1 00:00:03,110 --> 00:00:01,510 i mean you're asking the right questions 2 00:00:04,070 --> 00:00:03,120 for anybody that really knows their math 3 00:00:05,990 --> 00:00:04,080 and science 4 00:00:06,950 --> 00:00:06,000 and it must be hard knows about you 5 00:00:07,430 --> 00:00:06,960 you're asking exactly the right 6 00:00:12,629 --> 00:00:07,440 questions 7 00:00:17,109 --> 00:00:15,749 how's it going man great how about you 8 00:00:19,029 --> 00:00:17,119 it's going well how's the weather it's 9 00:00:20,550 --> 00:00:19,039 been like an irvine oh it's well 10 00:00:21,990 --> 00:00:20,560 it's it's probably the best weather you 11 00:00:23,349 --> 00:00:22,000 could have in the world i mean it's 12 00:00:23,750 --> 00:00:23,359 almost like we have a thermostatist 13 00:00:25,589 --> 00:00:23,760 that's 14 00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:25,599 it's just gorgeous here year round so i 15 00:00:30,070 --> 00:00:26,800 have no complaints 16 00:00:32,470 --> 00:00:30,080 it's warm with all the 17 00:00:34,229 --> 00:00:32,480 quarantine and lockdowns are you okay is 18 00:00:38,069 --> 00:00:34,239 it all right in your mental health 19 00:00:40,389 --> 00:00:38,079 do you prefer it i'm okay i it's um 20 00:00:41,590 --> 00:00:40,399 for me it's great in the sense that i'm 21 00:00:44,150 --> 00:00:41,600 i'm enjoying um 22 00:00:45,990 --> 00:00:44,160 less distraction and i'm able to focus 23 00:00:47,590 --> 00:00:46,000 on studying some mathematics and physics 24 00:00:49,510 --> 00:00:47,600 that i'm interested in studying so 25 00:00:52,470 --> 00:00:49,520 it's it's good it's of course very very 26 00:00:54,549 --> 00:00:52,480 sad to see the millions infected and 27 00:00:55,910 --> 00:00:54,559 hundreds of thousands 140 000 at this 28 00:00:58,069 --> 00:00:55,920 point that are 29 00:00:59,029 --> 00:00:58,079 dead so yeah that's that's that's 30 00:01:02,229 --> 00:00:59,039 horrific and 31 00:01:04,789 --> 00:01:02,239 you know the threat of the pandemic 32 00:01:05,429 --> 00:01:04,799 expanding and so forth is you know not 33 00:01:08,310 --> 00:01:05,439 much fun 34 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:08,320 um so and i got family and relatives and 35 00:01:10,469 --> 00:01:09,840 so forth that i'm concerned about so 36 00:01:15,109 --> 00:01:10,479 yeah 37 00:01:17,590 --> 00:01:15,119 about it i like it because 38 00:01:18,950 --> 00:01:17,600 it removes any distractions and i too am 39 00:01:19,510 --> 00:01:18,960 studying math and physics on the side 40 00:01:22,630 --> 00:01:19,520 and 41 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:22,640 salutary for me 42 00:01:27,109 --> 00:01:25,680 but it's obviously not for everyone has 43 00:01:28,710 --> 00:01:27,119 it changed your views at all 44 00:01:30,789 --> 00:01:28,720 has covered giving you given you any 45 00:01:32,310 --> 00:01:30,799 insight or any different ideas with 46 00:01:33,990 --> 00:01:32,320 regards to your theories which we'll get 47 00:01:36,310 --> 00:01:34,000 into 48 00:01:38,230 --> 00:01:36,320 uh it just confirms what we learned from 49 00:01:40,870 --> 00:01:38,240 evolutionary psychology about that 50 00:01:41,910 --> 00:01:40,880 about human nature and in groups and out 51 00:01:45,030 --> 00:01:41,920 groups and 52 00:01:46,870 --> 00:01:45,040 um the one the reasons we evolved logic 53 00:01:47,830 --> 00:01:46,880 and reason it wasn't in pursuit of truth 54 00:01:49,830 --> 00:01:47,840 but to 55 00:01:51,830 --> 00:01:49,840 to support ideas that we already believe 56 00:01:52,310 --> 00:01:51,840 so so we just see this being played out 57 00:01:55,670 --> 00:01:52,320 in 58 00:01:58,950 --> 00:01:55,680 forth that are 59 00:02:00,550 --> 00:01:58,960 that are going on and and you know the 60 00:02:02,550 --> 00:02:00,560 yeah we see human nature being played 61 00:02:04,389 --> 00:02:02,560 out in a big way and we and we see the 62 00:02:07,190 --> 00:02:04,399 results in terms of 63 00:02:07,990 --> 00:02:07,200 uh you know a big failure in our country 64 00:02:09,669 --> 00:02:08,000 right now the the 65 00:02:12,550 --> 00:02:09,679 rates of infection are going up the 66 00:02:14,630 --> 00:02:12,560 deaths are we're number one in the world 67 00:02:16,150 --> 00:02:14,640 in terms of the number of deaths and 68 00:02:18,869 --> 00:02:16,160 infections and so forth 69 00:02:19,430 --> 00:02:18,879 maybe not per capita but um but but 70 00:02:23,030 --> 00:02:19,440 still 71 00:02:24,470 --> 00:02:23,040 for the world's richest country with 72 00:02:26,229 --> 00:02:24,480 the the wonderful scientific 73 00:02:27,190 --> 00:02:26,239 establishment that we have you would 74 00:02:29,430 --> 00:02:27,200 think that there would be 75 00:02:31,110 --> 00:02:29,440 just no problem in us getting together 76 00:02:34,390 --> 00:02:31,120 organizing and defeating this thing 77 00:02:36,150 --> 00:02:34,400 but but there there's the whole aspect 78 00:02:38,229 --> 00:02:36,160 of human evolutionary psychology 79 00:02:39,350 --> 00:02:38,239 and um that that's playing playing 80 00:02:42,150 --> 00:02:39,360 itself out uh 81 00:02:43,589 --> 00:02:42,160 large and so so and i study evolutionary 82 00:02:46,710 --> 00:02:43,599 psychology and what's going on 83 00:02:48,869 --> 00:02:46,720 does does make sense it's tragic for us 84 00:02:51,670 --> 00:02:48,879 as a as a population but it makes sense 85 00:02:55,350 --> 00:02:51,680 in terms of human nature 86 00:02:57,030 --> 00:02:55,360 do you meditate yes daily 87 