Love & Philosophy

This is a conversation between Andrea Hiott and Daniel Ari Friedman discussing various themes related to cognition, perception, action, and the concept of Active Inference. The conversation starts with Daniel's time with Deborah Gordan studying ants. Then they delve into the understanding of different terminologies and concepts relative to complexity, the individual and collective behaviour. They dive deep into Karl Friston's active inference and into relative terms like predictive processing, predictive coding and the role and application of models and 'maps' in scientific research. Daniel explains the principles of active inference in relation to cognition and perception and how it can be viewed as a scale-free (or better scale-friendly) framework. They also discuss the importance of semantics in their fields and the role of the Active Inference Institute. The conversation is reflective and philosophical, touching on the intersection between cognitive science, neuroscience, and environmental interaction. They come to words like 'service' and 'love' before it ends.Relative to way-making research: System 3 representations and a discussion of affordances (a fence post or a rock does not have them)Podcast artwork by Daniel Ari FriedmanDaniel's personal siteResearch sitePostdoc reviewActive Inference InstituteAndrea & Daniel discuss:scale-free and scale-friendly.Individual and Collective behaviour of ants.Complex systems.Bioinformatics.How we can find real boundaries, and how not-so-real boundaries can be modelled.Uncertainty.Language as a model.The difference between predictive processing, predictive coding, and active inference.Why a fence post does not have affordances.Affordance beyond Gibson.Perception as inbound regularities. Action as outbound regularities.  Buckminster Fuller: "Unity is plural and at minimum two."Deborah GordanGordon's paper Wittgenstein and Ant WatchingKarl FristonChris Fields ResearchCompetency in Navigating Arbitrary Spaces as an Invariant for Analyzing Cognition in Diverse EmbodimentsActive InferenceFor Paulo Sayeg: https://philpapers.org/versions/IENPPUFor RJ Cordes & Dean Tickles: https://zenodo.org/records/8266281Lars Sandved SmithYou Tube Video

A research conversation with Michael Levin: This is the second of multi-part way-making research conversations with Tufts biologist Michael Levin. We discuss his own path and how science fiction helped him see beyond dichotomies. We also discuss the scales of cognition and what it might mean to reorient our understandings of life and mind.Michael Levin at TuftsGoogle Scholar#mikelevin #andreahiott #cognition #waymaking #navigation #continuum #michaellevin Links to the papers mentioned:TAME and Light Cones: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...Navigation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35741...Links to more of Michael Levin's work:Twitter:  / drmichaellevin  Website: https://drmichaellevin.orgMore Papers:Biological Robots: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880Limb Regeneration: https://science.org/doi/10.1126SubscribeToYouTubeVideos:    / @waymaking23  Website for Love and Philosophy Beyond Dichotomy: https://loveandphilosophy.com/Hosted by Andrea Hiott. More at https://www.andreahiott.com#MichaelLevin #AndreaHiott #beyonddichotomy #podcast #levin #biology #cognition #loveandphilosophy #beyonddichotomy #love #philosophy #scifi #scales #semf These are conversations I’ve been having with scientists, artists, & philosophers to understand how our approach to life and cognition might address some of the urgent divides we face today.By love and philosophy, I mean the people, passions, and ideas that move us, shape the trajectories of our lives, and co-create our wider social landscapes.Partly due to my trajectory in philosophy, technology, & the cognitive sciences, I’m hoping to better observe binary distinctions in our academic & personal lives (science vs. spiritual, mental vs. physical, technological vs. biological). What positive roles have these structures played? How might rethinking these structures & their parameters open new paths & ecological potentials?

