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Noam Chomsky: Buddhism, ChatGPT, and the Hard Problem of Mind
Episode 156

Noam Chomsky: Buddhism, ChatGPT, and the Hard Problem of Mind

YouTube link https://youtu.be/DQuiso493ro - Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad-free audio episodes!) - 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 - TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch LINKS MENTIONED: - Paper "refuting" Chomsky by Piantadosi: https://lingbuzz.net/lingbuzz/007180 - Sabine Hossenfelder video on ChatGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP5zGh2fui0 - Every Noam Chomsky on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlORiRfcaQe8ZdxKxF-e2BCY - Terrence Deacon on TOE (Symbol Grounding Problem): https://youtu.be/PqZp7MlRC5g TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:50 Artificially intelligence "world government" 00:06:23 Introspection for self-knowledge (limits and power) 00:09:02 Buddhism and Taoism (for language) + suffering 00:09:54 Will humans survive? 00:10:44 What progress has been made in the study of language rules 00:13:02 Recursive "merge" 00:26:08 Dolphin and sperm whale languages (complexity measure?) 00:29:32 Philosophy of science 00:32:54 Symbol grounding problem and grounding moral philosophy 00:41:20 "Science is like a drunk at a lamppost" 00:42:36 Mind-body problem is misconceived 00:51:21 Sabine Hossenfelder on "ChatGPT Understands Language" 00:55:00 Modern language models refute Chomsky's approach to language 00:58:56 Bare phrase structure theory (inclusiveness condition) 01:01:09 Intentionality and Searle's Chinese Room Experiment 01:05:45 Generative grammar and metaphysics (Langan's CTMU) 01:07:52 Consciousness creating reality? 01:11:59 Does Universal Grammar hold up to "Bayesian modeling"? 01:13:28 AGI Scaring Chomsky 01:14:56 Linguistic successors of Chomsky 01:16:11 Human language capacity vs. arithmetical capacity (is it related?) 01:20:23 "You can't know anything for certain" and Nihilism

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal · Theories of Everything

August 1, 20231h 28m

Show Notes

Noam Chomsky’s ideas are examined alongside Buddhism, AI, and the mind‑body problem, questioning whether language rules and consciousness can be reduced to algorithms. The conversation also tackles the impact of ChatGPT, modern language models, and philosophical implications for science and morality.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:02:50 - AI world government concept
- 00:06:23 - Introspection limits and power
- 00:09:02 - Buddhism, Taoism, language, suffering
- 00:09:54 - Human survival question
- 00:10:44 - Progress on language rule study
- 00:13:02 - Recursive merge
- 00:26:08 - Dolphin and sperm whale language complexity
- 00:29:32 - Philosophy of science
- 00:32:54 - Symbol grounding and moral philosophy
- 00:41:20 - Science analogy quote
- 00:42:36 - Mind‑body problem critique
- 00:51:21 - Hossenfelder on ChatGPT understanding language
- 00:55:00 - Language models refute Chomsky
- 00:58:56 - Bare phrase structure theory
- 01:01:09 - Intentionality and Chinese Room
- 01:05:45 - Generative grammar and CTMU
- 01:07:52 - Consciousness creating reality?
- 01:11:59 - Universal Grammar vs Bayesian modeling
- 01:13:28 - AGI scares Chomsky
- 01:14:56 - Linguistic successors of Chomsky
- 01:16:11 - Human language vs arithmetic capacity
- 01:20:23 - Certainty, nihilism

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- TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch

RESOURCES:

- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/DQuiso493ro
- Paper "refuting" Chomsky by Piantadosi: https://lingbuzz.net/lingbuzz/007180
- Sabine Hossenfelder video on ChatGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP5zGh2fui0
- Every Noam Chomsky on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlORiRfcaQe8ZdxKxF-e2BCY
- Terrence Deacon on TOE (Symbol Grounding Problem): https://youtu.be/PqZp7MlRC5g

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.

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