2020). “What Is It Like to Have a Crappy Imagination?”
Chappell, Sophie Grace. (2014). Knowing What To Do: Imagination, Virtue, and Platonism in Ethics.
Kind, Amy. (2020) “What Imagination Teaches.”
Nussbaum, Martha. (1986). “The Discernment of Perception: An Aristotelian Conception
of Private and Public Rationality.”
Rivage-Seul, Marguerite. (1987). "Peace Education: Imagination and the Pedagogy of the Oppressed."
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2023). "Transformative Experience."
MUSIC:
Déodat de Séverac - Valse Romantique
Yury Vesnyak - Jazz Waltz 'Charm'
Anatoly Lyadov: Prélude in b flat minor
Isaac Albéniz - Barcarola
Chopin - Nocturne Op.48 No.1 in C Minor
tags: ethics, metaethics, morality, the trolley problem, the baby problem, moral thought experiments, moral dilemma, internet analysis, video essay, analysis video, philosophy, tiktok, hannah kim, internet drama, twitter drama, the good place, the organ donor problem, oppenheimer, atomic bomb, world war ii, wwii, hiroshima nagasaki bomb dropping, president truman, chris nolan, oppenheimer bomb scene, chronically online, shanspeare, jordan theresa, vox, vice, cj the x, tiffany ferg, alice cappelle, contrapoints, philosophy tube, madisyn brown, chad chad, sisyphus 55, tara mooknee, babila

[@oliSUNvia]

anyone else feel like they talk excruciatingly slow on camera? that's my way of asking you to watch this in 1.5x speed.

[@itchylol742]

no. i will watch at 1.0x speed and you can't stop me

[@Joshua787]

I use a chrome extension that plays 8x to get through your vids

[@haxyie]

@@Joshua787 DAMN

[@Ghostthehumanist]

I actually moved it down to 0.5x. However, I do not invite anyone else to do that. I'm weird. Edit: Great content, btw. Edit2: Also, it didn't sound weird at normal speed at all. Just seems like you're clear and thorough, and you consider all audiences when you talk.

[@eric7985]

as a BP debater yes

[@LateefA519]

I would absolutely love a 2 hour deep dive with pure theory even if the video only got 200k views, half of them would be from me.

[@d3adm3mori3s9]

And the other half from me

[@maryamasomewhathuman.7870]

Same

[@Flower-fy1kv]

Same 2 🖤.

[@Dataq6629]

Dilema: -do 2h vid, hype peeps & bore a few -dont do vid, let us all fall prey to 1m newscycles and 5s tiktoks Discuss. (fr, ye if you feel like it)

[@junesdaughter]

please I need that so bad

[@0verWay]

Some moral dilemmas are unsolvable by simply choosing A or B. Some dilemmas are like unbeatable games: “the only winning move is not to play.” Ignorance and non-knowledge can often times be the factor that determine the best outcome, because they offer angles, that someone with knowledge and morals, whichever they may be, couldn't see or would be biased against.

[@sebrussell]

Conversely, not choosing is a choice. With the Trolley Problem(s), for example, the choice is quite literally between action and inaction, not choosing is effectively the same as choosing. And as much as we might laugh off more extreme moral dilemmas as silly, we engage in lower stakes dilemmas every day. Whether to give money to a homeless person (if so, how much, and if you feel you only have enough for one person and see multiple homeless people, how do you decide who deserves the money), whether to let someone else on the train before you (or multiple people), whether to interfere in an argument between coworkers, etc. In most all such scenarios, we have imperfect information. Which homeless person is most in need, what will they use the money on; will waiting for the next train have a greater impact on that other person than you, could one of you have a better chance to also get on if forced to rush for the next carriage; is one of your coworkers in the wrong, which one, will you be able to diffuse the situation or will your involvement make things worse, would waiting for more information on the topic of the argument better allow you to end the argument, or if you wait, will hurtful words be said that cannot be unsaid? Even after the fact, you can almost never know with absolute certainty whether you made the best choice.

[@Literature4343]

Because realistically there are or there can be so many possibilities (outside of the status quo, as discussed in the video), I think all moral problems are solvable and none of them are "dilemmas" in the sense that we as a collective society if not species should be able to determine at least the worst outcome(s) to be avoided. Now for me the real dilemma is this: If that makes sense for many possible outcomes (or solution or course of action, however one puts it), how come it doesn't make sense for 2? Is it really that the problem itself is "unsolvable", or just that we are nowhere near knowing HOW to solve it?

[@thodoriss3068]

Personally, i believe the exact opposite. The only ''wrong'' choice is not choosing because it essentially means that you would rather hurt anyone than take the burden of helping someone. All these choices have pros and cons, all of them involve things we can't really calculate. So in my opinion any choice is the correct choice, as long as it sits well with you personally.

[@billnyedarussianspy1921]

not playing or not making a choice is just simple way of protecting your perception of how good you are, for example someone can get a better understanding of his values and principles by acting on them and seeing how beneficial they are either to him or to others depending on who you value most but not participating only strengthen bias moral value which leads to hypocrisy.

[@0verWay]

@billnyedarussianspy1921 it depends. If you are faced with a direct choice and its corresponding consequences, then your angle can be debated. However, there are instances where not having to choose due to no knowledge or (un)willing ignorance is the best outcome. Take the God question as example: if you never knew or found out God existed, as in: nobody ever told you, would he still punish or reward you the same way as someone who did? Or would you be spared the whole process? Pascal's wager, as an anti-thesis, discusses the best possible outcomes for someone once they DO know about the debate of God's existance.

[@hibabelmezouar2880]

I had this crazy dream once about a zombie apocalypse. I was chilling at home alone, and suddenly, my family showed up, but I couldn't tell if they were zombies or not. So, I panicked and decided to lock all the doors. The weird thing is, I felt super down for the whole week after that dream, like this overwhelming guilt was eating at me. It wasn't until I had a similar dream with a different ending that things started to make sense. But honestly, I still don't know what I'd do in a real zombie apocalypse scenario.