Love, Mind & the Poetry of Existence with Iain McGilchrist"Delve into the intricate relationship between flow and resistance in the universe, and the essential human engagement with beauty, goodness, and truth. Iain McGilchrist discusses the significance of asymmetry with Andrea, as well as the limitations of dichotomous thinking, and the richness found in embracing the complexity of life. The dialogue covers themes from Dr. McGilchrist's research and books, focusing on the importance of intuition, imagination, and our interconnectedness with nature and each other. The discussion also touches on the transformative power of poetry and art, the impact of modern digital distractions on our ability to connect deeply with the world, and the philosophical reflections on life, death, and the constant state of becoming that defines our existence. A truly moving conversation."#McGilchrist #asymmetry #mind #love #poetry #coincidence Iain's Year of Poetry:    • Daily Poetry Readings  A Spell for Creation by Kathleen Raine:    • Daily Poetry Readings #1: A Spell for...  Ah, Many, Many are the Dead by Kathleen Raine:    • Daily Poetry Readings #365: Ah, Many,...  Channel McGilchrist: https://channelmcgilchrist.com/home/Where to buy The Matter with Things: https://channelmcgilchrist.com/buy-no...#iainmcgilchrist #andreahiott #loveandphilosophyLove & PhilosophyThe Desirable Unknown

Cari's book is One Living System. Here she and Andrea explore the profound impact of love, awe, and the longing for beauty in constantly creating and recreating life. Their conversation delves into the importance of recognizing one’s place within the larger ecosystem and the interconnectedness of all beings. Touching upon themes like the significance of terrain over teams, the conversation highlights the necessity of seeing beyond human-centric perspectives towards an eco-centric worldview. It discusses moving from personal awakening to community action, emphasizing local changes that reflect broader systemic shifts. The dialogue underscores the essence of feeling and sensing life, advocating for a return to nature's rhythms and cycles, and fostering a more compassionate, interconnected existence. Additionally, it promotes understanding the land's history and developing a symbiotic relationship with nature to nurture a harmonious and thriving environment.#onelivingsystem #caritaylor #experience #book #podcast #terrain #ecosystem00:00 Exploring the Power of Awe and Creation01:02 Connecting Across Hemispheres: A Conversation on Opposites and Wholeness01:45 Beyond Dichotomy: Embracing Paradox in Life and Death03:19 The Living System: A New Perspective on Teamwork and Terrain04:32 Micro and Macro: Understanding Life's Terrain Through Our Bodies and Environment11:31 The Art of Movement: From Physical Rigidity to Fluidity in Life12:45 Discovering the Self Within the Living System15:24 The Journey to Understanding Life as a Living System23:28 Embracing Uniqueness and the Complexity of Life's Terrain32:19 The Language of Life: Conversations Beyond Human Words38:32 Exploring the Roots of Education and Knowledge39:15 The Power of Ancient Wisdom and Diverse Voices40:24 Observing Life to Lead Forward41:17 Integrating Different Knowledge Systems42:09 The Bridge: Connecting Worlds and Embracing Feelings43:46 Understanding the Living System Through the Bridge45:19 The Journey from Human-Centric to Eco-Centric Living50:28 Embracing Love, Touch, and Connection in Life54:05 The Language of Life: Love and Longing

Full episode on You Tube at Love & Philosophy. Carlos is a founder of the Society for Multidisciplinary and Fundamental Research (SEMF), and a Postdoctoral Fellow and Head of Strategy at the Wolfram Institute, a recently established research institution dedicated to the investigation of the mathematical foundations of computation and the legacy of Stephen Wolfram's scientific ideas. This talk explores his childhood fascination with physics and mathematics towards a multifaceted academic and personal exploration of higher order maths and relations in a quest for a deeper understanding of the universe's complexities. Carlos eloquently discusses the challenges of aligning personal passions with academic pursuits, his evolving interests leading to groundbreaking reflections on higher order mathematics, complexity theory, and their applications to understanding not just the cosmos but the complexities of human relationships, especially within the context of polyamorous dynamics. The narrative weaves together the beauty of scientific inquiry, mathematical honesty, and the deep, introspective examination of human connections, advocating for a boundary-defying approach to knowledge and love.#semf #Carloszapatacarratalá #higherorderthinkingskills #hiott #love #philosophy #wolfram 00:00 Exploring New Languages to Understand Nature00:25 Theoretical Foundations and Practical Impacts01:17 Navigating Romantic and Social Connections02:30 A Deep Dive into Love, Philosophy, and Mathematics03:01 The Journey from Philosophy to Mathematics03:51 Challenging Traditional Academic Paths07:39 Embracing Multidisciplinary Approaches08:55 Personal Growth Through Unconventional Learning10:21 Redefining Success in Academia and Beyond14:28 The Role of Teaching and the Quest for Knowledge28:07 Navigating Life's Complexities with a Love for Wisdom35:47 Reflecting on Personal and Societal Growth41:21 The Influence of a Father's Perspective41:35 A Unique Approach to Learning and Curiosity43:51 The Role of Love and Family in Personal Development45:15 Exploring Personal Identity and Social Dynamics52:48 The Journey from Physics to Multidisciplinary Exploration01:04:28

