Episode 82

David Wolpert: The Monotheism Theorem and Uncaused Causation

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/WkVq0p2WBmQ Sponsors: -Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off. -Algo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and website https://www.algo.com/. Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch LINKS MENTIONED: -Chris Langan's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CTMURadio -Anil Seth's book: https://amzn.to/3iaWLUY -Part 1 with David Wolpert: https://youtu.be/qj_YUxg-qtY TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:21 No Go Theorem regarding the existence of Laplace's Demon 00:08:06 Limits on Inference Devices 00:16:40 The Monotheism Theorem 00:21:05 Gaining wisdom from dogs 00:21:34 The Monotheism Theorem (explained in detail) 00:29:49 Norton's Dome (Newtonian mechanics is NOT deterministic) 00:35:06 What is an "observer"? An inference device! 00:39:48 Prediction vs Memory 00:42:45 No Free Lunch and Inference Devices 00:47:22 Opinions on Donald Hoffman 00:48:34 Church Turing thesis (a theorem or definition?) 00:50:46 Thoughts on Donald Hoffman again 00:53:24 The most profound results in philosophy are from algorithmic information theory 00:57:27 Busy beaver function 01:02:27 [Chris Langan] On the definition of "observer" being teleological 01:03:42 [Chris Langan] Mind and Matter / Dualism / Chalmers / Penrose 01:08:50 [Prof. Karl Friston] Non-equilibrium Steady States are consequences of what? 01:12:05 [Prof. Anil Seth] Consciousness is substrate independent? Free Will? 01:18:59 Wolpert doesn't like the debate over definitions 01:31:14 [Prof. Kevin Knuth] Remarks on what life is 01:38:04 [Prof. Edward Lee] Why are people offended by uncaused cause? 01:43:54 [Sam Thompson] Sociopolitical implications of the inference theorems 01:45:04 [Chris Langan] On modifying physicalism * * * Just wrapped (April 2021) a documentary called Better Left Unsaid http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com on the topic of "when does the left go too far?" Visit that site if you'd like to watch it.

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal · Theories of Everything

March 10, 20221h 51m

Original episode page

Show Notes

David Wolpert explores the Monotheism Theorem, Penrose’s ideas, consciousness, free will, and the notion of uncaused causation, challenging deterministic assumptions and highlighting limits of inference devices. The conversation weaves philosophy, physics, and algorithmic information theory into a provocative debate.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:04:21 - No Go Theorem regarding Laplace's Demon
- 00:08:06 - Limits on Inference Devices
- 00:16:40 - The Monotheism Theorem
- 00:21:05 - Gaining wisdom from dogs
- 00:21:34 - The Monotheism Theorem (explained in detail)
- 00:29:49 - Norton's Dome (Newtonian mechanics is NOT deterministic)
- 00:35:06 - What is an "observer"? An inference device!
- 00:39:48 - Prediction vs Memory
- 00:42:45 - No Free Lunch and Inference Devices
- 00:47:22 - Opinions on Donald Hoffman
- 00:48:34 - Church Turing thesis (a theorem or definition?)
- 00:50:46 - Thoughts on Donald Hoffman again
- 00:53:24 - Profound results from algorithmic information theory
- 00:57:27 - Busy beaver function
- 01:02:27 - [Chris Langan] On definition of "observer" being teleological
- 01:03:42 - [Chris Langan] Mind and Matter / Dualism / Chalmers / Penrose
- 01:08:50 - [Prof. Karl Friston] Non-equilibrium Steady States consequences
- 01:12:05 - [Prof. Anil Seth] Consciousness substrate independent? Free Will?
- 01:18:59 - Wolpert on debate over definitions
- 01:31:14 - [Prof. Kevin Knuth] Remarks on what life is
- 01:38:04 - [Prof. Edward Lee] Why people offended by uncaused cause?
- 01:43:54 - [Sam Thompson] Sociopolitical implications of inference theorems
- 01:45:04 - [Chris Langan] On modifying physicalism

SPONSORS:

- Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off
- Algo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and https://www.algo.com/
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE
- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything
- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch

RESOURCES:

- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/WkVq0p2WBmQ
- Chris Langan's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CTMURadio
- Anil Seth's book: https://amzn.to/3iaWLUY
- Part 1 with David Wolpert: https://youtu.be/qj_YUxg-qtY
- Better Left Unsaid documentary: http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.

SPONSOR: I subscribe to The Economist for their science and tech coverage. As a TOE listener, get 35% off! No other podcast has this: https://economist.com/TOE

FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

← All episodes of Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal