Robinson's Podcast

Janna Levin is the Claire Tow Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. She is also the Chair and Founding Director of the Science Studios at Pioneer Works. In this episode, Robinson and Janna talk all about black holes and how to survive them. More particularly, they discuss how black holes were discovered both theoretically and empirically, common misconceptions about black holes, their role in theories of quantum gravity, and how they do and will contribute to both the life and death of the universe. If you’d like to learn more about black holes, read Janna’s latest book, Black Hole Survival Guide (Anchor, 2022). Janna’s Website: https://jannalevin.com Black Hole Survival Guide: https://a.co/d/biGGqZc Pioneer Works: https://pioneerworks.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 06:10 The Original Theory of Black Holes 14:45 Is There Gravity in Space? 20:40 Just What IS a Black Hole? 38:47 Why Physicists Resisted the Possibility of Black Holes 50:44 What’s at the Center of a Black Hole? 55:34 What Happens When Something Falls into a Black Hole? 1:03:23 Is Leonard Susskind a Genius Physicist? 1:12:07 What Is the Fine-Tuning Problem? 1:17:52 How Close Can You Get to a Black Hole and Still Survive? 1:25:10 Why Are Black Holes Perfect Objects? 1:32:12 How Do Black Holes Form? 1:41:31 What Will Happen to the Sun When It Dies? 1:50:38 Black Holes, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe 1:54:45 The Heat Death of the Universe 1:59:18 Pioneer Works Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

This episode came on the heels of a traumatic, eight-interview sprint in NYC. As you’ll see, this one was particularly chaotic, but the stars aligned to make it happen. Camera switches, bathroom breaks, health concerns, equipment malfunctions, and even a robbery didn’t prevent the conversation from coming together. With this in mind, I hope you’ll forgive how crazy and inconsistent the video is; the fact that it even got put together is courtesy of my friend and editor Yu Guo (a philosopher who got his PhD from NYU with past guest Paul Boghossian). Given that there’s some new intro music, and you’re already getting an abundance of distracting production nuggets, I decided to show the soup being made. My thanks go to Richard, who met with me twice in three days (not to mention his wife, who allowed it), and Michael, who put up with me for over four hours. - Robinson P.S. Toward the end of the episode Michael eats a jerky stick from Maui Nui Venison, which is a company operating out of Hawaii that manages the invasive deer population of Maui that is decimating the landscape. Instead of culling the animals and disposing of their bodies, the meat is butchered and sold. It is the only meat I eat, full-stop, and the ethical reasons are sufficient for this, but it is also the best meat that I have ever had. I reached out to Maui Nui and told them that I support what they are doing and would like to be of any help that I can. They gave me this coupon code—ROBINSON—which you can use for 15% off. I am not being paid for this in any way. I believe in what they are doing and I want this model to succeed. People are going to be eating meat for the foreseeable future and I would be happier if it was not factory-farmed meat. So please check Maui Nui out and give them a try! Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. 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. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Michael and Rick's Histories with Marx 16:50 A Marxless Education 29:42 Marxism and the West 35:18 Marx and the Emergence of Capitalism 43:59 Socialism Vs State Capitalism 49:21 The Culmination of Economics in Marx 57:16 The Crucial Features of Marxism 1:12:15 Marx, China, and the BRICS 1:25:57 The Laws of Motion of Finance Capitalism 1:28:58 Why Won't Mainstream Media Interview Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff? 1:42:16 Why is the American Empire Crumbling? 1:54:51 Is the Dollar Destroying the United States? 2:01:38 Marx as the Culmination of Classical Economics 2:10:19 Will Trump's China Tariff Policy Spell Disaster for America? 2:22:43 Is Trump's Policy on Russia Idiotic? 2:27:23 Does It Matter for America Who Wins the Election? 2:37:13 Michael's Rhetorical Abilities 2:43:54 How Can We Use Economics to Forecast the Future? 2:54:48 Does Paul Krugman Know Anything About Economics? 2:57:57 How Michael Got His PhD 3:04:59 What's Wrong With the Nobel Prize in Economics? 