Eric Linus Kaplan: Philosophy as a Way of Life S2 E15
Aug 23, 2023
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Eric Linus Kaplan, TV writer and podcast host, joins Zohar to discuss whether God has a body, the value of Heidegger's thought, the meaning of sophistry, and the feeling of the 'whoosh'. They also explore the connection between actions and philosophy and the tension between impact and truth.
AI's lack of a body and personal attachments raises doubts about its ability to match human capabilities in unique and particular situations.
The concept of embodiment is explored in relation to moral concern, including considerations of God's embodiment and the relationship between embodiment and moral concern.
The value of storytelling in philosophy is highlighted, as it allows for the expression of personal cares, social contexts, and the complexity of human experiences that may elude explicit philosophical statements.
Deep dives
Philosophy and AI: Hubert Dreyfus' Analysis
Hubert Dreyfus' analysis of AI concluded that intelligence required embodied coping skills, meaning that a body and personal attachments are necessary for true intelligence. However, the current model of AI is based on neural networks, which mimic human competence through statistical analysis rather than context-free elements. While AI can mimic human responses, it is limited in responding to unique and particular situations. The lack of a body and personal attachments in AI raises doubts about its ability to match human capabilities in these areas.
The Value of Embodiment in Moral Concerns
The question of whether embodiment is a criterion for moral concern is discussed. Embodiment is seen as a source of care and a sense of threat to existence. However, the discussion also acknowledges that entities can care for self-preservation or have emotional views of the world without having a physical body. The concept of God is brought into the conversation, with considerations of God's embodiment and the relationship between embodiment and moral concern.
The Nature of Memes and Caring
The nature of memes is explored, with a focus on whether they can be considered entities that care about their preservation. The example of index cards with messages is given, suggesting that memes do not genuinely care about their own existence but have causal properties that influence their proliferation. The discussion raises the question of whether entities can care about themselves and seek self-preservation without having a physical body.
The Relationship Between Beings and the Absolute
The idea of beings caring for self-preservation and having emotional or attitudinal views of the world without a physical body is considered. Various examples, including cultural memes and theological views of the absolute, are discussed. The conversation explores whether embodiment is necessary for beings to care about themselves and whether the absolute can be embodied without having a physical form.
The Role of Storytelling in Philosophy
The importance of storytelling in philosophy and its value in conveying certain aspects of human life that may be lost through theoretical propositions is discussed. Storytelling is seen as a means to express personal cares, intertwined social contexts, and the complexity of human experiences. The conversation explores the ways in which stories can capture aspects of human behavior, emotions, and unique responses to different situations that may elude explicit philosophical statements.
This week, Zohar is joined by Eric Linus Kaplan, podcast host ("Terrifying Questions") and TV writer ("The Big Bang Theory," "Futurama," "Flight of the Concords," and "Malcolm in the Middle") to talk about whether God has a body, whether we should listen to physicians who have rashes, the value of Heidegger's thought, the meaning of sophistry, and the feeling of the "whoosh."
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