The Rise and Fall of Academia

Gregory Chaitin is a pioneering mathematician and computer scientist, renowned for founding algorithmic information theory. Gregory published his first groundbreaking paper at the age of 15 and has been a key figure at the Institute for Advanced Studies, contributing extensively to the fields of metabiology and complexity theory.

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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Contradictions in Mathematics
10:56 - Generating New Ideas
21:10 - Physics in History
23:17 - Academia is like a Prison
26:09 - Philosophers and Math
37:41 - Advice for Curt
42:15 - Outro / Support TOE

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#science #physics #math #podcast #stringtheory #philosophy #academia #technology

[Achrononmaster]

@42:00 Curt has something pretty rare and highly valuable. He knows a lot of people in physics and knows their ideas. One thing to do with all that is to put people in touch who can help each other. Also, I guess Curt must know a few "nobodies" who have good ideas, they need to be put in touch with someone with cash who can support them, even if just some department head who needs a coder, illustrator, scribe, or janitor.

[Sidionian]

Brilliant, engaging and highly relevant interview! Thank you for posting!

[HellBentMonk]

For a long time now, I've used this joke.

What does academia and macadamia have in common?

They're both NUTS.

[ED-osnc]

Curt, please view this specific video on a larger screen and pay attention to the black and white photo behind the speaker. 😂

[justinpridham]

He's right about academia being a prison. Where the wardens won't age out of the frickin' way. Politics

[tonibat]

One of your best vids so far. Thanks.

As for the last question you asked Gregory, to which he really did not add any new suggestions, but just congratulated you on the work done (understandably so, I would say), I would add:
Just be bold as you are. Don't settle down and take risks. Of course not everything is worthy of your channel, but there you are to decide. Don't let others, nor the 'community' decide for you.
We criticize the sci community for being too conservative and taking few risks. Communicators of science tend to follow (eventually) the same path. As soon as a channel becomes popular and profitable, risk taking becomes less convenient/acceptable.
Won't give any examples, which most people know.

[samsuttie]

Kurt, I am an artist. I have no brain function for maths etc. I never in a million years would have thought that I would sit through so many hours of discussions about physics, math and the meaning of life. You have brought this world I thought was out of my reach to my art studio and altered perspective on the world. I can only imagine what you have done to inspire, teach and guide people in the these fields. You are a light in the dark. Thank you

[brandonb]

Great talk guys, thanks for the sincere thoughts.
We have used math to build a reality recreation technology called CAD (computer aided design). I can create ANY shape I want and all the “math” is in the file. Now that our optical technology is so good, we can “model” new visual realities that could possibly be reverse engineered by the equation jockeys. Maybe offering a bridge to innovative outcomes…🤔

Just thoughts, have a great one ALL!🤙🏼✌🏼😊

[lonesomealeks]

It gives me some comfort that people like this exist, intelligent people who dare to speak their mind.

[ralphcarroll]

Your purpose and gift of this channel to everyone who watches it is describing the forest and the trees of landscape of science and mathematics. University and Colleges classes are necessary to learn and understand the details of math and science, but you show the viewer the overall context and breadth of scientific discovery. You enlighten everyone on the human creativity and inspirations required to make new discoveries.

[markdavidson]

I found this to be a terrific interview. Chaitin's description of the tribulations of fundamental science and scientists is amazing.. Jaimungal's skill as an interviewer and physicist are also extraordinary. This is one of the best youtube videos I've ever watched.

[sonnycorbi]

Very insightful - A pleasing conversation - I give this podcast a lot of priority -

[PetraKann]

Gregory Chaitin has taken a different pathway in his academic and scientific career. I am not surprised by his openness and refreshing outlook
Wonderful interview Curt
🙂

[williambranch]

Chaitin is an original thinker. Watch his other stuff. Limiting to constructive or finite math or both is useful, but only covers part of math. Suggestion? Join the Swiss patent office as a patent examiner ;-)

[bigron]

There is a great quote by Eric Hoffer (anyone heard of him? I highly doubt TOE viewers will be familiar...his quote can be applied to almost anything and it works:

“Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” ― Eric Hoffer, The Temper of Our Time

I would apply this to Physics and Science...they have become a racket

[antoinesaati]

Curt, the work you are doing is more important than what most bullshit scientists have been doing. Also you are being exposed to the best ideas in science as you have been inviting the most brilliant people and spreading their ideas. We need you. Keep up the good work! You are helping the world and learning at the same time. What an opportunist! 😊

[gerardopc]

You should invite Sabine Houssenfelder over to discuss this exact same topic: The trouble with Academia and innovation. She's talked about her experience dealing with this on her channel.

[devinzito]

Couldn’t agree more with Gregory. Such a nightmare has been allowed to flourish its disgusting. Do what you can to ignore the system and keep your research and experiments as a hobby if you can. It a hard pill to swallow for many but the sooner you realize it the better of you are. Goodluck out there to all the good people.

[MICHAELsill-veid]

Academic prison is even worse in the Humanities. In the Sciences you at least have logic to fall back on when challenged by idiots in your field.

[TwoStepsFromAnywhere]

After several decades of stagnation, we can safely assume that it would be better to spend at least 50% of the overall research budget on fringe ideas. The worst that could happen is that we get nothing out of it, which looks very similar to stagnation....