Timo is working on ways of applying artificial intelligence in corporate learning and development, focusing on scaling self-actualization in his Ipseity project. In this conversation, he shares his personal catalyst for change triggered by a rough patch in his life and how discovering Jordan Peterson's lectures on psychology opened new avenues of self-reflection and personal development for him. The conversation delves into Timo's philosophical and psychological insights, his project on developing a chatbot to aid in personal development and self-transformation, and the potential of using technology to navigate complex personal growth. The discussion also touches on contemporary issues in cognitive science, the challenges of interpreting Jordan Peterson within academic circles, and the broader implications of tech-assisted self-help methodologies.#chatbots #artificialintelligence #jordanpeterson #andreahiott #timoschuler00:00 Introduction to Love and Philosophy00:26 Journey to a PhD: From Swiss Post to AI in Learning01:41 Exploring Self-Actualization and Personal Development03:33 The Impact of Jordan Peterson on Personal Growth13:12 Navigating Corporate and Environmental Realities23:26 Embracing Complexity: From Psychological Entropy to Ipseity29:06 Exploring Personal Growth and Anxiety29:29 The Role of Love and Consciousness in Personal Development30:57 Navigating Life's Complexity with Maps of Meaning35:01 The Ship of Theseus: Understanding Self Through Change37:05 Developing the Grateful Chatbot: A Technological Companion for Growth41:50 The Future of AI in Personal Development and Social Sense-Making50:24 Reflecting on the Journey and Future AspirationsIpseity ProjectTimo on LinkedIn Grateful Chatbots paperJacques Monod

Paddy LeFlufy discusses the new organizational technologies in economics that could help us build a better tomorrow. His conversation with philosopher Andrea Hiott delves into reimagining economic systems that (as we hear by the end) can be understood as grounded in love and care for humanity and the planet. Central to the dialogue are innovative models like Doughnut Economics and the Future Guardian, aimed at remedying ecological issues and fostering a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment. Through a blend of personal reflection, economic reform, and the pursuit of regenerative models, this narrative emphasizes the importance of valuing interconnectedness and practice in actionable frameworks for a balanced, inclusive future.#doughnut #futureguardians #paddyleflufyPaddy's book is one of the Financial Times Best Books of 2023 It is called Building Tomorrow: https://paddyleflufy.com/building-tomorrow/Doughnut Economics Action Lab: https://doughnuteconomics.org/Future Guardians Model on Paddy's SubstackB Labs and B Corps: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/00:00 Clip Exploring the Essence of Love and Its Impact00:50 Introduction to Paddy LeFlufy: A Journey into Love of Humanity01:49 Diving into 'Building Tomorrow': A New Economic Vision03:52 Paddy's Unique Path: From Mathematics to Global Adventures06:11 Awakening to Ecological Realities and the Power of Change26:36 The Circular Economy and Future Guardians: Pioneering Sustainable Business Models37:50 Redefining Profit and Stakeholder Alignment38:29 The Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Models39:33 Challenges and Changes in Corporate Structures40:24 The Future Guardian Model: A New Paradigm41:00 Examples of Progressive Companies and Potential for Change41:49 Spreading the Future Guardian Model and Social Pressure42:48 Alternative Organizational Models and Regenerative Organizations46:29 From Incremental Changes to a New Economic System49:55 Understanding Money Creation and Its Impact54:14 Practical Steps Towards Positive Change01:00:28 Personal Journeys and the Power of Individual Action01:06:29 The Role of Love and Care in Transformative Change

