Robinson's Podcast

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Peter Woit is a senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Columbia University, where he researches quantum field theory and quantum gravity. Peter is one of the most well-known critics of string theory, and in this episode he and Robinson discuss his work and research in the area, which is encapsulated in his book Not Even Wrong: The Failure of String Theory and the Search for Unity in Physical Law (Basic Books, 2007), as well as his website by the same name. More particularly, they talk about the standard model of particle physics, the problem of quantum gravity, the main figures in string theory, the arguments for and against this approach to physics, its many alleged failures, and the future of research in the area. Not Even Wrong (Book): https://a.co/d/iVnPEi1 Not Even Wrong (Website): https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Peter’s Training in Physics 06:21 What Is the Standard Model of Physics? 10:42 What Is Symmetry? 21:37 Experiment and the Standard Model of Particle Physics 26:15 What’s Wrong with the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 29:36 What Are Grand Unified Theories in Physics? 34:47 What Is Supersymmetry? 40:15 On Ed Witten and the Genius Mind Behind M-Theory 49:08 What Is String Theory? 1:04:56 What Is M-Theory? 1:07:59 On AdS/CFT 1:16:03 On Holography and Quantum Gravity 1:20:27 String Theory and the Sokal Hoax 1:24:09 Peter’s Love of Physics 1:32:13 On the String-Theoretic Landscape and the Multiverse 1:41:51 What’s the Path Forward for Physics? 1:47:52 Is String Theory the Only Game in Time? 1:53:17 How Did String Theory Become Dominant? 1:56:45 String Theory: Not Even Wrong? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Michael Graziano is Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Princeton University, where he and his lab research the brain basis of consciousness. This is Michael’s second appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #169, they discussed Michael’s Attention Schema Theory of consciousness, in which consciousness is a way in which the brain models attention to better organize and monitor itself. In this conversation, Robinson and Michael reexamine the Attention Schema Theory with an eye toward the problem of studying the consciousness not only of humans, but of other animals, and with particular regard to the moral questions surrounding animals’ roles in our lives. Michael’s most recent book is Rethinking Consciousness (W. W. Norton, 2019). Rethinking Consciousness: https://a.co/d/8euR1EL Graziano Lab: https://grazianolab.princeton.edu OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:28 Michael’s Interest in Consciousness 07:22 What Is Consciousness? 16:03 Is there a Magical Essence to Consciousness? 28:43 How Did Consciousness Evolve? 35:29 Testing Michael’s Model of Consciousness 44:55 What’s It Like to Be a Human? 48:25 Is Human Suffering an Illusion? 54:07 The Neuroscience of Pain and Suffering 01:00:39 Is There Value to Human Life? 01:10:42 Was Helen Keller Conscious? 01:21:15 The Global Workspace Theory of Consciousness 01:30:20 Do Animals Value Their Own Lives? 01:41:23 Are Shrimp Conscious? 01:52:23 Should Science Inform Morality? 01:54:03 Can Chickens Suffer? 01:57:12 Are Salmon Conscious? 02:09:40 Are Octopuses Conscious? 02:22:43 Are Poultry Conscious? 02:29:43 Are Barnyard Animals Conscious? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s fourth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #127, he and Robinson discussed some of the most profound criticisms of capitalism; in #154, they focused on the myths surrounding Marxism and Marx himself; and in #190 they covered the Israel-Palestine conflict from a Marxist perspective. In this wide-ranging episode, Richard and Robinson talk about the end of the American empire. More particularly they discuss the wars in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine, the rivalry between China and the United States, the global interplay between capitalism and socialism, the distinction between socialism and communism, the conflict between the BRICS and G7 nations, and more. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024). Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism Class Theory and History (Book): https://a.co/d/ht4trZN Understanding the 2024 Elections (Article): https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/capitalism-mass-anger-and-2024-elections/ Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate OUTLINE 03:10 On the Trauma of His Family Background 10:50 Academia’s War on Marxism 22:45 Economics as the Secret Undercurrent of History 28:01 Will Ukraine Defeat Russia? 31:52 Is China the Empire of the New World? 39:04 The Best American Strategy Against China 45:24 How Trump Won and Lost America 56:22 Is Israel a Colonialist State? 01:03:23 On the Expulsion of the Palestinians from Israel 01:10:49 Israel as America’s Economic Baby 01:18:08 Global Capitalism as the Enemy of the Islamic World 01:23:00 Why You Should Distrust Wartime Propaganda 01:33:03 Zelensky and the Ukrainian Chess Match 01:42:53 The Economic Conspiracy Behind the American Pick-Up Truck 01:49:31 Israel, Ukraine, and the New Cold War 01:54:20 The Many Taboos of Socialism and Communism 01:58:54 The War Between Socialism and Capitalism 02:07:51 Is Socialism More Efficient than Capitalism? 02:16:58 World War I and the Rise of Socialism 02:22:58 The Failed American Attempt to Destroy Russian Communism 02:27:26 Why Did Russia Choose Communism over Socialism? 02:38:06 Communism, Socialism, and the War for the Workplace 02:43:00 Is China Secretly Capitalist? 02:53:18 America’s Choice Between Equality or Subservience to China 02:58:45 Europe’s Hidden Economic Apocalypse 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. This is David’s eighth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. He last appeared on episode 210 with Tim Maudlin, which was a more advanced episode on Niels Bohr and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this episode, David gives a pedagogical and introductory overview of the measurement problem, which is the issue at the core of many discussions about the foundations of quantum mechanics. David’s most recent book is A Guess at the Riddle (2023). If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Note: Unfortunately, the cameras turned off in the middle of the episode. For twenty minutes there is no video, and for most of the episode only the camera focusing on David is recording. A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:54 On Philosophy and the Foundations of Physics 15:35 The Bizarreness of the Quantum World 19:16 What Is the World of Classical Physics? 24:00 How Quantum Mechanics Destroyed the Classical World 29:19 What Is Quantum Mechanical Superposition? 32:18 How Quantum Mechanics Became the Theory of Reality 39:53 What Is the Measurement Problem of Quantum Mechanics? 51:05 Niels Bohr and the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics 01:01:14 Niels Bohr and the EPR Paper 01:08:45 Was Niels Bohr the Most Charming Physicist of All Time? 01:15:59 Is the Measurement Problem a Scientific Problem? 01:21:24 Is String Theory Pseudoscience? 01:31:03 Why Don’t Many Philosophers Work on String Theory? 01:34:08 The Wave Function and the Measurement Problem 01:37:57 Quantum Measurement and Wave Function Collapse 01:41:34 Hidden Variable Theories of Quantum Mechanics 01:44:54 Quantum Mechanics and the Multiverse 01:48:47 Solving the Measurement Problem with Experiment 01:56:41 Quantum Mechanics and the Scientific Project 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s third appearance on the show. He was also a guest on episode 180, where he and Robinson discussed neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, and the rentier economy, and on episode 198, where they discussed Marxism, economic parasites, and contemporary debt cancellation. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about the history of debt cancellation in the ancient world—including Babylon, Greece, and Rome—how they helped to stave off economic collapse, how the failure to implement them contributed to the demise of these civilizations, and how they might be used in today’s economies. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). This episode was recorded at Austin’s Ale House in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, and comes highly recommended. Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm Austin’s Ale House: https://www.austinsteakandalehouse.com/ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:08 Michael’s Interest in Debt 08:23 Why Countries Can’t Pay Their Debts 12:14 Debt Cancellations in the Ancient World 16:51 Can Society Survive Forgiving Everyone’s Debts? 