ToKCast

(Ep 117: Heat, Work, Universality and Exams)

This is newsletter number 8 which is an unusually lengthy one, hence it is being released here also as an "irregular" podcast. 
 
The transcript and references can be found here: https://bretthall.substack.com/p/heat-work-universality-and-exams?r=3r9kb&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Ep 116: Objective Knowledge

This is my succinct explanation of "Objective Knowledge" - the concept and not the book of the same name by Karl Popper. However that book of course informs this entire thesis of what Objective Knowledge is. My view of objective knowledge is augmented by more recent advances in epistemology, philosophy and physics by David Deutsch as expressed largely in "The Beginning of Infinity" but also with some reference to "Constructor Theory". I will place more precise time stamps on this episode later but for now there exist roughly 4 parts to this episode:
1. Objectivity vs Subjectivity
2. Objective Knowledge
3. Other ideas about epistemology
4. Conclusions.
 
This episode not only explains "objective knowledge" from the so-called "Popperian" or "Critical Rationalist" perspective in the 21st century but also serves to refute the dominant other competing epistemological notions. In the order I deal with them using quotations from their own proponents and "primary sources" they are: Bayesian Epistemology (as endorsed by other "rationalists" and as explained in places like www.lesswrong.com) and "Objectivist Epistemology" (as first explained by Ayn Rand and promoted by, among others, the Ayn Rand Institute and self-identified "objectivists"). I show how both of these alternatives views of epistemology are not "objective" in two senses. And those two senses of objective are the criteria for objective and are only met by the Popperian framework.

Ep 115: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 5 “Virtual Reality”

Although an episode devoted to "virtual reality" may seem quirky, parochial or quaint: the fact is that the concept of virtual reality runs very deep. Our understanding of reality is via virtual reality: that conjuring of the external physical world that our minds manage to do. I cannot do better than a part of the chapter itself where David writes "All reasoning, all thinking and all external experience are forms of virtual reality. These things are physical processes which so far have been observed in only one place in the universe, namely the vicinity of the planet Earth. We shall see... that all living processes involve virtual reality too, but human beings in particular have a special relationship with it. Biologically speaking, the virtual-reality rendering of their environment is the characteristic means by which human beings survive. In other words, it is the reason why human beings exist."(1) These are lofty claims but as always - as appropriate for this book, grounded entirely in reality and understood through reason. I refer to this chapter in some senses as the "synecdoche" chapter: a part of the book that represents the whole. (1) Deutsch, David. The Fabric of Reality (Penguin Science) (p. 121). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.

(Ep 114) Newsletter 3: Manners and Misattributions

This is the podcast version of my Substack Newsletter number 3 here https://bretthall.substack.com/p/manners-and-misattributions?r=3r9kb&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
 
Links referred to in the podcast can all be found in that article however here is a link to the historian who writes about Dr. Neil Tyson https://thonyc.wordpress.com/2022/04/13/nil-degrasse-tyson-knows-nothing-about-nothing/
and crucially here is a link to my page providing a pdf version of "Schools of Hellas" the book by Kenneth John Freeman https://www.bretthall.org/schools-of-hellas.html
 

Ep: 113 Steven Pinker’s ”Rationality” Chapter 4 ”Probability and Randomness” Remarks and Analysis

