Robinson's Podcast

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Slavoj Žižek is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London, visiting professor at New York University, and a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Department of Philosophy. This is Slavoj’s fourth appearance on the show. On episode 109, he and Robinson discussed wokeness and psychoanalysis. On episode 118, he, Sean Carroll, and Robinson discussed quantum physics, the multiverse, and time travel. And on episode 206 he, Lee Smolin, and Robinson discussed quantum physics. In this episode, Robinson and Slavoj talk about ancient philosophy, god, communism, quantum mechanics, and psychoanalysis. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:47 Why Is Philosophy More important Now Than Ever? 11:08 On Socrates and the Importance of Philosophy 19:12 On Excrement, God, and Atheism 27:50 A Communist Paradise 34:18 Ukraine and Marxism 39:24 Philosophy and Quantum Mechanics 47:56 Is Lying the Point of Language? 55:49 Cursing as a Test for Artificial Intelligence 58:25 On Philosophers and Physicists 1:01:50 On Superpositions and Quantum Mechanics 1:09:28 On Analytic and Continental Philosophy  Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Deborah Gordon is Professor of Biology at Stanford University. She is a myrmecologist—an entomologist who studies ants—focusing on how complex behavior emerges from ant colonies, which have no central control. In this episode, Deborah and Robinson discuss some of the distinctive features of ants, how pheromones help to determine their behavior, examples of fascinating ant species, collective ant behavior, and the life cycle of an ant colony. For more of Deborah’s work on collective behavior, check out her book The Ecology of Collective Behavior (Princeton, 2023). The Gordon Lab: https://web.stanford.edu/~dmgordon/ Ants at Work: https://a.co/d/7bpokYU The Ecology of Collective Behavior: https://a.co/d/1bBT1h7 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Ants and Embryology 05:29 General Features of Ants 13:14 Some Fascinating Ant Species 28:20 Pheromones and Ant Behavior 38:17 Ant Slavery 41:30 Collective Ant Behavior 47:04 A Colony’s Life Cycle 59:01 Revisiting Embryology Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Jay Chandrasekhar is a director, writer, stand-up comic, and actor. Some of his works include directing Super Troopers, Beerfest, and Dukes of Hazzard. He has also directed episodes of Arrested Development, Community, and New Girl. Jay also wrote Mustache Shenanigans (2017) and co-hosts the podcast Mustache Tales. In this episode, Robinson and Jay discuss his growth as a writer, the importance of purpose in comedy and film, creative integrity in Hollywood, working on Supertroopers, and his time with Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew. Mustache Tales: https://www.mustachetales.com Mustache Shenanigans: https://a.co/d/8DZscAT Opening Scene of Super Troopers: https://youtu.be/-wdVF_zJS4s?si=goQsJLqLqvBbMyF0 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:58 Jay’s Name Means…What? 5:22 Mustache Shenanigans 7:54 The Importance of Strong Beginnings in Comedy 20:41 The Importance of Purpose in Comedy and Film 24:39 Keeping Creative Integrity in Hollywood 32:20 On Writing a Novel 36:32 How to Have a Good Podcast 41:34 On Working with the Jackass Crew 59:20 Developing the Talent of a Storyteller 1:12:20 Breaking Down the Raiders of the Lost Ark Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the JBI. This is David’s seventh appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. He last appeared on episode 189 with Barry Loewer to talk about the Mentaculus, their joint project on the foundations of statistical mechanics. This is Tim’s sixth appearance on the show. He last appeared on episode 188 with Sheldon Goldstein to discuss Bohmian mechanics. Tim and David last joined Robinson together for episode 67, which gave an overview of the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this episode, Robinson, David, and Tim talk about the measurement problem, the role of philosophy in physics, various thought experiments, like Schrödinger’s cat and Wigner’s friend, and Niels Bohr’s effects both on quantum mechanics and the philosophy of science. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:04 Einstein, Bell, and Pearl on the Measurement Problem 13:00 On “Measurement” in Quantum Mechanics 25:34 What IS the Measurement Problem? 34:42 John Bell on the Measurement Problem 40:32 An Example of the Measurement Problem 43:08 Von Neumann on the Measurement Problem 45:38 Niels Bohr and the Measurement Problem 57:54 Niels Bohr’s Drastic Revision of Physics 1:08:36 Quantum Measurement and the Philosophy of Physics 1:22:52 On Schrodinger’s Cat and Wigner’s Friend 1:38:34 On Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics 1:45:40 The Measurement Problem, Solved? 