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David Wolpert: Free Will, No Free Lunch, and Science's Hard Limits
Episode 73

David Wolpert: Free Will, No Free Lunch, and Science's Hard Limits

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/qj_YUxg-qtY Sponsors: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off. For Algo's podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and website https://www.algo.com/. Merch (until end of Oct 2021): https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Crypto: 3CSm4FH6975J8wvKp8x8BSefH6QCVuk736 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 LINKS MENTIONED: -Sabine Hossenfelder's video on Superdeterminism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytyjgIyegDI TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:05:41 Explaining the No Free Lunch theorem 00:08:42 Mathematical proof isn't iron clad (an extremely controversial statement!) 00:18:38 Bayesian reasoning isn't iron clad either 00:24:23 What do the No Free Lunch theorems mean? 00:32:15 "The Problem" (TP) and regret about one's past / Nihilism in NFL 00:40:01 There's no "meaning" in the temporary nature of life 00:44:07 No Free Lunch helps appreciation of Zen Buddhism 00:45:50 Artist or Mathematician? (art helps math, and vice versa) 00:48:54 NFL and Zen (continuation) 00:51:38 For intellectuals, atheism is easier than not being an atheist 00:57:30 On Sabine Hossenfelder's excellent video about Superdeterminism 00:59:23 What free will is, and what it is NOT 01:02:23 Excoriations on Dan Dennett's and Stephen Wolfram's idea of "free will" 01:12:46 Does science make metaphysical claims or is it instrumental? 01:21:12 Map vs Territory doesn't apply to the Mathematical Universe 01:35:05 What if physics supervenes on free will? 01:39:36 Explaining The Mathematical Universe 01:43:09 Preview of Part 2 with David Wolpert 01:46:06 The philosophy of mathematics and the foundations of reality are important 01:47:45 Why science shouldn't work / cross validation (thumbnail reference) * * * 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

January 28, 20222h 5m

Show Notes

David Wolpert (Santa Fe Institute) proves the No Free Lunch theorem and challenges the Mathematical Universe They explore how Bayesian reasoning, Zen Buddhism, and superdeterminism intersect with physics and philosophy, and critique popular views on free will.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:05:41 - No Free Lunch theorem explained
- 00:08:42 - Limits of mathematical proof
- 00:18:38 - Limits of Bayesian reasoning
- 00:24:23 - Meaning of No Free Lunch theorems
- 00:32:15 - The Problem and NFL nihilism
- 00:40:01 - Life's temporary meaning
- 00:44:07 - Zen Buddhism and No Free Lunch
- 00:45:50 - Artist vs Mathematician
- 00:48:54 - NFL and Zen continuation
- 00:51:38 - Atheism and intellectuals
- 00:57:30 - Superdeterminism video discussion
- 00:59:23 - What free will is and is not
- 01:02:23 - Critique of Dennett and Wolfram on free will
- 01:12:46 - Science as instrumental vs metaphysical
- 01:21:12 - Map vs Territory and Mathematical Universe
- 01:35:05 - Physics supervening on free will
- 01:39:36 - Explaining the Mathematical Universe
- 01:43:09 - Preview Part 2 with Wolpert
- 01:46:06 - Philosophy of mathematics and reality
- 01:47:45 - Why science shouldn't work / cross validation

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- Sabine Hossenfelder's video on Superdeterminism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytyjgIyegDI
- 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.

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