[@mustangg_art]

woah that’s so interesting tbh, do u remember the second dream?

[@junoperberry]

Probably kill zombies

[@feral_orc]

I had a dream when I was ~10 years old where my family got turned into zombies and I was chased through the town by Godzilla. I blew all their heads off with a pistol and got eaten by Godzilla after he tore the roof off the house I was hiding in.

[@hibabelmezouar2880]

@@mustangg_art yes in the second dream i saved my family

[@opossumboyo]

Any time a “real” apocalypse is brought up I just go back to On the Beach. Given how the last few years have gone it seems so much nicer to just take things into your own hands than to actually fight back against what would almost certainly be an insurmountable problem. I’d rather die quietly with my cat than struggle for months with whatever miserable group I end up with, only to have the same thing happen because of a tiny infection or bad weather or something.

[@dylanpursley7768]

The improving imagination section of this video hit me like a bus. I had always thought I had good imagination. When you mentioned diversifying the media we consume, however, I saw that maybe it wasn't as good as I thought. I have always had a strange hero/ego complex that dealt with needing to be already talented at everything. When thinking of all of the books I have read, it turns out that the "chosen one" motif is almost always there. It never crossed my mine that perhaps this complex I have was a result of book preferences! Yet it really makes sense as those books usually shaped the way I saw myself and the world. Thank you so much Olivia. This was a fantastic video, and please always go into theory!

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

There is an actual word for this that is pretty fundamental in the art world: Taste. You might've heard the term "in bad taste", right? That can mean anything, but basically, taste is your inspiration, your own art, thoughts, methods. It dictates what you look for and look at, what you take from it, and how you present it forward.

[@rabidL3M0NS]

The only alternative to identifying with the heroic spirit is to identify with the spirit of the adversary. If you identify with neither then you are nothing but a rope in a tug of war.

[@vaporeonice3146]

When I saw the poll I kind of groaned…I often find discussions of moral dilemmas really tedious. But this video was such a BANGER, and a lot of the points discussed actually highlight why I tend to avoid talking about moral dilemmas. Amazing job!!

[@NojajaTheBest]

Yeah exactly, even from theory focused channels the focus is almost never on meta ethics. This video is such a breath of fresh air compared to most of the other ethics-focused videos on youtube.

[@franki1990]

When you don't address metaethics, you're just being blinded by some bullshit and conservative morality

[@momos_wife]

couldn’t have said it better

[@Spobbles69420]

@@franki1990define conservative morality

[@wanyekest6969]

Philosophy’s a child’s game.

[@mitcharendt2253]

I once read a holocaust survivor's memoir, Clara's War. She recounts that one of her cousins was suffocated accidentally as a baby while they hid form the SS. He was revived but what sticks with me is how impossible it is to judge some circumstances

[@Arcessitor]

Ah I too love creative fiction writings.

[@nofacenocase4328]

​@@Arcessitoryou came for oppenheimer didn't you

[@mitcharendt2253]

​@@ArcessitorI really hope you're not implying what I think you are...

[@neo-el2cn]

@@Arcessitor If you are implying that the Shoa is not real, then you should visist german and polish KZs, talk to survivors and read some of the works published on the matter. If you can still claim that the Shoa is not real after that then all hope is simply lost for you. The Holocaust is undeniably real.

[@bornanagaming3329]

Not everythings black, white or grey for that matter

[@pariwhoop4935]

This is such a fresh take, probably not for those in academic study of philosophical concepts and ethics, but for someone who doesn’t really study it, it is. It really made me think about the question in general. Wonderful video. I am sure I would watch a 3 hour long version, so please make it a series. Nice brookies btw

[@sidewinder9107]

i feel like in most of these dilemmas i'd just freeze up and do nothing.i know the point of them isn't to always be appliceable to real life but i still find it hard to evaluate each outcome when i know that in that situation, the biggest contributing factors to the outcome would be whether i had it in me to kill the baby, whether it even occured to me to kill my own baby, and whether i felt i could do anything at all.

[@angelad230]

Honestly, I think the weirdest thing about that scenario is the idea that you could violently kill a baby without it crying. The only way to quietly kill a baby is to accidentally put it in its crib the wrong way or feed it honey when it's less than one year old.

[@keno5456]

@@angelad230yeah I was wondering how you would kill a baby without making more sound. Some of the responses were dumb tho. Saying you’d jump the guy by using the baby as bait. If it were that easy it wouldn’t be much of a dilema

[@junoperberry]

​@@angelad230knife

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

That's kind of the "hidden 3rd choice" you basically have with any kind of "binary choice": Not choose at all. It's default bad as as inaction also upholds the misery. But it can be good if the misery requires participation to even exist.

[@people2chronically-online]

Fix that

[@leonardproductions418]

Very good. I thought the part where you talked about the kindergartener failing due to not be able to obtain a crayon was crazy. Opened my eyes to knowing that we are not really capable of imaging a scenario truly. Great vid BTW :)

[@koibubbles3302]

Yes, lots of school projects require purchasing some kind of item and while I thought it was slightly annoying I never really thought about how bad that can be for people who can’t afford those items.

[@kylehankins5988]

The use of simplified thought experiments is that you can progressively make them more realistic to pinpoint at precisely what point the persons moral decisions change. this can help reveal the underlying principles at play. Like for example if you hold the position that torture is always wrong then you wouldn't torture Tim but if instead your position hinges on the fact that you think its merely ineffective for the brutality required then you would only change after the scenario became more realistic.

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

It think "realistic" is a wrong word to use here. Maybe "more exact" is better. And the ultimate goal is to find the motivation behind their views and values. Like if you really want to figure out person's views on torture, you would first offer several different people, from Tim to Hitler to supermodel to a guy who said 1 rude thing. Then you would probably ask the forms of torture they'd deem "fitting punishment" for whatever "crime" they perceive the person has done. The interesting part is that typically people are more willing and "open" to do physical torture, but more of emotional torture or a combination of the 2 (like rape) becomes super taboo as then the torture becomes more and more "villainous" and unjustifiable. Also, people are more complacent with the suffering of "ugly" people, so they might be more jaded towards less attractive people, choosing to ignore their suffering while treating the attractive people more softly, perhaps feeling more empathy towards them.

