Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

Steven Strogatz, a Professor of Applied Mathematics at Cornell and author of several popular science books, explores how complex behaviors arise from simple systems. He delves into synchronization, using fireflies as a captivating example of coordinated behavior. Strogatz also tackles the dynamics of connectivity in networks, emphasizing their impact on society and health. He shares insights on the importance of calculus in education, advocating for a nurturing environment in the academic world. Tune in for a fascinating journey through mathematics and its real-world implications!

Adrienne Mayor, a Research Scholar at Stanford, explores the intriguing connections between ancient mythology and modern technology. She delves into figures like Talos and Pandora, discussing how they embody our fears and hopes around artificial intelligence. Mayor reveals that these myths served as early thought experiments about creation and mechanization, highlighting themes of ambition, consequence, and moral complexity. The conversation also connects ancient narratives of automated beings to today's anxieties about AI, showcasing the enduring relevance of these stories.

Malcolm MacIver, a professor at Northwestern University with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, discusses the evolution of consciousness, especially when fish moved to land. He explores how this transition enabled advanced planning and imagination, significant for decision-making. The conversation delves into neuroethology, the evolution of electric sensing in fish, and the implications for human cognition and ethical responsibilities toward future generations. MacIver also highlights the intersection of science and popular culture, reflecting on its role in raising awareness about critical issues like climate change.

Alan Lightman, a renowned professor at MIT and author of 'Einstein's Dreams,' merges his scientific and literary insights to discuss transcendence without invoking the supernatural. He reflects on the creative interplay between science and art, sharing poignant experiences like witnessing adolescent ospreys take flight. Delving into consciousness, he considers how spirituality intersects with scientific understanding, encouraging an exploration of human experiences and meaningful connections, regardless of belief systems.

Edward Watts, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian from UC San Diego, explores the transformation of the Roman Republic into autocracy. He discusses how a seemingly democratic system crumbled, particularly through the actions of ambitious figures like the Gracchi brothers. Watts highlights the complexities of political ambition and reform, as well as the impacts of citizenship on governance. Delving into the patterns of political turmoil, he draws parallels to modern democracy, prompting listeners to reflect on contemporary governance challenges.

David Albert joins the host to discuss the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. They delve into the Many-Worlds interpretation, exploring skepticism towards this theory. The conversation explores historical influences, hidden variables, and rational decision-making in uncertain quantum scenarios.

Everything we think about the world outside our immediate senses is shaped by information brought to us by other sources. In the case of what’s currently happening to the human race, we call that information “the news.” There is no such thing as “unfiltered” news — no matter how we get it, someone is deciding what information to convey and how to convey it. And the way that is happening is currently in a state of flux. Today’s guest, journalist Jessica Yellin, has seen the news business from the perspective of both the establishment and the upstart. Working for major news organizations, she witnessed the strange ways in which decisions about what to cover were made, including the constant focus on short-term profits. And now she is spearheading a new online effort to bring people news in a different way. We talk about what the news business is, what it should be, and where it is going. Support Mindscape on Patreon or Paypal. Jessica Yellin has worked as a journalist in a number of different capacities. Beginning with local news in Florida, she then worked as an on-air correspondent and anchor for MSNBC and ABC, before becoming Chief White House Correspondent for CNN. Her writing has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, The Atlantic, and the Los Angeles Times. She is currently focusing on a new project using Instagram as a new way of delivering news. Yellin is a senior fellow at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism and a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Public Integrity. Her upcoming novel, Savage News, is about a woman trying to navigate the modern news business. Instagram news feed Wikipedia Savage News at Amazon Twitter Profile in Vogue USC web page See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Within every person’s mind there is on ongoing battle between reason and emotion. It’s not always a battle, of course; very often the two can work together. But at other times, our emotions push us toward actions that our reason would counsel against. Paul Bloom is a well-known psychologist and author who wrote the provocatively-titled book Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion, and is currently writing a book about the nature of cruelty. While I sympathize with parts of his anti-empathy stance, I try to stick up for the importance of empathy in the right circumstances. We have a great discussion about the relationship between reason and emotion. Support Mindscape on Patreon or Paypal. Paul Bloom received his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from MIT. He is currently the Ragen Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University. His research ranges over a variety of topics in moral psychology and childhood development. He is the author of several books and the recipient of numerous prizes, including the $1 million Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize in 2017. Web site Yale web page Wikipedia page TED talk on The Origins of Pleasure Amazon page Publications Online courses at Coursera Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reality is a tricky thing. Is love real? What about the number 5? This is clearly a job for a philosopher, and James Ladyman is one of the world’s acknowledged experts. He and his collaborators have been championing a view known as “structural realism,” in which real things are those that reflect true, useful patterns in the underlying reality. We talk about that, but also about a couple of other subjects in the broad area of philosophy of science: the history and current status of materialism/physicalism, and the nature of complex systems. This is a deep one.            Support Mindscape on Patreon or Paypal. James Ladyman obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Leeds, and is currently a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol. He has worked broadly within the philosophy of science, including issues of realism, empiricism, physicalism, complexity, and information. His book Everything Must Go (co-authored with Don Ross) has become an influential work on the relationship between metaphysics and science. Web page Everything Must Go Academia.edu page PhilPeople profile Conversation with Raymond Tallis Structural Realism at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our climate is in the midst of dramatic changes, driven largely by human activity, with potentially enormous consequences for humanity and other species. That’s why science tells us, anyway. But there is an influential contingent, especially in the United States, who deny that reality, and work hard to prevent policy action that might ameliorate it. Where did this resistance come from, and what makes it so successful? Naomi Oreskes is a distinguished historian of science who has become, half-reluctantly, the world’s expert on this question. It turns out to be a fascinating story starting with just a handful of scientists who were passionate not only about climate, but also whether smoking causes cancer, and who cared deeply about capitalism, communism, and the Cold War. Support Mindscape on Patreon or Paypal. Naomi Oreskes received her Ph.D. in Geological Research and History of Science from Stanford University. She is now a professor of the History of Science at Harvard. She is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles, many on the public reception of science. Merchants of Doubt, co-authored with Erik M. Conway, was made into a feature-length documentary film. Harvard web page Wikipedia Amazon author page TED Talk on Why we should trust scientists Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.