1:51:04 On the Role of Philosophy in Physics Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Peter Singer is Ira W. DeCamp Professor Emeritus of Bioethics in the Department of Philosophy at Princeton University. He is among the most influential living philosophers, and among the most influential moral philosophers of the last century. Peter is best known for his work in applied ethics on animal welfare and global poverty. In this episode, Robinson and Peter discuss these topics after first introducing his more general views on moral philosophy, including those on utilitarianism and meta-ethics. Throughout their conversation they also touch on Peter’s new podcast, Lives Well Lived, co-hosted with Kasia de Lazari Radek, the Journal of Controversial Ideas, Peter’s Substack, Bold Reasoning with Peter Singer, and his latest and next books, which are respectively The Buddhist and the Ethicist (Shambhala, 2023) and Consider the Turkey (Princeton, 2024). Peter’s Website: https://www.petersinger.info Lives Well Lived Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/6628460c6b51e80012b834c2 The Life You Can Save Organization: https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org.au The Journal of Controversial Ideas: https://journalofcontroversialideas.org Peter’s Substack: https://boldreasoningwithpetersinger.substack.com The Buddhist and the Ethicist: https://a.co/d/38DOmbK Consider the Turkey: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691231686/consider-the-turkey  OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:14 Peter Singer’s Entry into Philosophy 08:54 What Is Utilitarianism? 10:58 On Consequentialism vs Deontology 13:12 On Trolley Problems and Moral Facts 16:40 On Moral Realism and Anti-Realism 20:51 On Hedonistic Utilitarianism 26:17 The Lives Well Lived Podcast 33:43 A Puzzle About Trolley Problems 38:48 On the Origin of Peter Singer’s Concern for Animals 49:38 Is It Ever Morally Permissible to Eat Meat? 55:32 Consider the Turkey 1:03:07 Famine, Affluence, and Morality 1:09:08 The Life You Can Save 1:10:50 The Buddhist and the Ethicist 1:18:08 The Journal of Controversial Ideas 1:25:50 Peter’s Substack Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Victor Davis Hanson is a renowned classicist, military historian, and political commentator. He is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Among numerous other awards, Victor was presented the National Humanities Medal in 2007. In this episode, Robinson and Victor discuss his latest book, The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation (Basic Book, 2024), which was released on May 7th. More particularly, they cover the historical connection between annihilation and genocide, how we should interpret the past through today’s moral standards, genocides in the present, and the likelihood of World War III. Victor appeared as a guest on episode #112, in which he and Robinson talked about what was at the time Victor’s latest book, The Dying Citizen. He was also a guest on episode #191, which covered Victor’s views on the current crisis in Israel and Palestine. Keep up with Victor on Twitter, through his website, and on his podcast, The Victor Davis Hanson Show.  Victor’s Website: https://victorhanson.com Victor’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/VDHanson The Victor Davis Hanson Show: https://art19.com/shows/the-victor-davis-hanson-show  The Dying Citizen: https://a.co/d/dPocUJg The End of Everything: https://a.co/d/46O0mMB OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:41 On Annihilation, Extinction, and Genocide 09:31 What Causes Genocide? 16:38 The Applicability of Military Strategy to Everyday Life 24:00 On Alexander the Great 36:26 Should We Judge the People of the Past by the Moral Standards of the Present? 44:29 Uyghurs, Jews, and Genocides of the Present 50:45 What Are the Biggest Existential Threats to America? 59:28 Is World War III on the Horizon? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is also the host of Sean Carroll’s Mindscape, a podcast about science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas. This is Sean’s fourth appearance on the show. He appeared with David Albert of Columbia University on episode 106, which covers the Many-Worlds theory of quantum mechanics, Boltzmann Brains, and the fine-tuned universe. He was also on episode 118 with Slavoj Žižek on quantum physics, the multiverse, time travel, and a whole lot more, and then episode 200 with Daniel Dennett and Steven Pinker on AI, parapsychology, and consciousness. This episode is coming out in advance of Sean’s next book, Quanta and Fields: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe (Penguin, 2024), which will be released on May 14, 2024. Sean and Robinson discuss many of the topics and themes of Quanta and Fields, including the books’ namesake subjects, as well as more decides, like scientific realism, free will, the simulation hypothesis, and the end of physics. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics—which you absolutely should be—then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Sean’s Website: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com Sean’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcarroll Quanta and Fields (The Biggest Ideas in the Universe): https://a.co/d/gfMDLQo The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 5:00 The Biggest Ideas in the Universe 9:38 Do Physicists Understand Physics? 15:51 What Is the Role of Philosophers in Physics? 18:24 The Measurement Problem and Quantum Field Theory 20:24 Scientific Realism and the Standard Model of Particle Physics 25:11 What Is the Wave Function? 34:46 What Is Quantum Field Theory? 37:45 What Is the Fundamental Layer of Reality? 41:01 What Is the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 45:42 What Are the Fundamental Objects in the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 47:39 How Do We Test the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 49:38 What Are the Weaknesses of the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 54:41 Will We Ever Find a Theory of Everything? 56:19 Is String Theory the Final Theory of Physics? 58:14 String theory and the Fine-Tuning Problem 01:00:18 Is Quantum Gravity the End of Progress in Physics? 01:06:12 What is Philosophical Naturalism? 01:08:05 On Naturalized Epistemology 01:10:24 On the Philosophy of Mathematics 01:19:08 On Naturalizing Morality 01:22:33 The Myths of Quantum Entanglement 01:29:53 Is There Only One Electron? 01:34:09 Are Atoms Mostly Empty Space? 01:36:51 Are We Living in a Simulation? 01:39:58 Is Infinity a Problem for Quantum Mechanics?  01:41:59 The Mysteries of Quantum Mechanics Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Slavoj Žižek is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London and a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Department of Philosophy. He was also the guest for episodes 109—on psychoanalysis, wokeness, racism, and a hundred other topics—and 118, where he appeared with Sean Carroll to discuss quantum physics, the multiverse, and time travel. Lee Smolin is a founding and senior faculty member at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the author of a number of bestselling books, including The Trouble with Physics (Mariner, 2006). He was the guest for episode 148, in which he and Robinson discussed presentism, the foundations of mathematics, and the philosophy of quantum mechanics. In this episode, Robinson, Slavoj, and Lee discuss time, space, superposition, and other concepts at the core of physics, as well as postmodernism, the big bang, problems with democracy, and much more. Lee is also an Honorary Fellow of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics—which you absolutely should be—then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Lee’s Website: ⁠http://leesmolin.com⁠ The Trouble with Physics: https://a.co/d/eJZPWaE OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 06:26 Breaking the Copenhagen Interpretation 11:55 On Sabine Hossenfelder  21:11 On Monads, Atoms, and Democritus 30:18 Is the World a Game of Physics? 38:46 On the Big Bang 45:26 On European Immigration and Populism 53:09 A Few Jokes Robinson’s Website: ⁠http://robinsonerhardt.com⁠ Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Nick Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher who was most recently Professor at Oxford University, where he served as the founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute. He is best known for his book Superintelligence (Oxford, 2014), which covers the dangers of artificial intelligence. In this episode, Robinson and Nick discuss his more recent book, Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World (Ideapress, 2024). More particularly, they discuss the alignment problem with artificial intelligence, the problem of utopia, how artificial intelligence—if it doesn’t make our world horrible—could make it wonderful, the future of technology, and how humans might adjust to a life without work. Nick’s Website: https://nickbostrom.com Deep Utopia: https://a.co/d/b8eHuhQ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:50 From AI Dystopia to AI Utopia  9:15 On Superintelligence and the Alignment Problem 17:48 The Problem of Utopia 21:14 What Are the Different Types of Utopia? 