21:30 The Brilliance of Bronze Age Economics 29:19 What Happened When Ancient Harvests Failed? 32:04 The Timeless War of Creditors Against Debtors 37:49 Why States Should Print Their Own Money 41:11 How the Catholic Church Created the Modern State 55:50 On the Origin of Money 01:01:28 On the Economics of Ancient Babylon 01:07:17 Were Ancient Economists Better than Today’s? 01:09:09 The Most Important Prices of an Economy 01:11:39 Uncovering the Collapse of Babylon 01:22:30 Debt and the End of Civilization 01:24:58 Are Ancient Economics the Key to the Future? 01:30:33 Should the Government Forgive Student Loan Debt? 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, historians, economists, and everyone in-between.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 This is the August 2024 AMA for Robinson’s Podcast. It is supported by the members of the Patreon. In this installment, Robinson answers questions about metaethics, art history, discipline, fashion, fitness, fantasy world-building, consciousness, fine-tuning, quantum mechanics, and more. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:01 What to Do 07:43 Thoughts on Discipline 17:29 Art History 20:43 Philosophy for Daily Life 23:30 Planners and Pantsers 27:53 Favorite Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics? 33:06 Favorite Color? 35:57 On Magic and Fantasy World-Building 46:32 Black Holes, Electrons, and Thumbnails 52:45 Favorite Comedy 55:37 Physicality in Life 01:02:19 Is Consciousness Emergent or Fundamental? 01:04:54 Views on Fashion 01:15:16 What’s It Like to be a Philosopher? 01:24:00 Solutions of the Fine-Tuning Problem 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Joscha Bach is a computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher currently working with Liquid AI. He has previously done research at Harvard, MIT, Intel, and the AI Foundation. In this episode, Joscha and Robinson discuss the nature of consciousness—both in humans and synthetic—various theories of consciousness like panpsychism, physicalism, dualism, and Roger Penrose’s, the distinction between intelligence and artificial intelligence, the next developments of ChatGPT and other LLMs, OpenAI, and whether advances in AI will spell the end of humankind. Joscha’s X: https://x.com/Plinz OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:33 Why are Legos Like Computer Programs? 08:23 Philosophy and Mental Representation 11:17 Using Computer Science to Understand Reality 16:26 Could We Make Minds from Machines? 19:14 Is Reality a Simulation? 21:46 What Is the Mind? 24:27 What Do Mysterions Believe About Consciousness? 26:20 Does Roger Penrose’s Theory of Consciousness Make Sense? 35:15 Could Dualism Explain the Human Mind? 37:58 What Is Physicalism About the Human Mind? 41:03 What’s Wrong with Panpsychism? 47:58 On the Next Breakthrough in Consciousness 52:59 What Is Intelligence? 55:45 What’s Artificial Intelligence? 58:22 What Defines the Current Wave of AI? 01:00:57 On the First AI Winter 01:04:55 On Meaning, LLMs, and ChatGPT 01:08:18 Does ChatGPT Mirror the Human Mind? 01:13:18 Is ChatGPT Intelligent? 01:18:43 Will ChatGPT Become Smarter than Humans? 01:24:25 What Is the ARC Challenge for AI? 01:27:58 Will ChatGPT Philosophize Better than Philosophers? 01:35:04 Are Apple, Google, and Microsoft on the Cutting Edge of AI? 01:39:16 Shoulder We Fear AI? 01:45:34 Are We the Smartest Thing on Earth? 01:49:47 What’s More Dangerous: The Internet or AI? 01:54:20 Could AI Take Over the Planet? 01:59:22 Will AI Make Human Artists Obsolete? 02:04:10 Will AI Make Humankind Dependent on the One Percent? 02:11:28 Could AI Solve Climate Change? 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-betwee

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his research on Israel and Palestine. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Norman addresses some of the most common arguments made in defense of Israel, such as those purporting to show Israel is not committing genocide, that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, that Israel is fighting in self-defense, that Egypt is responsible for the crisis, and more. Norman also appeared on episode 192, where he and Robinson discussed October 7th, allegations of genocide and apartheid, and connections between the war and the Holocaust. 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 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:47 Will Israel Nuke Palestine? 12:07 On Palestine and the Holocaust 15:10 Is Israel Getting Away with Genocide? 20:35 On Nuclear War and Israel’s Dependence on the United States 24:00 How Responsible Is Egypt for the Crisis in Gaza? 27:43 Does the Israeli Military Target Civilians? 36:27 Why Norman Finkelstein Can’t Watch the News from Palestine 38:06 On Hoaxes and Conspiracies in Israel-Palestine 47:06 On Corruption in Academia 49:16 Propaganda in Holocaust Scholarship 53:00 Facts and Fiction in Israel-Palestine 1:00:27 Norman Finkelstein’s Research Habits 1:05:10 Do Israeli Settlements Break International Law? 1:07:44 Why Does the United States Support Israel? 1:12:21 “Jewish Supremacy” Versus Harvard 1:20:11 Does Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism? 1:29:38 Does Anti-Semitism Cause Protests Against Israel? 1:35:44 Is The War in Gaza Justifiable as Self-Defense? 1:42:39 On Becoming a Public Figure 1:50:51 On His War with Alan Dershowitz 2:04:19 On Integrity and Palestine Scholarship 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Leonard Susskind is Felix Bloch Professor of Physics at Stanford University. Among other accomplishments, he is among the fathers of such revolutionary concepts in physics as string theory, black hole complementarity, the holographic principle, and the string-theoretic landscape. It is this last concept that Robinson and Leonard discuss in this episode. More particularly, they address the fine-tuning problem—that so many of the constants in physics, such as the cosmological constant—appear to have been selected precisely to allow for human life, as if they were substantially different we would not exist. In answering this question they talk about string theory, dark energy, the Higgs boson, god and supernatural explanations, eternal inflation, the multiverse, the interpretations of quantum mechanics, the anthropic principle, alternative answers to the problem, and the future of research in the area. For more detail, read Leonard’s book on the topic, The Cosmic Landscape. The Cosmic Landscape: https://a.co/d/j2njH7h The Theoretical Minimum: https://theoreticalminimum.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:03 A Parable About the Fine-Tuning Problem 09:58 String Theory and the Fine-Tuning Problem 18:04 The Problem of Dark Energy 25:05 Could Dark Energy Rip the Universe Apart? 33:11 God, String Theory, and the Illusion of Intelligent Design 42:51 On the String-Theoretic Landscape 48:54 The Eternal Inflation of the Universe 55:07 What Determines the Physics of the Multiverse? 01:02:09 On the Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 01:05:50 On the Future of String Theory and Fine-Tuning 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Raphael Bousso is the Chancellor’s Chair in Physics at the Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics, where he leads the Bousso Group in research on quantum gravity and quantum information. He is a renowned string theorist famous also for his development of the string theoretic landscape and the Bousso bound in holography. In this episode, Robinson and Raphael discuss the groundbreaking work of Jacob Bekenstein, Stephen Hawking, Leonard Susskind, Gerard ’t Hooft, and others on the black hole information paradox. They then turn to how this led to the formulation of the holographic principle, which has had profound implications for research on quantum gravity, especially for Raphael himself, who has recently been working on quantum information theory, quantum communication, and other ways in which classical gravity “knows about” and encodes its own quantum states. The Bousso Group: https://lightsheet.berkeley.edu OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:14 Working with Leonard Susskind and Stephen Hawking 6:29 Why Do Physicists Care About Black Holes? 19:11 Do Black Holes have a Temperature? 23:51 How Cold is a Black Hole? 27:32 The Black Hole Information Paradox 41:31 Do Black Holes Mean Quantum Mechanics Must be Thrown Out? 47:09 Black Hole Complementarity and Holography 54:09 What Is Quantum Gravity? 01:01:15 Why is Quantum Gravity a Low Energy Problem? 01:06:54 The Bottom-Up Approach to Quantum Gravity 1:11:12 On String Theory and Holography 01:16:00 What Are Bousso Bounds? 