Aggie Agora artwork

Aggie Agora

19 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratings

Ever wonder the "why's" and "how's" people thinking the ways they do? Aggie Agora is podcast put on by the Philosophy Program at Utah State University. Host Michael Otteson, assistant professor of Philosophy, chats with community leaders across the state to find how philosophy and ethics plays a role in shaping the state.

Philosophy Society & Culture
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Episodes

Physicalism and Emergence in Contemporary Metaphysics

November 22, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MB

In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Professor John Symons.  Professor Symons is a professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas, and he works in metaphysics and the philosophy of technology.  In this discussion, we talk about the state of physicalism and emergence in contemporary metaphysics.

Does Artificial Intelligence Think? (ft. David Ménager, Ph. D.)

June 30, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 44 MB

David Ménager, Ph. D. , Emerging Leader in Cognitive AI Systems, works for a non profit that works on how humans integrate with emerging tech. He talks with host Michael Otteson, from the Utah State University Philosophy Program about how artificial intelligence and neuro-networks process information. Does this process mimic when a human thinks? What differences? This deep dive approaches the question.

A Discussion with Former Mayor of North Logan

January 27, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 74.2 MB

Michael Otteson and Damon Cann discuss the ups, downs, and challenges that face small towns like North Logan, Utah

Apocalyptic Mormonism with Christopher Blythe

November 16, 2022 22:00 - 1 hour - 70.2 MB

Host Michael Otteson speaks with Christopher Blythe, the author of Terrible Revolution: Later-day Saints and the American Apocalypse. They cover a range of historic to modern prophecy and how it has played into the molding of many of not only main stream mormonism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but also many of its off shoots. What role does apocalyptic prophesy play and how central is it? How do members balance the beliefs of the world ending along side preparing for tom...

Remakes, Reboots, and Romans (Ft. Mark Damen)

October 20, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 54.6 MB

Prof. Mark Damen, USU Classics, speaks to the nature of remakes throughout human history and how that may affect our view of the large amounts of remakes and reboots around us.

Utah Water and the Great Salt Lake (ft. Patrick Belmont, PhD.)

September 15, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MB

Host Michael Otteson and Prof. Patrick Belmont, Hydrologist and Geomorphologist at Utah State University, talk over what the water concerns of Utah are and how the Great Salt Lake changing creates a cascade of problems. Belmont discusses different approaches that have been considered and what people could do to make a difference.

Pathways Towards Peace: Russia and Ukraine, Part 2

March 16, 2022 17:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MB

This week, Anna Pechenkina, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Utah State University, joins Michael Otteson to discuss the complicated history of Russia and Ukraine's current conflict. This is the second part of a two-part discussion.

Pathways Towards Peace: Russia and Ukraine

March 16, 2022 16:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MB

This week, Anna Pechenkina, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Utah State University, joins Michael Otteson to discuss the complicated history of Russia and Ukraine's current conflict. This is the first part of a two-part discussion.

Cache Valley Food Pantry

March 04, 2022 01:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MB

This week, Michael Otteson is joined by Matthew Whitaker, the director of the Cache Valley Food Pantry, an organization which works to provide no-cost food to individuals and families in need throughout the Cache Valley community. Together, they discuss the concept of food pantries, what it takes for one to operate, and what they're working to accomplish.

Episode 5

March 04, 2022 01:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MB

This week, Michael Otteson is joined by Matthew Whitaker, the director of the Cache Valley Food Pantry, an organization which works to provide no-cost food to individuals and families in need throughout the Cache Valley community. Together, they discuss the concept of food pantries, what it takes for one to operate, and what they're working to accomplish.

When Hell Freezes Over: A Case for Christian Universalism, Part 2

February 17, 2022 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

Episode 4, Part 2:  This week on Aggie Agora, Michael Otteson is joined by Dr. Jordan Wood who specializes in the christian church fathers to discuss universalism, an issue found at the heart of one of the world's great religions.

When Hell Freezes Over: A Case for Christian Universalism

January 27, 2022 21:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MB

Episode 4, part 1:  This week on Aggie Agora, Michael Otteson is joined by Dr. Jordan Wood who specializes in the christian church fathers to discuss universalism, an issue found at the heart of one of the world's great religions.

I’m Thinking of a Number: Mathematical Platonism, Part 2

January 21, 2022 00:00 - 32 minutes - 22 MB

Episode 3 part 2: Numbers are everywhere, but what are they really? This week philosophy professor Eileen Nutting from the University of Kansas joins Micheal Otteson to discuss what a number really is by considering mathematical platonism and philosophy.

I’m Thinking of a Number: Mathematical Platonism

January 13, 2022 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MB

Numbers are everywhere, but what are they really? This week philosophy professor Eileen Nutting from the University of Kansas joins Micheal Otteson to discuss what a number really is by considering mathematical platonism and philosophy.

Pt 2: Refugees and Immigration in Cache Valley Utah (ft. CRIC)

November 05, 2021 16:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MB

Host Michael Otteson continues his conversation about how refugee relief has developed in cache valley through CRIC.  The Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) has been serving the cache valley community for nearly a decade. They assist relocated peoples in gaining access to public services and navigate the hardships of start life somewhere completely new. But how does that look like? Host Michael Otteson talks with CRIC leadership to find the ins and outs of how a non profit like C...

Refugees and Immigration in Cache Valley Utah (ft. CRIC)

October 14, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MB

The Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) has been serving the cache valley community for nearly a decade. They assist relocated peoples in gaining access to public services and navigate the hardships of start life somewhere completely new. But how does that look like? Host Michael Otteson talks with CRIC leadership to find the ins and outs of how a non profit like CRIC works.

Refugees and Immigration in Cache Valley Utah (ft. CRIC)

October 14, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MB

The Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) has been serving the cache valley community for nearly a decade. They assist relocated peoples in gaining access to public services and navigate the hardships of start life somewhere completely new. But how does that look like? Host Michael Otteson talks with CRIC leadership to find the ins and outs of how a non profit like CRIC works.

EP1: What is Science? (feat. Charlie Huenemann) Pt 2

September 20, 2021 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22 MB

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Aggie Agora. Michael Otteson, of Utah State University’s (USU) philosophy program, hosts a discussion with Charlie Huenemann, one of his mentors as an undergrad at USU. Huenemann is a professor of philosophy with a focus on the history of ideas and philosophy of culture. In this episode, they uncover the origin of the word “science” and discuss its often-complicated principles that lead to the question, "What is science?" Listen in as they follow the histo...

EP1: What is Science? (feat. Charlie Huenemann) Pt 1

September 15, 2021 17:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MB

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Aggie Agora. Michael Otteson, of Utah State University’s (USU) philosophy program, hosts a discussion with Charlie Huenemann, one of his mentors as an undergrad at USU. Huenemann is a professor of philosophy with a focus on the history of ideas and philosophy of culture. In this episode, they uncover the origin of the word “science” and discuss its often-complicated principles that lead to the question, "What is science?" Listen in as they follow the histo...