Chapel Phil

In this episode, two new podcasters, Aidan and Marcella, join Samad to discuss the age-old question of whether or not it is ethical to have children. From anti-natalism to Thomas Hobbes, tune in to hear our thoughts on the implications of having children.  All music used in this episode was obtained through Epidemic Sound. Thank you to the Parr Center for Ethics for sponsoring ChapelPhil. All views and opinions discussed in this episode are our own to explore. The Parr Center for Ethics does not endorse the opinions discussed in this podcast. 

Welcome to the first episode of 2023 this year, we have some new voices on the podcast! In this episode, Aditi, Ashley, Jakob, and Sofia discuss medical and philosophical conceptions of disability and how accommodations should be made, specifically, on our campus. Where does that responsibility of making accommodations lie? How do we facilitate productive and sensitive conversations about disability? Tune in to this episode to hear our thoughts.  All music used in this episode was obtained through Epidemic Sound. Thank you to the Parr Center for Ethics for sponsoring ChapelPhil. All views and opinions discussed in this episode are our own to explore. The Parr Center for Ethics does not endorse the opinions discussed in this podcast. 

In this episode, Annette, Andy, Max, and Samad take on the heavy conversation of how the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Board of Trustees runs. Where do we draw the line between education and politics? Tune into this episode to hear our thoughts. All music used in this episode was obtained through Epidemic Sound. Thank you to the Parr Center for sponsoring ChapelPhil. All views and opinions discussed in this episode are our own to explore. The Parr Center for Ethics does not endorse the opinions discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, Brennan, Elise and Ashley talk about attendance policies and if/how they should be factored into grading. What does ethical, holistic grading look like? What really counts as participation, is it just speaking to get your points in or offering some unbelievable piece of information no one has ever thought of before? What about students with anxiety around speaking and shouldn’t the classroom be a space for everyone? Tune into our first summer episode to hear our thoughts! All music used in this podcast was obtained through Epidemic Sound.  Thank you to the Parr Center for sponsoring ChapelPhil. All views and opinions discussed in this episode are our own. The Parr Center for Ethics does not endorse the opinions discussed in this podcast. 

Who can really be held accountable for the faults of an A.I. weapon? Is it a good idea to be incorporating dangerous weapons such as drones, lethal autonomous weapons, and other forms of A.I. into war?  In this episode, Andy, Annette, Samad, and Max are back to talk about some of the benefits and drastic consequences of including A.I. technology in modern warfare. With Russia employing the use of dangerous weapons against Ukraine, this conversation seems to be echoing around the world right now.  All music used in this episode was obtained through Epidemic Sound.  All views and opinions discussed in this podcast are our own to explore. The Parr Center for Ethics does endorse any opinions stated in this podcast. 

Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions on mental health, suicide, generational trauma, and racial violence.   What does ethical mental health care look like among the UNC student body? How do long waitlists to see a therapist, pricey appointments, and a lack of involvement from the university harm UNC students? In this episode, Ashley, Brennan, Elise, and Lorelai discuss the mental health crisis on UNC's campus and what the university can and should change in order to become a space truly dedicated to those within the community. THANK YOU to Hayden Park for speaking with Lorelai and sharing their experiences with mental health and CAPS. All music used in this podcast was obtained through Epidemic Sound.  Thank you to the Parr Center for sponsoring ChapelPhil. All views and opinions discussed in this podcast are our own. The Parr Center for Ethics does not endorse the opinions stated in this podcast. 

Limited testing, no vaccine mandate, no quarantine housing, echo chambers, and a soon-to-be lifted mask mandate. What does this mean for UNC? Tune in to our second episode of the Spring semester to hear Max and Annette duke it out over Individualist and Collectivist approaches to handling a virus like COVID-19.  In this episode, Samad and Andy challenge the lenses of collectivism and individualism regarding public health in the UNC community. After a rough start to the Fall 2022 semester with high numbers of positive cases, the university is taking a much more hands-off approach to managing the health of its faculty, staff, and students. What do you all think?  All music used in this episode was obtained through Epidemic Sound.  All views and opinions discussed in this podcast are explored on our own. The Parr Center for Ethics does not endorse the opinions stated in this podcast. 