01:22:58 Is Gravity a Quantum Error-Correcting Code? 01:32:09 Is Gravity a Fundamental Force? 01:37:25 On String Theory and the Multiverse 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Dr. Anna Lembke received her undergraduate degree in Humanities from Yale University and her medical degree from Stanford University. She is currently Professor and Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also Program Director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. This is Anna’s second time on the show. On episode 117, she and Robinson discussed her latest, New York Times bestselling book, Dopamine Nation (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021). In this episode, they discuss psychiatry and some of its philosophical connections. Some of the topics they cover include psychiatric phenomenology, eating disorders, the patient-psychiatrist relationship, therapeutic modalities, moral realism, the goals of therapy, and the upcoming Official Dopamine Nation Workbook. Dopamine Nation: https://a.co/d/0AJw6Je The Official Dopamine Nation Workbook: https://a.co/d/0eVHKFc1 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:01 Meta-Commentary, Telehealth, and In-Person Psychiatry 13:50 Transference in Therapy 23:01 Moral Realism 33:45 Nietzsche and Veganism 42:43 Reductionism, Emotion, and Psychiatry 45:55 On Treating Eating Disorders 52:24 The DSM-V and Psychiatric Practice 01:00:00 The Relationship Between Science and Psychiatry 01:08:31 Robinson’s Speech Patterns 01:15:40 Medication Versus Therapy 01:23:07 Creative Pursuits and Therapy 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 This is the inaugural AMA for Robinson’s Podcast. It is supported by the members of the podcast’s Patreon. In this installment, Robinson answers questions about the reality of mathematics, podcasting, moral facts, ice cream, the nature of time, literary books for neophytes, and more. Denying Infinity: https://doi.org/10.1080/01445340.2024.2344346 Abstract: Abraham Robinson is well-known as the inventor of nonstandard analysis, which uses nonstandard models to give the notions of infinitesimal and infinitely large magnitudes a precise interpretation. Less discussed, although subtle and original—if ultimately flawed—is Robinson’s work in the philosophy of mathematics. The foundational position he inherited from David Hilbert undermines not only the use of nonstandard analysis, but also Robinson’s considerable corpus of pre-logic contributions to the field in such diverse areas as differential equations and aeronautics. This tension emerges from Robinson’s disbelief in the existence of infinite totalities (any mention of them is ‘literally meaningless’) and the fact that much of his work involves them. I argue that he treats infinitary avenues of mathematics as useful tools to avoid this difficulty, but that this is not successful to the extent that these tools must be justified by a conservative extension from finitary mathematics. While Robinson provides a compelling and unorthodox pragmatic justification for the role of formal systems in mathematical practice despite their apparent infinitary presuppositions, he deflates mainstream mathematics to a collection of games that occasionally produces meaningful results. This amounts to giving up on a commitment to reconciling his finitism with his mathematical practice. 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.

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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Slavoj Žižek is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London, visiting professor at New York University, and a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Department of Philosophy. This is Slavoj’s fourth appearance on the show. On episode 109, he and Robinson discussed wokeness and psychoanalysis. On episode 118, he, Sean Carroll, and Robinson discussed quantum physics, the multiverse, and time travel. And on episode 206 he, Lee Smolin, and Robinson discussed quantum physics. In this episode, Robinson and Slavoj talk about ancient philosophy, god, communism, quantum mechanics, and psychoanalysis. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:47 Why Is Philosophy More important Now Than Ever? 11:08 On Socrates and the Importance of Philosophy 19:12 On Excrement, God, and Atheism 27:50 A Communist Paradise 34:18 Ukraine and Marxism 39:24 Philosophy and Quantum Mechanics 47:56 Is Lying the Point of Language? 55:49 Cursing as a Test for Artificial Intelligence 58:25 On Philosophers and Physicists 1:01:50 On Superpositions and Quantum Mechanics 1:09:28 On Analytic and Continental Philosophy 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Deborah Gordon is Professor of Biology at Stanford University. She is a myrmecologist—an entomologist who studies ants—focusing on how complex behavior emerges from ant colonies, which have no central control. In this episode, Deborah and Robinson discuss some of the distinctive features of ants, how pheromones help to determine their behavior, examples of fascinating ant species, collective ant behavior, and the life cycle of an ant colony. For more of Deborah’s work on collective behavior, check out her book The Ecology of Collective Behavior (Princeton, 2023). The Gordon Lab: https://web.stanford.edu/~dmgordon/ Ants at Work: https://a.co/d/7bpokYU The Ecology of Collective Behavior: https://a.co/d/1bBT1h7 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Ants and Embryology 05:29 General Features of Ants 13:14 Some Fascinating Ant Species 28:20 Pheromones and Ant Behavior 38:17 Ant Slavery 41:30 Collective Ant Behavior 47:04 A Colony’s Life Cycle 59:01 Revisiting Embryology 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Jay Chandrasekhar is a director, writer, stand-up comic, and actor. Some of his works include directing Super Troopers, Beerfest, and Dukes of Hazzard. He has also directed episodes of Arrested Development, Community, and New Girl. Jay also wrote Mustache Shenanigans (2017) and co-hosts the podcast Mustache Tales. In this episode, Robinson and Jay discuss his growth as a writer, the importance of purpose in comedy and film, creative integrity in Hollywood, working on Supertroopers, and his time with Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew. Mustache Tales: https://www.mustachetales.com Mustache Shenanigans: https://a.co/d/8DZscAT Opening Scene of Super Troopers: https://youtu.be/-wdVF_zJS4s?si=goQsJLqLqvBbMyF0 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:58 Jay’s Name Means…What? 5:22 Mustache Shenanigans 7:54 The Importance of Strong Beginnings in Comedy 20:41 The Importance of Purpose in Comedy and Film 24:39 Keeping Creative Integrity in Hollywood 32:20 On Writing a Novel 36:32 How to Have a Good Podcast 41:34 On Working with the Jackass Crew 59:20 Developing the Talent of a Storyteller 1:12:20 Breaking Down the Raiders of the Lost Ark 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the JBI. This is David’s seventh appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. He last appeared on episode 189 with Barry Loewer to talk about the Mentaculus, their joint project on the foundations of statistical mechanics. This is Tim’s sixth appearance on the show. He last appeared on episode 188 with Sheldon Goldstein to discuss Bohmian mechanics. Tim and David last joined Robinson together for episode 67, which gave an overview of the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this episode, Robinson, David, and Tim talk about the measurement problem, the role of philosophy in physics, various thought experiments, like Schrödinger’s cat and Wigner’s friend, and Niels Bohr’s effects both on quantum mechanics and the philosophy of science. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:04 Einstein, Bell, and Pearl on the Measurement Problem 13:00 On “Measurement” in Quantum Mechanics 25:34 What IS the Measurement Problem? 34:42 John Bell on the Measurement Problem 40:32 An Example of the Measurement Problem 43:08 Von Neumann on the Measurement Problem 45:38 Niels Bohr and the Measurement Problem 57:54 Niels Bohr’s Drastic Revision of Physics 1:08:36 Quantum Measurement and the Philosophy of Physics 1:22:52 On Schrodinger’s Cat and Wigner’s Friend 1:38:34 On Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics 1:45:40 The Measurement Problem, Solved? 