28:04 AI and the Purpose of Mathematics 38:59 What Technologies Can We Expect in an AI Utopia? 43:59 Philosophical Problems with Immortality 55:14 Are There Advanced Alien Civilizations Out There? 59:54 Why Don’t We Live in Utopia? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Philip Goff is a professor of philosophy at Durham University in the United Kingdom, where he researches consciousness and the philosophy of mind. He is the best known proponent of a view about consciousness known as panpsychism, which takes mentality to be fundamental in the world rather than something that either emerges out of complex structures or exists parallel to physical objects (as an immaterial property of things like souls). In this episode, Robinson and Philip discuss the major camps in the debate over consciousness, including physicalism, dualism, and panpsychism, touching on both their strengths and weaknesses. They then turn to a few questions raised in Philip’s most recent book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe (Oxford, 2023), in which he seeks to find a middle ground between atheism and deism. Why? The Purpose of the Universe: https://a.co/d/2cqj5Us Philip’s Website: https://philipgoffphilosophy.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:41 Philip’s Interest in Consciousness 8:11 What Is Consciousness? 14:36 Is Consciousness a Spectrum?  19:42 On Dualism About Consciousness 31:37 On Physicalism and the Mind 46:56 What Is Panpsychism? 53:27 The Best Arguments for Panpsychism 57:11 Panpsychism and the Combination Problem 1:02:20 On Panpsychism and Parapsychology 1:07:06 On Panpsychism and Free Will 1:13:04 On the Fine-Tuning Problem Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Vijay Prashad is a historian and journalist. He obtained his PhD in history at the University of Chicago and was most recently the George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Vijay is a Marxist, and much of his work and writing has been devoted to critiques of capitalism and colonialism, and this notably includes research on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East. In this episode, Robinson and Vijay discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict as a problem of anti-semitism and colonialism, and touch on various other dimensions of the issue, such as how the war might end, Noam Chomsky’s contributions to the discussion, and the legitimacy of Palestine. Tricontinental: https://thetricontinental.org/institutes/ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:20 Human Rights and the Crisis in Palestine 10:50 Decolonizing Palestine and the Problem of European Antisemitism 19:33 Is Israel a European Colonialist Enterprise? 31:06 Is Palestine a Legitimate Nation?  43:14 On Noam Chomsky and a One-State Solution to Israel-Palestine 53:26 Communism, Israel-Palestine, and Dreams of Utopia 59:46 Is There a Practical Solution to the War in Gaza? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Jeffrey Sachs is University Professor at Columbia University, where he serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development. Before that, he taught at Harvard University for twenty years. Jeff is the author of numerous books, including three New York Times bestsellers. His latest is The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (Columbia, 2020). In addition to his work as an economist on the cutting edge of sustainable development—including research on changes related to extreme poverty, climate change, and other national economic reforms—Jeff is an authority on geopolitics and international relations, with particular expertise on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and other currently contentious areas. In this episode, Jeff and Robinson discuss practical solutions to the war in Gaza, the geopolitics surrounding the conflict in Israel and Palestine, allegations of anti-semitism in American universities, the assassination of JFK, and the truth behind conspiracy theories. The Ages of Globalization: https://a.co/d/34yO8HB Jeff’s Website: https://www.jeffsachs.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:48 Was October 7th Justifiable? 05:35 Can the UN End the War in Palestine? 09:31 Is Israel an Apartheid State? 11:28 Is Israel Committing Genocide? 17:50 Is a Two-State Solution Right for Israel and Palestine? 