Knowledge in Crisis: The Podcast

E7 — Pseudoscience (with Gregor Greslehner)

Pseudoscience is everywhere: from astrology, to flat earth theory and homeopathy. But what about the murkier cases? Psychoanalysis (at least, according to Karl Popper!) and anti-aging claims appear to be grounded in science, yet when you look closer, can their claims actually hold up to proper scientific scrutiny? And what happens when a theory, like creationism, doesn't even try — simply ignoring scientific facts altogether? Where does real science end and pseudoscience begin, and how is pseudoscience different from simply bad science?   Elek Lane and Tuomo Tiisala sit down with Gregor Greslehner (University of Vienna), a postdoctoral researcher with degrees in both molecular biology and philosophy, to map out the spectrum from science to bad science to pseudoscience. Listen in as they unpick the boundaries between them, and come away better equipped to spot the next pseudoscientific claim headed your way. This episode was edited and mixed by Tuomo Tiisala.  Music by Tuomo Tiisala and Gregor Greslehner. Special thanks to Gregor Greslehner, Elek Lane, and Tuomo Tiisala. Questions or comments? Write to kic@ceu.edu. [kic@ceu.edu.]

E6 — Explanation (with Benjamin Schnieder)

Every parent knows the moment. You give an explanation, and back comes the follow-up: but why? It turns out, that relentless childhood question contains more value than we know. Explanations are how we make sense of the world — connecting causes to effects, tracing events back to their origins. But is that really all they are? And does every question actually have an answer, or are some things just... the way they are? In this episode, hosted by Paulina Sliwa (University of Vienna) and Gregor Greslehner (University of Vienna), we dig into the surprising depth hiding behind everyday explanations. We explore where we use different types of explanations for different purposes, whether an explanation can still be useful even if it isn't strictly true, and how to improve in telling a genuinely good explanation from one that just sounds convincing.   From brute facts, mathematics, and how & why questions to the foundations of understanding, this is a conversation about the questions beneath the questions Benjamin Schnieder is Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Vienna. He is also a Key Researcher for Knowledge in Crisis. This episode was edited by Anni Räty and mixed by Tuomo Tiisala.  Music by Tuomo Tiisala and Gregor Greslehner. Special thanks to Gregor Greslehner, Benjamin Schnieder and Paulina Sliwa. Questions or comments? Write to kic@ceu.edu. [kic@ceu.edu.]

E5 — The AGI Question (with Tim Crane and Simon Rippon)

What does it really mean to create a machine that thinks? Postdoctoral Researcher Audrey Powers (University of Vienna) speaks with philosophers Tim Crane and Simon Rippon (Central European University) to unpack the concept of Artificial General Intelligence — what it is, whether it exists, and whether it ever could. From programming, neural networks and reinforcement learning to questions of consciousness, cognition, and similarities between human and machine processing, the conversation ranges across some of the deepest problems in philosophy of mind. And with so much hype surrounding AI, they ask: is AGI a genuine scientific frontier, or just the latest marketing exercise — and what are the dangers either way? Tim Crane is Professor of Philosophy and Pro-Rector for Foresight and Analysis at Central European University. He is also the Director of Research for Knowledge in Crisis. Simon Rippon is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Central European University. He is also a Key Researcher for Knowledge in Crisis. This episode was produced by Jason Means and edited by Anni Räty.  Music by Tuomo Tiisala and Gregor Greslehner. Special thanks to Tim Crane, Audrey Powers and Simon Rippon. Questions or comments? Write to kic@ceu.edu. [kic@ceu.edu.]

E4 — Objectivity (with Sophie Veigl)

In this episode, we ask whether academic philosophy is facing a crisis of knowledge — and what that might mean for science.   What does objectivity really mean today? Is it a timeless ideal, or a set of established standards shaped by particular perspectives? If we all speak from our own positionality, can we ever be truly objective?   Our guest Sophie Veigl (University of Vienna) explores the idea that science doesn’t deliver truth as a finished product, but operates as a process — one that is reliable, yet not without weaknesses. Could philosophy play a stronger role within the sciences, helping to address structural problems and shift the conversation away from abstract ideals like “pure objectivity” and toward a more honest engagement with positionality?   Tune in for a conversation about knowledge, perspective, and whether rethinking objectivity might actually strengthen — rather than undermine — science. This episode was produced by Jason Means and edited by Anni Räty.  Music by Tuomo Tiisala and Gregor Greslehner. Special thanks to Gregor Greslehner, Matt Dougherty, and Sophie Veigl. Questions or comments? Write to kic@ceu.edu. [kic@ceu.edu.]

E3 — Emotions (with Juliette Vazard)

What do our emotions actually tell us about the world? In this episode, we explore emotions from a philosophical perspective—and why they matter for knowledge. Emotions are rapid evaluations of events around us, shaping what we notice, what we care about, and how we respond. They reveal what is important to us and offer a form of evaluative knowledge about the world and ourselves. But emotions are not infallible. As our first responses, they can mislead; they need to be checked against reflection and other forms of feedback. By examining how emotions connect to perception, judgment, and attention, we ask: what can emotions really reveal about our reality—and how do they shape the way we understand it? 🎧 Listen to our latest episode and subscribe to our podcast to listen to more topics about philosophy and the world. This episode was produced by Jason Means and edited by Anni Räty.  Music by Tuomo Tiisala and Gregor Greslehner. Special thanks to Matt Dougherty, Cathy Mason, and Juliette Vazard. Please note: At the time of recording, Juliette Vazard was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Central European University. She is currently a Senior Teaching and Research Assistant at University of Zürich. Questions or comments? Write to kic@ceu.edu. [kic@ceu.edu.]