3:10:04 The Long and Short of Marx's Kapital 3:17:20 Capitalism and Labor 3:31:51 The Biggest Myth About Karl Marx --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Judith Butler is Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School and formerly the Maxine Elliot Chair in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Program of Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley. In this episode, Robinson and Judith discuss three broad topics. First, they talk about Judith’s latest book, Who’s Afraid of Gender? (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024). In particular, they touch on the dynamics of sex and gender, as well as their political dimensions. Second, the conversation turns to the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Finally, they broach the topic of Israel and Palestine, with particular attention to the questions of genocide and anti-semitism. Who’s Afraid of Gender?: https://a.co/d/beDcQ1S OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Judith’s Introduction to Philosophy and Gender Studies 11:00 Who’s Afraid of Gender? 22:11 On Trans and Intersex Olympics Controversies 26:09 Is the Man/Woman Binary a Fantasy? 35:17 Are Putin and Orban Transphobic? 41:49 How to Change One’s Gender 47:25 Language and Gender 52:16 On Psychoanalysis 58:49 On Gender Issues and the 2024 Election 1:04:30 On Trump 2024 1:06:14 On Harris 2024 1:10:39 Is Anti-Zionism Anti-Semitism? 1:18:51 Is Gaza a Concentration Camp? 1:20:49 How Will the War in Israel and Palestine End? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Sir Niall Ferguson is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, where he served for twelve years as the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History. In this episode, Robinson and Niall discuss three of the biggest conflicts currently gripping the news—the election in the United States and the two wars between Israel and Hamas on the one hand, and Russia and Ukraine on the other. Undergirding the entire discussion is the question of whether the United States is an empire, whether it is failing, and what the world needs America to be. Niall's most recent book is Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe (Penguin, 2021). Niall's Website: https://www.niallferguson.com Doom: https://a.co/d/eWAx65C OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Niall's Take as a Scottish Historian 05:20 Is the United States an Empire? 12:49 What Does the World Need the United States to Be? 19:47 Is Trump or Harris Better for the Russia-Ukraine War? 26:35 Is Trump Too Dangerous to Have the Nuclear Launch Codes? 29:54 How Terrible Was Biden's Withdrawal from Afghanistan? 34:22 Is the United States on the Precipice of Self-Destruction? 41:08 Will Donald Trump Actually Help the Suffering Poor of America? 46:23 Will Niall Ferguson Vote For Donald Trump? 50:31 The Dangers of American Politics 54:55 The Right Versus the Left on the Wars in Ukraine and Israel 1:00:07 How Has the Media Fed the Israel-Hamas War in Palestine? 1:06:35 Is Benjamin Netanyahu a Satanic Figure? 1:11:19 Is Israel Committing a new Holocaust—Genocide—in Palestine? 1:17:21 Trump, Harris, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine: Do They Even Matter? Robinson's Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

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 the 2024 presidential election. More particularly, they review some of the main arguments for and against electing Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. This includes their records, domestic and foreign policies, recent assassination attempts, and more. Victor also 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. Most recently, on episode #208, they spoke about Victor’s most recent book, The End of Everything. 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 End of Everything: https://a.co/d/46O0mMB The Case for Trump: https://a.co/d/8Bf0OdC OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:56 Why Is The 2024 Election So Important? 10:18 Is Trump Innocent of All Charges? 20:19 Is Trump a Unique Election Denier? 27:30 On the Trump Assassination Attempts and Anti-Trump Conspiracy Theories 35:21 The Best Reasons to Have Voted for Joe Biden 44:44 Will Kamala Harris Bring a New Radical Agenda to the White House? 48:49 Why You Shouldn’t Vote for Kamala Harris 55:51 The Case for Trump 1:01:50 On Hillsdale College 1:07:52 On Hard Political Discussions in Hard Times 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s fifth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #127, he and Robinson discussed some of the most profound criticisms of capitalism; in #154, they focused on the myths surrounding Marxism and Marx himself; in #190 they covered the Israel-Palestine conflict from a Marxist perspective; and in #222 they assess the end of the American Empire. In this episode, Richard and Robinson talk about the 2024 election. More particularly, they discuss the irrelevance of Donald Trump, both candidates’ economic policies, the Biden administration’s track record, Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, the promise of Kamala Harris, immigration, and the future of the United States. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024). Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism Class Theory and History (Book): https://a.co/d/ht4trZN Understanding the 2024 Elections (Article): https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/capitalism-mass-anger-and-2024-elections/ Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Is it Possible to Predict the Future? 07:51 The Irrelevance of Donald Trump 12:15 The United States vs The Savages 15:41 Does the Government Even Matter? 18:26 On Young Frankenstein and the Declining American Empire 20:49 On Richard’s Astounding Rhetorical Abilities 29:40 What Makes Donald Trump Great? 37:38 Was Trump Good for the Economy? 40:52 Did Trump Win the Economic War Against China? 43:46 Were Trump’s Tax Cuts Disastrous for Americans? 50:00 Why Won’t Trump Just Go Away? 52:29 Is Ukraine Doomed to Lose the Russian War? 54:26 On Private Versus State Capitalism (Or, American vs Russia) 1:00:21 Who Will be Left When America Crumbles? 1:05:04 How Can We Sum Up Biden’s Presidency? 1:13:14 What on Earth Should We Make of Kamala Harris 1:23:24 Donald Trump Versus Marxism 1:29:30 The Republican and Democratic War on Immigrants 1:37:38 Trump Vs Harris on Economics | Who Wins? 1:43:44 Trump Vs Harris on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, & Palestine 1:50:37 Trump, Harris, and the War on Data 1:55:10 On Richard Wolff, the Man, and Donald Trump 1:57:43 Will Trump or Harris Win 2024? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 Some speakers, like Norman (https://youtu.be/vhFm62msNGc), are whip-smart and all I can do is ask a question before letting them take me along for the ride. Others are just as sharp, but the interview is an entirely different experience. I feel silly being this dramatic, so forgive me; it just seems that what follows is the proper extended metaphor to describe our conversation. Rashid crackles with energy when he talks, just as if he were a fighter. Even if he’s not using his fists, his cadence is like a boxer’s and I had to roll with the punches. This was another great one, and as usual I bear very little responsibility beyond sticking it out in the ring. I’m going to resist the urge to make any more boxing comments and instead finish with this: Thanks for listening. - Robinson P.S. In a number of recent episodes I’ve mentioned Maui Nui Venison, which is a company operating out of Hawaii that manages the invasive deer population of Maui that is decimating the landscape. Instead of culling the animals and disposing of their bodies, the meat is butchered and sold. It is the only meat I eat, full-stop, and the ethical reasons are sufficient for this, but it is also the best meat that I have ever eaten. I reached out to Maui Nui and told them that I support what they are doing and would like to be of any help that I can. They gave me this coupon code—ROBINSON—which you can use for 20% off. I am not being paid for this in any way. I believe in what they are doing and I want this model to succeed. People are going to be eating meat for the foreseeable future and I would be happier if it was not factory-farmed meat. So please check Maui Nui out and give them a try! --- Rashid Khalidi is the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. He was editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies, President of the Middle East Studies Association, and an advisor to the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid and Washington Arab-Israeli peace negotiations from October 1992 until June 1993. In this episode, Rashid and Robinson discuss the history that culminated in October 7th, 2023, what has happened since then, and what might happen in the future. More particularly, they talk about Zionism, the Nakba, how Gaza was created, the war between Israel and Hamas, Egypt’s role in the crisis, the question of genocide, and the future of Palestine. Rashid’s most recent book is The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine (Metropolitan Books, 2021). The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: https://a.co/d/7Mrwuz9 The Neck and the Sword: https://shorturl.at/N7HRo A New Abyss (The Guardian Long Read): https://shorturl.at/oVn5j OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:07 On His Palestinian Ancestors’ Battle Against Zionism 04:04 Is the Israel-Hamas War an American War? 06:04 How Far Back Must We Go to Understand October 7th? 07:33 The Nakba Versus the Bible 12:42 The Zionist Propaganda War 15:40 Is the War Between Israel and Hamas Fought in the Media? 18:52 Is All Zionist History Propaganda? 