[@akmhd]

Thank you for this video. It genuinely makes me feel validated. Throughout my life I've been labelled as indecisive, slow, unpredictable, thinking way too much etc. They're right about indecisiveness not being the right answer when it comes to certain aspects of life, but sometimes it's nice to think a lot and be indecisive. Like you've mentioned in the video at some point, sometimes the right answer to a moral dilemma is to not choose at all or create multiple solutions for the dilemma.

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

I think the reason indecisiveness is seen as such a big "ick" (yeah I know, but that word just fits well here) is because it doesn't give you anything to show for it. Like, you never hear a story where a person tells how they DIDN'T do something. Or if you do, it's a poor story that makes people ask "what's the point of the story? It's boring."

[@akmhd]

@@jesustyronechrist2330 Sorry for the late reply, YT notifications are whack for some reason. But yeah it could also be an innate human nature to attach a reason to anything in life in order to maintain a semblance of structure in our lives. Maybe it's our hunter gatherer instincts protecting ourselves from harm. Take hardships for instance. We subconsciously tell ourselves that we went through some traumatic event (one that could also be out of our control) because of a particular reason. Maybe it's to show yourself and the people around you that you've become stronger, wiser, mature etc. Any excuse to convince yourself that there was a good reason why you went through that event, otherwise it's just good ol' nihilism. Same concept can apply to storytelling like you've mentioned. There will always be a point to the story even if the character was decisive yet they made shitty decisions. Something that I've felt for a long time is that stories are very binary. It's either A or B. Everything else can be chalked up to, "it's complicated". Which probably creates an illusion in our lives where when we're faced with a problem, there are only 2 solutions and you have to be decisive. I hope something out of this rant made sense 😅

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

​@@akmhd Good thoughts. Indecisiveness has indeed been a biological and survival factor, where it could dictate between the weak and strong, dead and alive. But of course, it's not like "not choosing" is a bad, invalid option 100% of the time. Otherwise, it would be gospel, philosophers would've figured it out and every single one would say it's their #1 value/virtue. Yet it rarely is. In fact, you could say the most sigma philosophy of cynicism involves indecisiveness just to "stick it" to people (read about Diogenes) Your example of the binary choice in stories is actually onto something, but you should expand your perspective. It's not only that we might think there's only 2 choices, but really, "choose vs. don't choose" is a binary choice as well. If you have 2 choices, but choose a 3rd, you are still technically making a "binary choice" at some level. Deciding not to choose is a decision. It might not be a "choice" that's laid infront, but neither is pulling your pants down and taking a shit right then and there, yet that choice is open to you. So what's the real problem here? It's the restrictive feeling that a binary choice gives you, right? Most people view a binary choice as "bad". Ever wondered why? Yeah, few actually do. Some might say it's "lack of freedom" or just generally "lack of choice", which is sort of funny as the "freedom of choice" should be the only thing that matters, not the amount of choices. The variety is another illusion that would create that "it's complicated", making the choice feel more "free" and "complex" than it really has any rights to be. Because then, you could say it's a binary choice between "the right and the fluff". And if you introduce the "no choice" as a 3rd/n+1 choice, it basically just asks you to reshuffle the choices to delay the decision because at some point you more than likely have to pick something. It's like going to a restaurant, looking at the menu, not liking anything and saying "I won't have anything, thank you." Does this mean you will never return and never have these choices in front of you again? Will you come back later to see if the menu has changed? Will you suffer through choosing something random because a cute date took you there to eat? Everything is a binary choice depending how you look at it. It's not inheritently bad nor restrictive. We humans just like sets of 3: Yes, No, & Maybe. The 3rd one typically is either an escape route or a safety net. But it also makes one passive. And you should really take a deep dive into why being passive is not really a good virtue to have unless applies in very specific ways (being a good listener, not talking over, etc.) You could bring another modern example of gender here, where people don't identify or deliberately dismiss the gender binary. Same arguments there: Too restrictive, lack of freedom, etc. But a popular choice is then to pick something else, right? Something new that has less baggage or is more "tailor made" for me, yet I have to build it up from scratch. And building a gender from scratch is almost impossible, as it's a social construct; you can't influence people's minds enough alone. So one would like to ask: Why didn't I just pick the closest and tailor that one for me? What made me decide that it's impossible for a person like me to be either one of the choices? 99% of the time it's lack of confidence in oneself, not seeing anyone quite like you out there representing, to use as a rolemodel/example/guide. Hence why something like the gender-stuff going on now will be automatically solved by getting rid of gender norms and toxic masculinity/femininity. Then people will be able to see more diverse men/women and have to confidence to be more unique versions of those. And you can't really get rid of/melt the gender binary as we are ruled by our biology, so we can always be classified into 2 seperate boxes by science, so it will always keep emanating from it to influence our understanding of gender, always warping it back to 2. We just choose to see these boxes as suffocating. We do the same with race, nationality, age, etc. So it's not a sustainable hill to die on. And as you can see, there's again a binary choice: "Gender binary vs. something else". And even here, there are people who choose "neither" and become agender. Which again is more of a philosophical decision to "stick it" to the system/choices offered. But it's always a binary choice and indecisiveness only leads to a higher level binary choice. You can only choose 1 thing at a time. So really, your indecisiveness might stem from your subconciouss disdain for only being able to choose 1 option at a time, not that you have limited choices. Fear of missing out on the other option, lack of confidence if your choice is the better one for you, etc.