Pinker lecturing on Rationality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW43X... Link to "psychological study" on what people think about meteorological predictions: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1... titled “A 30% Chance of Rain Tomorrow”: How Does the Public Understand Probabilistic Weather Forecasts?” This video and associated podcast are about Steven Pinker's book "Rationality". Today I am looking at the chapter titled "Probability and Randomness". Well, to be fair: more than "looking" I am doing a close reading...perhaps an excruciating close reading for some. However the book is about rationality and I think we need to be especially careful when explaining this concept to be precise and careful and - yes - perhaps even consistent (as far as is possible). This episode of ToKCast can be watched or listened to in conjunction with episode number 111 titled "Probability: Reality, Rationality and Risk" because in that episode I summarise David Deutsch's lecture on the topic of probability which brings to bear physical realism to the topic and so what I am doing here is comparing the perspective on "Probability" (and randomness) as described in the book "Rationality" with the perspective on probability as viewed under David Deutsch's realistic conception of the concept given what we know from physics (and philosophy). Todays episode serves 3 functions: (1) as a close reading (i.e: a critique in places) of how the concepts "probability" and "randomness" are used in the book - sometimes, as I argue in ways that appear to be inconsistent (2) as a summary of much of the good content in the chapter - for example anyone who wants a refresher on the high school mathematics of probability - we go through some of that (this is not meant to be a backhanded comment - it is interesting material!) and (3) as I have already said this version of probability which I might call the "mainstream academic" vision of probability as compared with probability in light of more recent discoveries in physics. At this point I should also advertise: my newsletter (see episode 112 for details on that) and my Patreon and donations links at www.bretthall.org

(Ep 112) The 3Rs: Reality, Reason and Rationality. Newsletter 1

This is an advertisement more than a regular ToKCast episode/video. I will sometimes publish some rough and ready material (compared to what appears here on the actual podcast and so forth) on Substack. If you don't know what Substack is - it's just a place where people write stuff (normally). Usually it's journalists who do most of the stuff there. I am choosing a format where I can write and/or also do audio. Go here to see https://bretthall.substack.com/p/manners-and-marketing?r=3r9kb&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web and sign up. I won't publish everything that I produce there here as well. As I say the purpose of Substack, for me, will be to produce less polished material and perhaps stuff that is less "timeless" - so I can comment on cultural issues and perhaps topics of the day. I mention a few things in this episode and links to those things are: Science Historian criticises Neil Tyson: https://thonyc.wordpress.com/2022/04/13/nil-degrasse-tyson-knows-nothing-about-nothing/ Astronomical Disdain: https://www.bretthall.org/blog/astronomical-disdain
Penn Jillette on the funding of libraries: https://youtu.be/nGAO100hYcQ?t=280

Ep 111: Probability - Reality, Rationality and Risk

"Slides" are referred to in this episode. Their absence will not hinder understanding for audio-only listeners - enjoy!
This is a "talk about a talk". Back in 2015 David Deutsch gave a lecture titled "Physics without Probability" which ranged over the history of probability, it's uses and misuses and essentially concluded there was no way in which probability featured in the real world - according to known physics. This is a shocking (for most) conclusion and something many will baulk at. The original talk can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfzSE... and I strongly commend it to all listeners/viewers. Over the years since I have found myself over and again referring to this talk and pointing others to it on the topics of quantum theory or Bayesianism or simply risk assessment.
I do not understand why that talk does not have 10 times the number of viewings. Or 100. It is ground breaking, useful, compelling stuff. It is neither too technical nor too subtle. So this is my attempt to re-sell that talk and provide a slightly different phrasing of what I think is a clear articulation of those important ideas.
People claim to think in terms of probabilities. Physicists speak in terms of probabilities. Philosophers and those who endorse Bayesianism speak in terms of probabilities. How can we do away with it? As an instrument probability might work well. But then so can assuming that your local land is flat even though we know that - strictly - the Earth is curved. Does this matter? If you care about reality and explaining it and hence genuine rationality then you should. Especially when it comes to risk assessment. Towards the end of the podcast I go beyond David's talk into my own musings about various topics - including the notion of risk which has been a request on ToKCast. As always errors herein are my own. If you enjoy this podcast, consider supporting me on Patreon or Paypal. The links for donating can be found on the landing page right here: https://www.bretthall.org

Ep 110: A Tradition of Criticism

A version of this podcast without the musical soundtrack can be found here: https://youtu.be/YfVl70treS8
 
An explanation of a tradition of criticism as an error correction mechanism helping ensure the stability of a society.
Also a defence of free speech and liberty for the 21st century.
Music by Ketsa:
1. "Tradition"
2. "Our Little Blessings"
 
And for those who need it: a pocket sized response to modern day anti-enlightenment figures who say “the west” lacks culture/tradition. Inspired by "The Beginning of Infinity" by David Deutsch.