1:51:04 On the Role of Philosophy in Physics 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Peter Singer is Ira W. DeCamp Professor Emeritus of Bioethics in the Department of Philosophy at Princeton University. He is among the most influential living philosophers, and among the most influential moral philosophers of the last century. Peter is best known for his work in applied ethics on animal welfare and global poverty. In this episode, Robinson and Peter discuss these topics after first introducing his more general views on moral philosophy, including those on utilitarianism and meta-ethics. Throughout their conversation they also touch on Peter’s new podcast, Lives Well Lived, co-hosted with Kasia de Lazari Radek, the Journal of Controversial Ideas, Peter’s Substack, Bold Reasoning with Peter Singer, and his latest and next books, which are respectively The Buddhist and the Ethicist (Shambhala, 2023) and Consider the Turkey (Princeton, 2024). Peter’s Website: https://www.petersinger.info Lives Well Lived Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/6628460c6b51e80012b834c2 The Life You Can Save Organization: https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org.au The Journal of Controversial Ideas: https://journalofcontroversialideas.org Peter’s Substack: https://boldreasoningwithpetersinger.substack.com The Buddhist and the Ethicist: https://a.co/d/38DOmbK Consider the Turkey: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691231686/consider-the-turkey OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:14 Peter Singer’s Entry into Philosophy 08:54 What Is Utilitarianism? 10:58 On Consequentialism vs Deontology 13:12 On Trolley Problems and Moral Facts 16:40 On Moral Realism and Anti-Realism 20:51 On Hedonistic Utilitarianism 26:17 The Lives Well Lived Podcast 33:43 A Puzzle About Trolley Problems 38:48 On the Origin of Peter Singer’s Concern for Animals 49:38 Is It Ever Morally Permissible to Eat Meat? 55:32 Consider the Turkey 1:03:07 Famine, Affluence, and Morality 1:09:08 The Life You Can Save 1:10:50 The Buddhist and the Ethicist 1:18:08 The Journal of Controversial Ideas 1:25:50 Peter’s Substack 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.

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, Robinson and Victor discuss his latest book, The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation (Basic Book, 2024), which was released on May 7th. More particularly, they cover the historical connection between annihilation and genocide, how we should interpret the past through today’s moral standards, genocides in the present, and the likelihood of World War III. Victor appeared as a guest on episode #112, in which he and Robinson talked about what was at the time Victor’s latest book, The Dying Citizen. He was also a guest on episode #191, which covered Victor’s views on the current crisis in Israel and Palestine. 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 The End of Everything: https://a.co/d/46O0mMB OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:41 On Annihilation, Extinction, and Genocide 09:31 What Causes Genocide? 16:38 The Applicability of Military Strategy to Everyday Life 24:00 On Alexander the Great 36:26 Should We Judge the People of the Past by the Moral Standards of the Present? 44:29 Uyghurs, Jews, and Genocides of the Present 50:45 What Are the Biggest Existential Threats to America? 59:28 Is World War III on the Horizon? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is also the host of Sean Carroll’s Mindscape, a podcast about science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas. This is Sean’s fourth appearance on the show. He appeared with David Albert of Columbia University on episode 106, which covers the Many-Worlds theory of quantum mechanics, Boltzmann Brains, and the fine-tuned universe. He was also on episode 118 with Slavoj Žižek on quantum physics, the multiverse, time travel, and a whole lot more, and then episode 200 with Daniel Dennett and Steven Pinker on AI, parapsychology, and consciousness. This episode is coming out in advance of Sean’s next book, Quanta and Fields: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe (Penguin, 2024), which will be released on May 14, 2024. Sean and Robinson discuss many of the topics and themes of Quanta and Fields, including the books’ namesake subjects, as well as more decides, like scientific realism, free will, the simulation hypothesis, and the end of physics. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics—which you absolutely should be—then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Sean’s Website: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com Sean’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcarroll Quanta and Fields (The Biggest Ideas in the Universe): https://a.co/d/gfMDLQo The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 5:00 The Biggest Ideas in the Universe 9:38 Do Physicists Understand Physics? 15:51 What Is the Role of Philosophers in Physics? 18:24 The Measurement Problem and Quantum Field Theory 20:24 Scientific Realism and the Standard Model of Particle Physics 25:11 What Is the Wave Function? 34:46 What Is Quantum Field Theory? 37:45 What Is the Fundamental Layer of Reality? 41:01 What Is the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 45:42 What Are the Fundamental Objects in the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 47:39 How Do We Test the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 49:38 What Are the Weaknesses of the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 54:41 Will We Ever Find a Theory of Everything? 56:19 Is String Theory the Final Theory of Physics? 58:14 String theory and the Fine-Tuning Problem 01:00:18 Is Quantum Gravity the End of Progress in Physics? 01:06:12 What is Philosophical Naturalism? 01:08:05 On Naturalized Epistemology 01:10:24 On the Philosophy of Mathematics 01:19:08 On Naturalizing Morality 01:22:33 The Myths of Quantum Entanglement 01:29:53 Is There Only One Electron? 01:34:09 Are Atoms Mostly Empty Space? 01:36:51 Are We Living in a Simulation? 01:39:58 Is Infinity a Problem for Quantum Mechanics? 01:41:59 The Mysteries of Quantum Mechanics 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Slavoj Žižek is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London and a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Department of Philosophy. He was also the guest for episodes 109—on psychoanalysis, wokeness, racism, and a hundred other topics—and 118, where he appeared with Sean Carroll to discuss quantum physics, the multiverse, and time travel. Lee Smolin is a founding and senior faculty member at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the author of a number of bestselling books, including The Trouble with Physics (Mariner, 2006). He was the guest for episode 148, in which he and Robinson discussed presentism, the foundations of mathematics, and the philosophy of quantum mechanics. In this episode, Robinson, Slavoj, and Lee discuss time, space, superposition, and other concepts at the core of physics, as well as postmodernism, the big bang, problems with democracy, and much more. Lee is also an Honorary Fellow of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics—which you absolutely should be—then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Lee’s Website: ⁠http://leesmolin.com⁠ The Trouble with Physics: https://a.co/d/eJZPWaE OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 06:26 Breaking the Copenhagen Interpretation 11:55 On Sabine Hossenfelder 21:11 On Monads, Atoms, and Democritus 30:18 Is the World a Game of Physics? 38:46 On the Big Bang 45:26 On European Immigration and Populism 53:09 A Few Jokes 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 Nick Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher who was most recently Professor at Oxford University, where he served as the founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute. He is best known for his book Superintelligence (Oxford, 2014), which covers the dangers of artificial intelligence. In this episode, Robinson and Nick discuss his more recent book, Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World (Ideapress, 2024). More particularly, they discuss the alignment problem with artificial intelligence, the problem of utopia, how artificial intelligence—if it doesn’t make our world horrible—could make it wonderful, the future of technology, and how humans might adjust to a life without work. Nick’s Website: https://nickbostrom.com Deep Utopia: https://a.co/d/b8eHuhQ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:50 From AI Dystopia to AI Utopia 9:15 On Superintelligence and the Alignment Problem 17:48 The Problem of Utopia 21:14 What Are the Different Types of Utopia? 28:04 AI and the Purpose of Mathematics 38:59 What Technologies Can We Expect in an AI Utopia? 43:59 Philosophical Problems with Immortality 55:14 Are There Advanced Alien Civilizations Out There? 59:54 Why Don’t We Live in Utopia? 