The Rest is Uncertain Podcast By Laurance Splitter cover art

The Rest is Uncertain

The Rest is Uncertain

By: Laurance Splitter
Listen for free

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.Copyright Laurance Splitter Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Immigration

    Immigration
    Apr 2 2026
    Why is the topic of immigration so socially divisive?

    In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter begins with several disclaimers, which include avoiding the explicitly political dimensions of immigration (which, inevitably, focus on extreme positions), and also making reference to specific religious or cultural groups. Listeners are invited to make these connections for themselves. Laurance makes a distinction between factual issues regarding immigration – where immigrants to Australia have come from, the reasons people have sought to migrate, and the criteria or standards which are applied in determining who should, or should not, be permitted to immigrate – and issues which are best described as ethical and emotional (although this distinction is far from clear). Among those seeking to migrate are those classified as refugees or asylum seekers, which suggests another distinction: that between practical or utilitarian considerations (the impact on housing or employment, etc.) – i.e. how immigration affects our own country and its existing citizens – and considerations based on compassion and care for those seeking refuge and safety because of the dangerous, even life-threatening conditions in their home countries.

    After asking the question “What is the ideal population size for our country?” – and realizing how difficult it is to answer – Laurance moves to consider the contentious issue of Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers who have sought refuge in precarious circumstances (often on overcrowded boats managed by people smugglers). He admits to feeling a sense of shame on this topic, particularly because the major political parties have been unanimous in ruling that such individuals will never be allowed to settle permanently in Australia.

    Laurance then considers the question that is central in the minds of many Australians (likewise in many other countries): “Who are those seeking to migrate and, specifically, are they sufficiently ‘like us’?” Key examples are the members of certain religious and cultural groups, and people arriving from countries which have a history of violence. Laurance raises questions about multiculturalism and diversity, and asks what the oft-used term “Australian values” actually stands for, other than those values which are associated with universal human decency and ethics. He then returns to a recurring theme and asks whether our primary concern should be the values and practices of different cultural groups, or those of specific individuals. The episode concludes with a question: “Is there a moral imperative to help relieve the lives of distant strangers whose lives are impoverished and endangered, when doing so is likely to produce greater strain on those at home who may already be struggling by their own standards.?” Dare we hope that such questions could be discussed with sensitivity and respect, without being sucked into familiar political stereotypes?

    Connect with Dr. Laurance Splitter: LinkedIn
    Show more Show less
    35 mins
  • The Value of Diversity

    The Value of Diversity
    Mar 19 2026
    Balancing commonality and diversity in determining the merits of the communities to which we belong.

    In this episode, host Dr. Laurance Splitter traces the tensions between individualism and various forms of collectivism, from the end of the Cold War (which heralded “The End of History”, except that it didn’t!), to the present day. The ideal of democratic liberalism became distorted as the result of globalization and growing disparities between the “haves” and “have nots”, resulting in a present-day scenario in which a very few possess most of the world’s wealth. Growing dissatisfaction in many Western countries has led to a destructive level of “tribalism”, with those on both sides of the political spectrum aligning themselves with those who are “like themselves” and distancing themselves from those who are, in various respects, “different”. This situation has been exacerbated by opportunistic and unscrupulous political leaders who encourage a strong sense of nationalism and cast a distorted glance to a past when we all lived among those who were just like us.

    Laurance then focuses on Australia and its claims to be a “multicultural” society, suggesting that “multi-ghettoised” might be a better descriptor. After hinting at the problematic nature of the concept of culture, he looks more closely at a disturbing trend: the growth, in economic and numerical terms, of private schooling in relation to public schooling. He notes that private schools do not provide the kinds of diversity that exist – or could exist – in public schools and, as a result, young people are not encouraged to expand their thinking and mindsets beyond that which is already familiar to them. He is particularly critical of the implications of students attending gender-specific schools. He challenges governments to become more involved in or, at least, more aware of, the teaching styles and curricula of all schools.

    Connect with Dr. Laurance Splitter: LinkedIn
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • Communities of Inquiry in Practice

    Communities of Inquiry in Practice
    Mar 5 2026
    How do communities of inquiry work across subjects like philosophy, mathematics, and science?

    In this episode, Dr. Laurance Splitter shares practical examples of collaborative inquiry with students of different ages, sparked by stories, games, and classroom activities. Discussions range from loyalty and friendship to reasoning, mathematical abstraction, scientific concepts, and ethical questions about animals and human responsibility.

    These examples show how effective teachers foster genuine inquiry without fixed outcomes.

    The episode concludes with Laurance reflecting on student podcast discussions about social media, trust, and justice and the resistance he encountered when schools deemed related topics “too sensitive.” Echoing psychologist Jonathan Haidt, he highlights the tension between protecting young people and limiting their opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the issues shaping their lives.

    Connect with Dr. Laurance Splitter: LinkedIn
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
No reviews yet