22:12 How Did the Nakba Create Gaza? 27:16 How Rashid’s Family Was Scattered by the Nakba 28:45 Has Gaza Become a Concentration Camp? 33:10 Did Hamas Cause the Apocalyptic Blockade on Gaza? 38:04 Did the Election of Hamas Further Doom Gaza? 40:21 Is Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza? 45:17 Were the War Crimes of October 7th Justified? 46:52 Can Israel’s War Crimes Against Gaza Be Justified? 48:48 Can Israel Destroy Hamas? 51:30 Is Egypt Responsible for the Gaza Crisis? 53:30 Who Are the Biggest Players in the Israel-Hamas War? 54:30 Is the Israel-Hamas War Just Beginning? 01:00:07 How Soon Will Israel Conquer Gaza? 01:05:19 Rashid’s Hope for the Future of Israel and Palestine Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his research on Israel and Palestine. In this episode, Norman and Robinson sit down for a discussion centered around the anniversary of October 7th, and they speak about the immensity of what has happened in the Israel-Palestine region in the time before and since. Norman also appeared on episode 192, where he and Robinson discussed allegations of genocide and apartheid, Hamas and Hezbollah, and connections between the war and the Holocaust. Norman was also featured on episode 218, where he addressed the facts and fictions generated by the Israel-Hamas War. Norman’s most recent book is I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom (Sublation Media, 2023). Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:44 Why Norman Couldn’t Have Predicted October 7th 00:04:45 Gaza’s Last Victim 00:07:55 Is the Palestine Question Dead? 00:11:13 What Hamas in Gaza and American Slave Rebellions Have in Common 00:17:22 How the Nakba Created Gaza in 1948 00:21:21 Is Gaza a Concentration Camp? 00:25:20 High-Tech Israeli Killing Sprees in Gaza 00:29:23 The Butcher of Beirut & The Sabra and Shatila Massacre 00:31:20 On the First Intifada and the Silencing of Gaza 00:37:11 On Hassan Nasrallah, Leader of Hezbollah 00:41:59 How Israel Will Destroy Hezbollah 00:42:35 Israel Vs The Party of God 00:45:32 On the Courage of Dying for a Cause 00:48:24 On His Time with Hezbollah and Nasrallah 00:52:41 Noam Chomsky on Hezbollah’s Threat to Israel 00:56:30 On Nasrallah’s Prophetic Speech Before His Assassination 01:02:10 On Martin Luther King Jr’s Final Words 01:04:35 On Nasrallah and the Assassination of Pro-Palestine Leaders 01:07:08 The Parallel Between American Slaves and Gazan Palestinians 01:12:37 Will the Gazans Be Emancipated like American Blacks from Slavery? 01:19:16 Norman’s Big Question for Noam Chomsky 01:21:26 The Question of Gaza as a Concentration Camp 01:23:03 The Crushing Toll of the Holocaust on Norman 01:32:08 On His Mother, Piers Morgan, and Gaza as a Holocaust 01:34:14 On the Rise of Hamas 01:38:49 On Hamas, Nasrallah, and the Sealed Fate of Gaza 01:41:36 Does Israel Have the Right to Commit Genocide? 01:45:48 Does Israel Intentionally Murder Innocent Civilians? 01:50:10 Just How Brutal Are Israel’s High Tech Military Operations? 01:54:09 On Gandhi’s Meditations in Jail 01:56:07 Does Israel Go on Killing Sprees in Palestine? 01:58:43 Are the Leaders of Hamas Rich Billionaires? 02:04:43 Comparing Gaza and the Warsaw Ghetto 02:09:33 The Absurdity of Gaza’s Economy 02:15:11 What Was Hamas’s Intentions on October 7th? 02:18:14 Did Hamas Commit Sexual Violence Against Israelis on October 7th? 02:24:07 On Israel’s Violent Revenge Against Hamas 02:26:50 Has Israel Restored Its Fearsome Reputation in the Middle East? 02:30:34 Has Israel Exterminated Gaza? 02:36:31 The Bottom Line on Israel and the Desolation of Gaza 02:39:39 Will There Be a Ceasefire in Gaza? 02:43:58 Why Does Israel Always Win? 02:52:40 On Philosophy, Chattel Slavery, and Justice in Palestine 02:58:02 On Justice and Norman Finkelstein’s Purpose in Life 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University who works on synesthesia, brain plasticity, and sensory substitution, among other topics. He is also a bestselling author, the host of the Inner Cosmos podcast, and writer and presenter of the international PBS series The Brain with David Eagleman. In this episode, Robinson and David discuss brain plasticity and its optimization, the neuroscience of language-learning, consciousness and animal minds, synesthesia, sensory substitution, artificial intelligence, conspiracy theories, and more. David’s most recent book is Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain (Vintage, 2021).  David’s Website: https://eagleman.com Livewired: https://a.co/d/67w3TQ3 Inner Cosmos: https://eagleman.com/podcast/ OUTLINE 00:00:53 David’s Interest in the Mind 00:02:52 Solving A Problem of Kant with Modern Neuroscience 00:06:08 On Brain Plasticity and How to Maximize It 00:15:23 Do Children Really Learn Languages Faster than Adults? 00:19:46 Using Neuroscience to Maximize Weight Loss and Improve Diet Outcomes 00:22:09 Was Helen Keller Conscious? 00:24:14 Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Figured Out Consciousness 00:28:32 What Really Is Synesthesia? 