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 Philip Goff is a professor of philosophy at Durham University in the United Kingdom, where he researches consciousness and the philosophy of mind. He is the best known proponent of a view about consciousness known as panpsychism, which takes mentality to be fundamental in the world rather than something that either emerges out of complex structures or exists parallel to physical objects (as an immaterial property of things like souls). In this episode, Robinson and Philip discuss the major camps in the debate over consciousness, including physicalism, dualism, and panpsychism, touching on both their strengths and weaknesses. They then turn to a few questions raised in Philip’s most recent book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe (Oxford, 2023), in which he seeks to find a middle ground between atheism and deism. Why? The Purpose of the Universe: https://a.co/d/2cqj5Us Philip’s Website: https://philipgoffphilosophy.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:41 Philip’s Interest in Consciousness 8:11 What Is Consciousness? 14:36 Is Consciousness a Spectrum? 19:42 On Dualism About Consciousness 31:37 On Physicalism and the Mind 46:56 What Is Panpsychism? 53:27 The Best Arguments for Panpsychism 57:11 Panpsychism and the Combination Problem 1:02:20 On Panpsychism and Parapsychology 1:07:06 On Panpsychism and Free Will 1:13:04 On the Fine-Tuning Problem 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 Vijay Prashad is a historian and journalist. He obtained his PhD in history at the University of Chicago and was most recently the George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Vijay is a Marxist, and much of his work and writing has been devoted to critiques of capitalism and colonialism, and this notably includes research on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East. In this episode, Robinson and Vijay discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict as a problem of anti-semitism and colonialism, and touch on various other dimensions of the issue, such as how the war might end, Noam Chomsky’s contributions to the discussion, and the legitimacy of Palestine. Tricontinental: https://thetricontinental.org/institutes/ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:20 Human Rights and the Crisis in Palestine 10:50 Decolonizing Palestine and the Problem of European Antisemitism 19:33 Is Israel a European Colonialist Enterprise? 31:06 Is Palestine a Legitimate Nation? 43:14 On Noam Chomsky and a One-State Solution to Israel-Palestine 53:26 Communism, Israel-Palestine, and Dreams of Utopia 59:46 Is There a Practical Solution to the War in Gaza? 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 Jeffrey Sachs is University Professor at Columbia University, where he serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development. Before that, he taught at Harvard University for twenty years. Jeff is the author of numerous books, including three New York Times bestsellers. His latest is The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (Columbia, 2020). In addition to his work as an economist on the cutting edge of sustainable development—including research on changes related to extreme poverty, climate change, and other national economic reforms—Jeff is an authority on geopolitics and international relations, with particular expertise on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and other currently contentious areas. In this episode, Jeff and Robinson discuss practical solutions to the war in Gaza, the geopolitics surrounding the conflict in Israel and Palestine, allegations of anti-semitism in American universities, the assassination of JFK, and the truth behind conspiracy theories. The Ages of Globalization: https://a.co/d/34yO8HB Jeff’s Website: https://www.jeffsachs.org OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:48 Was October 7th Justifiable? 05:35 Can the UN End the War in Palestine? 09:31 Is Israel an Apartheid State? 11:28 Is Israel Committing Genocide? 17:50 Is a Two-State Solution Right for Israel and Palestine? 21:14 What Is the Pathway to Ending the War in Gaza? 26:06 Did the CIA Assassinate JFK? 28:12 On the Legitimacy of Conspiracy Theories 32:59 Key Israeli and Palestinian Players for the War in Gaza 42:01 Biden, Putin, Xi Jinping, and the War in Israel 46:39 On Anti-Semitism in American Universities 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 Benny Morris is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Middle East Studies at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. He is among the most respected and influential historians on Israel and Palestine. Benny is perhaps best known for his work on the 1947-1948 civil war in Palestine and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and for his book The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem, 1947-1948 (Cambridge, 1989). In this episode, Robinson and Benny discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict from a historical perspective, touching on the origin of the refugee crisis, the origin and justification of Israel, the legitimacy of Israeli military tactics, whether genocide is occurring in Palestine, whether Israel is an apartheid state, and more. The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem: https://a.co/d/9pN2W7v OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 3:45 Muscular Judaism and the New Jew 8:53 The Nakba and the Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Crisis 16:18 How Many Palestinians Were Driven from Palestine? 22:32 Was Palestine Occupied Before the Establishment of Israel? 26:24 Did Zionists Invade Occupied Palestine 33:27 Was the Founding of Israel Justified? 39:49 Does Israel Have the Right to Exist? 43:56 Is Egypt Responsible for the Crisis in Gaza? 48:42 On Norman Finkelstein, Concentration Camps, and Hamas Rockets 51:48 Israel, Palestine, and Propaganda 54:09 On the Legitimacy of Palestinian and Arab Historians 58:08 Does Israel Warn Palestinians Before Bombings? 1:00:59 Is Israel Committing Genocide Against Palestinians? 1:03:18 Is Israel an Apartheid State? 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 Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is also host of Sean Carroll’s Mindscape, a terrific show (that influenced the birth of Robinson’s Podcast) about science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas. Daniel Dennett is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Tufts University, where he was co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy. He is one of the most recognized philosophers today, and has made major contributions to the philosophy of mind and biology, among other areas, and is known as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism. Steven Pinker is Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He is an experimental cognitive psychologist, prominent public intellectual, and best-selling author who writes on language, mind, and human nature. This is Sean’s third appearance on the show. He was one of the guests—along with David Albert of Columbia University—on episode 106, which covers the Many-Worlds theory of quantum mechanics, entropy and Boltzmann Brains, and the fine-tuned universe. He was also on episode 118 with Slavoj Žižek on quantum physics, the multiverse, time travel, and a whole lot more. This is Dan’s second appearance on the show, as on episode 194 he and Robinson spoke about consciousness, free will, and the evolution of minds. Finally, Steve is returning for another centennial episode, as he and Robinson discussed rationality, enlightenment, and free speech on episode 100. But in this episode of Robinson’s Podcast (the two hundredth!), Sean, Dan, Steve, and Robinson discuss artificial intelligence, large language models, and whether or not they threaten democracy or even civilization itself, parapsychology and the laws of physics, panpsychism and consciousness, some of the philosophical lessons of Darwinian thought, and the relationship between science and philosophy. Dan’s latest book is I’ve Been Thinking (W. W. Norton, 2023), Steve’s latest book is Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters (Penguin, 2022), and Sean’s next book, Quanta and Fields: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe (Penguin, 2024), will be coming out on May 14, 2024. Sean’s Website: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com Sean’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcarroll Quanta and Fields (The Biggest Ideas in the Universe): https://a.co/d/gfMDLQo Sean’s Paper on QFT and Supervenience: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2101.07884.pdf I’ve Been Thinking: https://a.co/d/ahMEC0G Steven’s Website: https://stevenpinker.com Steven’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/sapinker Rationality: https://a.co/d/9N2uFyr Robinson’s Podcast #106 - David Albert & Sean Carroll: Quantum Theory, Boltzmann Brains, & The Fine-Tuned Universe: https://youtu.be/U6ZtmGIhIhU Robinson’s Podcast #118 - Slavoj Žižek & Sean Carroll: Quantum Physics, the Multiverse, and Time Travel Robinson’s Podcast #194 - Daniel Dennett: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Evolution of Minds: https://youtu.be/9bZcBh0qtKo OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:59 Introduction 6:11 Will Large Language Models End Civilization? 