Ep: 109 ”Objective Morality I: The Principle of Optimism”

Morality, like physics, is objective. It is about solving moral problems. In this first part about the nature of objective morality, I discuss "The Principle of Optimism". First stated in "The Beginning of Infinity" by David Deutsch in Chapter 9 of that book titled "Optimism" it states that "All evils are caused by insufficient knowledge". These 7 words have the profound effect of linking epistemology and morality and further, providing people with hope that no matter the conundrum (moral problem) then it, like a puzzle in physics, has a solution which we can find if we try.

Ep: 108 Steven Pinker’s ”Rationality”Chapter 3 ”Logic and Critical Thinking” - reflections and analysis.

This podcast is about Steven Pinker's new book "Rationality". I read a small number of brief excerpts from the book itself, alongside commenting, criticising and reviewing the content of the third chapter “Logic and Critical Thinking”. 
The first half (or so) of this episode is not about the book as much as my personal reflections on academic culture and its treatment of these subject areas "logic" and "critical thinking". I spend some time discussing the global culture of schooling and changes in recent years which incorporate "critical thinking" - following in the footsteps of what has become a fashion in tertiary education. Almost no matter the course a student enrols in now, there is some promise that it will develop one's "critical thinking" skills. 
I compare Pinker's vision of rationality with what might be interpreted about that same topic from the work of David Deutsch and Karl Popper. In summary: I found the book highly entertaining in places and an excellent overview of this topic as it might be taught in an Ivy League University in The United States (indeed Pinker says that such a course that he taught was part of the impetus for the book). In terms of being a good substitute for those who might never have been able to afford due to chance, location or cost actually attending such an institution and taking on a course such as one on "Critical Thinking" and “Logic” the book could readily serve as a series of well written university lecture notes. To that end, it is certainly worth the cost for anyone interested in these topics. 
If you would like to support "ToKCast" - links for how to do so can be found at the homepage of www.bretthall.org
Thankyou kindly to those who donate :)

Ep 107: What is a good explanation?

This is a plain language summary of the most up to date epistemology (as of early 2022) in the tradition of Karl Popper due to the work of David Deutsch about what explanations are. Some of David's earliest work published on this is found in his TED talk here: https://youtu.be/folTvNDL08A . For further details consult "The Beginning of Infinity" - all of it, but especially chapter 1. The search for good explanations does not merely solve our problems and provides us with objective knowledge about all aspects of reality but in a sense might be thought of as among the most profound reasons for human existence.

Ep 106: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 4 “Criteria for Reality” Part 2

In this podcast we cover the supposed hierarchy of knowledge from "the certainty" of mathematical proof through to the "near certainty" gifted to us by scientific arguments supported by evidence all the way down to the lowly philosophical arguments that are a mere matter of taste. We explore more about the tension between realism and its alternatives, how contributing to science is available to anyone (because the evidence is almost everywhere) and finally we end with an exploration of what Popper had to say on some of these topics.

Ep 105: David Deutsch’s “The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 4 “Criteria for Reality” Part 1

In this podcast we cover realism: the common sense claim that there exists an external reality beyond our own minds that we can come to understand through the tools of science and reason more broadly. We compare this to some of the popular rivals that have cropped up over the years out of academic philosophy including, chiefly, solipsism: the claim that "it's all a dream". We explain how we cannot logically disprove solipsism and we can mount no scientific argument, or bring forth evidence, to show solipsism is false. However we can do something more powerful: we can refute it by philosophical argument. This episode is chiefly about what is real, what exists and how we know.

Ep 104: Are We Running Out Of Resources?