In our first episode of the 2021-2022 school year, Andy, Samad, and Max discuss the ethics behind keeping academia locked behind paywalls. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a number of financial issues for the university, but why are our JSTOR subscriptions are the first to go ?  Tools that are vital to the education of students, support of staff with research in the works, and just general fairness of access of academia to the public seems like a right, not a privilege. Don't we students, paying to attend a top research university, have the right to access the very works conducted by our university? Or, can we see beyond the present struggles and see this may be a necessary evil to ensure the fiscal stability and long-term health of the UNC system?  Resources:  The Daily Tar Heel report on the cuts: https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/10/opinion-library-budget-cuts Utilitarianism and the long-run fiscal stability: Gary Woller (BYU Professor). “An Overview by Gary Woller.” A Forum on the

In this episode of What Should You Do?, Brennan takes us through Groundhog Day, where every day repeats itself! Without long-term consequences, is theft still immoral? How about harming others? Listen in to hear what Philosophers think, and Brennan's quick witted responses. Special thanks to the UNC Philosophy department for many great responses!  Resources:  All music featured in this episode is the property of Epidemic Sound  For more on Camus and Absurdism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJZEq61KeM&vl=en

More justices doesn't mean more justice. In this episode of Chapel Phil, Max Hazerjian tours the history of the US Supreme Court to examine when and how it can be expanded. After historical framing, Max argues that many other methods of court reform could be superior political and constitutional alternatives -- listen to find out why!  Citations: All music in this episode is the property of Epidemic Sound.  Berman, Russell. “Republicans Abandon the Filibuster to Save Neil Gorsuch.” The Atlantic, April 6, 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/republicans-nuke-the-filibuster-tosave-neil-gorsuch/522156/.  Buchanan, Mary Jo. “The Need for Supreme Court Term Limits.” Center for American Progress (blog), August 3, 2020. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/courts/reports/2020/08/03/488518/need-supreme-courtterm-limits/.  Burns, James MacGregor. Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the Coming Crisis of the Supreme Court. New York City, New York: The Penguin

How we move through the world depends upon how our identity interacts with the spaces around us.  This episode features the multi-talented Clay Morris, who is an activist, journalist, and podcaster, among other things. Listen along as Clay guides us through how he navigates spaces that aren't always designed for him.  The discussion covers spaces at UNC, spaces in general, and what the work to make spaces more inclusive looks like.  To hear/read more from Clay, check out the resources below, or look up SegreGAYtion or Coulture'd wherever you get your podcasts!  Resources/Citations:  claybmorris.com https://www.dailytarheel.com/staff/clay-morris http://coulture.org/author/claymorris/ All music in this episode is the property of Epidemic Sound. 

What Should You Do?: Fake News brings back Brennan to talk about how we might interact with someone who promotes fake news. Reviewing input from Philosophers at UNC, Brennan navigates unfollowing, unfriending, and finding empathy for those who can't tell Babylon Bee from Breaking News.  References & Special Thanks: Special thanks to the UNC Philosophy department for their anonymous contributions. All rights to music from this episode belong to Epidemic Sound. 

If I intentionally commit one crime, but another worse crime results, can I be held accountable? How about those that aided me?  In this episode, Anna dives into the efficacy and ethics of felony murder, touching on history in the common law and the American tradition.  Citations:  All music is the property of Epidemic Sound.  People V. Aaron: https://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/supreme-court/1980/57376-0.html  Lord Dacres & His Hunting Party: http://birdsongslaw.com/2008/06/25/read-a-history-of-the-felony-murder-rule/#:~:text=The%20common%20law%20felony%20murder,felony%2C%20the%20killing%20is%20murder.&text=it%20does%20not%20matter%20whether,life%20or%20criminally%20negligent%20behavior. On the comment that Felony Murder is an ineffective deterrent: The American Felony Murder Rule: Purpose and Effect. (D. Ganz) Berklee.edu

In this episode, Noah critiques the decision of the University Administration to send some students back in person on February 8th, a seemingly arbitrary date.  We, UNC students, have finally started adjusting to online learning. So, unless the university can justify why we must start sending students back now, this decision is not worth the emotional, logistical, and physical stress that it will cause.  " In order to start holding our community accountable to ethical obligations, we must first ask "Why?" "  Citations: On mold being an acknowledged issue: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article236367948.html#:~:text=Mold%20is%20an%20issue%20for,dorms%20and%20privately%20managed%20Granville&text=Emili%20Potts%20first%20noticed%20the,her%20leaky%20air%20conditioning%20unit.&text=The%20doctor%20told%20her%20she,linked%20to%20the%20AC%20unit. New York Times database on Coronavirus Data: NC, Orange County  All rights to music featured in this podcast belong to Epidem

What Should You Do? is a new episode series on Chapel Phil, led by Brennan Maynard.  Philosophers often say a lot about what other people should do, but what would they do in different tense situations? We put UNC philosophers into zany or serious situations and review their responses. Someone has to do it!  Content Warning: Suicide. (Skip mins. 3-5 if you please) In the inaugural episode, Brennan reviews how philosophers would act 1. in a zombie apocalypse, and 2. if they saw someone stealing some bread.  We hope you enjoy the fast-paced dramatic reading! Citations: https://philosophy.unc.edu/people-page/faculty/ All audio clips in this video are the rights of Epidemic Sound, purchased and paid for by Chapel Phil. 

