

Mind Matters
Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence
On the Mind Matters podcast, Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence considers the implications and misconceptions, the opportunities and limitations, and the applications and challenges presented by intelligent agents and their algorithms. Episode notes and archives available at mindmatters.ai/podcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 12, 2022 • 48min
A First-Hand Account of Kicking Fentanyl Addiction: Reversing Hebb’s Law
Donald Hebb, the father of neuropsychology, is known for Hebb’s Law which states “neurons that fire together wire together.” This means that as you repeatedly perform an action which gives you pleasure or relief, the neurons between the action and the pleasure simultaneously fire. Dr. Robert J. Marks interviews an anonymous man called Stretch who describes his experience with fentanyl Read More ›
Source

May 4, 2022 • 35min
Exercising Free Won’t in Fentanyl Addiction: Unless You Die First
In the 1960s, neurosurgeon Benjamin Libet noticed there was a signal in the brainthat occurred before you knew you were going to do something. On the surface, it looks like you don’t have free will. But Libet noticed that humans do have the ability to say no to these brain signals. He called this free won’t. Dr. Robert J. Marks Read More ›
Source

Apr 28, 2022 • 1h 55min
The National Science Foundation and Advancement in Artificial Intelligence
Early in his career, IEEE fellow and retired National Science Foundation program director Paul Werbos developed the neural network training algorithm known as error backpropagation, which has been foundational to the vast majority of today’s advances in artificial intelligence. Listen in as he discusses his work in this area and other topics, including his tenure with the National Science Foundation, Read More ›
Source

Apr 21, 2022 • 22min
How to Sever Big Tech’s Strings
Doug Smith, author of [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, explains to Andrew McDiarmid how we can escape the subtle influence of Big Tech. He also emphasizes the importance of removing ourselves from our screens so we can enjoy the outside world and recapture our creativity. Show Notes 00:38 | Introducing Doug Smith Read More ›
Source

Apr 14, 2022 • 21min
The Secret Scheme of Screens
Our obsession today with screens is, often unintentionally, taking us to places we regret. We use these windows into the world for hours every day, often unaware how intentional content creators and app designers are in shaping our decisions and forming harmful habits. Andrew McDiarmid interviews Doug Smith, author of the book [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and Read More ›
Source

Apr 7, 2022 • 22min
Hinduism and Social Ethics
What does Hinduism teach about social ethics issues? Is there a consensus among most Hindus, or are there a variety of viewpoints? Dr. Michael Egnor and his guest, Arjuna Gallagher address current issues such as cancel culture, abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. Show Notes 00:10 | Introducing Arjuna Gallagher 00:52 | Cancel Culture 02:29 | Hinduism, Abortion, and Euthanasia 17:14 | Read More ›
Source

Mar 31, 2022 • 59min
EMPS, Swarms and Other Types of Terrifying Technology
Can you survive without your devices? Dr. Robert Marks and Sarah Seguin talk about the dangers to our electrical infrastructure stemming from modern technology. They also discuss various ways people can protect themselves during an EMP attack or another similar event. Show Notes 00:55 | Introduction 01:57 | Electromagnetic Capability 04:28 | Defining EMPs 05:35 | The Physics behind EMPs 08:00 Read More ›
Source

Mar 24, 2022 • 14min
Hinduism and the Beginning of the Universe
Does the universe have a beginning, or is it eternal? Are the creation stories found in Hinduism meant to be taken literally, or are their texts meant to be understood another way? Dr. Michael Egnor and Arjuna Gallagher discuss these issues and much more as they explore Hinduism’s understanding of the creation of the universe. Show Notes 00:05 | Introducing Read More ›
Source

Mar 17, 2022 • 19min
Hinduism, Metaphysics, and Free Will
Dr. Michael Egnor and Arjuna Gallagher discuss Hinduism’s unique perspective regarding subjects such as metaphysics, evil, and free will. Their conversation also addresses the question of whether or not reincarnation requires the existence of a personal creator to serve as the source for morality. Show Notes 00:07 | Introducing Arjuna Gallagher 01:32 | Evolutionary Explanations for the Human Mind 04:24 Read More ›
Source

Mar 10, 2022 • 26min
Hinduism, Reincarnation, and the Mind-Body Problem
Arjuna Gallagher is the host of the YouTube Channel called Theology Unleashed and a Hindu. He discusses Hinduism, reincarnation, karma, and other religious subjects as they pertain to the relationship between the mind and the body with Michael Egnor. Show Notes 00:05 | Introducing Arjuna Gallagher 01:33 | What is Hinduism? 03:03 | Central Themes of Hinduism 04:09 | Is Read More ›
Source