00:02:58,869 --> 00:02:57,040 what kind of meditation mindfulness or 88 00:03:02,830 --> 00:02:58,879 transcendental or 89 00:03:09,509 --> 00:03:06,149 silence nothing else 90 00:03:11,750 --> 00:03:09,519 pure silence no poses i do whatever 91 00:03:15,750 --> 00:03:11,760 feels comfortable but it's i spend 92 00:03:18,949 --> 00:03:15,760 probably at least three hours a day 93 00:03:20,949 --> 00:03:18,959 in pure silence that's it not looking at 94 00:03:25,270 --> 00:03:20,959 a screen or reading 95 00:03:27,830 --> 00:03:25,280 nothing not walking not walking 96 00:03:28,789 --> 00:03:27,840 just silence sitting lying the pose 97 00:03:32,229 --> 00:03:28,799 doesn't matter to me 98 00:03:35,430 --> 00:03:32,239 but it's just pure silence and um 99 00:03:35,830 --> 00:03:35,440 being just being aware of whatever i 100 00:03:39,190 --> 00:03:35,840 feel 101 00:03:40,949 --> 00:03:39,200 in the moment in being aware of thoughts 102 00:03:42,550 --> 00:03:40,959 as they come up and just 103 00:03:44,550 --> 00:03:42,560 if they come up then i'll let them go 104 00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:44,560 and go back to silence 105 00:03:49,110 --> 00:03:47,760 it's very very simple what's what i find 106 00:03:49,990 --> 00:03:49,120 tricky about meditation this is why i 107 00:03:52,149 --> 00:03:50,000 don't do it 108 00:03:53,830 --> 00:03:52,159 is that as soon as i start to not that 109 00:03:55,910 --> 00:03:53,840 the thoughts intrude but 110 00:03:57,429 --> 00:03:55,920 that great productive thoughts come up 111 00:04:00,149 --> 00:03:57,439 and then i have to write them down 112 00:04:01,670 --> 00:04:00,159 because i find that when i don't it's 113 00:04:03,429 --> 00:04:01,680 rare that i get them again 114 00:04:04,630 --> 00:04:03,439 so do you sit with a pen and paper if 115 00:04:05,990 --> 00:04:04,640 you have a particularly brilliant 116 00:04:09,270 --> 00:04:06,000 thought do you just allow that to 117 00:04:11,350 --> 00:04:09,280 escape i let it go it's over the years 118 00:04:12,949 --> 00:04:11,360 it's only maybe one or two times that 119 00:04:16,069 --> 00:04:12,959 i've actually written something down 120 00:04:17,110 --> 00:04:16,079 it's i i just don't i just let it come 121 00:04:19,030 --> 00:04:17,120 and i let it go 122 00:04:20,949 --> 00:04:19,040 i have a fairly good memory for the 123 00:04:21,909 --> 00:04:20,959 stuff that comes up if i want to later 124 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:21,919 so so 125 00:04:25,030 --> 00:04:23,680 maybe maybe if i was really concerned 126 00:04:26,550 --> 00:04:25,040 that i would forget something that i 127 00:04:27,990 --> 00:04:26,560 really wanted i might be doing that but 128 00:04:29,270 --> 00:04:28,000 i'm not too concerned about it i can 129 00:04:32,310 --> 00:04:29,280 remember stuff later 130 00:04:34,629 --> 00:04:32,320 but i just you know it's it's a matter 131 00:04:36,070 --> 00:04:34,639 what i find it's the meditation process 132 00:04:39,909 --> 00:04:36,080 for me 133 00:04:44,150 --> 00:04:39,919 is what i can imagine it's like for a 134 00:04:49,830 --> 00:04:46,469 it turns out when the caterpillar is 135 00:04:53,030 --> 00:04:49,840 inside the chrysalis the immune cells 136 00:04:54,550 --> 00:04:53,040 of the caterpillar attack 137 00:04:56,070 --> 00:04:54,560 and try to kill that in fact they do 138 00:04:57,270 --> 00:04:56,080 kill the cells 139 00:04:59,990 --> 00:04:57,280 that are responsible for the 140 00:05:01,670 --> 00:05:00,000 transformation into a butterfly 141 00:05:03,189 --> 00:05:01,680 they attack and kill attack and kill 142 00:05:05,830 --> 00:05:03,199 until they're overwhelmed 143 00:05:08,629 --> 00:05:05,840 and and then all most of the structure 144 00:05:10,629 --> 00:05:08,639 of the caterpillar liquefies 145 00:05:12,469 --> 00:05:10,639 and then it's reformed into the 146 00:05:13,270 --> 00:05:12,479 butterfly from the point of view of the 147 00:05:15,189 --> 00:05:13,280 caterpillar 148 00:05:16,629 --> 00:05:15,199 that that can't be fun and the immune 149 00:05:19,029 --> 00:05:16,639 system indicates 150 00:05:21,110 --> 00:05:19,039 that it's it's not welcomed by the 151 00:05:23,350 --> 00:05:21,120 caterpillar at all it's it's fought 152 00:05:25,110 --> 00:05:23,360 to the death by the immune system until 153 00:05:26,230 --> 00:05:25,120 the immune system's overwhelmed 154 00:05:28,790 --> 00:05:26,240 but from the point of view of the 155 00:05:30,790 --> 00:05:28,800 butterfly it's it's 156 00:05:31,909 --> 00:05:30,800 a brand new creation so it depends on 157 00:05:33,189 --> 00:05:31,919 whether you take the 158 00:05:35,350 --> 00:05:33,199 the point of view of the caterpillar or 159 00:05:36,629 --> 00:05:35,360 the butterfly most of the time i've been 160 00:05:39,830 --> 00:05:36,639 the caterpillar 161 00:05:42,710 --> 00:05:39,840 um but i'm starting a little bit to 162 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:42,720 welcome the destruction of everything i 163 00:05:47,110 --> 00:05:43,440 know 164 00:05:48,629 --> 00:05:47,120 the destruction of deeply held beliefs 165 00:05:52,310 --> 00:05:48,639 the destruction of 166 00:05:54,790 --> 00:05:52,320 my fears and so forth defense mechanisms 167 00:05:56,309 --> 00:05:54,800 letting all that stuff slowly be 168 00:05:59,350 --> 00:05:56,319 destroyed 169 00:06:02,150 --> 00:05:59,360 just in pure silence and then watching 170 00:06:02,870 --> 00:06:02,160 whatever new might might come up i mean 171 00:06:04,469 --> 