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Lex Fridman Podcast
#163 – Eric Weinstein: Difficult Conversations, Freedom of Speech, and Physics
Feb 23, 2021
02:44:49
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Quick takeaways
- Challenge mainstream media narratives through civil disobedience and academic freedom advocacy.
- Call for open access in scientific research dissemination to combat limitations in scholarly publishing models.
- Reject external control over work and ideas to uphold personal agency and intellectual autonomy.
- Encourage resistance against restrictive systems to promote academic freedom and individual innovation.
- Emphasize diversity and inclusion for innovation and progress, driven by greed for new ideas.
- Critique current economic indices and advocate for a more dynamic representation to capture individual performance accurately.
Deep dives
Civil Disobedience and Academic Freedom
Civil disobedience and academic freedom are discussed in the context of challenging mainstream media narratives and institutional constraints. The importance of intellectual freedom and pushing against systematic limitations is highlighted in the examples of historical acts of civil disobedience and the erosion of academic freedom.
Challenging Traditional Gatekeeping in Science Publishing
The narrative challenges traditional gatekeeping in science publishing institutions like Jay-Store and Elsevier, advocating for open access and reduced gatekeeping in scientific research dissemination. The conversation critiques the existing scholarly publishing model that limits access and control over research and ideas.
The Magnaia and Resistance to Prima Nocte
Drawing inspiration from the legend of the Magnaia, the discussion centers around resisting the concept of 'Prima Nocte' or the 'right of the first look.' This resistance symbolizes a call to reject imposing restrictions or control over one's work or ideas by external entities, emphasizing the need for personal agency and intellectual autonomy.
Empowering Voices and Pushing Back Against Control
The importance of empowering individuals like Aaron Schwartz and challenging instances of external influence or control over intellectual pursuits is emphasized. Encouraging resistance against restrictive systems, promoting academic freedom, and fostering environments that support individual agency and innovative thinking are central themes in the dialogue.
Erosion of Freedom and The Call for Intellectual Independence
Overall, the conversation delves into the erosion of freedom, both in academic settings and broader societal structures. It calls for reclaiming intellectual independence, resisting constraints on thought and expression, and empowering individuals to challenge traditional norms and systems that limit intellectual freedom and autonomy.
Diversity and Inclusion for Innovation
In the discussion, it is suggested that diversity and inclusion should be driven by greed for innovation rather than guilt. The potential benefits of mining underutilized communities for innovation are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on supporting individuals from different backgrounds, including women, black Americans, and Latinos, to enhance creativity and drive progress in various fields.
The Flaw in Economic Indices
A critical analysis of economic indices, particularly the flaws in current price and quantity indices, is presented. The example of compensating two hedge funds is used to illustrate how traditional economic indices fail to capture individual performance within a closed economic system. The necessity for a more dynamic and accurate representation in economic measurements is emphasized.
The Role of Gauging Market Dynamics
The concept of gauge theory in economics and the significance of understanding market dynamics are discussed. The need to move beyond traditional economic calculus to gauge theory, specifically in finance and cryptocurrency markets, is highlighted as a crucial step towards a more accurate and comprehensive economic analysis.
Promoting Growth through Innovation
The importance of fostering growth through innovation and the challenges in the current economic system are addressed. The podcast emphasizes the need to prioritize true innovators and empower fresh minds to drive progress. The focus on stimulating growth and advancing academic freedom for a sustainable future is underscored.
Reforming Economic Theory for Progress
A critique of existing economic theory is presented, highlighting the fundamental misunderstandings and limitations within the field. The discussion calls for a reformation in economic theory, specifically in relation to price and quantity indices, to better reflect market dynamics and individual contributions within economic systems.
Cryptocurrency and Distributed Computing
The podcast delves into the idea that cryptocurrencies and distributed computing should move beyond the blockchain to embrace a gauge theory approach. It questions the blockchain's global nature and advocates for a different foundation for digital transactions. By likening digital gold to physical gold's atomic structure and conservation principles, the discussion emphasizes the need for a gauge theoretic concept where tokens are viewed as network excitations, not tied to the blockchain.
Challenges in Theoretical Physics
The episode provides critical insights into current theories in physics, highlighting limitations and potential deceptive claims. It scrutinizes string theory and loop quantum gravity, suggesting they fall short of being true theories of everything. The guest emphasizes the need for a theory that bridges effective theories and a comprehensive understanding of the universe, challenging conventional interpretations in physics and pushing for a more holistic approach to fundamental concepts.
Eric Weinstein is a mathematical physicist and podcaster. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/fridman to get $75 credit
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EPISODE LINKS:
Eric’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricRWeinstein
Eric’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ericweinsteinphd
The Portal podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-portal/id1469999563
PODCAST INFO:
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SUPPORT & CONNECT:
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– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman
OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:27) – Aliens and physics
(11:12) – Breaking the frame of conversation
(12:56) – Time travel across multiple dimensions
(19:07) – Is the government in possession of alien spacecraft?
(25:31) – Freedom of speech
(36:49) – Elon Musk
(38:07) – Idealism of every era
(41:26) – Non-locality of free speech in the Internet age
(47:03) – Glenn Beck
(48:57) – Joe Rogan
(53:41) – Freedom and fear
(55:14) – Jeffrey Epstein
(58:53) – Aaron Swartz
(1:04:29) – Jeffrey Epstein and Geometric Unity
(1:24:04) – Cancel culture
(1:26:06) – Alex Jones
(1:35:01) – Curtis Yarvin
(1:39:40) – Michael Malice
(1:42:00) – Intellectual Dark Web
(1:48:52) – Innovation
(2:02:10) – Economics
(2:09:29) – Cryptocurrency
(2:15:37) – Geometric Unity paper
(2:32:42) – David Goggins challenge
(2:34:05) – Father and son
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