Avoid Premature Definitions | 3min snip from Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

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Daniel Dennett: Philosophy, Free Will, Thinking Differently

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

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ADVICE

Avoid Premature Definitions

Avoid defining terms at the start of philosophical inquiry.
Instead, explore the phenomena and puzzles directly, similar to a sculptor refining their work iteratively.
Save definitions for later to prevent getting bogged down in arguments about definitions.
Biologists don't define "life" rigidly, yet they know it when they see it.
Focus on the core examples and defer edge cases.

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The deepest dive into philosopher Daniel Dennett's mind.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - The Soul

03:18 - Most Important Philosophical Question

12:06 - Do Qualia Exist?

30:28 - Uploading Consciousness

39:55 - Thinking Differently

56:20 - Pragmatism

1:01:06 - Robert Sapolsky

1:12:57 - Philosophers and Scientists

1:29:30 - Patterns and Emergence

1:36:46 - Roger Penrose

1:42:39 - Sailing Boats

1:45:40 - Fictionalism

1:51:12 - Coming Up With Concepts

1:59:55 - Douglas Hofstadter

2:05:30 - AI Alignment Problem

2:11:31 - Q&A

NOTE: The perspectives expressed by guests don't necessarily mirror my own. There's a versicolored arrangement of people on TOE, each harboring distinct viewpoints, as part of my endeavor to understand the perspectives that exist.

THANK YOU: To Mike Duffey for your insight, help, and recommendations on this channel.

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