00:06:02,880 it's hard 172 00:06:06,629 --> 00:06:04,479 to imagine that the caterpillar has any 173 00:06:07,990 --> 00:06:06,639 idea what it's going to be turned into 174 00:06:09,029 --> 00:06:08,000 it's just fighting it to the death until 175 00:06:10,550 --> 00:06:09,039 he can't fight anymore 176 00:06:12,070 --> 00:06:10,560 and then it liquefies so from the 177 00:06:15,189 --> 00:06:12,080 caterpillar's point of view it's just 178 00:06:16,790 --> 00:06:15,199 all loss and death and destruction 179 00:06:19,110 --> 00:06:16,800 but there's a rebirth and that's the way 180 00:06:21,990 --> 00:06:19,120 i feel about 181 00:06:23,350 --> 00:06:22,000 meditation that it's i'm allowing a 182 00:06:25,430 --> 00:06:23,360 transformation 183 00:06:26,950 --> 00:06:25,440 to occur of which i'm arbitrarily 184 00:06:29,590 --> 00:06:26,960 ignorant about 185 00:06:31,270 --> 00:06:29,600 its true nature and i can only tell you 186 00:06:32,830 --> 00:06:31,280 after i've taken the next step what it 187 00:06:35,830 --> 00:06:32,840 was like 188 00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:35,840 so are you aware of any studies that 189 00:06:38,469 --> 00:06:36,639 have been done 190 00:06:40,390 --> 00:06:38,479 as to the memory of a caterpillar when 191 00:06:41,909 --> 00:06:40,400 it becomes into its butterfly phase that 192 00:06:45,110 --> 00:06:41,919 it has and that it retains 193 00:06:46,710 --> 00:06:45,120 certain memories that's right i i have 194 00:06:49,189 --> 00:06:46,720 i mean i'm not an expert on it but i do 195 00:06:50,629 --> 00:06:49,199 recall um stories about that that if you 196 00:06:52,309 --> 00:06:50,639 give some kind of 197 00:06:53,830 --> 00:06:52,319 like aversive training to the 198 00:06:55,430 --> 00:06:53,840 caterpillar it might be there 199 00:06:58,309 --> 00:06:55,440 um the reactions might be there on the 200 00:07:00,629 --> 00:06:58,319 butterfly that kind of thing 201 00:07:02,629 --> 00:07:00,639 i was watching a neuroscientist say that 202 00:07:05,510 --> 00:07:02,639 some memories might be non-vocal or not 203 00:07:06,150 --> 00:07:05,520 localized into the neuronal formation in 204 00:07:07,909 --> 00:07:06,160 the brain 205 00:07:09,189 --> 00:07:07,919 and the reason why he thinks so is 206 00:07:10,710 --> 00:07:09,199 controversial and it's extremely 207 00:07:12,150 --> 00:07:10,720 rudimentary in his research right now is 208 00:07:13,350 --> 00:07:12,160 because of the arctic squirrel 209 00:07:15,510 --> 00:07:13,360 the arctic squirrel when it goes into 210 00:07:18,070 --> 00:07:15,520 hibernation and i believe most creatures 211 00:07:19,350 --> 00:07:18,080 experience this their brain degenerates 212 00:07:21,909 --> 00:07:19,360 to such a degree that 213 00:07:22,629 --> 00:07:21,919 it's it's not clear that memory should 214 00:07:24,070 --> 00:07:22,639 certain memories 215 00:07:27,029 --> 00:07:24,080 should survive yet they do with the 216 00:07:28,469 --> 00:07:27,039 arctic squirrel it's interesting 217 00:07:30,710 --> 00:07:28,479 do you eat a certain kind of breakfast 218 00:07:34,870 --> 00:07:30,720 or follow a diet 219 00:07:38,390 --> 00:07:34,880 uh i i try to um have a 220 00:07:41,029 --> 00:07:38,400 low acid diet so i have lots of oatmeal 221 00:07:42,309 --> 00:07:41,039 i have oatmeal you know for breakfast 222 00:07:45,909 --> 00:07:42,319 and 223 00:07:48,950 --> 00:07:45,919 try to do low acid low fat so i'll have 224 00:07:50,070 --> 00:07:48,960 um an omelet with mostly egg whites 225 00:07:53,589 --> 00:07:50,080 maybe one egg yolk 226 00:07:56,309 --> 00:07:53,599 um and some fresh fruit 227 00:07:56,950 --> 00:07:56,319 my wife is a vegetarian i'm not but um 228 00:07:58,869 --> 00:07:56,960 so she 229 00:08:00,550 --> 00:07:58,879 is she makes up vegetables all the time 230 00:08:01,749 --> 00:08:00,560 so eat her vegetables and then i'll cook 231 00:08:04,629 --> 00:08:01,759 some fish 232 00:08:05,510 --> 00:08:04,639 um chicken i don't do beef that often 233 00:08:09,430 --> 00:08:05,520 but i 234 00:08:10,550 --> 00:08:09,440 focus on fish and chicken 235 00:08:12,869 --> 00:08:10,560 but you know i'll have a little bit of 236 00:08:15,029 --> 00:08:12,879 red meat so i try to eat 237 00:08:15,990 --> 00:08:15,039 i eat three times a day i don't snack at 238 00:08:18,790 --> 00:08:16,000 all 239 00:08:19,990 --> 00:08:18,800 and i after dinner i don't eat any 240 00:08:22,950 --> 00:08:20,000 snacks so i 241 00:08:23,430 --> 00:08:22,960 don't eat usually from 6 30 in the 242 00:08:26,869 --> 00:08:23,440 evening 243 00:08:27,430 --> 00:08:26,879 until at least 7 30 the next day i i 244 00:08:30,070 --> 00:08:27,440 never eat 245 00:08:31,350 --> 00:08:30,080 a bite and that's just been my habit for 246 00:08:33,589 --> 00:08:31,360 for decades 247 00:08:34,709 --> 00:08:33,599 i don't need it all for like 12 hours 13 248 00:08:37,509 --> 00:08:34,719 hours 249 00:08:39,269 --> 00:08:37,519 see i intermittent fast but i do so 250 00:08:42,389 --> 00:08:39,279 because i'm filled with 251 00:08:43,589 --> 00:08:42,399 with avarice and i i just want to eat 252 00:08:45,110 --> 00:08:43,599 whatever i see so i 253 00:08:47,509 --> 00:08:45,120 fast for like when i spoke to eric 254 00:08:49,829 --> 00:08:47,519 weinstein i think at that point during 255 00:08:53,430 --> 00:08:49,839 the interview i had not eaten for 65 256 00:08:55,190 --> 00:08:53,440 hours or so not plenty but but i do that 257 00:08:57,509 --> 00:08:55,200 before i conduct my 258 00:08:58,389 --> 00:08:57,519 podcasts or interviews generally do you 259 00:09:00,310 --> 00:08:58,399 have any 260 00:09:01,430 --> 00:09:00,320 rituals that or habits that you do 261 00:09:05,829 --> 00:09:01,440 before you 262 00:09:09,430 --> 00:09:05,839 meditation 263 00:09:10,230 --> 00:09:09,440 no i i i'm pretty comfortable talking i 264 00:09:12,150 --> 00:09:10,240 i you know 265 00:09:14,150 --> 00:09:12,160 i was a professor at the university of 266 00:09:15,590 --> 00:09:14,160 california for 37 years and had to give 267 00:09:19,030 --> 00:09:15,600 lectures all the time 268 00:09:23,190 --> 00:09:19,040 to big audiences and so for me it 269 00:09:24,949 --> 00:09:23,200 talking is is is not an issue at all so 270 00:09:26,230 --> 00:09:24,959 i mean i was working out just until a 271 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:26,240 couple minutes before we got on 272 00:09:30,230 --> 00:09:28,720 onto this podcast i had had an hour 273 00:09:32,630 --> 00:09:30,240 window so i i 274 00:09:34,150 --> 00:09:32,640 i got a little um you know bench and you 275 00:09:37,269 --> 00:09:34,160 know dumbbells that 276 00:09:38,949 --> 00:09:37,279 that i use and i i weight train three 277 00:09:40,790 --> 00:09:38,959 times a week and do aerobics 278 00:09:42,310 --> 00:09:40,800 three or four times the other three or 279 00:09:43,590 --> 00:09:42,320 four days of the week so i try to have a 280 00:09:45,190 --> 00:09:43,600 regular thing so i was doing that just 281 00:09:49,110 --> 00:09:45,200 before the podcast 282 00:09:51,269 --> 00:09:49,120 so so yeah no i i don't 283 00:09:52,150 --> 00:09:51,279 you usually have to i mean i i usually 284 00:09:55,829 --> 00:09:52,160 just 285 00:09:57,190 --> 00:09:55,839 go and and talk and enjoy it 286 00:09:59,430 --> 00:09:57,200 i was looking at your background and it 287 00:10:00,230 --> 00:09:59,440 said you studied initially computational 288 00:10:05,509 --> 00:10:00,240 psychology 289 00:10:07,350 --> 00:10:05,519 it was 290 00:10:08,630 --> 00:10:07,360 computational psychology was the name of 291 00:10:12,389 --> 00:10:08,640 my my phd 292 00:10:13,990 --> 00:10:12,399 at mit and there i was in the artificial 293 00:10:17,030 --> 00:10:14,000 intelligence laboratory 294 00:10:18,870 --> 00:10:17,040 at mit and in what's now the brain and 295 00:10:20,470 --> 00:10:18,880 cognitive sciences department 296 00:10:22,949 --> 00:10:20,480 and so what i was doing was a 297 00:10:25,829 --> 00:10:22,959 combination of studying 298 00:10:28,310 --> 00:10:25,839 just artificial intelligence and at the 299 00:10:30,870 --> 00:10:28,320 time it was you know good old-fashioned 300 00:10:32,550 --> 00:10:30,880 artificial intelligence it wasn't the 301 00:10:34,389 --> 00:10:32,560 neural network stuff 302 00:10:36,630 --> 00:10:34,399 at that point because that was from 1979 303 00:10:38,470 --> 00:10:36,640 to 1983 neural networks came 304 00:10:39,750 --> 00:10:38,480 into their own a little bit a few years 305 00:10:41,110 --> 00:10:39,760 later um 306 00:10:43,590 --> 00:10:41,120 so i was doing more of the good 307 00:10:46,150 --> 00:10:43,600 old-fashioned ai stuff but still it was 308 00:10:48,310 --> 00:10:46,160 you know i was studying human vision and 309 00:10:49,670 --> 00:10:48,320 computer vision and the idea was 310 00:10:51,670 --> 00:10:49,680 you had a good theory if you could build 311 00:10:52,949 --> 00:10:51,680 a computer that could work 312 00:10:55,030 --> 00:10:52,959 so if you have a theory about how we see 313 00:10:56,790 --> 00:10:55,040 in 3d build it if you have 314 00:10:58,230 --> 00:10:56,800 you know if you can't build it then i'm 315 00:10:59,990 --> 00:10:58,240 not sure you have a theory so it was 316 00:11:01,750 --> 00:11:00,000 that really hard-nosed attitude so 317 00:11:03,670 --> 00:11:01,760 and then on the other side i was looking 318 00:11:04,550 --> 00:11:03,680 with in the brain and cognitive science 319 00:11:06,310 --> 00:11:04,560 department 320 00:11:07,829 --> 00:11:06,320 um at human vision and the 321 00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:07,839 neurophysiology of human vision 322 00:11:10,949 --> 00:11:09,680 psychophysical experiments about how we 323 00:11:13,110 --> 00:11:10,959 see in 3d 324 00:11:14,710 --> 00:11:13,120 object recognition colors and so forth 325 00:11:17,990 --> 00:11:14,720 so the idea was to 326 00:11:18,550 --> 00:11:18,000 reverse engineer biological vision 327 00:11:19,829 --> 00:11:18,560 systems 328 00:11:23,110 --> 00:11:19,839 which are the only ones that worked at 329 00:11:24,710 --> 00:11:23,120 the time and take the insights and try 330 00:11:26,710 --> 00:11:24,720 to build 331 00:11:27,990 --> 00:11:26,720 computer vision systems that implemented 332 00:11:29,509 --> 00:11:28,000 what we learned 333 00:11:31,430 --> 00:11:29,519 and that way we would know we weren't 334 00:11:32,389 --> 00:11:31,440 just you know fooling ourselves into 335 00:11:33,910 --> 00:11:32,399 thinking we understood 336 00:11:35,990 --> 00:11:33,920 if it doesn't work then you don't 337 00:11:36,949 --> 00:11:36,000 understand go back and 338 00:11:38,550 --> 00:11:36,959 scratch your head a little bit and 339 00:11:39,269 --> 00:11:38,560 figure out what's really going on so it 340 00:11:42,630 --> 00:11:39,279 was sorry 341 00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:42,640 around what year was this i was there um 342 00:11:49,030 --> 00:11:46,320 from 1979 until 1983 at mit 343 00:11:50,870 --> 00:11:49,040 and i was