[@akmhd]

@@jesustyronechrist2330 Sorry that I'm 1 month late. Yeah, you're right, I should be expanding my perspective even more. I think you have a good point about the gender argument, it was something that I was contemplating about a year ago. Toxic masculinity/femininity is a huge hurdle to be overcome before deciding whether you want to be non-binary or be one specific gender since you'll be making the decision out of the desire to be yourself. The decision to be non-binary could be taken out of fear or to stick it to the more prevalent binary option, but I would like to draw another picture as well: Since human beings have an innate fear of the unknown/abstract concepts it is a lot more easier to put a label such as "Non-Binary" to put the larger part of society at ease. It could be a combination of all three or you could be bang on with your reasoning. I watched ContraPoints and she said that as a trans woman, she had to act very feminine in order for society to accept her as a woman. So it would be so much more interesting to explore non-binary as a concept if we get rid of toxic masculinity/femininity. Perhaps we can gain more clarity with gender dysphoria as well. The binary-ception concept is also a very interesting concept, it's something that I have to think more about as well. I tried to come up with different scenarios that can possibly debunk it but so far no luck. A lot of complicated situations can simply be binary within binary within binary etc. decisions. It's interesting that we are a complicated species yet so simple and, dare I say, primitive in our way of thinking.

[@connorhealy3562]

I saw a TikTok the other day of a little Irish toddler who presented a moral dilemma to his mom like this: “You’re driving a car, and in the middle of the road, you see an old man and a baby. What do you hit?” After a few seconds of thought, the mom says “The old man.” The toddler then gets all shocked and upset responding with “Why!?” And the mom replies “He lived his life.” To which the toddler responds, “I would hit the brakes.” THAT is the energy I want to be bringing to moral dilemmas. EDIT: I wrote this mainly as a joke. I know logically we can’t approach all problems like this, I just find it hilarious that a little kid presented with this problem will go “How is the trolley problem real? Just didn’t kill people bro lol?”

[@nickyheart]

hella funny but kind of defeats the purpose 😭

[@bugjams]

But not all moral dilemmas have solutions like that. It's naive to think they do. Don't get me wrong - we need logical optimists who will spend all their energy to try and look for ideal solutions. But if none can be found then we need people who can be pragmatic and make the hard decision to save the highest number of lives possible.

[@candylove49]

@@bugjamsAbsolutely! Hard decisions have to be made at times. Not every situation has a “brake”.

[@pyropulseIXXI]

@@bugjamsMoral dilemmas are stupid. People don't sit and think about such things; they react and make decisions. They don't go "Hold on, let me consult my stupid ass fuck and contrived 'thought experiment' regarding moral dilemma There is a reason why many philosophers think that moral dilemma thought experiments are not just useless and pointless, but actively detrimental to good philosophy

[@asukalangleysoryu8449]

if my brakes were truly broken or something, i would drive the car off the road instead of hitting someone.

[@freepointsgals609]

I'm not sure if she is capable of comprehending how down I am for 2hrs of pure theory. Taking Real Analysis was not only a contributor of a time of my life characterized by despair, but it's also my favorite class I've ever taken. I love theory so much that even when it conditions me to expect failure in everything I do, living without it is unthinkable in my mind. If she ever uploads a video like the one she described at the end of the video, I can guarantee that will watch it attentively in its entirety if I'm able to.

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

Theory is cool and all, but it starts to melt and dismantle in practice. I find pure theory too addictive as it incentivices you to be pedantic and come up with questions that really don't matter or end up leading to nowhere or end up circling back and you end up wasting your precious time on Earth. It's kinda like building a computer on a breadboard.

[@skdeelk]

Honestly blown away by how consistently fantastic your videos are. Thanks for the amazing content!

[@ReasonableRadio]

I'd listen to a 2+h version of something like this. You're great at explaining theory and it's a good format to listen to while doing nom-mental tasks like walking and cleaning

[@shallowphoenix]

You could make a 2 hour video discussing the thought processes people have when putting away a shopping cart, and I’d be hooked the whole time and learn something new.

[@yulingzheng8841]

I feel like your video quality has been going up with every episode, which is impressive since your first video is already amazing

[@Psycho_bat]

hey i just wanted to say that I love your channel sooooo much i adore how you gather information and academic papers for everything and still manage to make it understandable for everyone Also i watched your “desire to be sad” video like 3x already, it hit home so deep i showed it to my therapist Love you!

[@chantaldani2174]

this really helped me make a little more sense of what we talk about in my ethics class, I really enjoyed the way you structured the video so that it didn't get boring :)

[@krushkannon]

i just had to answer the nuclear bombing question for a college level history class, and it's framed as such as a simple question but it's genuinely not. the way you broke it down is super cool to hear and helps put the "why?" into perspective

[@alejandrabarahona5042]

Am i the only one who thinks olivia should write a book? Like at this point i'd buy anything written by her lol her essays are soooo good

[@plushcanvas8652]

Nope I don’t read books

[@thedontpanic]

@@plushcanvas8652 L

[@ahouyearno]

@plushcanvas if you don’t read books you’re missing out.

[@plushcanvas8652]

@@ahouyearno i only read the ones with pictures

[@hueyPneutron]

​@@plushcanvas8652can u say that again with emojis? im not understanding

[@ZionSiva]

Another really excellent video. Other than diving into as much diverse art/stories as possible, I really recommend writing fiction as a way to turbocharge moral imagination. Especially when writing relationships, to write anything even remotely decent one really needs to dive into other people's skin, even in pretty uncomfortable way. You actually made me think that most philosophers should tackle writing good fiction as much as focusing on theory.

[@fionawolter4367]

this was such a well-done and refreshing video. i first listened to it a few days ago and then came back today to take notes. i have always had a bone to pick with reducing countless possibilities to a few options, and i felt so validated listening to all of your commentary on it. thank you

[@jacobthompson9413]

Great video Olivia! I appreciated you not only debunking the usefulness of "pop psychology moral dilemmas", but also offering a course of action to help improve moral imagination. I've already been trying to diversify the art I consume, but this definitely gives me more motivation!