Paul Holdengraber, a renowned figure who has had conversations with some of the most influential figures of our times, discusses his unique approach and the pains and pleasures of life as a conversationalist.  Andrea and Paul explore the profound impact of the art of conversation on forming deep connections. They also delve into Paul's background, influences, and the unpredictable paths life has taken him, from his parents' escape from the Nazis to his own philosophical and geographical journeys. Paul opens up about his recent jobless status, his reflections on care, conversation, and the power of listening, as well as contemplating the future in a rapidly changing world. Throughout, the discussion explores themes of transience, the creation of spaces for dialogue, and the importance of remaining open to the myriad possibilities life offers. The conversation weaves together topics such as the significance of digression, the therapeutic power of reminiscing on familial history, and the complexities of identity and human relationships.#artofconversation #holdengraber #andreahiott00:00 Welcome to the Library: A Night of Conversation00:29 Paul Holdengraber: A Man of Many Conversations00:59 Exploring the New York Public Library with Paul02:27 The Art and Power of Conversation 02:56 Paul's Unique Path: From Philosophy to Public Programming05:12 Digression as a Form of Revelation10:59 Returning to Roots: Conversations on Identity and Place17:16 The Solitary Journey of a Conversationalist22:16 Navigating Friendships and the Fear of Intimacy26:42 Creating Landscapes of Conversation32:03 From Hitchhiking to Hosting Influential Conversations36:17 Unveiling the Art of Conversation and Personal Insights37:40 Exploring Fame, Influence, and Personal Connections38:56 The Craft of Creating Meaningful Conversations40:26 Personal Reflections and Family Dynamics52:09 The Power of Listening and the Art of Interviewing59:26 Navigating Life's Transitions and Future Uncertainties01:06:09 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Community Support01:09:46 Contemplating New Beginnings and Creative OutletsBryant Park Photo: By Jean-Christophe BENOIST - Own work, CC BY 3.0The Philosophy of TravelNew York Public Library LIVE with Paul Past EventsNYPL You TubeAdam Phillips, On Kissing Tickling and Being BoredTranscript of Was the 20th Century a Mistake with Werner Herzog

A biographical look into the lairs of modern neuroscience. Part 1 of a research conversation on the hippocampus. And notes for a tale of how McGill University, the invasion of Prague, and UCL pulled two expats together towards discoveries and writings that have changed a scientific framework.Lynn Nadel has been doing influential research about memory and the hippocampus for decades. He is the co-author with Nobel Prize winner John O'Keefe of The Hippocampus As a Cognitive Map, one of the first books to open new fields of research relative to a part of the brain called the hippocampus, known for its role in both memory and navigation.Nadel and O'Keefe met at McGill University at a time when the place was buzzing with the books, papers and people creating what we now study as neuroscience.McGill University in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s can look a bit like the superhero headquarters of what would develop into modern neuroscience. Once you begin to list all the people who were working there at that time and all the threads that have since influenced the filed, from Wilder Penfield and Brenda Milner to Donald Hebb to John O'Keefe and Lynn Nadel, one begins to see how much of the work being done today was oriented from that starting point.University of Arizona pageLynn NadelJohn O'Keefe Nobel Lecture Henry Moliason (H.M.)Brenda MilnerPeter Milner, author of Physiological PsychologyDonald HebbWilder PenfieldRonald MelzacSuzanne CorkinBob Mueller & John Kubie Jim RanckSoviet Invasion of PragueUniversity College LondonThe Hippocampus as a Cognitive MapHippocampus History on MastadonPsych Review story on bjks podcast McGill University Neuro