This episode explores the issue of the finiteness of our “natural resources”, taking an optimistic view of our place in the cosmos and hence where we can expect to find resources. We must first explain what a resource is. Is the notion of a "natural resource" an oxymoron? I explain some of that in a Twitter thread here: https://twitter.com/ToKTeacher/status/1473642761676988418?s=20:
I then go on to explain this position in this short podcast.
I expect to be making more podcasts of about this length or shorter in the coming months and years.
I know some would prefer with this style of podcast that I did not have music underneath the speech. It would be possible for me to release both a music and a non-music version. Let me know if this is something that would appeal to you. Either on Twitter @ToKCast or email me at: brett@bretthall.org
Music in order of appearance is:
Dark Sky - Ketsa
Solstice Sighing - Ketsa
Vibration - Ketsa
Boats - Ketsa
Gloomy - Ostin
We know - Ketsa
Dark Sky - Ketsa

Ep 103: Ask Me Anything #2

This is “Ask Me Anything” number 2: questions from Twitter (mainly) and elsewhere.
 
Here are the questions/timestamps:
 
00:00 Introduction
01:50 How do people learn false things?
06:32 Why does persuasion fail?
15:20 What’s wrong with physicalism?
18:30 How are mind and the laws of physics abstractions?
21:18 What are your favourite chapters from David’s books?
26:46 Are facts theory laden?
27:49 Is a fact “fallibly true”?
30:24 What are your thoughts on the mind-body problem?
34:50 How has Deutsch improved on Popper?
40:05 What is the most difficult idea to explain from David’s books?
44:58 Do the ideas in “BoI” trace back to Judeo-Christian values?
48:32 What is the plan for the future spreading of David Deutsch’s ideas?
51:38 How do we resolve the apparent conflict between “incremental change” and “rapid progress”?
54:27 What parts of David’s work do you disagree with? What did David Deutsch get wrong?
58:24 Why isn’t morality about suffering?
01:03:50 Are free will, consciousness and explanatory knowledge fundamentally tied?
01:06:10 Does Ayn Rand’s objectivism follow from Deutsch/Popper?
01:13:52 If a problem is a conflict between ideas, what is the conflict with the problem of the universe’s initial conditions?
01:15:52 How can we reconcile the subjectivity of problems with the objectivity of knowledge?
01:18:04 Can’t machines create new choices through abstraction?
01:20:58 Did Popper/Deutsch influence your libertarianism?
01:26:22 What is the beef between Popper/Deutsch and the formal education system?
01:27:02 Are there Popperian resources on child rearing?
01:31:59 Are there pre-requisites for understanding “The Beginning of Infinity”?
01:35:29 What other books can help with thinking?
01:36:10 If a person has struggled academically, what is to blame?
01:40:21 Do you have any (other!) book recommendations?
01:44:32 Doesn’t quantum mechanics and the multiverse violate common sense and logic?

Ep 102: The Thin Veneer

Yes, the AMA will be delayed until episode 103 because of some wonderful remarks made by Joe Rogan that resonated so well with some of what I like to say about the multiverse, our place in it, and what we come to understand about it and how. 
Credit to the Joe Rogan Experience #1746 with Blaire White where Joe explains his understanding of our ability to experience reality. I compare this to what we understand from physics and our best understanding of the philosophy of science.Music in order of tracks is:Ketsa - Rewinding Time (First half of video)Ketsa - Heart Science (Second half of video).Both tracks available at https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa#contact-artist
 

Ep 101 Ask Me Anything 1

As it says: an "AMA" episode.
00:00 Introduction
01:24 When defines the "tipping point" between a static and a dynamic society - specifically our own? 
08:13 Why do children seem to learn faster than adults?
14:00 What are the best refutations of anti-realism & instrumentalism?
19:25 What does quantum computation tell us about reality?
25:00 What is the delineation of reason vs unreason?
27:23 What is a "fact"?
28:45 Is a person a "beginning of infinity"?
31:10 What are your thoughts on "inborn knowledge" in people?
37:08 What do you think about monopolies in markets?
44:42 What is the role of the state to realise the ethics of society?
48:51 What open questions does David's work point us to?
54:38 Could you please elaborate on the Simulation Argument?
01:01:35 Can you do a response video about Yoval Harari?
01:04:14 Why has the Beginning of Infinity risen in popularity in recent years? Do you think this will continue?