[@aquamarine_escapist]

Huge help in improving one's imagination and empathy is one of the reasons why I think long roleplay games like dnd should be more widespread

[@Alexis-mw3ph]

I’m surprised I sat down for a 35min video and even took notes. I really liked the way you organised personal experiences, scientific findings and philosophical ideas into a coherent piece that made me think about my ethical tendencies and the lack of my imagination. I enjoy thought experiments to break up and reconsider certain views but it is truly difficult to draw wisdom from them since they merely exist in a vacuum. really enjoying these longer videos, hope you keep going with them :)

[@JOOOOOANNEZZZ]

Oh my, when I was much younger, I did feel more assertive about moral situations and moral stories, then I was confronted with contextual facts that I wasn't aware of and felt like an arrogant fool for a few times; then I guess I got into the disorganized 'unlimted moral imagination' phase that I can't never side with either side of any moral discussion. This is so helpful and insightful, I'm gonna live a better life after this video.

[@c4tac133]

seriously, none of your videos disappoint, watched this one thoroughly to understand b/c it was so interesting and insightful❤❤ keep up the good work

[@Jlukecampos]

It's a silly little thing but, the owl in knowledge example reminds of how the pursuit of objectivity is seen as the pinnacle of reason. However, I think emotional investment and emotional stakes in a topic actually strengthens your understanding and observation of a topic.

[@user-zn4pw5nk2v]

There is no such thing as objective reason, because reason is done to objects, in order to have objective reason you will need perfect facts that you wouldn't assume like what if reality isn't real then your "objective reason" will be reasonable only inside our realty but unreasonable outside it. Like how could you be certain you are not a brain in a jar fed electricity to make you feel real if the outcome is 100% the same as if it isn't you technically only need the bits with consciousness inside, everything else could have never existed. "I think therefore i am" every piece outside of "think" is therefore not necessarily you.

[@c4tac133]

true, because emotion often sways reason which motivates people to do certain things. It’s important to consider the specifics of a situation because they directly affect the way the person involved feels.

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

Is there are word that resides in between "objective" and "subjective"? Like, could we say someone's subjective position is objective in that particular situation?

[@user-zn4pw5nk2v]

@@jesustyronechrist2330 a position is a different thing, that could not be objective or subjective because like taste it depends solely on the preference of the speaker. On the other question it's like saying is there a middle part between a piece and a whole, yes there is and it is a bigger piece and you can say it is a whole piece but you still would need more to make it whole, and there shouldn't be a word for it. "Objective"-in relation to others, an ideal representation "the object","as seen by the object at infinity". "subjective"- in relation to a case sample, to a specific object or a group, "as seen by the majority here on earth". Would be hard to find a middle ground between such concepts of a thing. The closest is an "Objective viewpoint" which tries to encompass every view point.

[@bluefoolish]

( English is my second language so I'm sorry if some phrases of mine sound awkward lol ) I found this video really interesting, just as usual! I've been accompanying your channel for almost a year, and I just wanted to leave a comment for the first time to show you my gratitude for the content brought to us with such great work put into it! I was about to freak out when you mentioned Paulo Freire lol, his works were the driving force behind my interest in education and sociology, and it's always refreshing to see brazilian intellectuals in english spoken videos! Love your work! The knowledge you spread is of substantial value ❤

[@roberthornack1692]

Well done Olivia, its refreshing hearing a thoughtfilled, imaginative person.

[@people2chronically-online]

Psychological debates require lack of critical thinking

[@Blitz_Krieg212]

Thank you for your content, Olivia! Although I often get lost somewhere in the middle of the things that you say (I probably have to rewatch to wrap my head around it...) but, they really mean a lot!

[@hannahmiriam]

thank you for making more philosophy/ethics focused videos!!! it’s really helpful for my alevels :)))

[@WhenIsItUs]

Thanks so much! Probably my favorite video next to the home sacer discussion. The ability to imagine the lives of those less fortunate is probably the most important many of us lack, but the world isn't the horrible place media makes it to be. It's people like you who keep it going!

[@grichard1585]

She should talk about "The Tolerance Paradox" (or the paradox of tolerance)

[@sumedhabagchi5433]

I love your videos so much much !!!! You always pick such interesting topics!

[@slange64]

I listened carefully. I would probably have to listen to it again at least once to understand completely, and study your references to grok fully. I was bugged by some of the things you said however that's my trip and I appreciate the reflection. Thank you. I appreciate what you're doing.

[@sommerscott4299]

Another amazing video Olivia , as far as the two hour long theory filled video goes me and it seems the comment section would happily enjoy anything u create so u do u hun , I always appreciate ur thoughts and insights and very much animates and makes the philosophers I often learned about in my degree seem much more engaging and interesting than I saw them before, you’re great at explaining and breaking down and discussing complex topics and relating it back to other important issues which is do valuable

[@nimayravi9162]

I absolutely loved this video! I'm about to finish my Masters in Social Work and I'm currently taking an ethics course. You made it much easier to understand concepts explained in class and introduced new concepts I had never heard of! I really hope you're able to make a few more videos on ethics if you have time! Good luck with your channel!

[@lit_kzh]

probably my favorite video on this channel, and all of your videos have been super interesting! i would watch more philosophy, but your form of presenting information is just so engaging, even for topics i wouldn't normally be interested in (like your really awesome "loss of beauty in architecture" video)

[@icostaticrebound6007]

As a lad myself I just assume people who say bigoted things won’t change their minds even if I share similarities with them. Tbh this has been the case for most of my life, as people never want to admit they’re wrong on anything, and they get offended when you point it out rather than grateful for expanding their horizon

[@TheInfectous]

changing ones mind is a slow process, you won't change their mind, what you will do, is be one of the many instances that will creep into their mind regarding their behavior and the more negative instances they get in response to their behavior, the more likely they are to change their mind. for myself, I just give a sardonic exasperation expression and let whatever they said hang for a bit. directly calling shit out will just have them otherize you and disregard the interaction but by giving silent disapproval they'll apply the respect they currently have for you and the note you disapprove of that sort of thing. Unless the infraction is very severe I honestly think it's more effective to match their level, a direct confrontation is a pretty serious step up in reply to what is only implications. Likewise when playing video games for example when someone is on mic saying "why are you playing video games and not in the kitchen or whatever" you don't want to seriously confront them because their perception is they're not saying anything that serious, it's a video game, they're just saying random shit. The effective response is just nonchalantly saying "you're weird." It absolutely is important that we as men do this though because women and the groups being looked down upon are already otherized by the people committing these infractions, it doesn't matter if they respond in kind or signal that they're part of the group because what they say is going to be disregarded no matter what.

