Sean Carroll, Daniel Dennett, & Steven Pinker: AI, Parapsychology, Panpsychism, & Physics Violations

Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is also host of Sean Carroll’s Mindscape, a terrific show (that influenced the birth of Robinson’s Podcast) about science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas. Daniel Dennett is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Tufts University, where he was co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy. He is one of the most recognized philosophers today, and has made major contributions to the philosophy of mind and biology, among other areas, and is known as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism. Steven Pinker is Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He is an experimental cognitive psychologist, prominent public intellectual, and best-selling author who writes on language, mind, and human nature. This is Sean’s third appearance on the show. He was one of the guests—along with David Albert of Columbia University—on episode 106, which covers the Many-Worlds theory of quantum mechanics, entropy and Boltzmann Brains, and the fine-tuned universe. He was also on episode 118 with Slavoj Žižek on quantum physics, the multiverse, time travel, and a whole lot more. This is Dan’s second appearance on the show, as on episode 194 he and Robinson spoke about consciousness, free will, and the evolution of minds. Finally, Steve is returning for another centennial episode, as he and Robinson discussed rationality, enlightenment, and free speech on episode 100. But in this episode of Robinson’s Podcast (the two hundredth!), Sean, Dan, Steve, and Robinson discuss artificial intelligence, large language models, and whether or not they threaten democracy or even civilization itself, parapsychology and the laws of physics, panpsychism and consciousness, some of the philosophical lessons of Darwinian thought, and the relationship between science and philosophy. Dan’s latest book is I’ve Been Thinking (W. W. Norton, 2023), Steve’s latest book is Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters (Penguin, 2022), and Sean’s next book, Quanta and Fields: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe (Penguin, 2024), will be coming out on May 14, 2024. 

OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
6:11 Will Large Language Models End Civilization?
22:53 Could AI Destroy the Job Market? 
28:14 On Parapsychology and the Violation of Physics
40:23 The Parable of the Bathtub
01:03:45 Physical Causation and the Law of Sufficient Reason
01:14:48 Is Consciousness an Illusion?
01:31:50 Does Physics Show that the Universe is Conscious?
01:44:36 What is Philosophy?

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.

[Spacegraham]

Is this a deck of cards? Cause I see four kings

[Laches]

RIP Dan Dennett - was surprised to hear of his passing after having watched this interview not too long ago :(

[pinkysdream]

Why has this just 53k views? 🤯 Thank you so much for this great conversation!

[j.p.zukauskas]

RIP Dr. D. So glad I got to see this conversation. 🖤😔

[primetimedurkheim]

Idk how you get such quality guests so consistently, but I'm not complaining!

[williamjmccartan]

Congratulations Robinson, 200 episodes very cool, you consistently have great people to engage with and that benefits all of us, fantastic panel for number 200, thank you Daniel, Sean, Steven, and Robinson for sharing your time and work, 20 years ago you'd have to spend a week deep in a library to begin to gather the information presented here and its greatly appreciated, peace

[Cant_find_good_Handle]

For some reason this was playing on my cell phone at times two speed when I woke up. My brain had been translated this into a dream where I was at a preppy frat party that doubled as an in processing station for drawing military gear for a deployment.

I was going from station to station and had to wait in various lines to either play beer games or draw more T-50 (military gear). While in each line I was discussing all these super deep philosophical issues with people. When I woke up I immediately realized that I am not as smart as my dream made me think I am, but it did clarify how my interpretation of the world is really messed up.

[ili]

26:16 Exactly .. this is my concern right now as well. Aside from those drudgery jobs, AI is supposed to solve the climate crisis and cancer, not ruin art, culture and music

[steveseamans]

Three of my favorite thinkers of all time. You’ve had so many great guests but you’ve really outdone yourself this time. Please keep these wonderful conversations going. Also, you’ve improved as a host, asking the right questions and comments. Bravo 👏

[shassett]

Wow, the algorithm struck gold on this one. Don't know how this is the first time I've seen this channel, but you got a sub.

[CJ-cdcd]

Get Dean Radin and Ed Kelly on the show for a balanced discussion of psi phenomena.

[jay]

Dude how....what kind of blackmail do you have on these professors?

[MoshkitaTheCat]

Such a delight listening to this episode. Time well spent. Thank you.

[keppela]

Just a little over 25 years ago, no physicist could have dreamed of dark energy. Now most believe it's the most abundant form of energy in the universe. Given that history, it's amazing physicists like Sean Carroll so blithely dismiss other possible forms of energy that might be mediating "metaphysical" phenomena.

[BlakeErhardt-Ohren]

I always appreciate a Sean Carroll episode! This is another great one!

[fgcbrooklyn]

From a retired academic (me): academic research is largely based on competitive grants. It's inevitable that people competing for grants will turn ot AI machinery to crank out applications. Up till now we had to sweat to put together proposals that fit the different requirements of each grant. With AI anyone will be able to apply to every single grant available, in different foreign languages to boot.
Has academia discussed this prospect? Or are you all still stuck on figuring out how to prevent students from cheating on their papers?

[mykrahmaan]

I am a vegan and would like to see a system of knowledge, where contribution to practical eradication of predation is the ultimate criterion of proof for verifying accuracy of any statement of knowledge (as counteractors for LAWS OF NATURE, which are often 100% accurate statements of cruel facts ~ eg. "natural selection" and "survival of the FITTEST = most violent").

Find it nauseating to view animals being misused as pets, especially so blatantly exploiting them as a tool for publicity and self glory.

Like the topic discussed here. Yet decided to discontinue viewing it because of the nauseating sight in the intro.

Although I am aware this comment would have zero effect as it is usual in such podcasts, I decided to post it still, just to vent (pacify) my own anger.

SCIENCE, as a "system for passive observation of nature's cruelties" is the most INSOLENT RELIGION human race ever invented. As a consequence, it actively serves to justify and perpetuate status quo.

[johngaunce]

Three of my favorite public intellectuals. I'm not sure you could do better.

[althomas]

steve is way off at 9:55 ssying ai fakes have breen around for six years and society is safe. ai is in its infancy today and deep fakes are only now getting close to realistic. i look forward to hearing his ai comments six years from now.

[nathane]

I did not know I needed to see these 3 gents in a conversation, but man I did, awesome discussion!