13:42 Are Large Language Models a Threat to Democracy? 22:53 Could AI Destroy the Job Market? 28:14 On Parapsychology and the Violation of Physics 40:23 The Parable of the Bathtub 01:03:45 Physical Causation and the Law of Sufficient Reason 01:09:23 On Emergence and Real Patterns 01:14:48 Is Consciousness an Illusion? 01:27:13 The Darwinian Lesson 01:31:50 Does Physics Show that the Universe is Conscious? 1:44:36 What is Philosophy? 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 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. Michael was also a guest on episode 180, where he and Robinson discussed neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, and the rentier economy. In this episode we continue the discussion, focusing on his book Killing the Host (ISLET, 2015). More particularly, they discuss the rhythm of debt and economic crashes, the role of history in the study of economics, the history of debt cancellation, Marxism, economic parasites, and how to heal ailing economies. Michael’s most recent book is The Collapse of Antiquity (ISLET, 2023). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com The Collapse of Antiquity: https://a.co/d/0TMt9Sh Killing the Host: https://a.co/d/fG2wD19 OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:29 The Rhythm of Debt and Economic Crashes 8:27 The Role of History in Economic Thought 17:09 The Fascinating History of Debt Cancellation 25:52 Aristotle, Plato, and The Cancellation of Debt 31:49 Ancient Greece and the Cancellation of Debt 41:10 The Problems with Today’s Neoliberal Economics 45:29 On Karl Marx and Marxism 47:21 The Lord’s Prayer, Christianity, and Debt Cancellation 56:34 FIRE and Economic Parasites 1:07:13 How Does Wall Street Parasitize the Government? 1:09:57 Are We Hosts for Economic Parasites? 1:19:32 What’s Wrong With Austerity Measures for Economic Crashes? 1:21:39 Preventing Economic Parasites from Sucking the Country Dry 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 Martha Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, with appointments in the Department of Philosophy and the Law School. Martha is among the most recognized philosophers today. Over the course of her career, she has made numerous major contributions to ancient philosophy, ethics, political philosophy, the philosophy of law, and other areas. Martha’s most recent book is Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility (Simon & Schuster, 2023). In this episode, Robinson and Martha discuss some of her contributions to animal ethics both in philosophy and law. More particularly, they touch on philosophical conceptions of justice, various approaches to animal ethics—such as utilitarianism and Kantianism—the Capabilities Approach to freedom and justice, and how people ought to think about eating meat. Justice for Animals: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JPHCKLJ OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:08 Martha’s Interest in Justice for Animals 8:15 Justice and Flourishing Lives 16:31 Recognizing Injustice for Animals 29:54 What Is the Scala Naturae? 42:28 Utilitarianism 52:28 The Capabilities Approach 1:15:39 Is Meat-Eating Ever Ethical? 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 Stephen Wolfram is the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research, and the creator of Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha, and the Wolfram Language. He received his PhD in theoretical physics from Caltech when he was twenty years old. In addition to his work at the helm of Wolfram Research, he writes and researches widely across computer science, physics, mathematics, and more. This is Stephen’s second appearance on the show. In episode 102, he and Robinson discussed artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and the philosophy of math. In this episode, however, they turn to the Ruliad—the entangled limited of computability—and Stephen’s search for the fundamental theory of physics. Along the way, they talk about the philosophy of science, abstract and concrete objects, and quantum mechanics. A Project to Find the Fundamental Theory of Physics: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0917YZDNF?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Z7EPANZC9JVQR0HP2E1D The Concept of the Ruliad: https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2021/11/the-concept-of-the-ruliad/#:~:text=November%2010%2C%202021-,The%20Entangled%20Limit%20of%20Everything,arisen%20from%20our%20Physics%20Project. Stephen’s Website: https://www.stephenwolfram.com Stephen’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephen_wolfram Wolfram Research on YouTube: https://a.co/d/aADrGGh OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:44 How Did Stephen Wolfram Discover the Ruliad? 34:22 The Axiomatic Revolution in Physics 46:37 Is the Ruliad a Theory or an Object? 1:10:01 How Big is the Space of Alien Minds? 1:18:25 Is the Universe an Abstract Object? 1:31:43 What Is Quantum Mechanics? 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 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Daniel Dennett is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Tufts University, where he was co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy. He is one of the most recognized philosophers today, and has made major contributions to the philosophy of mind and biology, among other areas, and is known as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism. Dan’s latest book is I’ve Been Thinking (W. W. Norton, 2023), though much of what he and Robinson discuss comes from his earlier book, From Bacteria to Bach and Back (W. W. Norton, 2017). More particularly, they talk about the origin of life and reasons, the evolution of music, Robert Sapolsky and free will, famous thought experiments in the philosophy of mind, the origin of consciousness, and the relationship between mind and language. I’ve Been Thinking: https://a.co/d/ahMEC0G From Bacteria to Bach and Back: https://a.co/d/htcrcn7 OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:54 Introduction 3:51 Where Am I? 11:00 The Origin of Life as the Origin of Reasons 16:42 On Music and Philosophy 23:13 Is Music Evolved? 26:52 What are Replicators and How Do they Figure in Natural Selection? 33:32 On Robert Sapolsky and Free Will 47:50 On Free Will and the Justice System 59:55 On Sean Carroll, Free Will, and Intuition Pumps 1:09:49 On the Chinese Room 1:13:14 On Mary in the White Room 1:18:18 Why Would Aliens Be Excited to Discover Clam Rakes? 1:21:58 What Is Homuncular Functionalism? 1:30:11 How Do Brains Make Minds? 1:38:59 Are There Pathological Memes? 1:47:19 Where Does Consciousness Come From? 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 Robert Sapolsky is John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor and Professor of Biology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at Stanford University. He’s also a best-selling author and one of the leading voices in the current—and enduring—debate over free will. In this conversation, Robinson and Robert discuss his latest book, Determined (Penguin, 2023), and the many arguments it contains against free will, and how, if we don’t have it, we ought to change many of our social institutions, like the carceral system, that operate on the assumption that people are free, morally responsible agents. Determined: https://a.co/d/g7n5fPj OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:34 Introduction 3:08 Turtles and the Illusion of Free Will 9:35 The Neuroscience of Denial 12:55 What Is Free Will and Why Don’t We Have It? 21:08 What Is Physical Determinism? 23:15 Chaos Theory, Complexity, and Free Will 34:08 Quantum Bullshit 39:53 Quantum Mechanics and Free Will 47:59 Does Consciousness Give Us Free Will? 58:12 Fear, Disgust, and Free Will 1:05:46 What Primatology Tells Us About Free Will 1:08:09 The Limbic System and Free Will 1:13:14 Does Testosterone Undermine Free Will? 1:19:45 How Does the Womb Determine Who We Are? 1:24:32 How Is Free Will Connected to Weight Loss? 1:31:05 How Does Skepticism About Free Will Impact Behavior? 1:36:51 If There Is No Free Will, What Should We Do With Prisons? 1:45:32 What Is Funishment? 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 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.