Pattern, Meaning, & Integration with Jeremy Lent: Happy New Year !A discussion with the author of The Patterning Instinct and Web of Meaning. Podcast posting soon on all platforms. This is a mostly uncut video without introduction. Wishing you all the very best of patterns, meanings, integrations and regenerations for 2024.Jeremy Lent's websiteDeep Transformation NetworkTowards way-making research in philosophy (as this is a research channel towards that philosophy), this conversation is especially helpful regarding the following:The notion of polarity as not being dualistic. Jeremy's comments are very helpful here as a way to understand how the parts of a whole come to recognize one another, doing so as though they were not part of the same whole even while always being so.“the patterns between things are often more important than the things themselves”“the distinction we make between science and spirituality is a false distinction”"I come up with a way of we can use language to define spirituality from the perspective of system science.  And we can look at spirituality itself as really being like,  an approach of seeking meaning in the connections between things rather than the things themselves."Also especially helpful is the talk about dynamic patterns and strange attractors (what Jeremy calls natural attractors).“Anytime we make sense of something, the best thing we can do is then having made sense of it to let that go and accept the next experience that might slightly shift the way of making sense of it.”"It is not that the self is a delusion, it is that the fixed self is a delusion."Love and Philosophy WebsiteLove and Philosophy YouTube ChannelAndrea Hiott

What can a computer be?A discussion about computing with Flora Moon and Esteban Montero of Holon Labs. What is a computer and what do we want it to be? If a computer is made of living matter (something being explored now in various labs) how do we understand the traditional distinctions of technology and biology?“The air itself is one vast library on whose pages are for ever written all that man has ever said or woman whispered.”__Charles Babbage (1837)A Categorical Defense of the Future by Esteban Montero and Brandon BaylorHolon LabsFlora Moon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floramoon/Esteban Montero LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemonterov/Alan TuringClaude Shannon Category theory—a way to represent meaningHilma af Klint: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilma_af_KlintPema Chodron When Things Fall Apart#computing #computer #cognition #love #philosophy

This is a way-making research conversation with Prof. Richard A. Watson of the University of Southhampton (Institute for Life Sciences/ Department of Computer Science, Agents, Interaction and Complexity group). You can watch the video here. We discuss the traditional ideas of adaptation and a Richard Dawkins style approach to Darwinism and then how this might be reimagined, as Richard Watson is doing in his work. We also discuss what it means to be an individual . Are love and logic opposites? How might we dance with a music that is both scientific and personal?For Songs of Life: https://youtu.be/zdmY6q2ZWm8?feature=sharedRichard Watson’s personal website.Compositional EvolutionPublications.Conversations with Chris Fields and Michael Levin.Master thesis that Richard kindly mentions.Valencia EventVideo of the Conversation, in case you want to see the moment at the end where he shows us love on the wall.Biography of Richard Watson:"Dr Richard Watson studies evolution, learning, cognition and society and their unifying algorithmic principles. He studied Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems at Sussex University, then PhD Computer Science at Brandeis in Boston. His current work deepens the unification of evolution and learning - specifically, with connectionist models of learning and cognition, familiar in neural network research – to address topics such as evolvability, ecological memory, evolutionary transitions in individuality (ETIs), phenotypic plasticity, the extended evolutionary synthesis, collective intelligence and 'design'. He has also developed new computational methods for combinatorial optimisation (deep optimisation), exploiting a unification of deep learning and ‘deep evolution’ (i.e. ETIs). He is author of "Compositional evolution" (MIT Press), was featured as "one to watch in AI” in Intelligent Systems magazine, and his paper “How Can Evolution Learn” in TREE, attracted the ISAL award 2016. He is now Associate Professor at the University of Southampton."Google Scholar

Scales and Science Fiction with Michael Levin. The first of a multi-part way-making research conversation with Tufts biologist Michael Levin. We discuss his own path and how science fiction helped him see beyond dichotomies. We also discuss the scales of cognition and what it might mean to reorient our understandings of life and mind.Links to the papers mentioned:TAME and Light Cones: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02688/fullNavigation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35741540/Links to more of Michael Levin's work:Bluesky: @drmichaellevinTwitter: https://twitter.com/drmichaellevinWebsite: https://drmichaellevin.orgSEMF: https://semf.org.es/school2023/SciFi Story Made of Meat by Terry Bisson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They%27re_Made_Out_of_MeatMore Papers:Biological Robots: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880Limb Regeneration: https://science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj2164SubscribeToYouTubeVideos: https://www.youtube.com/@waymaking23Website for Love and Philosophy Beyond Dichotomy: https://loveandphilosophy.com/Hosted by Andrea Hiott. More at https://www.andreahiott.com