21:14 What Is the Pathway to Ending the War in Gaza? 26:06 Did the CIA Assassinate JFK? 28:12 On the Legitimacy of Conspiracy Theories 32:59 Key Israeli and Palestinian Players for the War in Gaza 42:01 Biden, Putin, Xi Jinping, and the War in Israel 46:39 On Anti-Semitism in American Universities Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Benny Morris is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Middle East Studies at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. He is among the most respected and influential historians on Israel and Palestine. Benny is perhaps best known for his work on the 1947-1948 civil war in Palestine and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and for his book The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem, 1947-1948 (Cambridge, 1989). In this episode, Robinson and Benny discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict from a historical perspective, touching on the origin of the refugee crisis, the origin and justification of Israel, the legitimacy of Israeli military tactics, whether genocide is occurring in Palestine, whether Israel is an apartheid state, and more. The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem: https://a.co/d/9pN2W7v OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 3:45 Muscular Judaism and the New Jew 8:53 The Nakba and the Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Crisis 16:18 How Many Palestinians Were Driven from Palestine? 22:32 Was Palestine Occupied Before the Establishment of Israel? 26:24 Did Zionists Invade Occupied Palestine 33:27 Was the Founding of Israel Justified? 39:49 Does Israel Have the Right to Exist? 43:56 Is Egypt Responsible for the Crisis in Gaza? 48:42 On Norman Finkelstein, Concentration Camps, and Hamas Rockets 51:48 Israel, Palestine, and Propaganda 54:09 On the Legitimacy of Palestinian and Arab Historians  58:08 Does Israel Warn Palestinians Before Bombings? 1:00:59 Is Israel Committing Genocide Against Palestinians? 1:03:18 Is Israel an Apartheid State?  Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is also host of Sean Carroll’s Mindscape, a terrific show (that influenced the birth of Robinson’s Podcast) about science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas. Daniel Dennett is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Tufts University, where he was co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy. He is one of the most recognized philosophers today, and has made major contributions to the philosophy of mind and biology, among other areas, and is known as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism. Steven Pinker is Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He is an experimental cognitive psychologist, prominent public intellectual, and best-selling author who writes on language, mind, and human nature. This is Sean’s third appearance on the show. He was one of the guests—along with David Albert of Columbia University—on episode 106, which covers the Many-Worlds theory of quantum mechanics, entropy and Boltzmann Brains, and the fine-tuned universe. He was also on episode 118 with Slavoj Žižek on quantum physics, the multiverse, time travel, and a whole lot more. This is Dan’s second appearance on the show, as on episode 194 he and Robinson spoke about consciousness, free will, and the evolution of minds. Finally, Steve is returning for another centennial episode, as he and Robinson discussed rationality, enlightenment, and free speech on episode 100. But in this episode of Robinson’s Podcast (the two hundredth!), Sean, Dan, Steve, and Robinson discuss artificial intelligence, large language models, and whether or not they threaten democracy or even civilization itself, parapsychology and the laws of physics, panpsychism and consciousness, some of the philosophical lessons of Darwinian thought, and the relationship between science and philosophy. Dan’s latest book is I’ve Been Thinking (W. W. Norton, 2023), Steve’s latest book is Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters (Penguin, 2022), and Sean’s next book, Quanta and Fields: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe (Penguin, 2024), will be coming out on May 14, 2024.  Sean’s Website: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com Sean’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcarroll Quanta and Fields (The Biggest Ideas in the Universe): https://a.co/d/gfMDLQo Sean’s Paper on QFT and Supervenience: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2101.07884.pdf I’ve Been Thinking: https://a.co/d/ahMEC0G Steven’s Website: https://stevenpinker.com Steven’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/sapinker Rationality: https://a.co/d/9N2uFyr Robinson’s Podcast #106 - David Albert & Sean Carroll: Quantum Theory, Boltzmann Brains, & The Fine-Tuned Universe: https://youtu.be/U6ZtmGIhIhU Robinson’s Podcast #118 - Slavoj Žižek & Sean Carroll: Quantum Physics, the Multiverse, and Time Travel Robinson’s Podcast #194 - Daniel Dennett: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Evolution of Minds: https://youtu.be/9bZcBh0qtKo OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:59 Introduction 6:11 Will Large Language Models End Civilization? 