INDUBITABLY: The Debate Podcast

As Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, we take on the concept of royalty, examining its legitimacy and efficacy.  From the ruling families of old, to modern constitutional monarchies, to the remaining absolute monarchies, does the existence of royalty translate to a better quality of life for their subjects?

Some of the most influential minds of our generation are warning us about the potential dangers of AI.  But, with the benefits this emerging technology has to offer us, along with the potential profits to be made off of its development, research is certainly not slowing down.  Would a world populated by intelligent machines be a future utopia?  Or will humanity face extinction at the hands of our own creations?

Around the globe, over $500 billion in subsidies are provided to farmers every year.  Proponents suggest this money helps protect our food supply and stabilize the agricultural industry against both market and natural forces.  But critics say subsidies are not only inequitable, but damaging to the environment and economies alike.

On this Valentine’s Day, we decide to take a break from more simplistic subject matters like international affairs, philosophical enquiry or economic theory, in order to focus on something a bit more complicated: romance.  Specifically the benefits and challenges posed by dating apps as their users try to navigate the modern dating scene.

From vaccine mandates to police brutality, certain sports figures have used their unique platform to bring attention to political and social causes that they care about.  But, as a venue that has the power to unite typically divided groups of people, should the sports pitch be off limits from these types of protests?  Is it fair for leagues to silence their stars, removing their ability to speak out on these important topics?

When words aren’t enough, how do we influence the behavior of a rogue nation?  In an attempt to avoid going to war, oftentimes countries and international actors implement sanctions as a way of convincing uncooperative governments to comply with their demands.  We discuss what factors help determine the success or failure of these efforts. 

With advances in medical technology we are gaining more and more control over the genetic code of our children.  From the ability to create resistance to disease, to power over selecting a baby’s height or hair color, do parents have the right or responsibility to create the “perfect” child?

Museums around the world are in possession of thousands of pieces of art and artifacts which were created by people of a different culture, oftentimes in a different part of the globe.  Is there a moral obligation to return these objects to their place of origin?  What would this mean for our ability to preserve these irreplaceable items?  Do we lose the capacity to effectively educate the public if they are removed from museums?

Discourse around gun control is always contentious, but rarely productive.  Part of the blame lies in the failures of both sides to argue in good faith.  In our first ‘Adjudication Episode,’ rather than present arguments on this topic, we judge the arguments that are already commonly forwarded to either uphold or erode the right to bear arms.

In the United States alone, churches generate an estimated $125 billion in yearly “revenue.”  Do governments deserve to receive a cut from that income? Or does the work that faith communities do justify their continued tax exempt status?  How do secular governments best maintain a separation of church and state when it comes to financial matters?

Which debates made up this past year?  We look back at the defining controversies of the year along with some of the most ridiculous issues that made the news.  For an added bonus, we make a couple of predictions for 2022 and beyond!

One of the most iconic choices ever presented in a movie, these little colored capsules ask us to decide if ignorance really is bliss? What sort of harsh realities are we equipped to face?  And is it even possible to tell the difference between the two?

The idea of providing every citizen a set amount of money on a regular basis has been garnering increased attention in recent years.  Is there a realistic way to fund a program like this?  And even if there is, how does it compare to more targeted social programs?

In the second of our formal debates, we clash over issues of representation and democracy.  Would quotas forward the rights of women in politics? Or if they are simply seen as a token gesture, would they actually set the movement back?

From the top of Mt. Everest to the depths of the Bering Sea, workers around the globe take on incredible risks for less than incredible wages.  When is accepting potentially deadly work a choice and when is it coercive?  Are there realistic alternatives for people living in communities whose major industries bring with them the chance of death?

There are currently more tigers living in captivity in the United States than there are in the wild around the entire world.  Should private owners be allowed to possess Exotic Animals?  Are Zoos really any better?