A conversation with philosopher and author C. Thi Nguyen about the power of focus, the precision of puzzles, the dangers and delights of games and play and the distinction between them. We talk about his recent book Games, Agency as Art and well as his popular articles Echo Chambers and Epistemic Bubbles and How Twitter gamifies communication. Some of the books and people mentioned are:Mary Poovey, History of the Modern FactTheodore Porter, Trust in NumbersBernard Suits definition of gamesJerry Levinson, Moral Outrage PornBasho: even in Kyoto / when I hear a cuckoo cry / I long for KyotoFeminist philosophy of art by Anne EatonAnnette Baier, Trust and Anti-TrustTranscript:Hello, everyone. Welcome to Love and Philosophy Beyond Dichotomies. Today, we're  📍 talking to C. Thi Nguyen. Mostly about his book Games ,Agency as Art but also about many other things....about love, how is it related to games? Thi is a kind of philosopher's philosopher, so it's a little surprising to hear him say that philosophy was his backup career that he actually wanted to be a novelist.  But when you hear how much pleasure he takes in Kant's formula of humanity, I think you'll also imagine he's always been a philosopher as well....we turn back and forth and shift around like a Rubik's cube. Art. Porn. Focus. Vulnerability. We talk a lot about trust...

A foundational discussion in the philosophy of love with Prof Alex Moseley.Check out the Philosophy of Love encyclopedia article here. Or his other articles.More at What is Love?The three kinds of love we discuss here are eros, agape, and philia. More on this at readings in the philosophy of Love.Here is the website for Alex and his YouTube Channel.Transcript preview:Andrea: [00:00:00] Hey everybody. So glad you're here. Today we're talking to. Professor Alex Mosley. He's a teacher. He's also a coach. He also wrote the encyclopedia entry for love and philosophy. So who better to talk to? We'll link to the internet encyclopedia entry on that in the show notes. So be sure to check it out and. Here we talk about love and we tried to go past traditional boundaries. Both of us were trained in philosophy, both analytic and continental, but both of us also have a--what shall I say--more explorative side as well, when it comes to trying to understand the world. So we just sorta let it all go where it would. We meander and go into all kinds of [00:01:00] different ideas, some of them, which analytic philosophers might not like, but, also some of them which make me uncomfortable, but you know, that's part of the show is just trying to see where we can go and how we can find new ways to look at these things that seem not to go together or seem to make us uncomfortable....

A powerful conversation with facilitator Lisa Fitzhugh about the coherence between our internal and external worlds. Sometimes we focus so much on cultivating our external persona that we are blind to how such striving affects our private, inner world. What does it take to look honestly at both, and to see their coherence?Lisa works with top business and political leaders to build teams that thrive. She also founded one of the most nationally recognized and respected youth arts organizations in Seattle. Read Manager Magazine's recent article about Lisa and another company she co-founded, Creative Ground.Watch Lisa's TedX talk.Lisa was listed as one of Redbook's Mothers and Shakers.Seattle Women wrote a piece on her called Art Becomes Her.Watch the full ArtsCorps Tribute to Lisa that we speak about here.Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn or through her website.More here about her work around the idea of Coherence.Find Lisa's latest inner examination and reckoning here: The Unmaking of Heresy."Longing is the agony of the nearness of the distant." (Martin Heidegger)

A discussion of network science, Curious Minds and Edge-working with Perry Zurn, a philosopher at American University. Perry is building the new field of Curiosity Studies. We discuss his newest book Curious Minds: The Power of Connection, written with his twin Dani Bassett, as well as Curiosity and Power and themes from Curiosity Studies: A new Ecology of Knowledge. "Maybe love and curiosity are not two different contexts."Explore more of Perry's work and papers here.You can also find Perry Zurn on LinkedIn or Twitter.List to Dani and Perry on the Mindscape podcast.Their Google Talk is here.And here are Perry's Google Scholar publications.The paper of Stephen Lyng on Edgework is here.The artist we discuss is Poonam Mistry and can be found here.

The first installment of the research diaries. Watch the video here.More at: https://loveandphilosophy.com/

Watch video here.More at: Love and Philosophy

with philosopher Dr. Alex Moseley. More at: https://loveandphilosophy.com/