Noam Chomsky (MIT) challenges mathematical realism while exploring consciousness and the mind-body connection They debate whether numbers are real, explore dualism, and question the limits of certainty.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:03:41 - Putnam and Mathematical Realism
- 00:09:06 - Are numbers "real"?
- 00:10:01 - Text vs. Meaning / Content vs. Meaning
- 00:13:28 - Are all words "contrast words"? (only making sense in terms of their negation)
- 00:16:01 - How can the word "meaningless" ever be "meaningful"?
- 00:17:38 - Reference vs. Referent
- 00:28:32 - Daniel Dennett's "Quining Qualia"
- 00:30:44 - Consciousness explained?
- 00:34:27 - Mind Body dualism ("body" is no more fundamental than "mind")
- 00:44:32 - Is Chomsky an idealist?
- 00:46:29 - We can't answer anything with certainty
- 00:50:53 - Articulating what's ambiguous (what the heck is going on!?)
- 00:58:24 - Studying consciousness from the 1st person vs 3rd person perspective
- 00:59:34 - How do we generate "definitions"
- 01:04:59 - Curt's question to the audience (for linguists)

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Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.

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John Locke's work on the mind-body problem

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