ToKCast
Science & Ideas
About
This is a podcast primarily about the work of philosopher and physicist David Deutsch and related matters (such as Popperian epistemology). I read from and comment upon the books ”The Beginning of Infinity” & ”The Fabric of Reality” (both by Deutsch), ”The Science of Can & Can’t” (by Deutsch’s collegue Marletto) and ”Rationality” by Pinker (so far). In addition I make stand alone episodes about topics like resources, environmentalism, economics, science, philosophy, epistemology (especially explanations) and reason broadly.
Episodes
- Ep 262: David Deutsch's "The Fabric of Reality" Chapter 13 "The Four Strands" Part 3
This episode is heavily focussed on Dawkin's "Selfish Gene" explanation of Darwin's evolution by natural selection. Obviously there are readings from the relevant part of this chapter from The Fabric of Reality but I augment that with sect…
- Ep 261: Objective Morality II
Do not destroy the means of error correction. A deep unification of knowledge akin to unifying quantum theory with computation to create the theory of quantum computation. David Deutsch will be known for not merely forging the basis of qua…
- Ep 260: I don't believe it!
Response to a question about my discussion with @drpeterboghossian here: https://youtu.be/72vhtT0pFmA?si=hAx1kPho4DkLkBFN This is yet another way of coming at a critique around the concept of "belief" or those who profess to "believe" and…
- Ep 259: Reaction to Michael Levin Part 3: Bait and Switch, Podcastistan and Surprising(?) algorithms.
In this, the third and final part of a series, I break down some work Michael Levin has done with sorting algorithms. That seems very dry until you hear his claim that these algorithms that are well known and have been studied for decades…
- Ep 258: Reaction to Michael Levin, Part 2: Bioelectricity, Consciousness and Knowing
This is the second in a multipart series where I react to some interviews with @drmichaellevin a biologist who, among other things, specialises in bioelectricity. His research can be found here: https://www.drmichaellevin.org and his "ex…
- Ep 257: Reaction to Michael Levin, Part 1: Categories and Continuums.
In episode 257 of ToKCast, the host begins a series reacting to biologist Michael Levin, focusing on categories and continuums. The discussion touches on Levin's research in bioelectricity and his interviews, particularly with Lex Fridman.
- Ep 256: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 13 ”The Four Strands” Part 2
This episode compares Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn's philosophies on scientific progress, applying their ideas to the adoption of quantum theory. It questions whether social forces or rational factors like argument and experiment were more…
- Ep 255: Does this research explain how LLMs work?
This ToKCast episode, Ep 255, discusses three papers collectively known as "The Bayesian Attention Trilogy" and related materials, featuring an interview with author Vishal Misra. The discussion includes background concepts such as Inducti…
- Ep 254: Australia: The Land of Bans. (Social Media prohibited for under-16s. Analysis of the arguments "for".)
In ToKCast Ep 254, the host analyzes the Australian government's ban on social media access for individuals under 16. The discussion focuses on the Prime Minister's stated reasons for the legislation, connecting it to the response to the B…
- Ep 253: Further Comments on the Bondi Massacre.
In ToKCast Ep 253, the host comments on remarks by Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Education Minister Jason Clare about the Bondi Beach tragedy. The episode also includes broader points related to the event.
- Ep 252: Response to the Prime Minister of Australia
In episode 252 of ToKCast, the host reacts to a speech by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The speech was given in response to the Bondi Beach Massacre, an attack by Islamist terrorists on Jews during a Hanukkah celebration on D…
- Ep 251: OK Doomer!
Episode 251 features a reproduction of a talk given to trainee surgeons in Sydney about the role of AI in their profession. The discussion also summarizes recent viewpoints concerning AI and the associated pessimism.
- Ep 250: The Farthest Reaches - Audiobook
This audiobook, "The Farthest Reaches," delves into David Deutsch's concept of Explanatory Universality. It examines the concept's application across various domains including education, psychology, morality, immigration, and its broader s…
- Ep 249: The Farthest Reaches Part 4 and Conclusion
ToKCast Ep 249, "The Farthest Reaches Part 4 and Conclusion," covers Explanatory Universality, sexuality, political discourse (Woke Left and Right), artificial intelligence, and freedom of speech, concluding with a summary.
