The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

244. Asking A Theoretical Physicist About The Physics Of Consciousness | Roger Penrose

Apr 14, 2022

In this engaging conversation, Roger Penrose, a British mathematical physicist and Nobel Laureate, discusses the intriguing nature of consciousness and its computational limits. He explores Gödel's theorem and its implications for understanding consciousness beyond mere algorithms. The dialogue touches on the interplay between mathematics and art, illustrated through M.C. Escher's works. Penrose also examines how intuition and pattern recognition influence human creativity and the complex relationship between consciousness, quantum mechanics, and the universe's origins.

01:40:38

Creator website

Episode guests

Stephen Blackwood

Roger Penrose

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Consciousness as a Correction System for Errors

01:26

Evolution's Use of Randomness for Adaptation

01:37

Certainty in Yes or No, but not Algorithmically

01:28

The Physical World Operates According to Mathematical Laws

01:20

Intro

2min

Consciousness Beyond Computation

21min

The Intersection of Mathematics and Art

16min

The Intricacies of Intuition and Pattern Recognition

2min

Understanding Mathematics and Reality

11min

Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics

22min

Rethinking the Big Bang: A Continuous Universe

9min

Exploring Consciousness and Mathematics

12min

Exploring Cosmic Origins

6min

Dr. Peterson recently traveled to the UK for a series of lectures at the highly esteemed Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. This conversation was recorded during that period with Sir Roger Penrose, a British mathematical physicist who was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics for “discovering that black hole formation is a robust predictor of Einstein’s general relativity.” Moderated by Dr. Stephen Blackwood.

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Chapters

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[0:00] Intro

[1:00] Is Consciousness Computational?

[3:20] Turing Machines

[6:30] Determinism & the Arrow of Time

[12:15] Consciousness & Reductionism

[17:30] Emergent Randomness & Evolution

[23:00] The Tiling Problem, Computation, & AI

[29:30] Escher, Brains, Bach

[39:00] Pattern Recognition & Intuition

[45:30] Mathematical Representations & the Physical World

[54:00] Collapsing Schrodinger’s Equation

[1:00:00] Consciousness-Independent Reality

[1:07:00] Black Holes & Time Horizons

[1:15:00] Einstein’s Biggest Mistake

[1:27:00] Meaning & Consciousness

[1:39:00] Hawking Spots: Potential

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