Neuroscientist Erik Hoel talks about why he is not an "effective altruist" with EconTalk host, Russ Roberts. Hoel argues that the utilitarianism that underlies effective altruism--a movement co-founded by Will MacAskill and Peter Singer--is a poison that inevitably leads to repugnant conclusions and thereby weakens the case for the strongest claims made by effective altruists.

Sam Harris speaks with Erik Hoel about the nature of moral truth. They discuss the connection between consequentialism and Effective Altruism, the problems with implementing academic moral philosophy, bad arguments against consequentialism, the implications of AI for our morality, the dangers of moral certainty, whether all claims about good and evil are claims about consequences, the problem of moral fanaticism, difficulty in thinking about low-probability events, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

Neuroscientist Erik Hoel discusses how parenting shapes personal growth and moral development, challenging popular perceptions. The conversation covers parenting styles, children's book preferences, and the transformative effects of raising kids. They also touch on the pressures of elite college students, homeschooling challenges, and societal judgments surrounding parenting choices.

Neuroscientist and author Erik Hoel talks about his book, The World Behind the World, with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Is it possible to reconcile the seemingly subjective inner world of human experience with the seemingly objective outer world of observation, measurement, and science? Despite the promise of neuroscience, Hoel argues that this reconciliation is surprisingly difficult. Join Hoel and Roberts for a wide-ranging exploration of what it means to be human and the limits of science in helping us understand who we are.

Erik Hoel, a research professor at Tufts University, discusses the mystery of the mind. Topics include the latest research on consciousness, the impact of AI on understanding the self, explaining inner thoughts, the scientific proof of free will, and overcoming deterministic fatalism.

Erik Hoel joins Ash Milton to discuss the current state of education, how it succeeded aristocratic tutoring, and what it means for progress. Up until the creation of mass schooling in the nineteenth century, tutelage was the most common form of education. Only aristocrats were able to afford this, and with the disappearance of aristocratic society so too has tutoring fallen out of practice. But its advantages are what enabled great works of genius to emerge over the past three hundred years. Scientists like Bertrand Russell, William James, and Ludwig Wittgenstein were all given individual instruction at a young age, which was a key part of their success. Erik and Ash discuss the history of the practice and if there is a viable future for it.    Erik Hoel is a research assistant professor at Tufts University. He recently published his debut novel, and his other writing can be found at his Substack.

They operate according to rules we can never fully understand. They can be unreliable, uncontrollable, and misaligned with human values. They're fast becoming as intelligent as humans--and they're exclusively in the hands of profit-seeking tech companies. "They," of course, are the latest versions of AI, which herald, according to neuroscientist and writer Erik Hoel, a species-level threat to humanity. Listen as he tells EconTalk's Russ Roberts why we need to treat AI as an existential threat.

In this engaging discussion, Erik Hoel, an essayist, neuroscientist, and novelist, dives into the rich world of pronatalism. He addresses how parents shape values and behaviors, emphasizing both the genetic and cultural influences that play a role in child development. The conversation tackles the complex nature vs. nurture debate while exploring the challenges of measuring personality traits. Hoel also reflects on the quest for meaning in life and how parenting reshapes priorities, delivering deep insights on family dynamics.

Join neuroscientist and AI researcher Erik Hoel as he discusses the intriguing connection between dreams, AI, and the future of education. Explore the idea of dreams as a way to prevent cognitive overfitting and the decline of geniuses. Discover the potential for AI to revive one-on-one tutoring and reshape our understanding of consciousness.

Erik Hoel, expert in consciousness studies, discusses 'The Consciousness Winter' with host Danny Crichton. They explore the subjective nature of consciousness, debates on consciousness' impact on culture, and various theories and thinkers on consciousness, including Integrated Information Theory.