#39 - Philosophy Podcaster: The Paradox of Free Will and Evil | Joel Bouchard

Joel Bouchard, philosophy podcaster and author of From Nowhere to Nothing, joins me for an intellectually intense exploration into some of life’s deepest philosophical dilemmas. In this episode, Joel skillfully unpacks intricate issues like the nature of good and evil, whether humans are inherently moral beings, and if true free will even exists.

In our conversation, we talk about:

• Why free will might be more limited than you think.
• The hidden paradox within the concept of an all-knowing, all-good deity and the existence of evil.
• How humans naturally strive to make order from chaos, both externally in the world and internally in their minds.
• The surprising psychology behind why people struggle with discipline and sticking to personal decisions.
• Whether morality is inherently programmed or learned from our environment, relationships, and experiences.

Thank you for listening.

 

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OUTLINE:

00:00 Introduction

02:12 Who Is Joel Bouchard?

03:53 What Philosophy Actually Is

07:09 Implicit vs Explicit Philosophy

10:09 Is Life Worth Living?

13:40 Religion, Atheism, and Nihilism

17:21 Hedonism and Absurdism

21:17 The Psychology of Belief

28:08 A Personal Story of Loss

31:50 Symbolism and Rituals in Human Life

39:45 The Ethical Debate Around Pets

45:52 Defining Good and Evil

51:06 Why Does Evil Exist?

01:13:15 Free Will vs Limited Will

01:25:14 Where Does Consciousness Come From?

01:29:37 The Nature of Conscience

01:47:00 Is Life Deterministic or Not?

02:00:12 The Magpie and Meaningful Coincidences

02:11:57 Final Thoughts & Outro

 

JOEL BOUCHARD LINKS:

From Nowhere to Nothing Podcast (Spotify)

From Nowhere to Nothing Podcast (Apple)

 

CONTACT LINKS:

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This episode has been co-produced by Kate van Leeuwen.