
The Bayesian Conspiracy
A conversational podcast for aspiring rationalists.
Latest episodes

Oct 13, 2024 • 9min
Bayes Blast 35 – Disproving The Blindsight Thesis
Dive into a thought-provoking examination of Peter Watts' 'Blindsight' and its implications on consciousness. Discover the costs associated with consciousness and how it might be seen as an unnecessary burden in a world leaning towards AI. The conversation explores the intersection of AI and self-reflection, posing challenging questions about the essence of intelligent behavior. Finally, ponder deep philosophical concepts of identity, qualia, and the tantalizing idea of consciousness-uploading, pushing the boundaries of what it means to exist.

Oct 6, 2024 • 15min
Bayes Blast 34 – Content Moderation is Infosec
The discussion highlights an intriguing parallel between content moderation and information security, advocating for self-regulation in communities. It examines the balance between transparency and security, utilizing Schneer's Law to illustrate potential pitfalls. The house party analogy emphasizes adaptable rule enforcement tailored to community needs. It also addresses the complexities of managing online interactions, the challenge newcomers face in diverse environments, and the importance of understanding group norms to foster communication.

Oct 2, 2024 • 1h 59min
222 – Consciousness As Recursive Reflections with Daniel Böttger
We talk with Daniel about his ACX guest post that posits that thoughts are conscious, rather than brains. LINKS Consciousness As Recursive Reflections Seven Secular Sermons Seven Secular Sermons video on TwitterX LightHaven’s Eternal September 0:00:05 – Recursive Reflections 01:29:30 … Continue reading →

Sep 27, 2024 • 8min
Bayes Blast 33 – Porn Sims
Can we achieve our true potential? based on – Interview Day At Thiel Capital also mentioned: Meetups Everywhere 2024 Are You Jesus or Hitler

Sep 18, 2024 • 2h 28min
221 – Why The Field? Why Zombies?? with Liam
Eneasz tries to understand why someone would posit a Chalmers Field, and brings up the horrifying implications. LINKS Zombies! Zombies? 2 Rash 2 Unadvised (the Terra Ignota analysis podcast) The previous TBC episode, where we first discussed other aspects of this … Continue reading →

Sep 16, 2024 • 5min
Bayes Blast 32 – Canadian Health Care
A surprising update for two previously maple-pilled Yanks

Sep 4, 2024 • 2h 3min
220 – Chalmer’s Zombies, with Liam
Joining the discussion is Liam, a contributor from the thought-provoking 2 Rash 2 Unadvised podcast, known for his explorations of philosophical concepts. The conversation dives deep into the intriguing idea of philosophical zombies and their implications for understanding consciousness. Liam shares insights on the 'hard problem' of consciousness, distinguishing between physical actions and subjective experiences. They also discuss the challenges of understanding qualia and the complexities of consciousness in both humans and AI, making for a truly captivating chat!

Aug 21, 2024 • 1h 22min
219 – On Excellence, with Tracing Woodgrains
Tracing Woodgrains, a thought leader recognized for his inspiring talks, dives deep into the concept of excellence. He unpacks the metaphor of wood carving to illustrate the rigorous dedication needed to achieve greatness. The conversation navigates the conflict between fleeting human experiences and the lasting impact of our legacies. With personal anecdotes, he emphasizes the pursuit of excellence amid societal mediocrity and its connections to beauty in art and music, ultimately arguing for intrinsic motivation and personal growth.

Aug 7, 2024 • 2h 14min
218 – Bentham’s Bulldog and the Best Argument for God
Spurred by comments from a couple of episodes ago, we wanted to make sure we didn’t misrepresent Matthew’s position and he agreed to come lay it out for us on the show. Check out the links below to dive in … Continue reading →

Jul 24, 2024 • 1h 50min
217 – Consensual Violence with Rikard
Rikard, a thoughtful commentator and writer known for his insights on performance art and grappling, dives into the fascinating world of consensual violence. He discusses how engaging in physical confrontations, especially in sports, fosters resilience and confidence, particularly among those with past bullying experiences. The conversation also tackles the nuanced differences between consensual and non-consensual violence, and emphasizes the benefits of creating supportive environments for training. Rikard shares personal anecdotes that highlight the transformative power of stepping out of comfort zones.