Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal Noam Chomsky on Consciousness, Reality, Mind Body Connection, and Mathematical Realism
Apr 12, 2022
Noam Chomsky, a renowned linguist and philosopher, shares his insights on consciousness and the nature of reality. He argues that consciousness remains largely unexplained and explores the fascinating interplay between language, meaning, and mathematical realism. Chomsky dives into the complexities of natural language development and the philosophical dilemmas surrounding the mind-body connection. He also critiques dualism while emphasizing the importance of understanding consciousness within a material framework.
01:15:06
Numbers' Unique Existence
- Numbers exist differently than physical entities.
- They won't disappear even if the universe ends, unlike stars or atoms.
Content vs. Meaning
- We lack clear definitions for both "content" and "meaning."
- Exploring specific questions is more productive than debating vague terms.
Contrast in Language
- Understanding a word requires knowing what it isn't.
- If everything were a "dog," the word would be meaningless.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
The Ontology of Numbers and Language
05:08 • 23min
Exploring the Nuances of Natural Language and Consciousness
28:26 • 4min
Exploring Qualia and Consciousness
32:30 • 5min
Exploring the Enigma of Consciousness and Matter
37:01 • 3min
Mind-Body Interplay: Historical and Philosophical Insights
39:47 • 29min
Exploring Semiotics and Rational Inquiry
01:08:41 • 2min
Exploring the Complexity of Definitions in Linguistics
01:10:20 • 2min
#36478
Jerry Fodor's work on content and meaning
Jerry A. Fodor
#34038
John Searle's work on consciousness
John Searle
#41201
John Locke's work on the mind-body problem
John Locke
#1839
• Mentioned in 16 episodes
A treatise of human nature
David Hume
In this influential work, Hume seeks to establish a 'science of man' by applying the experimental method of reasoning, inspired by Isaac Newton's achievements in the physical sciences.
The treatise is divided into three books: 'Of the Understanding', 'Of the Passions', and 'Of Morals'.
Hume argues that human behavior is driven by passions rather than reason, introduces the problem of induction, and defends a sentimentalist account of morality.
He also discusses personal identity and free will from a sceptical and compatibilist perspective.
#1597
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
Consciousness explained
Daniel Dennett
In *Consciousness Explained*, Daniel Dennett undertakes a full-scale exploration of human consciousness.
He challenges the traditional, commonsense theory of consciousness and introduces the 'Multiple Drafts' model as an alternative to the 'Cartesian Theater' concept.
Dennett draws on a wealth of information from neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence to transform current theories about conscious life in humans, animals, and even robots.
The book is praised for its accessible and engaging style, making complex scientific and philosophical concepts highly digestible for both experts and general readers.
#8727
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Monadology
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
#31248
Bertrand Russell's work on consciousness
Bertrand Russell
#36908
L'homme Machine
Julien Offray de La Mettrie
#42949
Hilary Putnam's work on realism
Hilary Putnam
#21920
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Essential Turing
Seminal Writings in Computing, Logic, Philosophy, Artificial Intelligence, and Artificial Life
Alan Turing
This book compiles Alan Turing's most influential works, including his foundational papers on computability and the Turing test.
It provides insights into his contributions to computer science, logic, philosophy, and artificial intelligence.
Edited by B. Jack Copeland, it offers a comprehensive overview of Turing's intellectual legacy.
#70337
Michael Dummett's work on content and meaning
Michael Dummett
#32236
Collected Works of Emil L. Post
Solvability, Provability, Definability
Emil Leon Post
This collection includes Emil Post's seminal papers on computability, such as 'Finite Combinatory Processes - Formulation 1,' which describes a computational model similar to the Turing machine.
His work laid foundational aspects of modern computer science and logic.
#62689
Noam Chomsky's Theories of Everything
Not Found
Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky is a renowned linguist and philosopher, but there is no book by him titled 'Theories of Everything.
' His notable works include 'Syntactic Structures' and 'Aspects of the Theory of Syntax.
'
#33410
Charles Darwin's Notebooks on Mind and Brain
Metaphysical and Neurological Reflections
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin's notebooks, particularly his metaphysical notebooks (M and N), contain musings on the mind-body problem, free will, and neurological topics.
These writings reflect his interest in understanding the relationship between mind and brain, often using metaphors to explain cognitive processes.
While there is no single book titled 'Charles Darwin's notebooks on the mind-body problem,' his notebooks provide valuable insights into his thoughts on these subjects.
#20178
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Assayer
Il Saggiatore
Galileo
In 'The Assayer', Galileo discusses the nature of comets and argues they are sublunary phenomena.
The book includes methodological pronouncements, such as the idea that the book of nature is written in the language of mathematics.
It also touches on atomism, a doctrine considered heretical at the time.
#70781
The structure of appearance
Nelson Goodman
Geoffrey Hellman
In 'The Structure of Appearance', Nelson Goodman presents a systematic approach to understanding the structure of our phenomenal experience.
The book is a significant contribution to analytic philosophy, aiming to clarify basic issues in the theory of knowledge through logical reconstruction.
Goodman's work here lays the groundwork for his later explorations in aesthetics and the philosophy of art.
#64540
It from Bit
The Conceptual Framework of John Archibald Wheeler
John Archibald Wheeler
John Archibald Wheeler's 'it from bit' concept posits that physical reality, including particles and spacetime, derives its existence from binary information (bits) obtained through yes-no questions.
This idea is central to understanding the participatory nature of reality in quantum physics.
Wheeler's work emphasizes the role of the observer in shaping reality.
#11154
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Nature of the Physical World
Sir Arthur Eddington
#12663
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Word and Object
Dagfinn Føllesdal
Patricia Churchland
Willard Van Orman Quine
In 'Word and Object', Quine delves into the interplay between language and ontology, proposing that only physical objects and abstract sets are real.
He introduces the concept of indeterminacy of translation, highlighting the challenges in translating languages due to the inherent ambiguity in meaning.
The book also explores language acquisition and advocates for a canonical notation to clarify ontological commitments.
#15256
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Kurt Gödel - Collected Works
Warren Goldfarb
John W. Dawson
Kurt Gödel
Solomon Feferman
Charles Parsons
This collection includes Gödel's most influential papers, such as his completeness theorem and incompleteness theorems, which fundamentally changed the understanding of formal systems and their limitations.
His work laid the foundation for theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.
In this episode Curt Jaimungal talks with Noam Chomsky about the nature of consciousness, the reality of mathematics, 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)
SPONSORS:
- Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off
- Algo: https://youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and https://algo.com
RESOURCES:
- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xNXqAaF_cxU
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE
- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything
- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch
- April Fools / Ranking every TOE: https://youtu.be/QOV1pcSOoZ4
- April Fools / Announcements for TOE: https://youtu.be/a5hp-7sGo0A
- Chomsky TOE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlORiRfcaQe8ZdxKxF-e2BCY
- Dennett's Quining Qualia: https://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/dennett/papers/quinqual.htm
- Michael Levin TOE podcast: https://youtu.be/Z0TNfysTazc
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
- 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)
SPONSORS:
- Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off
- Algo: https://youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and https://algo.com
RESOURCES:
- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xNXqAaF_cxU
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE
- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything
- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch
- April Fools / Ranking every TOE: https://youtu.be/QOV1pcSOoZ4
- April Fools / Announcements for TOE: https://youtu.be/a5hp-7sGo0A
- Chomsky TOE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlORiRfcaQe8ZdxKxF-e2BCY
- Dennett's Quining Qualia: https://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/dennett/papers/quinqual.htm
- Michael Levin TOE podcast: https://youtu.be/Z0TNfysTazc
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
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