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Michael Levin and Joscha Bach: The Shape of Collective Thought
Episode 115

Michael Levin and Joscha Bach: The Shape of Collective Thought

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/kgMFnfB5E_A This theolocution has been released early in an ad-free audio version for TOE members at http://theoriesofeverything.org. Sponsors: - Drink Trade: https://www.drinktrade.com/everything for 30% off -Uncommon Goods: uncommongoods.com/everything for 15% off your first gift! - Roman: https://ro.co/curt for 20% off first order - Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/toe (promocode: theoriesofeverything) Average net returns/Net IRR reflects annualized return on investment, net of all fees and expenses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. *New* TOE Website (early access to episodes): https://theoriesofeverything.org/ 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 LINKS MENTIONED: - Michael Levin (Solo TOE podcast): https://youtu.be/Z0TNfysTazc - Michael Levin Theolocution With Chris Fields & Karl Friston: https://youtu.be/J6eJ44Jq_pw - Joscha Bach Theolocution With John Vervaeke: https://youtu.be/rK7ux_JhHM4 - Joscha Bach Theolocution With Donald Hoffman: https://youtu.be/bhSlYfVtgww - Joscha Bach (Solo TOE podcast): https://youtu.be/3MNBxfrmfmI This episode has been released early in an ad-free audio version for TOE members at http://theoriesofeverything.org/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:55 Bach and Levin speak about each other's work 00:03:34 The cell functions as a neuron 00:07:15 Software as a control pattern 00:10:55 Disciplinary boundaries in academia 00:14:38 The perceptron is a "toy model" of the brain 00:18:44 How do you identify yourself as a researcher? 00:20:10 The benefits of podcasts vs. academia 00:30:04 Beliefs of Bach's and Levin's that have drastically changed 00:38:54 Memory moves outside the brain structure 00:45:06 Engrams and memory storage 00:47:30 The implications of transferring memory between species 00:55:25 Weissman's barrier 00:59:25 The notion of "competence" (Bach's and Levin's largest insight) 01:12:10 Virtualization for unreliable hardware 01:16:02 Defining "competence" 01:22:35 Bach's issues with goals (for and against teleology) 01:27:34 Planarian goals and explicitly encoded instructions 01:34:55 Navigation in "Morphic Space" 01:36:11 One species' birth defect can be another's benefit 01:37:42 The "Intelligence Trap" and bias 01:39:05 Application of each others' work to their own 01:52:25 Necessities of general intelligence in cells

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal · Theories of Everything

November 9, 20222h 0m

Show Notes

Michael Levin and Joscha Bach explore the idea of a global mind, collective intelligence, agency, and how morphogenesis might shape cognition. They debate the boundaries between biology and computation, and consider what competence means for cells and societies.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:01:55 - Bach and Levin discuss each other's work
- 00:03:34 - Cells as neuron-like units
- 00:07:15 - Software as control pattern
- 00:10:55 - Academic disciplinary boundaries
- 00:14:38 - Perceptron as brain toy model
- 00:18:44 - Researcher identity
- 00:20:10 - Podcast vs academia benefits
- 00:30:04 - Drastic belief changes
- 00:38:54 - Memory beyond brain
- 00:45:06 - Engrams and storage
- 00:47:30 - Transferring memory across species
- 00:55:25 - Weissman's barrier
- 00:59:25 - Notion of competence
- 01:12:10 - Virtualization for unreliable hardware
- 01:16:02 - Defining competence
- 01:22:35 - Goals and teleology issues
- 01:27:34 - Planarian goals and encoded instructions
- 01:34:55 - Navigation in morphic space
- 01:36:11 - One species' defect as benefit
- 01:37:42 - Intelligence trap and bias
- 01:39:05 - Applying each other's work
- 01:52:25 - General intelligence necessities in cells

SPONSORS:

- Drink Trade: 30% off at https://www.drinktrade.com/everything
- Uncommon Goods: 15% off your first gift at https://www.uncommongoods.com/podcast/everything
- Roman: 20% off first order at https://ro.co/curt
- Masterworks: promo code theoriesofeverything at https://www.masterworks.art/toe

RESOURCES:

- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/kgMFnfB5E_A
- http://theoriesofeverything.org
- *New* TOE Website (early access to episodes): https://theoriesofeverything.org/
- 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
- Michael Levin (Solo TOE podcast): https://youtu.be/Z0TNfysTazc
- Michael Levin Theolocution With Chris Fields & Karl Friston: https://youtu.be/J6eJ44Jq_pw
- Joscha Bach Theolocution With John Vervaeke: https://youtu.be/rK7ux_JhHM4
- Joscha Bach Theolocution With Donald Hoffman: https://youtu.be/bhSlYfVtgww
- Joscha Bach (Solo TOE podcast): https://youtu.be/3MNBxfrmfmI

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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