Delving into the bizarre world of philosophy, Schwitzgebel challenges our comprehension with mind-boggling theories. From a conscious USA to infinite future possibilities, the podcast explores the thrill of contemplating the strangest philosophical scenarios.
The universe's inherent weirdness challenges common sense, pushing philosophical exploration beyond comprehension.
Philosophy should aim to open up possibilities rather than narrow down to one correct theory.
Speculative pondering on living in a simulated reality and tracing causation infinitely stirs philosophical curiosity.
Debates on freedom, determinism, and moral responsibility spark reflections on the complexities of belief and action.
Deep dives
Unraveling Physics and Consciousness
Physics and consciousness are enigmatic fields with intriguing implications. The podcast delves into the mysterious realms of fundamental physics and the enigmatic nature of consciousness, highlighting the intricate debates and theories surrounding these topics.
Weirdness of the Universe and Common Sense
The discussion touches upon the inherent weirdness of the universe and the role of common sense in navigating these complex concepts. Whether pondering the simulation hypothesis or grappling with cosmological quandaries, common sense serves as a foundational but imperfect tool in exploring these profound mysteries.
Boundaries of Knowledge and Speculative Thinking
The exploration extends to the boundaries of human knowledge and the speculative nature of contemplating the origins of the universe. Engaging in thought experiments, the podcast ponders the limitations of scientific inquiry and the persistent allure of existential and cosmological questions.
Philosophical Perspectives on Simulation and Infinite Causes
Philosophical discussions revolve around the simulation hypothesis and the concept of infinite causes regarding the origins of the universe. Delving into the implications of living in a simulated reality and the complexities of tracing causation back infinitely, the podcast underscores the intricate intersections of philosophy and science.
Freedom, Responsibility, and Determinism
The discussion delves into the concepts of freedom, responsibility, and determinism. Emphasizing the philosophical implications on criminal justice, the conversation debates whether an individual's choice is truly free if it hinges on deterministic factors. The idea of aiming for moral mediocrity in ethical reflection and behavior also arises, challenging the traditional notions of freedom and moral responsibility.
Belief and Action
Explore the relationship between belief and action. The conversation examines the proposal that belief is better understood through actions and behaviors rather than solely through statements or feelings. Using examples like religious beliefs and mundane truths, the complexity of how beliefs manifest in different contexts is highlighted.
Different Truths: Religious Credences vs. Mundane Beliefs
The distinction between religious credences and mundane beliefs is explored, reflecting on Neil Van Lewin's work. The differentiation between truths like the dogma of a Trinity and factual truths about the physical world is dissected, revealing the unique cognitive functions each type of belief fulfills in individuals' lives.
Ethical Reflection and Behavior
The consideration of ethical reflection and behavior as a subject for future exploration is presented. It contemplates the notion of moral mediocrity, contrasting with traditional interpretations of freedom and moral responsibility. Additionally, there is a contemplation of potential writings on the concept of belief.
Do we live inside a simulated reality or a pocket universe embedded in a larger structure about which we know virtually nothing? Is consciousness a purely physical matter, or might it require something extra, something nonphysical? According to the philosopher Eric Schwitzgebel, it’s hard to say. In The Weirdness of the World, Schwitzgebel argues that the answers to these fundamental questions lie beyond our powers of comprehension. We can be certain only that the truth—whatever it is—is weird. Philosophy, he proposes, can aim to open—to reveal possibilities we had not previously appreciated—or to close, to narrow down to the one correct theory of the phenomenon in question. Schwitzgebel argues for a philosophy that opens.
According to Schwitzgebel’s “Universal Bizarreness” thesis, every possible theory of the relation of mind and cosmos defies common sense. According to his complementary “Universal Dubiety” thesis, no general theory of the relationship between mind and cosmos compels rational belief. Might the United States be a conscious organism — a conscious group mind with approximately the intelligence of a rabbit? Might virtually every action we perform cause virtually every possible type of future event, echoing down through the infinite future of an infinite universe? What, if anything, is it like to be a garden snail? Schwitzgebel makes a persuasive case for the thrill of considering the most bizarre philosophical possibilities.
Shermer and Schwitzgebel discuss: bizarreness • skepticism • consciousness • virtual reality • AI, Turing Test, sentience, existential threat • idealism, materialism • ultimate nature of reality • solipsism • evidence for the existence of an external world • computer simulations hypothesis • mind-body problem • truths: external, internal, objective, subjective • mind-altering drugs • entropy • causality • infinity • immortality • multiverses • why there is something rather than nothing.
Eric Schwitzgebel is professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of A Theory of Jerks and Other Philosophical Misadventures; Perplexities of Consciousness; and Describing Inner Experience?
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