Shows / The Rest is Uncertain
The Rest is Uncertain
At the intersection of philosophy and public life. Hosted by philosopher and educator Dr. Laurance Splitter, the show embraces curiosity and complexity over easy answers. From truth and morality to knowledge, purpose, and the kind of world we want to create, each episode offers thoughtful reflections that inspire open-minded dialogue and deeper understanding, all without pretending to have the final word.
Episodes
- The Rest is Uncertain
The tricky matter of “free speech”
Making some connections between thought, language and action. Laurance’s topic in this episode is language, and his broad aim is to reveal some connections…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Announcing a short break...
After 20 episodes of the Podcast – all of which can be found via the link www.therestisuncertain.com – Laurance will take a short break. Connect with Dr…
- The Rest is Uncertain
At the intersection of philosophy and my life
Reflecting on the theme of “examining one’s life”. In this episode, Laurance engages in some professional and personal reflection to explain how these…
- The Rest is Uncertain
More on religion
This time an actual conversation. In this episode, Laurance talks with Professor John Bishop, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Auckland University. A…
- The Rest is Uncertain
On Religion
A force for good or something else? Laurance begins this episode by asking what the term “religion” means and why religions retain such a strong appeal in the…
- The Rest is Uncertain
The Middle East
A never-ending quagmire? In this extended episode, Laurance asks why the Middle East, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian situation, remains such a quagmire…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Drugs
A history of inconsistencies. In this episode, Laurance begins by noting that there are several areas of dispute surrounding the nature and use of drugs – both…
- The Rest is Uncertain
AI
What exactly is AI and how concerned should we be about it? In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter notes the distinction between empirical and more…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Explanations in the sciences, the humanities and ordinary human affairs.
Aiming for truth and the dangers of retreating to narratives. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter invites listeners to think about why they make the…
- The Rest is Uncertain
“The intersection of philosophy and public life” and the Enlightenment
Good thinking and dialogue are more important than ever. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter begins by reflecting on topics previously discussed…
- The Rest is Uncertain
A Dialogue about “Dialogue”
Are there different types of dialogues with different aims and structures? In this episode, Dr. Laurance Splitter finally engages in a real dialogue with…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Identity (Cont’d)
Tying up some loose ends…. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter provides further clarification of the concept of quantitative, or strict, identity…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Identity
A concept both familiar and puzzling. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter begins with some examples which reveal that the ideaof identity has been, and…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Immigration
Why is the topic of immigration so socially divisive? In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter begins with several disclaimers, which include avoiding the…
- The Rest is Uncertain
The Value of Diversity
Balancing commonality and diversity in determining the merits of the communities to which we belong. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter traces the…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Communities of Inquiry in Practice
How do communities of inquiry work across subjects like philosophy, mathematics, and science? In this episode, Dr. Laurance Splitter shares practical examples…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Teaching and Learning Based on Inquiry, Dialogue, and Community
In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter reflects on the evolution of the podcast’s title from “Puzzlement and Passion without Certainty” to “The Rest is…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Schools, Teachers and Students; Signs of a Crisis in Education
Is there a gap between educational goals and ideals, on the one hand, and the reality experienced by teachers and students in schools and classrooms, on the…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Schools, Teachers and Students; Signs of a Crisis in Education (Cont’d)
There are reasons for thinking that all is not well in our schools. In this episode, host Laurance Splitter explores some of the difficulties experienced by…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Youth Crime, Punishment, and Responsibility: Rethinking Justice in a Divided Society
When it comes to youth crime, simple answers often miss the deeper questions. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter explores the moral and social…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Dialogue, and Individualism Versus Collectivism
The challenge of balancing our intuitive “elephants” and our reasoning “riders”. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter expands on the role of dialogue…
- The Rest is Uncertain
Aiming for Truth but Not Proclaiming It
Certainty feels reassuring but it can also shut down reasonable thinking, dialogue, and better judgment. In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter introduces…