Astral Codex Ten Podcast What Is Man, That Thou Art Mindful Of Him?
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Sep 10, 2025 Dive into a fascinating discussion about the limits of human intelligence, especially in mathematical reasoning. Hear intriguing hypothetical scenarios that challenge our cognitive boundaries. The conversation also delves into the moral dilemmas tied to biological intelligence evolution, weighing the benefits of growth against potential dangers. Engage with thought-provoking ideas about our understanding of intelligence and the ethical implications of its enhancement.
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Humans Excel Locally, Falter Globally
- Iblis argues humans succeed on familiar math but fail on novel instances, implying pattern-matching over understanding.
- God replies this stems from human working-memory limits and lack of an external scratch pad.
Classic Cognitive Error Examples
- Iblis presents classic psychological puzzles (Linda, bricks vs feathers) to show human reasoning errors.
- The examples illustrate humans pattern-match or misinterpret phrasing rather than apply formal logic.
PhD's Messy Map Of Europe
- Iblis shows a messy freehand map of Europe drawn by a PhD to argue humans lack precise geographic encoding.
- God counters that compressed, task-relevant representations are a sign of advanced minds, not failure.