- Ep 248: AI and Philosophy of Science
This episode of ToKCast, "Ep 248: AI and Philosophy of Science," delves into the misconception that AI will create knowledge solely through Bayesian reasoning. It examines how this misunderstands scientific knowledge generation and why the…
- Ep 247: The Farthest Reaches Part 3
This episode of ToKCast, Ep 247, discusses Explanatory Universality across three chapters: its relation to ethnicity, multiculturalism, and mental illness.
- Ep 246: The Farthest Reaches Part 2
This episode of ToKCast delves into Explanatory Universality, examining its connections to psychology, IQ, adopting culture, trans issues, and immigration.
- Ep 245: The Farthest Reaches (Part 1)
Episode 245 of ToKCast, "The Farthest Reaches (Part 1)," delves into the concept of explanatory universality, presenting it as a potentially far-reaching idea crucial for solving problems. The episode covers chapters on universality and re…
- Ep 244: Deep learning is not "inductive".
This episode examines the claim that artificial intelligence, deep learning, and LLMs use inductive reasoning. It defines inductive, deductive, and abductive reasoning to question whether current AI systems are discovering new science.
- Ep 243: In praise of ignorance - the podcast. With Liberty Fitz-Claridge
In ToKCast Ep 243, Liberty Fitz-Claridge discusses David Deutsch's article "In Praise of Ignorance," reflecting on themes of knowledge and ignorance. Fitz-Claridge, a philosopher and language educator, references several academic articles…
- Ep 242: Is religion worth preserving?
ToKCast episode 242 discusses whether religion is worth preserving and if traditional dogmas are worth defending in response to contemporary ideas.
- Ep 241: AI 2027 Reaction Part 5: Summary and Conclusions
This episode of ToKCast summarizes arguments from previous parts and presents conclusions on the evaluation of ai-2027.com. It references Daniel Kokotajlo's 2021 paper regarding predictions for the years leading up to 2026.
- Ep 240: AI 2027 Reaction Part 4
This is the fourth part of a reaction to the AI 2027 article. The episode provides links to the previous parts of the series for context.
- Ep 239: AI 2027 Reaction Part 3
This is the third part of ToKCast's reaction to the AI 2027 article. Parts 1 and 2 are available in previous episodes and on Youtube.
- Ep 238: AI 2027 Reaction Part 2
This episode is Part 2 of a reaction to the contents of the AI 2027 article. It also includes general comments on a Dwarkesh Patel interview with two of the article's authors. Part 1 of the reaction is available in Episode 237.
- Ep 237: AI 2027 Reaction. Part 1
This episode reacts to the AI 2027 article and discusses Dwarkesh Patel's interview with its authors.
- Ep 236: Max Velthoven, legal science, AI and epistemology.
In episode 236 of ToKCast, guest Max Velthoven, a tax lawyer, explores the application of Popperian epistemology to legal science and issues within artificial intelligence. The episode references supporting materials including presentation…
- Ep 235: The Simulation Hypothesis
This episode, a combination of two previous parts, delves into the Simulation Hypothesis. It examines Nick Bostrom's philosophical framework and compares it to other explanations for reality, then analyzes arguments from Scott Adams and Jo…
- Ep 234: On the Evolution of Reason
This episode of ToKCast, "On the Evolution of Reason," delves into the historical development of belief systems and the concept of critical thinking. The host discusses the evolution of reason from primitive thought to more sophisticated a…
- Ep 233: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 13 ”The Four Strands" Part 1
This episode discusses contrasting views on scientific progress from Thomas Kuhn and Karl Popper, as presented in Chapter 13 of David Deutsch's "The Fabric of Reality." It explores Kuhn's concepts of paradigms and paradigm shifts and contr…
- Ep 232: Karl Popper's "The Myth of the Framework" Sections IV to VI. "The Critical Method": deep dive
This episode of ToKCast provides a detailed reading and analysis of sections IV through VI of Karl Popper's "The Myth of the Framework." The discussion explores themes including the critical method, the role of rationality, goodwill in dis…
- Ep 231: Karl Popper's "The Myth of the Framework" Sections I to III. Discussing discussions: deep dive
This ToKCast episode delves into Karl Popper's "The Myth of the Framework," specifically sections I to III. The discussion covers motivations for engaging in dialogue, Popper's reflections on his success in countering detrimental ideologie…
- Ep 230: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 12 ”Time Travel” Part 3
ToKCast Ep. 230 delves into Chapter 12, Part 3 of David Deutsch’s "The Fabric of Reality," focusing on time travel. The discussion covers the physical possibility of time travel, paradox resolution, the multiverse, General Relativity, blac…
- Ep 229: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 12 ”TimeTravel” Part 2
This ToKCast episode, an outside broadcast, examines chapter 12 of David Deutsch's 'The Fabric of Reality,' focusing on time travel. It uses image generation and virtual reality to explore the physics of time travel and address common para…
- Ep 228: Knowledge Beyond Belief
This episode of ToKCast,
- Ep 227: "What is Capitalism?" - an encounter between Objectivism and Critical Rationalism.