very fortunate to have two 344 00:11:52,150 --> 00:11:50,880 wonderful advisors david maher and 345 00:11:56,069 --> 00:11:52,160 whitman richards 346 00:11:58,230 --> 00:11:56,079 um so both of them had their foot 347 00:12:00,310 --> 00:11:58,240 in the ai lab and in the brain and 348 00:12:02,870 --> 00:12:00,320 cognitive science department 349 00:12:04,230 --> 00:12:02,880 cool cool you know i i see a few 350 00:12:04,790 --> 00:12:04,240 different strands to your theories and 351 00:12:05,990 --> 00:12:04,800 this 352 00:12:08,069 --> 00:12:06,000 just for the people listening or 353 00:12:10,389 --> 00:12:08,079 watching this is going to be 354 00:12:11,670 --> 00:12:10,399 extremely technical or much more so than 355 00:12:12,629 --> 00:12:11,680 most of the other interviews that you 356 00:12:15,110 --> 00:12:12,639 have online and 357 00:12:15,750 --> 00:12:15,120 which i think stay on at a cursory level 358 00:12:19,269 --> 00:12:15,760 particularly 359 00:12:21,110 --> 00:12:19,279 with people who don't have a 360 00:12:23,269 --> 00:12:21,120 mathematical background or a physics 361 00:12:25,030 --> 00:12:23,279 background so as far as i can delineate 362 00:12:26,310 --> 00:12:25,040 you have the consciousness the conscious 363 00:12:27,750 --> 00:12:26,320 agent model 364 00:12:29,990 --> 00:12:27,760 interface theory of perception that's 365 00:12:31,110 --> 00:12:30,000 number two bayesian decision theory 366 00:12:34,389 --> 00:12:31,120 which i believe you 367 00:12:36,150 --> 00:12:34,399 mended to computational 368 00:12:37,590 --> 00:12:36,160 evolutionary perception i could be wrong 369 00:12:39,590 --> 00:12:37,600 about that and then 370 00:12:41,509 --> 00:12:39,600 number four you have some new papers on 371 00:12:43,509 --> 00:12:41,519 eigenforms which i haven't studied much 372 00:12:46,069 --> 00:12:43,519 because i don't know much about 373 00:12:48,069 --> 00:12:46,079 modular forms and heck algebras so i 374 00:12:50,870 --> 00:12:48,079 didn't get a chance to read them 375 00:12:52,230 --> 00:12:50,880 but uh but are those is that a fair 376 00:12:55,350 --> 00:12:52,240 summary of your work or 377 00:12:56,710 --> 00:12:55,360 are there more yeah so evolutionary game 378 00:13:01,670 --> 00:12:56,720 theory i i work on 379 00:13:03,750 --> 00:13:01,680 um yeah um bayesian models of perception 380 00:13:08,790 --> 00:13:03,760 markovian models of the dynamics of 381 00:13:12,310 --> 00:13:11,190 out of curiosity this this is getting 382 00:13:14,949 --> 00:13:12,320 somewhat out of left field 383 00:13:16,069 --> 00:13:14,959 why did you choose g to represent the 384 00:13:18,310 --> 00:13:16,079 the braille space for 385 00:13:19,269 --> 00:13:18,320 decisions because when i was for those 386 00:13:22,230 --> 00:13:19,279 listening 387 00:13:23,750 --> 00:13:22,240 there's this it's there's a relatively 388 00:13:25,269 --> 00:13:23,760 simple structure though 389 00:13:26,710 --> 00:13:25,279 non-trivial called sigma algebras and 390 00:13:27,269 --> 00:13:26,720 then there's markup kernels and then you 391 00:13:30,870 --> 00:13:27,279 have w 392 00:13:32,470 --> 00:13:30,880 you have x which x experience i 393 00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:32,480 imagine you chose x because of 394 00:13:36,949 --> 00:13:35,760 experience world w okay great but g 395 00:13:38,710 --> 00:13:36,959 what does that have to do with decisions 396 00:13:39,509 --> 00:13:38,720 why did you choose that to just run out 397 00:13:41,350 --> 00:13:39,519 of letters or 398 00:13:43,430 --> 00:13:41,360 yeah we're running out of letters and we 399 00:13:44,150 --> 00:13:43,440 already had a for the kernel fractions i 400 00:13:45,590 --> 00:13:44,160 mean 401 00:13:46,550 --> 00:13:45,600 in some sense g is the set of actions 402 00:13:47,430 --> 00:13:46,560 that you're going to take we already 403 00:13:49,350 --> 00:13:47,440 used action 404 00:13:51,990 --> 00:13:49,360 a for the action kernel so i used g for 405 00:13:52,710 --> 00:13:52,000 the group of of actions that you could 406 00:13:54,310 --> 00:13:52,720 take 407 00:13:56,069 --> 00:13:54,320 i was thinking about at the time that it 408 00:13:57,750 --> 00:13:56,079 might be have a group structure as well 409 00:13:59,030 --> 00:13:57,760 as a measurable structure 410 00:14:00,629 --> 00:13:59,040 so use that's why i use g because 411 00:14:01,430 --> 00:14:00,639 already take taken a for the kernel 412 00:14:03,590 --> 00:14:01,440 itself 413 00:14:05,269 --> 00:14:03,600 but the easiest way to think about the 414 00:14:07,110 --> 00:14:05,279 definition of a conscious agent 415 00:14:09,030 --> 00:14:07,120 is that it's just three kernels there's 416 00:14:10,949 --> 00:14:09,040 a perception kernel 417 00:14:12,389 --> 00:14:10,959 you so you get the world that influences 418 00:14:13,590 --> 00:14:12,399 you through a perception kernel 419 00:14:15,829 --> 00:14:13,600 in other words whatever the state of the 420 00:14:17,430 --> 00:14:15,839 world is it probabilistically affects 421 00:14:18,629 --> 00:14:17,440 what your experiences are that's what a 422 00:14:20,150 --> 00:14:18,639 kernel p does 423 00:14:21,829 --> 00:14:20,160 so whatever the state of the world is 424 00:14:22,870 --> 00:14:21,839 you get a probabilistic effect on your 425 00:14:24,470 --> 00:14:22,880 experiences 426 00:14:26,550 --> 00:14:24,480 then the d kernel is whatever my 427 00:14:29,030 --> 00:14:26,560 experiences are they probabilistically 428 00:14:30,550 --> 00:14:29,040 affect the