ToKCast

Ep 23: The Multiverse, Part 1

This episode is an introduction to chapter 11 from "The Beginning of Infinity". While there are no readings from the book this time around, there are readings from "The Fabric of Reality". Audio only listeners should be aware that there is a significant visual component of this episode: animations, diagrams and so forth.

Ep 22: The Logic of Experimental Tests

This is not a regular ToKCast (about a chapter from "The Beginning of Infinity"). Instead it will serve in part firstly as a stand alone episode about an esoteric piece of epistemology: what is the function of the experiment in the natural sciences? (As explained by David Deutsch in his paper "The Logic of Experimental Tests particularly Everettian Quantum Theory"). I make many remarks - including many new remarks. The final third or so of this episode is largely devoted to a defense of Popper broadly and his criterion of demarcation in particular. 
Secondly this episode is like an "episode 1a" of Chapter 11 "The Multiverse". This episode contains some useful material for anyone interested in "the quantum multiverse" and its testability. Spoiler alert: it's testable, no matter what others say. 
Sources:
You can find David's Paper "The Logic of Experimental Tests" here
My exposition of that paper is here: http://www.bretthall.org/philosophy-of-science.html
You can download a free pdf copy of Popper's "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" here 
(it's well and truly out of copyright, so feel no guilt about the download!)
 

Ep 21: Ch 10, Part 2 "A Dream of Socrates"

In this, the second episode covering Chapter 10 "A Dream of Socrates", we encounter Plato in dialogue with Socrates. An attempt is made to learn epistemology from Socrates by Plato. Epistemology is applied to political institutions and the concept of dynamic and static societies is explored and we get our first sense of what anti-rational memes are about (though this terminology is not yet being used). In the second half I compare and contrast kinds of democracy.

Ep 20: Ch 10, Part 1 "A Dream of Socrates"

In this, the first episode covering Chapter 10 "A Dream of Socrates", we explore epistemology directly. Hermes comes to Socrates in a dream (or somehow!) and uses a quite "Socratic Method" to draw out Popperian epistemology from Socrates. Empiricism is refuted and the correct way knowledge is guest and criticized to improve it discussed.

Ep 19: Mr. Popper's Problems

An irregular episode barely touching upon "The Beginning of Infinity". Somewhat self-indulgently, and purely for my own fun, I take a lesser-known Popper paper - found here http://www.bretthall.org/the-nature-of-philosophical-problems.html and provide lengthy commentary upon it with some remarks about its significance for some contemporary issues.

Ep 18: Ch 9, Part 3: “Optimism”

In this, the final episode covering Chapter 9 Optimism, we explore optimism as applied to politics and institutions. A pessimistic view of people, as animals that sometimes cannot be reasoned with, would imply the initiation of force is required. But understanding people as beings of compassion and reason means we should initiate kindness and use force only ever in response to violence. Pessimism about problems - problem avoidance is something we should not only take seriously but personally as David argues in this chapter. Because if optimism was not repeatedly stamped out or required the intellectual energy to constantly defend, we would be immortal already and living among the stars. 

Ep 17: Ch 9, Part 2: "Optimism"

In part 2 on Optimism, we explore the implications of David Deutsch's philosophy for individuals and institutiuons. Given people are the agents that create knowledge - the solutions to problems - what moral stance should we take with respect to them? How will this affect our future and what threats to optimism still exist in the contemporary zeitgeist?

Ep 16: Ch 9, Part 1: "Optimism"

This is the first of a 3 part series on chapter 9 of David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity". Chapter 9 is titled "Optimism" and the week this is published marks the 50th anniversary of the first steps taken by humans on the moon. If we choose to continue to pursue solutions in an open ended way - if we choose to embrace what might be called "Deutschian Optimism" then next it can be Mars...and after that the stars.

Ep 15: A diversion on Free Will and Artificial Intelligence

Note that this one is not primarily about a chapter from "The Beginning of Infinity". Some remarks on Sam Harris position on "Free Will" as articulated in his book of the same name. I do mention BoI and FoR of course and borrow heavily from David's work in constructing the arguments herein. Most especially the "Copper Atom at the tip of the nose of the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square" argument. An argument that I think deserves a label shorter than that because it deserves to be remembered.

Ep 14: Ch 8, Part 2: "A Window on Infinity"

Ep 13: Ch 8 "A Window on Infinity" Part 1

Unlucky 13: The microphone failed for this one, so the backup audio has been used. It's a little sub par but still "listenable". The next one sounds better. Note to audio-only people: some visuals are in this one - so you can find that on Youtube.

Ep 12 "Artificial Creativity" Ch 7 Pt 2

Ep 11 "Artificial Creativity" Ch 7 Part 1

Ep 10 "The Jump to Universality" Ch.6

David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity" - some remarks by Brett Hall on Chapter 6 "The Jump to Universality". This is a chapter in 1 part.

Ep 9 "The Reality of Abstractions" Ch.5 Part 2

David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity" Chapter 5, Part 2 "The Reality of Abstractions".

Ep 8 "The Reality of Abstractions" Ch.5, Part 1

David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity" Chapter 5, Part 1 "The Reality of Abstractions". Some remarks by Brett Hall

Ep 7 "Creation" Ch.4, Part 2

This is David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity" - a discussion by Brett Hall, Chapter 4, Part 2. This one is largely about "Fine Tuning".

Ep 6 "Creation" Ch.4, Part 1

This is the first part of Chapter 4 "Creation" from David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity".

Episode 5: Chapter 3, Part 2 "The Spark"

This is part 2 of the commentary on chapter 3 "The Spark" from David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity"

Episode 4: Chapter 3, Part 1 "The Spark"