[@morganahowll1940]

I appreciate that it's not as simple as telling someone they're wrong and they miraculously change their mind, but it's still important. If you're told once every few months by someone you know that you "shouldn't say that", you might not take it seriously. But if you shorten that interval, to every month, or even more frequently, people start to feel far more challenged. Sure, they may dig their heels into the sand, but if you're close to them at all, it likely will weigh upon their minds. At some point, it's entirely possible they'll start to understand and enquire, even if the road there appears externally to house zero progress.

[@SlyNine]

Bigotry is being intolerant of other people's views. If you think it means agreeing with other people's views then you're not talking about bigotry.

[@kookoo9235]

@@SlyNine seems to me that people who use the term "bigotry" these days use it that way almost exclusively. "Either agree with me or you are a bigot" is actually something that i've seen on occasion. The word has been bastardized to same extent as terms such as "racism" and "phobia".

[@mustangg_art]

@@kookoo9235idk about that, OP used the word correctly, and I disagree that it has been bastardized.

[@marcuskeum8500]

I’ve always had Chris’s kind of attitude when dealing with problematic friends. No one’s ever explained to me what you told your friend Chris and hearing it made a lot of sense. Great video as always!

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

When you being responsible is the only option someone else has, it becomes an obligation. Whether to accept or deny that obligation, that is the real moral question. And there it becomes the tired "greater good vs. individual freedom" argument...

[@jpurser55]

I really enjoyed this video. I often exercise thoughts and scenarios in my head without really understanding what I'm actually doing. Hearing you break it down and give context to my own thought processes is really helpful. thank you

[@loops8274]

I was literally having a lot of these exact thoiughts the other day and was struggling to articulate some of them. This is a great video at the perfect time (for me personally, which I personally imagine was the point of this video being released at all, because my imagination is fundamentally limited by my own perspective)

[@nitumoni6622]

If only Olivia made that 2hr long video essay on ethics which involves a lot of theories, your video essays are always so interesting and makes me think, I would be down to however long of a video essay you want to make! I hope my fellow subscribers do too! 🥺

[@newphonewhodis5707]

absolutely love your videos, they always show new aspects to consider in my life and decision making processes

[@yassmineayachi8264]

thank you so much , you are one of the few youtubers that i really find so intresting in there way of explaining the subject of the video .

[@idkwho9785]

Once again a deeply thought provoking essay.

[@it_beann]

your videos actually have me thinking about things that I otherwise would not have, thank you for that. more educational than my entire 5 years of college/university!

[@Elisabethonline]

I love the way you introduce topics. It flows really nicely.

[@brycesugiyama5739]

Your essays are always interesting, thanks for continuing to share your thoughts

[@Jiminatree]

I watched this while playing Baldur's Gate 3. It helped me come to the best conclusion for the dilemmas in the game. Always choose "chaos".

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

And the world was better for it. Right? RIGHT?!

[@michalsevecek5417]

Hey Olivia, I would like to thank you for your videos. You showed me how fun and interesting philosophy can truly be. I was accepted to study at university and because you inspired me I chose philosophy for my bachelor's degree. Thank you for your amazing videos and keep up the good work ❤

[@oliSUNvia]

that’s so amazing i hope you enjoy your program! congrats for getting in

[@voxsvoxs4261]

Good job, I hope you have a great time and learn alot.

[@MrBrickTrades]

This is one of my favorite videos from you, well done!

[@pauliwhirl3536]

Truly fantastic video! As someone who feels theyve come to grips with a lot of fundamental philosophy, I really appreciate the spotlight you shine on some more specific theories and philosophers. Hope those brookies were as good as they looked! :)

[@drbeganyi]

This was fascinating! I'd totally watch the 2hr version.

[@Calpsotoma]

They did the Baby Problem on MASH back in the 70s and made it heartbreaking. Whatever happens, people think about it too abstractly to actually deal with the outcomes. That episode just laid the actual outcomes out and how awful it was for everyone involved.

[@Krustysmurf]

Please never stop uploading these videos make my month every times

[@LeoDaV]

Thank you for creating this type of content. I find it so valuable, every time you upload it’s an automatic click as already know it’s going to be excellent and that, I’ll learn something new

[@Tagraff]

In the context of the allegory of the cave, I often contemplate the journey of the prisoner who breaks free and ventures outside. This journey typically begins as a quest for personal freedom and understanding. The cave symbolizes ignorance, and the shadows on the wall represent our initial, limited perceptions of the world. Breaking free from the chains of conformity to explore the outside world is an act of self-discovery and liberation. However, as one starts to embrace the newfound reality outside the cave, a moral perspective often begins to take shape. This perspective evolves as the individual reflects on their own past entrapment within the cave. They realize that their pursuit of freedom and enlightenment was, in essence, a quest for truth and a desire to escape a world of illusion and ignorance. As this journey progresses, the individual may encounter others still within the cave, unaware of the reality beyond. At this juncture, the moral dimension of the journey comes into focus. There's a profound ethical dilemma: whether to continue the solitary journey towards self-fulfillment or to return to the cave and attempt to free others from their chains. The decision to aid others in escaping the cave is not without challenges. Some within the cave may resist, clinging to the familiar shadows they've known all their lives. Others may actively oppose efforts to disrupt their world of illusion. This is where the moral dilemma becomes prominent, as the individual must grapple with questions of responsibility, sacrifice, and the greater good. In this complex journey, the pursuit of personal freedom and enlightenment ultimately becomes intertwined with the moral imperative to share this newfound knowledge and help others break free from their chains of ignorance. The choice to act altruistically or to pursue individual enlightenment raises profound ethical questions, defining the moral character of the one who once walked in darkness and now carries the torch of enlightenment.

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

Honestly though, I'm still surprised how we still (poorly) argue about the "greater good vs. individual want". 99% of the time, the greater good is the morally better option. We are social creatures. All our greatest achievements are a group effort. Yeeeeeet we still want to come up with scenarios where the individual freedom is more important. It's typically delivered as a strawman, where the implication of NOT allowing the individual freedom means that NOBODY has that freedom thus it hurts the greater good. And then it becomes an allegory to fascism and yadi yadi yadi... The real crux of the question is how moral is the individuals freedom to refuse to sacrifice themselves. I think discussing that more would be the next step.

[@baonemogomotsi7138]

Definitely an amazing video. It's nice to consider the different attitudes of different members of different societies regarding the topics of this video (baby problem, trolley meme, Hiroshima, and the terrorist dilemma). Well done!

[@alinka9884]

this video genuinely interested me and i would ADORE and LOVE a two hour long video from you???

[@davidtvavila5743]

Great video, I was just watching a video about moral ethics the other day, and this opens up the door to even more different ideas I didn't know were there.

[@immyc4483]

As an ex ethics and philosophy student, I love this kind of video and it is interesting to me just as it is! Maybe in future you could analyse this subject along with more pop culture as examples of this - could make it more entertaining for other who are not usually into these ethics? Either way, I’ll be watching!

[@themightyspartan1012]

Do you have a job base of philosophy and ethics?

[@unfortunatelyevil1767]

Listen, I don't rewatch The Good Place all the time to *avoid* moral and ethical theory! Your method of explaining is also very good and engaging; I would much rather a semester of 8h videos of yours than sitting through most professors I had~ (The one difference is that the gov't allows me to rack up 6 figures of debt to go to for-profit universities... but there is no student loan equivalent for spending 6 figures on various Patreons~)

[@2arakai502]

Honestly one of your best videos to date, amazing as always.

[@blob9756]

I love watching your videos because it makes me see things from a different perspective and explore things I wouldn't normally think about

[@srkbhayo]

I feel like I gain few IQ points and become smarter after watching your videos. Is it just me ?

[@-zorkaz-5493]

Yes. (But one does become wiser.)

[@madscientist.]

This comment illegally under liked

[@howlrichard1028]

Yes, only you. The chosen one.

[@miguelifsuzano7244]

In my highschool philosophy class the teacher proposed we re-enact the trial of Socrates but with our own prosecution and defense, I was the only advocate who managed to convince that sentencing Socrates to death was moral and necessary, it felt wild

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

What was your argument?

[@miguelifsuzano7244]

@@jesustyronechrist2330 that he was not a philosopher for not respecting the formalities of the title, making him just a subversive man that could spark revolt on an already invaded Athens

[@orinblank2056]

Honestly super nice video! It took me like 5 hrs to watch though, because I've been deep cleaning my house and kept thinking of things I forgot and getting caught up in that, then coming back for like 5 mins and repeating the cycle

[@maxkho00]

I think moral imagination is pretty useless since it can never be comprehensive or really even come close to comprehensiveness, and as such we can never even know if being more morally imaginative makes our ethical judgement more or less likely to be informed. In fact, I would argue that, since our imagination is largely driven by our biases, exercising it will most often only reinforce our biases, and thus only drive us away from impartiality. My proposition is that, in ambiguous situations (such as the trolley problem), any solution within the range of ambiguity should be deemed acceptable, and judgement should be left exclusively to the parties involved. There is no reason to bother resolving these extremely niche dilemmas when most real-world problems have clearly preferable courses of action, or at least courses of action which are clearly less preferable.

[@TehEquator]

As a religion teacher, this really motivated me to try to implement activities to help my students grow their moral imagination, thank you!

[@pyraoticd3694]

im doing a presentation for my bio-ethics class on metaethics and informed risk taking/blasphemy and this video was extremely helpful. instant subscribe

[@TheWorldwideruler]

First video I watched from you, super thought provoking. Really enjoyed it. One thing I think about often is how language can change an answer given to a hypothetical situation. If I were to say something WILL happen or something MAY happen could change the answer given greatly.

[@Arcessitor]

Why not just kill the murderer instead of your baby? Sounds like a thought experiment for cowards.

[@tbd9634]

Based

[@lobo_melancolico]

It's really important to me, as a Brazilian, to see Paulo Freire being quoted in foreigner videos like this. Lots of people in my country don't give the recognition that he deserves. That beind said, it was an amazing video, thank you and keep up the good work you always do.

[@PedroTorres-ky2yx]

Your pfp + opinion on Paulo Freire = enough said.

[@esaiasarredondo5226]

This is the third video of yours I have watched and I love them. Love your style and length. Very informative and interesting

[@amampathak]

Absolutely love your content, thank you for yet another gem!

[@Bruh-ye7dg]

Morality is a skill issue

[@ArcheryLuna]

Based

[@VAVORiAL]

Get rid of the baby. More peace, more quiet, less responsibilities. I see this as an absolute win.