actions that i choose 429 00:14:32,310 --> 00:14:30,560 and then my action kernel is whatever 430 00:14:33,670 --> 00:14:32,320 actions i choose they probabilistically 431 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:33,680 affect the state of the world 432 00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:35,680 very very simple triangle the state of 433 00:14:40,470 --> 00:14:37,600 the world affects my experiences 434 00:14:41,509 --> 00:14:40,480 my experiences affect the choices i make 435 00:14:44,710 --> 00:14:41,519 the choices i make 436 00:14:46,870 --> 00:14:44,720 affect the state of the world right okay 437 00:14:50,069 --> 00:14:46,880 now please forgive me if i jump around i 438 00:14:54,069 --> 00:14:50,079 have 90 questions here 439 00:14:55,670 --> 00:14:54,079 and what you're saying right now 440 00:14:58,710 --> 00:14:55,680 brings me to question number 80 let's 441 00:15:02,389 --> 00:14:58,720 say so it's gonna go all over the place 442 00:15:05,110 --> 00:15:02,399 why did you have x when you could just 443 00:15:05,670 --> 00:15:05,120 go from w to g directly by composing d 444 00:15:08,230 --> 00:15:05,680 after 445 00:15:09,350 --> 00:15:08,240 p so that is to say for the people you 446 00:15:10,949 --> 00:15:09,360 can explain what i'm saying to the 447 00:15:14,150 --> 00:15:10,959 people so in case 448 00:15:21,990 --> 00:15:19,030 the the idea when i was working on this 449 00:15:23,590 --> 00:15:22,000 model of the perception decision in 450 00:15:26,710 --> 00:15:23,600 action the idea 451 00:15:30,470 --> 00:15:26,720 is first i'm trying to 452 00:15:32,949 --> 00:15:30,480 model the process of observation 453 00:15:35,269 --> 00:15:32,959 so you know i studied computational 454 00:15:39,110 --> 00:15:35,279 vision at mit and now and then 455 00:15:41,269 --> 00:15:39,120 uc irvine and it turns out when you look 456 00:15:42,230 --> 00:15:41,279 at all the specific mathematical models 457 00:15:43,670 --> 00:15:42,240 that we have 458 00:15:45,509 --> 00:15:43,680 they all have a similar structure i was 459 00:15:47,509 --> 00:15:45,519 trying to capture that similar structure 460 00:15:49,509 --> 00:15:47,519 a sort of a bayesian inference kind of 461 00:15:50,069 --> 00:15:49,519 structure but i wanted to actually 462 00:15:51,749 --> 00:15:50,079 capture 463 00:15:53,110 --> 00:15:51,759 the fact that we we do have these 464 00:15:54,870 --> 00:15:53,120 conscious experiences like i'm 465 00:15:56,389 --> 00:15:54,880 perceiving a three-dimensional 466 00:15:58,230 --> 00:15:56,399 object like an apple and i'm seeing its 467 00:16:00,310 --> 00:15:58,240 three-dimensional shape as colors 468 00:16:01,269 --> 00:16:00,320 it's textures and so forth so i needed a 469 00:16:03,910 --> 00:16:01,279 space x 470 00:16:05,670 --> 00:16:03,920 of experiences to capture what what it 471 00:16:08,550 --> 00:16:05,680 was that i was perceiving 472 00:16:10,069 --> 00:16:08,560 but then you know perception doesn't 473 00:16:12,150 --> 00:16:10,079 occur in a void 474 00:16:14,550 --> 00:16:12,160 there's a perspective perception action 475 00:16:17,269 --> 00:16:14,560 loop right there's this a point that 476 00:16:18,710 --> 00:16:17,279 sort of an activist um approaches uh 477 00:16:20,949 --> 00:16:18,720 highlighting that is that 478 00:16:23,030 --> 00:16:20,959 perception and action sort of work 479 00:16:23,509 --> 00:16:23,040 together and so i i want a model in 480 00:16:25,670 --> 00:16:23,519 which 481 00:16:27,350 --> 00:16:25,680 i have experiences but those are tied to 482 00:16:29,829 --> 00:16:27,360 my actions and those actions 483 00:16:30,949 --> 00:16:29,839 affect the world and my experiences in 484 00:16:32,870 --> 00:16:30,959 in a loop 485 00:16:34,470 --> 00:16:32,880 and so that's why there's this this loop 486 00:16:36,230 --> 00:16:34,480 structure to it and to leave 487 00:16:37,670 --> 00:16:36,240 out the experiences would actually be to 488 00:16:39,990 --> 00:16:37,680 leave out um 489 00:16:41,749 --> 00:16:40,000 the whole point which is to understand 490 00:16:44,949 --> 00:16:41,759 my perceptions 491 00:16:46,629 --> 00:16:44,959 okay when i watch your interviews with 492 00:16:48,870 --> 00:16:46,639 people who most of the time aren't 493 00:16:51,670 --> 00:16:48,880 physicists they seem to be resistant 494 00:16:52,710 --> 00:16:51,680 on that space time is emergent like 495 00:16:54,230 --> 00:16:52,720 michael schermer 496 00:16:55,590 --> 00:16:54,240 and he was saying well you probably 497 00:16:56,069 --> 00:16:55,600 talked to the minority of physicists 498 00:16:58,550 --> 00:16:56,079 that think that 499 00:16:59,509 --> 00:16:58,560 space time is emerging that's not in 500 00:17:01,350 --> 00:16:59,519 fact true 501 00:17:02,790 --> 00:17:01,360 most physicists as far as i know 502 00:17:03,590 --> 00:17:02,800 actually believe that space time is 503 00:17:07,429 --> 00:17:03,600 emergent 504 00:17:10,470 --> 00:17:09,429 so why do you think that there's this 505 00:17:14,230 --> 00:17:10,480 aversion 506 00:17:15,990 --> 00:17:14,240 to modest that is monoism 507 00:17:17,350 --> 00:17:16,000 theory is predicated on the primacy of 508 00:17:18,470 --> 00:17:17,360 consciousness rather than the primacy 509 00:17:21,510 --> 00:17:18,480 being material 510 00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:21,520 why is it that that's the sticking point 511 00:17:26,710 --> 00:17:24,720 right well and even among physicists 512 00:17:28,230 --> 00:17:26,720 who recognize that space