Robinson's Podcast

Sean Carroll, Daniel Dennett, and Steven Pinker discuss AI, parapsychology, panpsychism, and physics violations. They delve into debunking claims of parapsychology, explore artificial intelligence, discuss the ethical implications of counterfeit individuals created by large language models, and contemplate the evolution of jobs in the technological age. The conversation touches on the intersection of AI, creativity, and physics, evolution, chaos, decision-making, teleonomy, and emergence in consciousness.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Lawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist who has taught at Yale, Arizona State University, and Case Western, and is the founder of ASU’s Origins Project. He is a prominent public intellectual and best-selling author, and has written about the origins of the universe, atheism, and many other topics. He is also the host of the Origins Podcast. In this episode, Robinson and Lawrence have a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of physics—and whether or not there is a crisis—the potential shortcomings of string theory, whether or not the world is a hologram, arguments for the existence of god, and the role of science in ethics. Lawrence’s most recent book is The Edge of Knowledge (Post Hill Press, 2023). Lawrence’s Website: https://lawrencemkrauss.com The Edge of Knowledge: https://a.co/d/6tIrJzy OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:04 Theory versus Experiment 10:13 Is There a Crisis in Physics?  22:43 On the State of Quantum Gravity 25:40 What’s Wrong with String Theory? 40:58 Cormac McCarthy 50:22 Is the World a Hologram? 1:02:14 God and the Fine-Tuned Universe 1:19:33 Does Science Help Us with Morality? 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, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.

This podcast delves into topics like debt cancellation in ancient civilizations, the role of history in economic thought, Karl Marx and Marxism, economic parasites, and the rhythm of debt and economic crashes. It also touches on the Lord's Prayer, Christianity, and debt cancellation, as well as the problems with today's neoliberal economics. Overall, a fascinating discussion on economic trends and strategies for healing ailing economies.

Martha Nussbaum, a leading philosopher and law professor at the University of Chicago, dives into the intricate world of animal ethics. She discusses her Capabilities Approach, emphasizing justice for all animals and the moral implications of meat-eating. The conversation contrasts utilitarianism and how emotions can drive awareness of animal suffering. Nussbaum advocates for tailored legal protections that respect animal rights while inspiring activism for change, underscoring our collective responsibility toward animal welfare.

Stephen Wolfram, founder of Wolfram Research and creator of groundbreaking computational tools, dives deep into the intricacies of the Ruliad. He shares his visionary ideas on the fundamental theory of physics and explores the implications of quantum mechanics. Wolfram discusses the concept of computational irreducibility and how it shapes our understanding of the universe. He also tackles the philosophical underpinnings of science, questioning the nature of reality and the role of observers in this elaborate computational framework.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Brian Keating is the Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at the Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences at UC San Diego, host of the Into the Impossible Podcast, an expert on the cosmic microwave background, and the author of a number of books.  Robinson and Brian discuss the expansion and inflation of the universe, the relationship between theory and experiment in cosmology, gravitational waves, Brian’s brainchild the BICEP experiment, and a lot more. Brian’s most recent book is Into the Impossible (2021), which is a distillation of many of his conversations with Nobel Laureates and other brilliant thinkers. Brian’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  Into the Impossible Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/into-the-impossible  Brian’s Mailing List: briankeating.com/list OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 01:02 Introduction 03:30 Brian the Builder 10:59 The Theory of Cosmological Expansion? 27:08 The Origins of Inflation 34:15 On Theory and Experiment in Astrophysics 44:27 On Gravitational Waves and Inflation 1:01:40 BICEP Tech Specs 1:14:54 What Did BICEP Find? 1:29:26 The Simons Array 1:32:50 On Eric Weinstein’s Theory of Everything 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, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

In this podcast, they discuss the origin of life, evolution of music, free will, consciousness, and more. Topics include replicators in natural selection, Robert Sapolsky and free will, thought experiments in philosophy of mind, the Chinese Room, and homuncular functionalism. They challenge intuitions through various experiments, analyze Frank Jackson's thought experiment on color perception, and explore the evolution of objects and design complexity. The evolution of language, mind, and the role of feral neurons are also discussed.

Robert Sapolsky, a Professor at Stanford University and leading mind in the free will debate, discusses intriguing topics in this conversation. He explores how personal experiences and biology shape our beliefs, challenging the illusion of free will. Sapolsky argues that societal constructs, especially the justice system, should adapt if we accept determinism. The conversation dives into the effects of maternal stress on behavior, the role of emotions in moral decisions, and the implications of neuroscience on moral responsibility.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his indefatigable research on Israel and Palestine, which is what he and Robinson discuss in this episode of the show, marking the culmination of a three-installment mini-series on Israel and Palestine. In particular, they discuss the importance—or distraction—of ideology, whether Israel is ethnically cleansing Palestine, the message that October 7th sent to the Arab world, what Gaza has in common with the concentration camps of the Holocaust, Palestinian and Israeli psychology, and whether this conflict is going to be the end of humanity. Norman’s most recent book is I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom (Sublation Media, 2023). Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It!: https://a.co/d/hDDj9OK OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:43 Introduction 2:56 Poisonous Ideology and the Israel-Palestine Conflict 14:20 Zionism, Imperialism, and the Conquest of Palestine 24:34 Is Zionist Israeli Policy Ethnically Cleansing Palestine? 42:28 Is Gaza a Concentration Camp?  52:47 On Israel and the Leader of Hezbollah 1:01:36 Will Israel-Palestine Be the End of Humanity? 1:11:38 Does the Holocaust Justify Israel’s Response in Palestine?  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, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Victor Davis Hanson is a renowned classicist, military historian, and political commentator. He is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Among numerous other awards, Victor was presented the National Humanities Medal in 2007. In this episode, which is the second in an installment of three considering different perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Robinson and Victor discuss his appraisal of the situation as a military historian, some of the contentious claims on both sides that are repeated in the media, how the conflict is discussed on college campuses, and how equality ought to be achieved. Victor was also a guest on episode #112, in which he and Robinson talked about Victor’s latest book, The Dying Citizen. Keep up with Victor on Twitter, through his website, and on his podcast, The Victor Davis Hanson Show.  Victor’s Website: https://victorhanson.com Victor’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/VDHanson The Victor Davis Hanson Show: https://art19.com/shows/the-victor-davis-hanson-show  The Dying Citizen: https://a.co/d/dPocUJg OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:26 Introduction 03:52 An Overview of the Israel-Palestine Conflict 13:40 Who Has the Right to the Territory of Israel-Palestine? 20:01 Do the Jewish People Need a State? 26:08 Israel-Palestine Activism on College Campuses 29:39 DEI on College Campuses 37:05 Is Israel Committing Genocide in Palestine? 51:05 Is Israel an Apartheid State? 55:47 On Equality in Israel versus Palestine 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, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.