In episode 227 of ToKCast, Yaron Brook and Nikos Sotirakopoulos join host Brett to discuss capitalism, linking it to Objectivism and Critical Rationalism. The conversation covers personhood, energy policy, Israel, antisemitism, progress, f…
- Ep 226: Realism and the purposes of philosophy.
This episode of ToKCast discusses the purpose of philosophy, highlighting Karl Popper and David Deutsch's methods of using scientific examples to illustrate philosophy's problem-solving capabilities in various domains. It also addresses re…
- Ep 225: Livestream from November 27, 2024
ToKCast Ep 225 features a live, off-the-cuff "ask me anything" session from November 27, 2024. The creators apologize for the audio quality in this episode.
- Ep 224: Shapes, Time, and Holism - by Julian Barbour
Physicist Julian Barbour discusses Newtonian mechanics and its potential as a fundamental theory of space, time, and physical reality. This lecture explores historical ideas in physics and represents a departure from the regular ToKCast fo…
- Ep 223: The Deutsch Files IV (ToKCast version)
This ToKCast episode features a conversation between Naval Ravikant and David Deutsch, covering topics from their previous discussions on "The Fabric of Reality", "The Beginning of Infinity", and Constructor Theory.
- Ep 222: David Deutsch’s ”The Fabric of Reality” Chapter 12 ”TimeTravel” Part 1
Episode 222 of ToKCast discusses David Deutsch's Chapter 12 from "The Fabric of Reality," focusing on time travel. It examines the potential for past and future travel, introduces time dilation, and differentiates between subjective and ob…
- Ep 221: Do Not Destroy The Means of Error Correction
ToKCast episode Ep 221 explores the connection between a moral injunction against destroying error correction and an epistemological concept of error, drawing from a passage in The Beginning of Infinity. The discussion delves into institut…
- Ep 220: Criticism is never enough
In episode 220, titled "Criticism is Never Enough," the hosts respond to Douglas Murray and Jordan Peterson. The discussion focuses on Murray and Peterson's efforts to formulate a positive societal vision, noting their apparent difficulty…
- Ep 219: Response to Peter Boghossian Part 3, Appendix
Episode 219 of ToKCast provides an appendix and summary of a response to Peter Boghossian, consolidating the main points from earlier parts for those who did not listen to the full series.
- Ep 218: Peter Boghossian Response PART 2
This ToKCast episode, Ep 218, continues the discussion on Peter Boghossian's ideas about universal understanding. The host examines Boghossian's arguments, drawing parallels to the Church-Turing Principle and computational universality.
- Ep: 217 Peter Boghossian Response Part 1
In this episode, ToKCast discusses Peter Boghossian's YouTube video response, focusing on Boghossian's critique of Richard Dawkins' "Middle World" concept and Michael Shermer's views on human evolutionary capacity for understanding.
- Ep 216: Astrobiology and Cancer
ToKCast Ep 216 discusses Charley Lineweaver's recent work with Paul Davies on the Atavistic Model of Cancer, continuing a series on Lineweaver's research.
- Ep 215: Charley Lineweaver
In ToKCast Ep 215, Charley Lineweaver, a physicist, cosmologist, and astrobiologist, discusses his academic journey, historic work on the Cosmic Microwave Background, the accelerating universe, dark matter candidates, and the Fermi Problem…
- Ep 214: Resources, Wealth, Technology, Error Correction and Knowledge Creation
This ToKCast episode connects concepts of energy, resources, wealth, technology, error correction, and knowledge creation, exploring their interdependencies and future possibilities. It references figures like Trump, Musk, and Yaron, along…
- Ep 213: ToKCast in Auckland - live
This ToKCast episode is a recording of a keynote address given at the 2024 Naturalistic Decision Making Association conference in Auckland. The address introduced the work of David Deutsch and Karl Popper to an audience of business, govern…