Robinson's Podcast

Joscha Bach, a computer scientist and AI researcher at Liquid AI, delves into the fascinating landscape of consciousness and artificial intelligence. He discusses the philosophical theories of consciousness, from dualism to panpsychism, and examines if machines can ever replicate the human mind. The conversation touches on the evolution of AI, potential risks of advanced technologies, and the implications for society. Joscha also debates whether ChatGPT and its peers could surpass human intelligence, urging a careful look at AI's role in our future.

Norman Finkelstein, a renowned expert on Israel and Palestine with a PhD from Princeton, tackles controversial issues surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. He confronts claims of genocide, critiques the narrative of Israeli self-defense, and discusses the implications of U.S. support for Israel. Finkelstein also explores the complicated nature of anti-Semitism in relation to criticism of Israel and highlights the importance of maintaining academic integrity amid politically charged research. His insights provide a thought-provoking perspective on a pressing global issue.

Leonard Susskind and the host tackle the fine-tuning problem in physics, discussing string theory, dark energy, the Higgs boson, the multiverse, eternal inflation, quantum mechanics interpretations, and the future of research in this fascinating episode.

Renowned physicist Raphael Bousso discusses the black hole information paradox, quantum gravity, and the holographic principle. Topics include the groundbreaking work of influential scientists, the implications of the holographic principle, and the interplay between classical gravity and quantum states.

Dr. Anna Lembke and host delve into psychiatry and philosophical connections. They cover topics like moral realism, therapy goals, transference, treating eating disorders, Nietzsche's influence on veganism, medication versus therapy, and the importance of creative pursuits in therapy.

In this episode, topics range from the reality of mathematics, moral facts, and the nature of time, to ice cream preferences and literary book recommendations for newcomers. The discussion also delves into Robinson's work in the philosophy of mathematics and the tension between infinitary avenues of mathematics and finitary mathematics.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Joyce Carol Oates is the Rogers S. Berlind ’52 Professor Emerita in the Humanities at Princeton University with the Program in Creative Writing. She is among the most widely-recognized and respected writers of our time, and has written in a wide variety of media and genres, from poetry and fiction in the former category to horror and Gothic in the latter. Her work has also been adapted into various other media, from plays to film. Joyce is the recipient of two O. Henry Awards and the National Book Award, among many others. This is Joyce’s second appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode 137, she and Robinson discussed craft in fiction and poetry. In this episode, they talk about Joyce’s most recent collection of short stories, Zero-Sum (link in the description), as well as philosophy, Peter Singer, dealing with criticism, translation, and more. Joyce’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyceCarolOates Joyce’s Substack: https://joycecaroloates.substack.com Zero-Sum: https://a.co/d/0cYh3ndo OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:16 On Peter Singer 12:41 On Buddhism 21:50 On Hemingway 25:50 Dealing with Criticism 38:17 On Translation 47:53 Writing Short Stories 58:38 Imagery and Recreating the World Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between. 

Slavoj Žižek discusses ancient philosophy, god, communism, quantum mechanics, and psychoanalysis with Robinson. They explore Socrates' philosophy, atheism, communism, analytic vs. continental philosophy, quantum mechanics, and AI testing with cursing.

Deborah Gordon, a myrmecologist, discusses ants' behavior, pheromones, fascinating ant species, collective behavior, and the life cycle of an ant colony with Robinson. They delve into the decentralized nature of ant societies and the complexities behind their collective actions.

Jay Chandrasekhar, a versatile director and comic known for "Super Troopers" and collaborations with the Jackass crew, shares insights on creative integrity and the purpose of comedy. He explores the importance of strong beginnings in storytelling, both in film and writing. Jay contrasts meticulous plotting with spontaneous writing, sharing anecdotes from his work. He reflects on maintaining artistic vision in Hollywood and the challenges of crafting comedic narratives, showcasing his journey from comedy to novel writing with humor and depth.