Emily Rakes consults John Stuart Mill for advice on a concerning phenomenon: Anti-vaxxers endangering others in the name of "individualism". Does anti-vaxxing align with Mill's thoughts on individualism? How is the phenomenon typical of the United States' traditional individualism?  These questions and more, explored on this episode of Chapel Phil! As always, special thanks to Sid Sirdeshmukh & congrats on his new position at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Your beat-making skills will be of good use up there.  Citations: Alternative Medicine is a $34 Billion Industry, but Only One-Third of the Treatments have been Tested: Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alternative-medicine-is-a-34-billion-industry-but-only-one-third-of-the-treatments-have-been-tested-879411/  Big Analytics Data Shows How America's Individualism Complicated Coronavirus Response: Retrieved from https://news.virginia.edu/content/big-data-analytics-shows-how-americas-individualism-complicates-

In this episode, Yueying debuts, referencing Nozick and Scruton's pieces on the concept of love.  Forming a union and a meaningful relationship requires many changes to one's life. How does the concept depend on the formation of another entity -- a collective concept of "WE"? Special Thanks once again to Sid Sirdeshmukh for providing the beats featured on this episode.  Sources Cited:  Nozick, R., 1989, “Love’s Bond”, in The Examined Life: Philosophical Meditations, New York: Simon & Schuster, 68–86. Scruton, R., 1986, Sexual Desire: A Moral Philosophy of the Erotic, New York: Free Press. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/love/#:~:text=Nozick%20(1989)%20offers%20a%20union,desire%20that%20your%20beloved%20reciprocates.

When musicians act immorally, should we still listen to their music?  In this episode, Elise discusses 1. the extent to which listening is an endorsement of an artist's actions, 2. whether we can separate art from an artist, and 3. how celebrity complicates the circumstances of public judgment.  Highlight quote:  TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual assault.  Citations: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/arts/sexual-harassment-art-hollywood.html  https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/timeline-of-chris-browns-history-of-violence-towards-women-103402/  https://www.insider.com/demi-lovato-finsta-pictures-anti-selena-gomez-accusations-2020-4 *we did not include links to Boogie Allen's cat or Beyonce's mattress pricing*  As always, opinions expressed on Chapel Phil in no way represent the stance of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the UNC Philosophy Department, the Parr Center for Ethics, or Chapel Phil as a whole. 

Happy Holidays! This year, we're all "Ba Humbug"!  In her podcast debut, Brennan asks the question: Is it ethical to lie about Santa Claus to our children? Brennan consults many ethical perspectives in her search to determine an answer. Some perspectives include rule-based ethics, utilitarian calculations, Joe Biehl's "Lies, Damn Lies, and Santa Claus", and "Your Kids Believe in Santa? A Scientist Says to Tell Them to Stop It" from the Washington Post.  Is the existence of Santa reflective of a societal desire for control and order over our children? Perhaps we are a cynical bunch...  Special thanks to Sidharth Sirdeshmukh for masterminding the background beats! Links:  https://philosophynow.org/issues/135/Lies_Damn_Lies_and_Santa_Claus https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/12/18/your-kids-believe-santa-scientist-says-tell-them-stop-it/ Opinions espoused on Chapel Phil do not reflect the standpoints of the Parr Center for Ethics, Chapel Phil, or the University of North Carolina

Noah and Max talk about how the pandemic has strained many peoples' mental health. Questions like: "What can we do to improve mental health while complying with our moral obligations to others" and "What is the balance between social interaction and mental health" strive to uncover some aspects of the complex relationship between the pandemic's obligations and our own obligations to maintain mental wellness.  Episode Guide: 1- Social Beings 2- Discussion of adequate social interactions 3- manipulation of mental health as an excuse not to follow pandemic protocols 4- function of balancing obligations to others with obligations to ourselves  Fact Check link: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fact-checking-trumps-claim-suicide-thousands-economic-shutdown/story?id=69790273 The opinions expressed in Chapel Phil are not reflective of the podcast's overall opinions, the opinions of the UNC Philosophy Department, or the Parr Center for Ethics.