Conversations with Peter Boghossian David Deutsch, Peter Boghossian, & Reid Nicewonder Talk Fermi Paradox, Ideological Contagion, & More!
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Mar 5, 2024 
David Deutsch, a philosopher and theoretical physicist, joins Peter Boghossian and Reid Nicewonder, President of Street Epistemology International, for a thought-provoking discussion. They explore the contagious nature of ideologies, particularly how social justice narratives affect open discourse and peer-reviewed literature. Delving into the Fermi Paradox, they question why we haven't discovered extraterrestrial life. The trio underscores the need for reason, courage, and critical thinking in navigating ideological conflicts and fostering meaningful dialogue.
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Epistemological Impact
- Foundational epistemological disagreements often don't significantly affect practical conclusions.
- People with differing epistemologies may agree on a stance but explain it differently.
Epistemology's Downsides
- Bad epistemology can hinder arguments against harmful ideologies.
- Rejecting objective truth in morality prevents opposing things like slavery or rape universally.
Meaningful Evidence
- Evidence is meaningless without rival theories to provide context.
- Problems define the coordinates for judging ideas, not evidence itself.