Ted Chiang on Free Will, Time Travel, Many Worlds, Genetic Engineering, and Hard Science Fiction – #19
Sep 19, 2019
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Renowned science fiction writer Ted Chiang discusses the philosophical implications of science in his stories. They delve into topics such as the illusion of free will, varieties of time travel, perfect memory and life logging, investment in OpenAI, and the role of privilege and luck.
Ted Chiang prioritizes logical coherence and explores philosophical concepts in his science fiction writing.
Ted Chiang holds a compatibilist view on free will, understanding it as the result of life experiences being processed through cognition.
Ted Chiang delves into the concept of parallel universes and different theories of time travel, offering unique insights into the philosophical implications of these concepts.
Deep dives
Ted Chang's Writing Style: Striving for Internal Scientific Consistency
Ted Chang is known for his writing style that emphasizes the importance of maintaining deep internal scientific consistency in his stories. He focuses on ensuring that the scientific ideas central to his stories are logically coherent and consistent, even if the casual reader may not immediately pick up on these details. While some hard science fiction writers prioritize technical details and engineering aspects, Ted Chang's approach is more concerned with exploring broader philosophical and theoretical concepts. He believes that good science fiction should embody the scientific mindset and worldview, representing how scientists think about and understand the universe. His stories often examine the broader implications of science and philosophy, tackling topics like free will and consciousness.
Ted Chang's Compatibilist Stance on Free Will
Ted Chang holds a compatibilist view on free will. He argues that the desire for free will often stems from a perception that the future should be entirely unknown and that our choices should be completely detached from the history of the universe. However, he questions the meaningfulness of this desire, as it would imply that decisions arise from nothing and depend on no factors. Instead, he believes that free will should be understood as the result of our life experiences being processed through our cognition, which is entirely compatible with a materialist and deterministic universe. Ted Chang rejects the idea that quantum mechanics plays a significant role in decision-making, viewing any causal link between quantum events and human decisions as part of a longer causal chain involving multiple factors in the universe.
Exploring Parallel Universes and Time Travel in Ted Chang's Stories
Ted Chang's stories often delve into the concept of parallel universes and different theories of time travel. In some of his works, such as 'The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate' and 'Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom', he explores the notion of fixed timelines and how events are constrained by both determinism and specific laws of physics. On the other hand, his story 'Exhalation' poses the idea of multiple parallel timelines based on the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. Ted Chang examines different possibilities of how parallel universes and time travel can affect human experiences and choices, offering unique insights into the philosophical implications of these concepts.
Exploring the Implications of Time Travel
The podcast episode delves into the concept of time travel and its implications through the discussion of Kip Thorne's thought experiment with billiard balls. The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering a fixed timeline in stories, challenging the notion that they always end on a downbeat note. The potential benefits of time travel, such as enabling historians to better understand the past, are also explored.
Genetic Cognitive Enhancement and Inequality
The podcast episode discusses the possible future of genetic cognitive enhancement, where it is feasible to enhance intelligence through genetic engineering. However, it is highlighted that even if this technology becomes available, it may not necessarily lead to equality. The speaker argues that our society is not fully meritocratic and that systemic bias and structural inequality would likely persist, possibly exacerbating existing inequalities. The complexities of using genetic engineering as a means of achieving equality are explored and questioned.
Steve and Corey speak with Ted Chiang about his recent story collection “Exhalation” and his inaugural essay for the New York Times series, Op-Eds from the Future. Chiang has won Nebula and Hugo awards for his widely influential science fiction writing. His short story “Story of Your Life,” was the basis of the film Arrival (2016). Their discussion explores the scientific and philosophical ideas in Ted’s work, including whether free will is possible, and implications of AI, neuroscience, and time travel. Ted explains why his skepticism about whether the US is truly a meritocracy leads him to believe that the government-funded genetic modification he envisages in his Op-Ed would not solve the problem of inequality.