00:36:44 On Animal Consciousness and Eating Meat 00:42:56 What Is Intelligence? 00:45:52 What Is the Intelligence Echo Illusion? 00:52:02 Will ChatGPT Surpass Our Greatest Thinkers? 00:55:50 Do We Need to Replace the Turing Test? 01:05:57 Inner Cosmos 01:09:16 Why Does the Brain Love Conspiracy Theories? 01:11:33 Why Does the Brain Fall for Magic Tricks? 01:13:14 Why Can’t We Tickle Ourselves? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 David Builes is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, where he works in metaphysics and epistemology and has made serious contributions to the philosophies of mind, science, and mathematics. In this episode, Robinson and David discuss the metaphysics of time—including debates about the reality of the past, present, and future—the question of whether science can explain consciousness, and whether numbers exist as abstract objects. David’s Website: https://davidbuiles.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:05 David’s Interest in Philosophy 05:47 On the Philosophy of Time 16:01 In Defense of Presentism 24:21 How Long is the Present? 25:58 Humean and Non-Humean Laws 28:02 Can Science Explain Consciousness? 40:25 Does David Believe His Work? 43:32 First-Person Realism 53:18 Is First-Person Realism Correct? 57:42 The Philosophy of Math 01:01:45 Do Numbers Exist? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Alexander Nehamas is the Edmund N. Carpenter II Class of 1943 Professor in the Humanities, both of philosophy and comparative literature, at Princeton University. He is best known for his work on ancient philosophy, literary theory, the philosophy of art, and his scholarship on Friedrich Nietzsche. In this episode, Robinson and Alexander primarily discuss the latter, though they also delve into some of his other work. More particularly, they discuss Nietzsche’s writings on eternal recurrence, the will to power, and morality, among other topics, as well as the perils of doing history as a philosopher, the infamous Elgin marbles, great works of literature, and personal style. Alexander’s most well-known work on Nietzsche is Nietzsche: Life as Literature (Harvard, 1987). Nietzsche: Life as Literature: https://a.co/d/7V3MYk0 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 3:07 The Essentials of Nietzsche 11:42  Nietzsche and Eternal Recurrence  14:46  Nietzsche on Free Will 19:06  Nietzsche on Art and the Ideal Life 20:41  Nietzsche on Herd Morality and Mediocrity 23:20  Nietzsche on the Will to Power 27:02 Nietzsche on Our Dominance Over Animals   30:41 Was Nietzsche an Anti-Semite?  33:02 Nietzsche’s Relationship to Animals 36:53 Was Nietzsche an Enemy of Morality?   39:54 Nietzsche and the Worship of Greatness  41:06 Favorite Literature  48:39 Nietzsche and the Perils of the History of Philosophy   1:05:43 The Elgin Marbles 1:13:50 On Plato and Ancient Philosophy   1:22:34 Nietzsche on Animal Agriculture 1:29:10 Nietzsche on Seeing Life as a Literary Work 1:34:10 Nietzsche on the Weak and the Great 1:39:32 Philosophy and Life   1:46:11 On Philosophy and Fashion 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Peter Woit is a senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Columbia University, where he researches quantum field theory and quantum gravity. Peter is one of the most well-known critics of string theory, and in this episode he and Robinson discuss his work and research in the area, which is encapsulated in his book Not Even Wrong: The Failure of String Theory and the Search for Unity in Physical Law (Basic Books, 2007), as well as his website by the same name. More particularly, they talk about the standard model of particle physics, the problem of quantum gravity, the main figures in string theory, the arguments for and against this approach to physics, its many alleged failures, and the future of research in the area. Not Even Wrong (Book): https://a.co/d/iVnPEi1 Not Even Wrong (Website): https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Peter’s Training in Physics 06:21 What Is the Standard Model of Physics?  10:42 What Is Symmetry?  21:37 Experiment and the Standard Model of Particle Physics  26:15 What’s Wrong with the Standard Model of Particle Physics?  29:36 What Are Grand Unified Theories in Physics? 34:47 What Is Supersymmetry?  40:15 On Ed Witten and the Genius Mind Behind M-Theory 49:08 What Is String Theory?  1:04:56 What Is M-Theory? 1:07:59 On AdS/CFT  1:16:03 On Holography and Quantum Gravity 1:20:27 String Theory and the Sokal Hoax 1:24:09 Peter’s Love of Physics 1:32:13 On the String-Theoretic Landscape and the Multiverse  1:41:51 What’s the Path Forward for Physics? 1:47:52 Is String Theory the Only Game in Time? 1:53:17 How Did String Theory Become Dominant? 1:56:45 String Theory: Not Even Wrong? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Michael Graziano is Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Princeton University, where he and his lab research the brain basis of consciousness. This is Michael’s second appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #169, they discussed Michael’s Attention Schema Theory of consciousness, in which consciousness is a way in which the brain models attention to better organize and monitor itself. In this conversation, Robinson and Michael reexamine the Attention Schema Theory with an eye toward the problem of studying the consciousness not only of humans, but of other animals, and with particular regard to the moral questions surrounding animals’ roles in our lives. Michael’s most recent book is Rethinking Consciousness (W. W. Norton, 2019). Rethinking Consciousness: https://a.co/d/8euR1EL Graziano Lab: https://grazianolab.princeton.edu OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:28 Michael’s Interest in Consciousness 07:22 What Is Consciousness? 16:03 Is there a Magical Essence to Consciousness? 28:43 How Did Consciousness Evolve? 35:29 Testing Michael’s Model of Consciousness 44:55 What’s It Like to Be a Human? 48:25 Is Human Suffering an Illusion? 54:07 The Neuroscience of Pain and Suffering 01:00:39 Is There Value to Human Life? 01:10:42 Was Helen Keller Conscious? 01:21:15 The Global Workspace Theory of Consciousness 01:30:20 Do Animals Value Their Own Lives? 01:41:23 Are Shrimp Conscious? 01:52:23 Should Science Inform Morality? 01:54:03 Can Chickens Suffer? 01:57:12 Are Salmon Conscious? 02:09:40 Are Octopuses Conscious? 02:22:43 Are Poultry Conscious? 02:29:43 Are Barnyard Animals Conscious? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s fourth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #127, he and Robinson discussed some of the most profound criticisms of capitalism; in #154, they focused on the myths surrounding Marxism and Marx himself; and in #190 they covered the Israel-Palestine conflict from a Marxist perspective. In this wide-ranging episode, Richard and Robinson talk about the end of the American empire. More particularly they discuss the wars in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine, the rivalry between China and the United States, the global interplay between capitalism and socialism, the distinction between socialism and communism, the conflict between the BRICS and G7 nations, and more. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024). Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism Class Theory and History (Book): https://a.co/d/ht4trZN Understanding the 2024 Elections (Article): https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/capitalism-mass-anger-and-2024-elections/ Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate OUTLINE 03:10 On the Trauma of His Family Background 10:50 Academia’s War on Marxism  22:45 Economics as the Secret Undercurrent of History 28:01 Will Ukraine Defeat Russia? 31:52 Is China the Empire of the New World? 39:04 The Best American Strategy Against China 45:24 How Trump Won and Lost America 56:22 Is Israel a Colonialist State? 01:03:23 On the Expulsion of the Palestinians from Israel 01:10:49 Israel as America’s Economic Baby 01:18:08 Global Capitalism as the Enemy of the Islamic World 01:23:00 Why You Should Distrust Wartime Propaganda 01:33:03 Zelensky and the Ukrainian Chess Match 01:42:53 The Economic Conspiracy Behind the American Pick-Up Truck 01:49:31 Israel, Ukraine, and the New Cold War 01:54:20 The Many Taboos of Socialism and Communism 01:58:54 The War Between Socialism and Capitalism 02:07:51 Is Socialism More Efficient than Capitalism? 02:16:58 World War I and the Rise of Socialism 02:22:58 The Failed American Attempt to Destroy Russian Communism 02:27:26 Why Did Russia Choose Communism over Socialism? 02:38:06 Communism, Socialism, and the War for the Workplace 02:43:00 Is China Secretly Capitalist? 02:53:18 America’s Choice Between Equality or Subservience to China 02:58:45 Europe’s Hidden Economic Apocalypse 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, historians, economists, 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. This is David’s eighth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. He last appeared on episode 210 with Tim Maudlin, which was a more advanced episode on Niels Bohr and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this episode, David gives a pedagogical and introductory overview of the measurement problem, which is the issue at the core of many discussions about the foundations of quantum mechanics. David’s most recent book is A Guess at the Riddle (2023). 