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s third appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #127, he and Robinson discussed some of the most profound criticisms of capitalism, and in #154 installment, they focused on the myths surrounding Marxism and Marx himself. In this episode, Richard and Robinson talk about the current—and enduring—Israel-Palestine conflict, with particular emphasis on how, with his Marxist training and background, Richard understands it from that perspective. Some particular questions discussed are how class figures into the conflict, whether ideology plays any pernicious roles, whether Israel should be considered a refugee state, why pro-Palestinian views are suppressed in the United States, and how Marx might have attempted to adjudicate the conflict. Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:37 Introduction 04:19 Israel-Palestine and the Marxist Perspective 11:33 Is Israel a Colonial State or a Refugee State? 16:45 Some Important Marxist Distinctions in Israel and Palestine 25:09 Israel as a Project of Colonialist Capitalism 41:50 Ideology and the Perpetuation of the Israel-Palestine Disaster 01:01:03 Warfare and the Horrors of Israel-Palestine 01:07:43 The Suppression of Opposition to Israel in the United States 01:19:15 The Marxist Solution to the Israel-Palestine Conflict? 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 David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics, as is the second guest. Barry Loewer is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers. Before that he did his PhD in philosophy at Stanford (!). Barry works largely in the philosophy of physics, the philosophy of science, and metaphysics. This is Barry’s second time on the show—in episode 83 he and Robinson discusses probability and laws of nature, both of which come up in this episode. This is David’s sixth (!) appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. He appeared on episode #23 with Justin Clarke-Doane on metaethics and absolute space, episode #30 on the philosophy of time, episode #67 with Tim Maudlin on the foundations of quantum theory, episode #106 with Sean Carroll on Many-Worlds and fine-tuning, and episode #157 on the metaphysics of quantum mechanics. In this episode, Robinson, Barry, and David talk about the Mentaculus, their joint project on the foundations of statistical mechanics, which provides a guide for how to think of and solve problems involving probability, determinism, free will, cosmology, time, and more. A book Barry, Brad Weslake, and Eric Winsberg have edited on essays concerning David’s book, Time and Chance, called The Probability Map of the Universe (Harvard, 2023), came out around this time last year, and the link is in the description. The Probability Map of the Universe: https://a.co/d/4XoYTMY A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:41 Introduction 04:23 The Mentaculus 07:08 Chance, Probability, and Determinism 29:52 What Is the Mentaculus? 46:37 The Mentaculus, Thermodynamics, and Time’s Arrows 01:18:51 The Quantum Arrow of Time 01:30:34 On Tim Maudlin and the Arrow of Time 01:36:30 Can We Time Travel to the Future 01:44:22 Free Will and Statistical Mechanics 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 Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Sheldon Goldstein is Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Rutgers University, where he researches mathematical physics, the foundations of quantum mechanics, and Bohmian Mechanics. He is also Board Member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics, and this is his second appearance on the show. In episode 170, he and Robinson discussed Bohmian Mechanics. On the other hand, this is Tim’s fifth appearance on the show. Tim was also a guest on episode 46 (laws of nature, space, and free will), episode 67 with David Albert (the foundations of quantum mechanics), episode 115 with Craig Callender (the philosophy of time), and episode 142 on Bell’s inequality and the philosophy of science. In this episode, Robinson, Tim, and Shelly discuss the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, the Many-Worlds theory, spontaneous collapse theories, Bohmian mechanics, and emergent relativity. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics—which you absolutely should be—then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site Shelly’s Website: https://sites.math.rutgers.edu/~oldstein/ The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:22 Introduction 03:04 Is Copenhagen the Dominant Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics? 20:12 On the Most Promising Theories of Quantum Mechanics 34:46 Are There 0-Dimensional Quantum Objects? 41:03 On Spontaneous Wave Function Collapse in Quantum Mechanics 47:56 Bohmian Mechanics and Determinism 51:34 What is Bohmian Mechanics? 1:10:33 Is There a Fundamental Theory of Quantum Mechanics 1:18:45What Is Emergent Relativity? 1:31:01 What Are the Problems with Bohmian Mechanics? 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 Michael Levin is a Distinguished Professor in the Biology Department at Tufts University, where he holds the Vannevar Bush endowed Chair, and he is also associate faculty at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Michael and the Levin Lab work at the intersection of biology, artificial life, bioengineering, synthetic morphology, and cognitive science. Michael also appeared on the show in episode #151, which was all about synthetic life and collective intelligence. In this episode, Michael and Robinson discuss the nature of cognition, working with Daniel Dennett, how cognition can be realized by different structures and materials, how to define robots, a new class of robot called the Anthrobot, and whether or not we have moral obligations to biological robots. The Levin Lab: https://drmichaellevin.org/ OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:19 Introduction 02:14 What is Cognition? 08:01 On Working with Daniel Dennett 13:17 Gatekeeping in Cognitive Science 25:15 The Multi-Realizability of Cognition 31:30 What are Anthrobots? 39:33 What Are Robots, Really? 59:53 Do We Have Moral Obligations to Biological Robots? 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 Jenann Ismael is the William H. Miller III Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, where she researches the philosophy of physics, science, mind, and metaphysics. In this episode, Robinson and Jenann discuss the role of self-reference in physics, the arrows of time, interpretations of quantum mechanics, and free will. Jenann’s latest book is Time: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2021). Jenann’s Website: https://www.jenanni.com Time: A Very Short Introduction: https://a.co/d/8fRtXFZ How Physics Makes Us Free: https://a.co/d/9OdFJ12 OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode 00:23 Introduction 02:21 Jenann’s Entry into Philosophy of Physics 8:26 Self-Reference and the Universe 21:54 The Real-World Problem of Self-Reference 32:51 The Mentaculus 57:01 Interference and Self-Reference 1:01:55 Interference and Quantum Measurement 1:06:12 On Self-Reference and the Many-Worlds Theory of Quantum Mechanics 1:17:13 On Determinism and Free Will 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 Jim Al-Khalili holds a University of Surrey Distinguished Chair in physics and a university chair in the Public Engagement in Science at the University of Surrey, where he is a theoretical physicist, author, and broadcaster. In this episode, Robinson and Jim talk about the fundamentals of quantum biology, including what it is, how some animals—like Robinson’s namesake, the Robin—take advantage of quantum mechanics, how exotic phenomena like quantum tunneling fit into the biological world, and how quantum mechanics relates to the arrow of time. Jim’s latest book is The Joy of Science (Princeton, 2022). The Joy of Science: https://amzn.eu/d/hREAipW Jim’s Website: https://jimal-khalili.com OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode 00:37 Introduction 03:02 What Is Quantum Biology? 17:00 How Do Robins Use Quantum Mechanics? 26:42 Where Does Quantum Tunneling Fit into Biology? 34:16 What is Quantum Decoherence? 