Ep 7: Questions with Paul Raymond-Robichaud

Mathematician Paul Raymond-Robichaud answers questions posed on Twitter/X. Note: there were some connection issues so at times the audio is a bit "lossy" or patchy. But the substance is all still there.

Timestamps as follow: 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Hugo Graw wants to know about Paul’s background and intellectual inspirations and the future of mathematics given AI. 07:16 People Paul wishes to thank 17:16 Extended discussion about mathematics as proxy for high IQ or intelligence and the usefulness of mathematics examinations in gauging creativity, etc. 30:41 Thibault wants to know about the big ideas in mathematics and interdisciplinary thinking. 34:37 Lu wants to know if Paul can make the case for voluntarily learning mathematics 38:34 The pseudoscience in “education”. 39:54 Sam asks several questions (1) What is your favourite branch of mathematics (if you have one) and why do you consider it important? 41:33 (2) How did you become interested in quantum theory? 44:36 (3) What do you consider the most impactful use of mathematics in physics? That is, how does better, more rigorous mathematics help is do phyiscs better? 46:26 Nivi asks if Paul has any extensions, improvements, criticisms of David Deutsch’s theories of mathematics. 48:07 Anders asks for an intro to spaced repetition and thoughts on how it intersects with the fun criterion alongside what stoicism can add to CR? 54:09 Guillem asks if we can define purely mathematically the forgetting process? 55:00 Erik asks in what ways can mathematics be considered a language, and in what ways not? 56:21 Josh asks about Imre Lakatos. 56:40 Hemant asks what Paul you thinks is the biggest misconception humans have about the nature of mathematics itself? And if you had to choose one concept from which all of mathematics could be rebuilt, what would it be? 1:00:50 Aziz asks about Category Theory 1:03:01 Ariya asks about Paul’s favourite books and why information helps to understand quantum mechanics. 1:08:02 Cory asks about the connection between entropy in information theory and entropy in thermodynamics? 1:08:45 Josh asks how Paul approaches criticizing explanations (or parts of them) mathematically. 1:10:13 Hemant asks what role do you think pure mathematics and abstract reasoning play in solving complex real-world problems like AI alignment or the control of advanced technologies? 1:13:10 Šmingvin asks about there claim that “no one understands quantum mechanics”.