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. Note: Unfortunately, the cameras turned off in the middle of the episode. For twenty minutes there is no video, and for most of the episode only the camera focusing on David is recording. A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:54 On Philosophy and the Foundations of Physics 15:35 The Bizarreness of the Quantum World 19:16 What Is the World of Classical Physics? 24:00 How Quantum Mechanics Destroyed the Classical World 29:19 What Is Quantum Mechanical Superposition? 32:18 How Quantum Mechanics Became the Theory of Reality 39:53 What Is the Measurement Problem of Quantum Mechanics? 51:05 Niels Bohr and the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics 01:01:14 Niels Bohr and the EPR Paper 01:08:45 Was Niels Bohr the Most Charming Physicist of All Time? 01:15:59 Is the Measurement Problem a Scientific Problem? 01:21:24 Is String Theory Pseudoscience? 01:31:03 Why Don’t Many Philosophers Work on String Theory? 01:34:08 The Wave Function and the Measurement Problem 01:37:57 Quantum Measurement and Wave Function Collapse 01:41:34 Hidden Variable Theories of Quantum Mechanics 01:44:54 Quantum Mechanics and the Multiverse 01:48:47 Solving the Measurement Problem with Experiment 01:56:41 Quantum Mechanics and the Scientific Project 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, historians, economists, 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. This is Michael’s third appearance on the show. He was also a guest on episode 180, where he and Robinson discussed neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, and the rentier economy, and on episode 198, where they discussed Marxism, economic parasites, and contemporary debt cancellation. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about the history of debt cancellation in the ancient world—including Babylon, Greece, and Rome—how they helped to stave off economic collapse, how the failure to implement them contributed to the demise of these civilizations, and how they might be used in today’s economies. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). This episode was recorded at Austin’s Ale House in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, and comes highly recommended. Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm Austin’s Ale House: https://www.austinsteakandalehouse.com/ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:08 Michael’s Interest in Debt 08:23 Why Countries Can’t Pay Their Debts 12:14 Debt Cancellations in the Ancient World 16:51 Can Society Survive Forgiving Everyone’s Debts? 21:30 The Brilliance of Bronze Age Economics 29:19 What Happened When Ancient Harvests Failed? 32:04 The Timeless War of Creditors Against Debtors 37:49 Why States Should Print Their Own Money 41:11 How the Catholic Church Created the Modern State 55:50 On the Origin of Money 01:01:28 On the Economics of Ancient Babylon 01:07:17 Were Ancient Economists Better than Today’s? 01:09:09 The Most Important Prices of an Economy 01:11:39 Uncovering the Collapse of Babylon 01:22:30 Debt and the End of Civilization 01:24:58 Are Ancient Economics the Key to the Future? 01:30:33 Should the Government Forgive Student Loan Debt? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 This is the August 2024 AMA for Robinson’s Podcast. It is supported by the members of the Patreon. In this installment, Robinson answers questions about metaethics, art history, discipline, fashion, fitness, fantasy world-building, consciousness, fine-tuning, quantum mechanics, and more. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:01 What to Do 07:43 Thoughts on Discipline 17:29 Art History 20:43 Philosophy for Daily Life 23:30 Planners and Pantsers 27:53 Favorite Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics? 33:06 Favorite Color? 35:57 On Magic and Fantasy World-Building 46:32 Black Holes, Electrons, and Thumbnails 52:45 Favorite Comedy 55:37 Physicality in Life 01:02:19 Is Consciousness Emergent or Fundamental? 01:04:54 Views on Fashion 01:15:16 What’s It Like to be a Philosopher? 01:24:00 Solutions of 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, and everyone in-between.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Joscha Bach is a computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher currently working with Liquid AI. He has previously done research at Harvard, MIT, Intel, and the AI Foundation. In this episode, Joscha and Robinson discuss the nature of consciousness—both in humans and synthetic—various theories of consciousness like panpsychism, physicalism, dualism, and Roger Penrose’s, the distinction between intelligence and artificial intelligence, the next developments of ChatGPT and other LLMs, OpenAI, and whether advances in AI will spell the end of humankind. Joscha’s X: https://x.com/Plinz OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:33 Why are Legos Like Computer Programs? 