time isn't 513 00:17:33,029 --> 00:17:28,240 fundamental 514 00:17:35,590 --> 00:17:33,039 um you won't find very many of them 515 00:17:38,070 --> 00:17:35,600 arguing that therefore consciousness is 516 00:17:41,590 --> 00:17:38,080 a good candidate for what is fundamental 517 00:17:44,310 --> 00:17:41,600 um i've been to an fqxi 518 00:17:45,669 --> 00:17:44,320 um meeting of physicists where they were 519 00:17:46,070 --> 00:17:45,679 looking at the role of the observer in 520 00:17:49,590 --> 00:17:46,080 physics 521 00:17:51,990 --> 00:17:49,600 at banff a few years ago and 522 00:17:53,510 --> 00:17:52,000 even in that context where where they 523 00:17:57,350 --> 00:17:53,520 were looking at the role of the observer 524 00:18:00,230 --> 00:17:57,360 in physics i didn't see any of the 525 00:18:01,110 --> 00:18:00,240 physicists there interested in taking 526 00:18:04,230 --> 00:18:01,120 consciousness 527 00:18:08,470 --> 00:18:04,240 as fundamental and and i think 528 00:18:10,070 --> 00:18:08,480 the attitude is why take such a huge 529 00:18:11,830 --> 00:18:10,080 leap 530 00:18:13,990 --> 00:18:11,840 i mean letting go of space time is one 531 00:18:15,750 --> 00:18:14,000 thing but jumping into consciousness 532 00:18:17,430 --> 00:18:15,760 i mean that that for i think most 533 00:18:19,270 --> 00:18:17,440 physicists would say that's a much 534 00:18:22,230 --> 00:18:19,280 bigger leap than we need to take let's 535 00:18:23,270 --> 00:18:22,240 try to find just some deeper structure 536 00:18:26,470 --> 00:18:23,280 beyond space 537 00:18:28,630 --> 00:18:26,480 time and for example this is i think the 538 00:18:29,990 --> 00:18:28,640 brilliant work that nema or kanye hamed 539 00:18:33,270 --> 00:18:30,000 is doing where he's saying 540 00:18:36,150 --> 00:18:33,280 look we can look 541 00:18:38,070 --> 00:18:36,160 at these so-called positive geometries 542 00:18:40,870 --> 00:18:38,080 behind space-time the amplitude 543 00:18:41,510 --> 00:18:40,880 a sociohedron and other things that he's 544 00:18:43,590 --> 00:18:41,520 finding 545 00:18:44,549 --> 00:18:43,600 positive grasmanians the bigger 546 00:18:47,669 --> 00:18:44,559 structure that 547 00:18:49,750 --> 00:18:47,679 includes many of these and and 548 00:18:51,350 --> 00:18:49,760 he doesn't know what that realm is about 549 00:18:52,870 --> 00:18:51,360 which is fine but he's finding the 550 00:18:54,390 --> 00:18:52,880 mathematical structure so he's finding 551 00:18:56,230 --> 00:18:54,400 that there are these symmetries like in 552 00:18:59,350 --> 00:18:56,240 the amplitude 553 00:19:01,669 --> 00:18:59,360 um that can't be captured 554 00:19:03,510 --> 00:19:01,679 in space-time they also have found that 555 00:19:05,110 --> 00:19:03,520 the mathematical 556 00:19:06,390 --> 00:19:05,120 description of the scattering amplitudes 557 00:19:07,590 --> 00:19:06,400 the computations of the scattering 558 00:19:09,350 --> 00:19:07,600 amplitudes 559 00:19:10,789 --> 00:19:09,360 become much much simpler when you let go 560 00:19:12,950 --> 00:19:10,799 of space time if you use 561 00:19:14,470 --> 00:19:12,960 um feynman diagrams and have virtual 562 00:19:16,150 --> 00:19:14,480 particles in space time then you could 563 00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:16,160 have hundreds or thousands of pages 564 00:19:19,909 --> 00:19:18,000 but in this deeper space that he's 565 00:19:22,630 --> 00:19:19,919 finding this pure math 566 00:19:23,990 --> 00:19:22,640 um it collapses to a few terms that you 567 00:19:28,150 --> 00:19:24,000 can compute by hand 568 00:19:31,909 --> 00:19:28,160 and so so i think that the physicists 569 00:19:34,310 --> 00:19:31,919 are saying let's you know let's not 570 00:19:35,669 --> 00:19:34,320 jump further than we have to let's if we 571 00:19:36,150 --> 00:19:35,679 have to let go of spacetime let's just 572 00:19:37,830 --> 00:19:36,160 find 573 00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:37,840 some let's let's let the mathematics 574 00:19:41,750 --> 00:19:39,360 guide us first 575 00:19:43,430 --> 00:19:41,760 um and we can try things like well let's 576 00:19:43,830 --> 00:19:43,440 just try like quantum bits in quantum 577 00:19:46,870 --> 00:19:43,840 case 578 00:19:47,669 --> 00:19:46,880 seth lloyd i think at mit took a a an 579 00:19:49,750 --> 00:19:47,679 approach 580 00:19:51,029 --> 00:19:49,760 and quantum what quantum bits and 581 00:19:53,190 --> 00:19:51,039 quantum gates 582 00:19:54,789 --> 00:19:53,200 gates right okay right so your space 583 00:19:57,270 --> 00:19:54,799 time isn't fundamental let's 584 00:19:59,029 --> 00:19:57,280 let's pause it something that's not 585 00:19:59,990 --> 00:19:59,039 conscious just quantum bits and quantum 586 00:20:02,390 --> 00:20:00,000 gates 587 00:20:03,350 --> 00:20:02,400 and what what seth lloyd was able to 588 00:20:05,990 --> 00:20:03,360 show is that you could 589 00:20:07,270 --> 00:20:06,000 in some sense get little patches of 590 00:20:11,750 --> 00:20:07,280 space time 591 00:20:12,789 --> 00:20:11,760 the curvature of this little patch was 592 00:20:15,830 --> 00:20:12,799 proportional to the 593 00:20:17,190 --> 00:20:15,840 action of the gate and so instead of 594 00:20:18,950 --> 00:20:17,200 starting with space time is fundamental 595 00:20:21,270 --> 00:20:18,960 you start with quantum bits and quantum 596 00:20:21,909 --> 00:20:21,280 gates um where those bits and gates come 597 00:20:23,350 --> 00:20:21,919 from again 598 00:20:24,789 --> 00:20:23,360 