

What is thinking? Metaphysics meets modern AI and the illusion of reasoning
This episode is the intro to a special project by The AI Fundamentalists’ hosts and friends. We hope you're ready for a metaphysics mini‑series to explore what thinking and reasoning really mean and how those definitions should shape AI research.
Join us for thought-provoking discussions as we tackle basic questions: What is metaphysics and its relevance to AI? What constitutes reality? What defines thinking? How do we understand time? And perhaps most importantly, should AI systems attempt to "think," or are we approaching the entire concept incorrectly?
Show notes:
• Why metaphysics matters for AI foundations
• Definitions of thinking from peers and what they imply
• Mixture‑of‑experts, ranking, and the illusion of reasoning
• Turing test limits versus deliberation and causality
• Towers of Hanoi, agentic workflows, and brittle stepwise reasoning
• Math, context, and multi‑component system failures
• Proposed plan for the series and areas to explore
• Invitation for resources, critiques, and future guests
We hope you enjoy this philosophical journey to examine the intersection of ancient philosophical questions and cutting-edge technology.
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