The Power of Thought Experiments

By: Daniel Breyer, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Daniel Breyer

Thought experiments are “what if” scenarios that invite us to look carefully at how we think and view the world. They’ve been used throughout history by philosophers and other thinkers to explore our intuitions and ways of reasoning, to find solutions to problems, and to expand our knowledge of ourselves and the world.

In these 24 eye-opening lectures, Professor Breyer takes you deeply into the historical tradition of thought experiments, shining a light on both the purpose and the outcomes of these compelling mental voyages:

· The Parameters of Ethics. Work through problems that look at what our moral obligations are to others and that challenge our sense of what’s right and wrong, and what we should or shouldn’t do.

· The Boundaries of Identity. Grasp how thought experiments offer a valuable window into what defines the “you” you know yourself to be. Is identity necessarily related to the body? Where does the self begin and where does it end?

· “Schrödinger’s Cat.” Within quantum mechanics, see how Schrödinger’s scenario, which pictures a cat and a potentially lethal device within a steel chamber, uncovers a serious theoretical problem: according to the standard view of quantum theory, the cat in the chamber is both alive and dead.

· Is Your Will Free? We think of ourselves as acting from free will. But is this the case? Study thought experiments that assess whether our choices are truly free, or whether they’re determined by prior or surrounding causes.

· A Brush with Immortality. You’ve taken a pill that allows you to live forever. Witness how thought experiments have been used to explore immortality as a means for investigating whether endless life is truly desirable, and what makes a (mortal) life truly worth living.

Professor Breyer’s wide-ranging presentation makes these lectures both illuminating and richly enjoyable. Join history’s great thinkers in The Power of Thought Experiments—for an extraordinary journey into your own mind.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2023 The Great Courses

Interesting and thought provoking

Well read. Deep thoughts in a safe way. Presented in a easy to follow manner that is both fun and thought provoking. Worth the listen :)

Real Life Pholosophy

I used to love philosophy but was eventually put off by how abstract it was. This book brings a real life perspective to it, which was refreshing.

Excellent course!!

Dr Breyer makes sometimes challenging thought experiments into palpable enjoyable lessons! I highly recommend!! His best course yet!!

Excellent introduction to philosophy

Daniel Breyer put together quite a course. Each lecture was focused and organized around one or two or three well-known thought experiments.

I highly recommend this course, especially to beginners in philosophy. There’s a nice variety of topics to help get some breadth. Breyer’s teaching style is informative and engaging. This series deserves a re-listen.

Thought experiments are fascinating pieces of philosophy.

Not as Advertised

This is not about thinking at all. weird case examples of telecommuting to Mars or mind body transplants or worse. like a bio ethics class.

Imagine a Course That Seems Promising, but . . .

Perhaps thought experiments are akin to jokes and perish under analysis. Perhaps hearing so many gathered together draws attention to their often contrived and sometimes downright silly premises. Or maybe (just maybe) Professor Breyer indulges in a wee bit more explanation than a listener of average intelligence actually needs.*

Whatever the reason, finishing this course became a chore. I enjoy thought experiments, and will continue to do so, just in smaller, self-regulated doses.

* It’s instructive to compare Professor Patrick Grim’s cogent 5-minute analysis of “The Trolley Problem” in his excellent “Philosopher’s Toolkit” course with Breyer’s 30-minute rumination on the same thought experiment in lecture 3. Citing psychological research based on FMRI scans, Grim argues persuasively that a person’s response to this sort of sacrifice-one-life-to-save-five scenario depends upon how many emotional centers it activates in the brain. Breyer eventually gets around to citing this research too, it just takes him a lot longer.