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Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
Donald Hoffman Λ Joscha Bach on Consciousness, Free Will, Gödel, and Computational Reality
Feb 7, 2022
Donald Hoffman, a professor at UC Irvine, specializes in consciousness and evolutionary psychology, while Joscha Bach is a cognitive scientist known for his groundbreaking work in AI. They delve into the mysteries of consciousness and free will, discussing revolutionary ideas about reality beyond traditional space-time. The conversation tackles Gödel's incompleteness theorem and its implications for truth, the nature of self-identity in early childhood, and how computational limits might redefine our understanding of existence and agency.
02:23:41
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Quick takeaways
- Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem reveals limitations in mathematics' ability to describe reality and the difference between truth and proof.
- The mind constructs virtual simulations or models of space, time, and objects to make sense of experiences.
Deep dives
Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem and the Limits of Mathematics
Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem reveals that mathematics is limited in its ability to describe reality. Reality extends beyond what can be proven mathematically, leading to the recognition that truth and proof are not the same. Computation, which is highly valued, has its own limits, and physicists are discovering that space-time itself is not fundamental. This challenges the assumption that neurons and space-time are the foundations of consciousness. The spectral gap problem in condensed matter physics suggests that something non-computational is at play. The relationship between mathematics, consciousness, and reality is complex and multifaceted, requiring precise definitions and derivations to understand consciousness in a scientific manner.
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