13:42 Are Large Language Models a Threat to Democracy? 22:53 Could AI Destroy the Job Market?  28:14 On Parapsychology and the Violation of Physics 40:23 The Parable of the Bathtub 01:03:45 Physical Causation and the Law of Sufficient Reason 01:09:23 On Emergence and Real Patterns 01:14:48 Is Consciousness an Illusion? 01:27:13 The Darwinian Lesson 01:31:50 Does Physics Show that the Universe is Conscious? 1:44:36 What is Philosophy? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Lawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist who has taught at Yale, Arizona State University, and Case Western, and is the founder of ASU’s Origins Project. He is a prominent public intellectual and best-selling author, and has written about the origins of the universe, atheism, and many other topics. He is also the host of the Origins Podcast. In this episode, Robinson and Lawrence have a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of physics—and whether or not there is a crisis—the potential shortcomings of string theory, whether or not the world is a hologram, arguments for the existence of god, and the role of science in ethics. Lawrence’s most recent book is The Edge of Knowledge (Post Hill Press, 2023). Lawrence’s Website: https://lawrencemkrauss.com The Edge of Knowledge: https://a.co/d/6tIrJzy OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:04 Theory versus Experiment 10:13 Is There a Crisis in Physics?  22:43 On the State of Quantum Gravity 25:40 What’s Wrong with String Theory? 40:58 Cormac McCarthy 50:22 Is the World a Hologram? 1:02:14 God and the Fine-Tuned Universe 1:19:33 Does Science Help Us with Morality? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. Michael was also a guest on episode 180, where he and Robinson discussed neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, and the rentier economy. In this episode we continue the discussion, focusing on his book Killing the Host (ISLET, 2015). More particularly, they discuss the rhythm of debt and economic crashes, the role of history in the study of economics, the history of debt cancellation, Marxism, economic parasites, and how to heal ailing economies. Michael’s most recent book is The Collapse of Antiquity (ISLET, 2023). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com The Collapse of Antiquity: https://a.co/d/0TMt9Sh Killing the Host: https://a.co/d/fG2wD19 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:29 The Rhythm of Debt and Economic Crashes 8:27 The Role of History in Economic Thought 17:09 The Fascinating History of Debt Cancellation  25:52 Aristotle, Plato, and The Cancellation of Debt 31:49 Ancient Greece and the Cancellation of Debt 41:10 The Problems with Today’s Neoliberal Economics 45:29 On Karl Marx and Marxism 47:21 The Lord’s Prayer, Christianity, and Debt Cancellation 56:34 FIRE and Economic Parasites 1:07:13 How Does Wall Street Parasitize the Government? 1:09:57 Are We Hosts for Economic Parasites? 1:19:32 What’s Wrong With Austerity Measures for Economic Crashes? 1:21:39 Preventing Economic Parasites from Sucking the Country Dry Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Martha Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, with appointments in the Department of Philosophy and the Law School. Martha is among the most recognized philosophers today. Over the course of her career, she has made numerous major contributions to ancient philosophy, ethics, political philosophy, the philosophy of law, and other areas. Martha’s most recent book is Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility (Simon & Schuster, 2023). In this episode, Robinson and Martha discuss some of her contributions to animal ethics both in philosophy and law. More particularly, they touch on philosophical conceptions of justice, various approaches to animal ethics—such as utilitarianism and Kantianism—the Capabilities Approach to freedom and justice, and how people ought to think about eating meat. Justice for Animals: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JPHCKLJ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:08 Martha’s Interest in Justice for Animals 8:15 Justice and Flourishing Lives 16:31 Recognizing Injustice for Animals 29:54 What Is the Scala Naturae? 42:28 Utilitarianism 52:28 The Capabilities Approach  1:15:39 Is Meat-Eating Ever Ethical? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Stephen Wolfram is the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research, and the creator of Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha, and the Wolfram Language. He received his PhD in theoretical physics from Caltech when he was twenty years old. In addition to his work at the helm of Wolfram Research, he writes and researches widely across computer science, physics, mathematics, and more. This is Stephen’s second appearance on the show. In episode 102, he and Robinson discussed artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and the philosophy of math. In this episode, however, they turn to the Ruliad—the entangled limited of computability—and Stephen’s search for the fundamental theory of physics. Along the way, they talk about the philosophy of science, abstract and concrete objects, and quantum mechanics. A Project to Find the Fundamental Theory of Physics: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0917YZDNF?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Z7EPANZC9JVQR0HP2E1D The Concept of the Ruliad: https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2021/11/the-concept-of-the-ruliad/#:~:text=November%2010%2C%202021-,The%20Entangled%20Limit%20of%20Everything,arisen%20from%20our%20Physics%20Project. Stephen’s Website: https://www.stephenwolfram.com Stephen’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephen_wolfram Wolfram Research on YouTube: https://a.co/d/aADrGGh OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:44 How Did Stephen Wolfram Discover the Ruliad?  34:22 The Axiomatic Revolution in Physics  46:37 Is the Ruliad a Theory or an Object?  1:10:01 How Big is the Space of Alien Minds?  1:18:25 Is the Universe an Abstract Object?  1:31:43 What Is Quantum Mechanics?  Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Brian Keating is the Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at the Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences at UC San Diego, host of the Into the Impossible Podcast, an expert on the cosmic microwave background, and the author of a number of books.  Robinson and Brian discuss the expansion and inflation of the universe, the relationship between theory and experiment in cosmology, gravitational waves, Brian’s brainchild the BICEP experiment, and a lot more. Brian’s most recent book is Into the Impossible (2021), which is a distillation of many of his conversations with Nobel Laureates and other brilliant thinkers. Brian’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  Into the Impossible Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/into-the-impossible  Brian’s Mailing List: briankeating.com/list OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 01:02 Introduction 03:30 Brian the Builder 10:59 The Theory of Cosmological Expansion? 27:08 The Origins of Inflation 34:15 On Theory and Experiment in Astrophysics 44:27 On Gravitational Waves and Inflation 1:01:40 BICEP Tech Specs 1:14:54 What Did BICEP Find? 1:29:26 The Simons Array 1:32:50 On Eric Weinstein’s Theory of Everything Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Daniel Dennett is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Tufts University, where he was co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy. He is one of the most recognized philosophers today, and has made major contributions to the philosophy of mind and biology, among other areas, and is known as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism. Dan’s latest book is I’ve Been Thinking (W. W. Norton, 2023), though much of what he and Robinson discuss comes from his earlier book, From Bacteria to Bach and Back (W. W. Norton, 2017). More particularly, they talk about the origin of life and reasons, the evolution of music, Robert Sapolsky and free will, famous thought experiments in the philosophy of mind, the origin of consciousness, and the relationship between mind and language. I’ve Been Thinking: https://a.co/d/ahMEC0G From Bacteria to Bach and Back: https://a.co/d/htcrcn7 OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:54 Introduction 3:51 Where Am I?  11:00 The Origin of Life as the Origin of Reasons  16:42 On Music and Philosophy 23:13 Is Music Evolved? 26:52 What are Replicators and How Do they Figure in Natural Selection? 33:32 On Robert Sapolsky and Free Will 47:50 On Free Will and the Justice System 59:55 On Sean Carroll, Free Will, and Intuition Pumps 1:09:49 On the Chinese Room 1:13:14 On Mary in the White Room 1:18:18 Why Would Aliens Be Excited to Discover Clam Rakes?  1:21:58 What Is Homuncular Functionalism? 1:30:11 How Do Brains Make Minds? 1:38:59 Are There Pathological Memes?  1:47:19 Where Does Consciousness Come From? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support