[@kenyanaoz4641]

😂💀💀💀💀

[@MettigelMann]

Real

[@ei-on4eb]

thats evil

[@Liz_360]

😭

[@brosckii]

Found this video on the explore page and looked interesting, I watched this entire video and loved the entire thing. One of the best knowledgeable videos i have watched in a long time. Will 100% be consuming the rest of content on this channel. V happy to be here

[@allofmeb]

your channel has gotten me really interested in philosophy as a whole. I find myself connecting many of these theories with psychology (my major) and honestly, my own life. Philosophy is interesting because there’s not one thing said that shocks me, or is informing me on a completely new thought. It’s almost as if it creates the sketch to my incredibly vague descriptions. I like the idea of not really putting yourself in someone’s shoes because you simply can’t. Like you said with the homeless people thought, yeah I can understand that they go to extreme measures to live but I cannot know the particular details when I am not the particular person. Often times when trying to understand things that my mind wants to immediately shut down or doesn’t know how to explore, I’ll put the scenario onto me rather than put myself into the scenario. For example, I’ll never know what it’s like to be my dog fully. I can see my dogs behavior and imitate it, but there are many moments in my dogs life that I never see and feelings/sensations that I’ll never feel. Ill instead become my own dog by changing my behavior, making my reality of what a dog is, by just really me acting like my own version of a dog. It’s never exact, but it at least allows me to use my own experience in order to try and fathom another’s. This still does not create an exact reality but my own reality is exact as long as I live it, so therefore, I’ve lived as a dog. This is a whole bunch of ramble to basically just say, keep making these videos PLEASE🙏🏻🤣🤣

[@marciepoo]

another banger video by the queen 😩 i actually started minoring in philosophy because of your videos and this is super relevant to what we're learning in my biomedical ethics class! the whole idea about particularism vs universalism is similar to how my professor describes masculine vs feminine moral theories. we touched upon consequential theories, like utilitarianism, and inconsequential theories, like kant's principle of universal law, and deduced that these theories heavily rely on the abstract (like hypotheticals), impartiality, and universals. on the other hand, we looked at moral theories that focus more on the concrete (like realistic situations), partial, and particular, such as the the ethics of care. for example, for the hypothetical scenario with tim, the binary way of solving it aligns with more masculine or universal theories, and the imaginative solution likens to feminine or particular theories. i just thought it was super cool how these concepts overlap. i actually tried to talk to a "friend," who holds some deep misogynistic and religious views, about the difference between masculine and feminine theories. similar to the "chris" scenario, he already holds women at a lower bar and didn't see any worth in approaching moral dilemmas with emotions taken into account. he had a very binary way of thinking--either this or that. however, as you described with particularism and universalism, it sounds less involved with gender but has the same idea. hopefully, i can use the knowledge obtained from this video to explain it impartially. the likelihood of you reading this is low, but just know you've had a huge impact on my life, and please continue to make these amazing videos :)

[@uzefulvideos3440]

Calling moral theories "feminine" or "masculine" sounds like a pretty dumb idea to me...

[@marciepoo]

@@uzefulvideos3440 Right? I wonder why my bioethics textbook presents it that way…

[@nhazulmelo9268]

Nothing but opinions................Noooothing............but........... Opinions

[@datboi945]

useless comment

[@nhazulmelo9268]

@@datboi945 you wouldn't understand child. "Nothing but opinions to a loatsome dungeater"

[@datboi945]

@@nhazulmelo9268 this is so corny, you’re embarrassing yourself

[@nhazulmelo9268]

@@datboi945Child hoooo child "Common sense is like deodorant"

[@datboi945]

@@nhazulmelo9268 ironic

[@hagenisse]

I've seen some of your videos and I always appreciate your nuanced views. Thank you for this one too!

[@gabs5552]

Your video made me rethink about my philosophies, and how my way of thinking changed because of the people that passed through my life. I used to say that people change without even thinking that i too am susceptible to it. To be loved is to be changed

[@mahsaarman3954]

Absolutely banger of a video. I had to rewatch some parts several times to grasp it, would love a 2 hour deep dive.

[@royalreacts220]

Thank you so much for making this video, because of how you displayed your opinions and sources in such an elaborate and neat way, this led to me making a theory of my own! Have a great day❤

[@momos_wife]

honestly, i could’ve sat through a 2 hour long version of this video. this was amazing!!!

[@FirzenExpert]

This was very insightful, thanks. I have been intrigued by moral dilemmas quite a few times in my life and seeing how people justify going path A or path B and the conviction they may or may not have. But now I realise how closed, unrealistic and unhelpful these moral dilemmas are.

[@hellengomez7359]

I really enjoy the way you talk! It’s very concise and easily understood. I watched the whole thing and honestly I would listen to you talk for 2hrs girlie 😹

[@nervousshark9130]

I have just found you channel but I love it already! Great that you mention actual philosophers and scientific research. It really was interesting to listen to (these days I prefer listening to reading) though I feel like I should have taken notes :D

[@ianmason8435]

Great video! The beginning felt a little slow and the theory was feeling a bit elementary, but as it progressed, I found myself drawn into the narrative. By the conclusion, not only had I gained a clear understanding of the content, but I was also deeply moved by your insightful exploration of particularism and moral imagination. Your nuanced portrayal of these concepts resonated with me, particularly the way you illustrated the idea of moral imagination as something to embrace in everyday discourse. Your perspective sheds light on the myriad of ways we can approach moral decision-making, emphasizing the importance of context and individual circumstances. In a related vein, I'm reminded of the understanding that people with neurodiverse viewpoints (especially autistic/ADD) bring to the table. Their unique ways of perceiving the world can sometimes offer fresh insights into ethical dilemmas, challenging the rest of us to think beyond our typical frameworks. Your video, in a sense, serves as a testament to the beauty of diverse perspectives in ethical thought.

[@khoakdoan]

The longer the videos the better! I love your content! ♡

[@harrison85]

Banger video - one of my fav channels now. You possess knowledge and writing skills I hope to emulate.

[@alanaedwards5924]

Thank you for this, exactly what I needed !!! Love you ❤

[@bimpadimp]

thinking that torture is effective and also the ONLY way to get information out of someone is so insane i can't believe there are people who unironically believe it

[@zeeshanhazari]

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO SEE A 2 HOUR LONG VIDEO, I've seen longer stuff over topics, yes ik most people won't, but enough would, anime theory or analysis gets 200-500k vids being 1hr+ , you're supporters would totally watch it

[@ellagialone1520]

this video was EXTREMELY interesting and super thought provoking, just like every other vid you put out!