40:03 Jim on His Preferred Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics 43:18 Quantum Mechanics and the Arrow of Time 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 Brian Leiter is Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Chicago Law School, founder and Director of Chicago’s Center for Law, Philosophy & Human Values, and is best known in the philosophical world for his work on Nietzsche and legal philosophy. He is the founding editor of the Routledge Philosophers book series, Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Law, and Philosophical Gourmet Report, which is the canonical—as well as extremely helpful and illuminating—ranking of philosophy departments and PhD programs in the English-speaking world. He also maintains the world’s most popular philosophy blog, Leiter Reports. Brian was also a guest on episode 97, where he and Robinson discussed Karl Marx, ideology, and historical materialism, but in this episode they talk about Friedrich Nietzsche’s moral psychology and his criticism of morality. Among the topics they discuss are The Genealogy of Morals, The Gay Science, moral realism and anti-realism, moral psychology, and Nietzsche’s thoughts on free will. Brian’s latest book is Moral Psychology with Nietzsche (Oxford, 2021). Brian’s Website: https://www.brianleiter.net Brian’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLeiter Leiter Reports: https://leiterreports.typepad.com Moral Psychology with Nietzsche: https://a.co/d/3dJZBeZ OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:04 Introduction 02:14 Who Was Friedrich Nietzsche? 10:50 Naturalism in Nietzsche’s Moral Psychology 20:24 Nietzsche and the Death of God 28:36 Nietzsche and Moral Anti-Realism 40:32 Did Nietzsche Believe in Free Will? 47:43 Nietzsche and the Genealogy of Morals 01:11:50 The Main Takeaways from Nietzsche’s Moral Philosophy 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 Neil Shubin is Robert R. Bensley Distinguished Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. In addition to actively leading research expeditions across the globe, Neil runs the Shubin Lab, where genetic, kinematic, and paleontologic work combine to investigate some of the major transitions in evolution. In this episode, Robinson and Neil discuss some of these transitions, including the importance of the Devonian and Triassic Periods, how fish moved from water to land, and how early terrestrial environments accommodated them. Neil’s most recent book is Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA (Random House, 2020). The Shubin Lab: https://shubinlab.uchicago.edu Neil’s Twitter: https://shubinlab.uchicago.edu Some Assembly Required: https://a.co/d/dnZMuSl OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:39 Introduction 03:25 What Is Evolutionary Biology? 12:59 On The importance of the Devonian Period 20:39 Searching Antarctica for Fish Fossils 31:50 How Did Fish Become People? 54:43 Genetics and Kinematics 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 Larry Keith is the Head of Conservation and Keeper of the National Gallery of London, where he preserves and maintains some of the world’s most precious works of art, including paintings by Leonardo, Caravaggio, and Rubens. In this episode, Robinson and Larry discuss what goes into a conservator’s appraisal of an artwork, some of the tools and techniques of the job, and how Larry has treated a number of famous paintings, such as Leonardo’s Virgin of the Rocks and Caravaggio’s The Boy and a Lizard. OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 01:08 Introduction 03:19 Piere Menard and Borges 11:01 Conserving Da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks 23:28 What Goes into Conserving a Renaissance Masterpiece? 51:00 Conserving Caravaggio’s Masterpieces 01:17:32 On Authorship and Paul Rubens’ Drunken Silenus 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://www.patreon.com/robinsonerhardt Jon Butterworth is Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at University College London, where he works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. In this episode, Robinson and Jon discuss his work on the standard model of particle physics, it’s connection to quantum theory, life at the LHC, the search for the Higgs Boson, and its role in physics as we know it and going forward. Jon’s book on the Higgs boson is Most Wanted Particle: The Inside Story of the Hunt for the Higgs, the Heart of the Future of Physics (The Experiment, 2016). Most Wanted Particle: https://a.co/d/02B0H5C 00:00 Pre-Roll 00:16 Introduction 03:01 Jon’s Interest in Physics 10:02 What Is the Standard Model of Particle Physics? 19:31 How Does Quantum Theory Fit into the Standard Model? 25:28 How Does the Large Hadron Collider Work? 44:39 On The Theory Behind the Higgs Boson 56:45 Is the Higgs Boson the God Particle? 58:50 How Does The Higgs Boson Work (For Dummies)? 01:02:22 Where Does Mass Come From in the Universe? 01:11:01 The Higgs Boson, Quantum Gravity, and Meta-Stability 01:25:28 Life at the LHC 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://www.patreon.com/robinsonerhardt⁠ Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. In this episode, Robinson and Michael discuss this last subject. They begin broadly, with how as an economist Michael even thinks of debt, and move on to questions concerning the rentier class, industrial capitalism usury, and neoliberalism, as well as Michael’s beliefs about what must be done to save the economy. Michael’s most recent book is The Collapse of Antiquity (ISLET, 2023). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com The Collapse of Antiquity: https://a.co/d/0TMt9Sh OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode 00:25 Introduction 02:55 Michael’s Background in Economics 09:48 How Does an Economist Think of Debt? 22:15 Why Are Rent and the “Rentier Class” Crucial to What’s Wrong with the Economy? 30:21 What Is Industrial Capitalism? 40:58 Why Is Usury So Prevalent in the United States? 46:17 What Is Neoliberal Ideology? 01:00:23 Is China A Good Example of Trickle-Down Economics? 01:03:52 How to Save the Economy from the Upper Class 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.

Adam Gazzaley is David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Adam works on developing new approaches to both assess and optimize human cognition, with particular attention to underutilized but high-potential tools like video games. In this episode, Robinson and Adam discuss the cognition crisis—why our brains seem to be under such duress in the modern age—and the structural features of the brain, as well as its plasticity, and how these things can be modified and optimized to deal with the current environment. Check out Adam’s book, The Distracted Mind (MIT, 2016). Adam’s Website: https://gazzaley.com The Distracted Mind: https://a.co/d/aZm8Reg OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:39 Introduction 03:09 Science and Medicine 07:29 What Is Brain Plasticity 11:17 What Is the Cognition Crisis? 31:48 Can Neuroscience Make Us Smarter? 43:17 Can Neuroscience Develop Technological Medicine? 54:45 On Medicinal Video Games 01:04:01 Why Doctors Might Prescribe Video Games For ADHD 01:23:49 Sleep Improvement 01:27:24 The Future of Medicinal Video Game Research 01:43:07 How We Can All Improve Cognitive Function 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.

Chike Jeffers is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Dalhousie University, where he researches Africana philosophy, the philosophy of race, social and political philosophy, and ethics. Lucius Outlaw is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus and W. Alton Jones Chair Emeritus in the Philosophy Department at Vanderbilt University, where he researches African, Africana, continental, social, and political philosophy. Both Chike and Lou have written widely on African and Africana philosophy, which form the subject of this episode. More particularly, Robinson, Chike, and Lou discuss the origin of Africana philosophy in the diaspora, violence in Africana philosophy, and the role of aesthetics in the tradition. For background, check out Lou’s article on Africana Philosophy in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and Chike’s work with Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri on the History of Indian and Africana Philosophy Podcast. History of Indian and Africana Philosophy Podcast: https://historyofphilosophy.net/series/africana-philosophy Africana Philosophy on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/africana/ OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode 00:52 Introduction 03:14 What Is Africana Philosophy? 30:16 Distinguishing African and Africana Philosophy 37:16 Violence in Africana Philosophy 01:04:44 Aesthetics and Africana Philosophy 01:28:17 Final Thoughts 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.

Juan Maldacena is Carl P. Feinberg Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study, where his work focuses on quantum gravity, string theory, and quantum field theories. In this episode, Robinson and Juan discuss the relationship between string theory and black holes, the holographic principle, and Juan’s groundbreaking paper on the AdS/CFT Correspondence. OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:48 Introduction 04:04 What Is the Purpose of String Theory? 16:35 Working at the IAS 17:55 String Theory and The Black Hole Information Paradox 41:19 Is Space Curved? 47:00 What is Conformal Field Theory? 50:24 String Theory and the AdS/CFT Correspondence 01:27:00 Quantizing Gravity 01:40:20 De Sitter Space Correspondences 01:56:36 Fine-Tuning and String Theory 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.