Ep 100: David Deutsch

This is the complete and unabridged discussion I had with David Deutsch largely about "The Beginning of Infinity". It contains all my "Questions for David" - which were published separately - AND much more content too.
00:00 Introduction
12:51 Why aren’t testable theories enough?
14:37 Predictions vs Explanations
18:33 Verisimilitude
23:54 Are people a “chemical scum”?
25:43 The Earth is uniquely suited to life?
30:22 What does “provable” mean?
33:44 Undecidability
37:45 Classifying abstractions
41:29 The nature of physical laws.
47:06 Direct Observation
50:29 The nature of mind
55:40 The Supernatural
59:52 Epistemology and Morality
01:02:00 The physical limitations of knowledge?
01:09:24 Some history of quantum computation
01:16:44 Tic Tacs, UFOs and aliens
01:19:01 Dark Energy
Support the podcast by following the links to Patreon or Paypal here: www.bretthall.org

Ep: 99 David Deutsch‘s ”The Beginning of Infinity” - a retrospective in 99 minutes

This is episode 99 of ToKCast. More than any other work, the contents of "The Beginning of Infinity" (BoI) have informed the content of this podcast, so in celebration of Episode 99 I set myself the challenge of taking on each chapter in sequence, retelling the main points of it in my own words (no readings from the actual book itself this time) and construct an episode as close as possible to 99 minutes long. Obviously this required quite some editing - this episode now holds the record for time-taken-to-edit. As much was left on the virtual "cutting room floor" and extended "directors cut" is available for Patreons and other supporters of ToKCast. Become a Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tokcast (per episode support) or https://www.patreon.com/BrettRHall (monthly donation).
 
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:10:10 Chapter 1 The Reach of Explanations
00:15:21 Chapter 2 Closer to Reality
00:19:50 Chapter 3 The Spark
00:24:14 Chapter 4 Creation
00:29:06 Chapter 5 The Reality of Abstractions
00:34:14 Chapter 6 The Jump to Universality 
00:38:51 Chapter 7 Artificial Creativity
00:43:58 Chapter 8 A Window on Infinity
00:49:01 Chapter 9 Optimism
00:53:47 Chapter 10 A Dream of Socrates
00:58:20 Chapter 11 The Multiverse
01:03:26 Chapter 12 A Physicist's History of Bad Philosophy
01:08:36 Chapter 13 Choices
01:13:42 Chapter 14 Why are Flowers Beautiful?
01:18:00 Chapter 15 The Evolution of Culture
01:22:56 Chapter 16 The Evolution of Creativity
01:28:23 Chapter 17 Unsustainable
01:33:24 Chapter 18 The Beginning
01:37:43 Concluding Remarks

Ep 98: ”Knowledge” Chiara Marletto‘s ”The Science of Can and Can‘t” Ch 5 Readings and discussion.

This is cutting edge physics and epistemology from Chiara Marletto, following David Deutsch and working from and upon to advance the discoveries of Karl Popper. Here I make some quite lengthy introductory remarks laying out the standard academic takes when it comes to epistemology in order to set the scene for the most modern interpretation in our quest to refine our understandings of what knowledge is. We leave behind ancient and modern subjective notions of knowledge (which still prevail in the academy, intellectual circles and even attempts to counter those trends in other traditions of counter-culture communities) and take seriously objective knowledge and then build on it. This is a unique and very modern take on knowledge which brings epistemology within the scope of physics for the very first time. Marletto leads the reader gently through this landscape of physics and philosophy and so it is unsurprising some reviewers have not understood the profundity of the points made in the book as a whole let alone this chapter. This is subtle and powerful stuff: a new unification which one might guess is going to direct the course of progress on many fronts. I hope this video serves as a useful companion to the book and to further investigations into "the land of counterfactuals" as some of the deep ideas are, I think, easy to miss for the casual reader.