08:23 Philosophy and Mental Representation 11:17 Using Computer Science to Understand Reality 16:26 Could We Make Minds from Machines? 19:14 Is Reality a Simulation? 21:46 What Is the Mind? 24:27 What Do Mysterions Believe About Consciousness? 26:20 Does Roger Penrose’s Theory of Consciousness Make Sense? 35:15 Could Dualism Explain the Human Mind? 37:58 What Is Physicalism About the Human Mind? 41:03 What’s Wrong with Panpsychism? 47:58 On the Next Breakthrough in Consciousness 52:59 What Is Intelligence?  55:45 What’s Artificial Intelligence? 58:22 What Defines the Current Wave of AI? 01:00:57 On the First AI Winter 01:04:55 On Meaning, LLMs, and ChatGPT 01:08:18 Does ChatGPT Mirror the Human Mind? 01:13:18 Is ChatGPT Intelligent? 01:18:43 Will ChatGPT Become Smarter than Humans?  01:24:25 What Is the ARC Challenge for AI? 01:27:58 Will ChatGPT Philosophize Better than Philosophers? 01:35:04 Are Apple, Google, and Microsoft on the Cutting Edge of AI? 01:39:16 Shoulder We Fear AI? 01:45:34 Are We the Smartest Thing on Earth? 01:49:47 What’s More Dangerous: The Internet or AI? 01:54:20 Could AI Take Over the Planet?  01:59:22 Will AI Make Human Artists Obsolete? 02:04:10 Will AI Make Humankind Dependent on the One Percent? 02:11:28 Could AI Solve Climate Change? 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-betwee --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his research on Israel and Palestine. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Norman addresses some of the most common arguments made in defense of Israel, such as those purporting to show Israel is not committing genocide, that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, that Israel is fighting in self-defense, that Egypt is responsible for the crisis, and more. Norman also appeared on episode 192, where he and Robinson discussed October 7th, allegations of genocide and apartheid, and connections between the war and the Holocaust. Norman’s most recent book is I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom (Sublation Media, 2023). Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:47 Will Israel Nuke Palestine? 12:07 On Palestine and the Holocaust 15:10 Is Israel Getting Away with Genocide? 20:35 On Nuclear War and Israel’s Dependence on the United States 24:00 How Responsible Is Egypt for the Crisis in Gaza? 27:43 Does the Israeli Military Target Civilians? 36:27 Why Norman Finkelstein Can’t Watch the News from Palestine 38:06 On Hoaxes and Conspiracies in Israel-Palestine 47:06 On Corruption in Academia 49:16 Propaganda in Holocaust Scholarship 53:00 Facts and Fiction in Israel-Palestine 1:00:27 Norman Finkelstein’s Research Habits 1:05:10 Do Israeli Settlements Break International Law? 1:07:44 Why Does the United States Support Israel? 1:12:21 “Jewish Supremacy” Versus Harvard 1:20:11 Does Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism?  1:29:38 Does Anti-Semitism Cause Protests Against Israel? 1:35:44 Is The War in Gaza Justifiable as Self-Defense? 1:42:39 On Becoming a Public Figure 1:50:51 On His War with Alan Dershowitz 2:04:19 On Integrity and Palestine Scholarship 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 Leonard Susskind is Felix Bloch Professor of Physics at Stanford University. Among other accomplishments, he is among the fathers of such revolutionary concepts in physics as string theory, black hole complementarity, the holographic principle, and the string-theoretic landscape. It is this last concept that Robinson and Leonard discuss in this episode. More particularly, they address the fine-tuning problem—that so many of the constants in physics, such as the cosmological constant—appear to have been selected precisely to allow for human life, as if they were substantially different we would not exist. In answering this question they talk about string theory, dark energy, the Higgs boson, god and supernatural explanations, eternal inflation, the multiverse, the interpretations of quantum mechanics, the anthropic principle, alternative answers to the problem, and the future of research in the area. For more detail, read Leonard’s book on the topic, The Cosmic Landscape. The Cosmic Landscape: https://a.co/d/j2njH7h The Theoretical Minimum: https://theoreticalminimum.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:03 A Parable About the Fine-Tuning Problem 09:58 String Theory and the Fine-Tuning Problem 18:04 The Problem of Dark Energy 25:05 Could Dark Energy Rip the Universe Apart? 33:11 God, String Theory, and the Illusion of Intelligent Design 42:51 On the String-Theoretic Landscape 48:54 The Eternal Inflation of the Universe 55:07 What Determines the Physics of the Multiverse? 01:02:09 On the Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 01:05:50 On the Future of String Theory and Fine-Tuning 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