that's now that's that's your new 599 00:20:25,990 --> 00:20:24,799 assumption it's not space time it's just 600 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:26,000 bits and gates and you can ask 601 00:20:30,310 --> 00:20:27,760 you know who ordered that why should the 602 00:20:34,149 --> 00:20:30,320 universe be fundamentally that 603 00:20:35,590 --> 00:20:34,159 now so the reason why i go there 604 00:20:37,830 --> 00:20:35,600 even though i think most physicists 605 00:20:39,909 --> 00:20:37,840 don't is that 606 00:20:41,190 --> 00:20:39,919 as a cognitive neuroscientist i'm very 607 00:20:43,990 --> 00:20:41,200 interested 608 00:20:45,830 --> 00:20:44,000 in the problem what's called the heart 609 00:20:48,070 --> 00:20:45,840 problem of consciousness 610 00:20:49,669 --> 00:20:48,080 right we have lots of correlations 611 00:20:52,549 --> 00:20:49,679 between brain activity 612 00:20:55,029 --> 00:20:52,559 and conscious experiences like i i like 613 00:20:57,430 --> 00:20:55,039 to use the example of area v4 614 00:20:58,470 --> 00:20:57,440 of cortex left hemispheres back over 615 00:21:00,789 --> 00:20:58,480 here somewhere 616 00:21:02,630 --> 00:21:00,799 if you take a magnet and just touch it 617 00:21:04,950 --> 00:21:02,640 to your skull there a transcranial 618 00:21:07,190 --> 00:21:04,960 magnetic stimulator and inhibit before 619 00:21:08,789 --> 00:21:07,200 you will lose all color experiences in 620 00:21:09,909 --> 00:21:08,799 the right visual field everything to the 621 00:21:11,990 --> 00:21:09,919 right of where you're looking 622 00:21:13,750 --> 00:21:12,000 you will lose color experiences you turn 623 00:21:14,789 --> 00:21:13,760 off the magnet color experiences come 624 00:21:16,630 --> 00:21:14,799 back 625 00:21:18,390 --> 00:21:16,640 and we have dozens maybe hundreds of 626 00:21:19,909 --> 00:21:18,400 correlations like that between specific 627 00:21:21,909 --> 00:21:19,919 kinds of neural activity 628 00:21:23,830 --> 00:21:21,919 and specific conscious experiences but 629 00:21:26,710 --> 00:21:23,840 we have no scientific theories 630 00:21:27,830 --> 00:21:26,720 that can explain um that correlation 631 00:21:29,909 --> 00:21:27,840 there are none 632 00:21:31,430 --> 00:21:29,919 um for any specific there's not a 633 00:21:32,470 --> 00:21:31,440 scientific theory that can explain even 634 00:21:33,909 --> 00:21:32,480 one specific 635 00:21:35,830 --> 00:21:33,919 conscious experience like the taste of 636 00:21:37,190 --> 00:21:35,840 chocolate or the smell of garlic that 637 00:21:39,750 --> 00:21:37,200 says for example 638 00:21:42,070 --> 00:21:39,760 this pattern of brain activity or this 639 00:21:44,549 --> 00:21:42,080 functional aspect of brain activity 640 00:21:46,070 --> 00:21:44,559 um must be the taste of chocolate it 641 00:21:49,029 --> 00:21:46,080 couldn't be the the smell of 642 00:21:50,870 --> 00:21:49,039 um you know a rose and these are the 643 00:21:53,270 --> 00:21:50,880 precise reasons why 644 00:21:55,909 --> 00:21:53,280 there's just nothing on the table and so 645 00:22:00,710 --> 00:21:55,919 i'm trying to 646 00:22:03,909 --> 00:22:00,720 reason why space time is 647 00:22:05,350 --> 00:22:03,919 not fundamental is because something 648 00:22:07,430 --> 00:22:05,360 else is consciousness 649 00:22:09,830 --> 00:22:07,440 and if i start with consciousness i can 650 00:22:11,510 --> 00:22:09,840 perhaps get a theory that explains 651 00:22:13,909 --> 00:22:11,520 this correlation between conscious 652 00:22:15,110 --> 00:22:13,919 experiences and brain states but i don't 653 00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:15,120 start with 654 00:22:18,789 --> 00:22:16,720 something in space time namely brain 655 00:22:20,310 --> 00:22:18,799 states i don't start with brain states 656 00:22:22,310 --> 00:22:20,320 and and figure out how they cause 657 00:22:23,909 --> 00:22:22,320 consciousness i go the other way around 658 00:22:24,470 --> 00:22:23,919 to start with consciousness and show how 659 00:22:27,110 --> 00:22:24,480 it 660 00:22:27,590 --> 00:22:27,120 creates space time as a data structure 661 00:22:32,710 --> 00:22:27,600 and 662 00:22:35,510 --> 00:22:32,720 within that data structure 663 00:22:37,110 --> 00:22:35,520 so so the idea of the big picture idea 664 00:22:45,110 --> 00:22:37,120 is 665 00:22:46,789 --> 00:22:45,120 then objects in space time 666 00:22:48,870 --> 00:22:46,799 and just so people are clear this is not 667 00:22:50,710 --> 00:22:48,880 as this is not new that space time isn't 668 00:22:53,029 --> 00:22:50,720 fundamental it's not like a kooky theory 669 00:22:54,070 --> 00:22:53,039 this has been going around since the 80s 670 00:22:56,789 --> 00:22:54,080 just so that they don't think you're 671 00:22:59,909 --> 00:22:56,799 glumming onto some fat 672 00:23:01,990 --> 00:22:59,919 that that that's right and yeah you know 673 00:23:03,590 --> 00:23:02,000 i think mo as you said most physicists 674 00:23:05,350 --> 00:23:03,600 now most you know first ranked 675 00:23:06,390 --> 00:23:05,360 theoretical physicist just recognize 676 00:23:08,630 --> 00:23:06,400 that it's sort of just 677 00:23:10,149 --> 00:23:08,640 of course space time isn't fundamental 678 00:23:11,909 --> 00:23:10,159 and of course our job is to try to 679 00:23:15,590 --> 00:23:11,919 figure out what's the next step 680 00:23:17,029 --> 00:23:15,600 um and it's not such a crazy idea either 681 00:23:18,630 --> 00:23:17,039 right when you're speaking with michael 682 00:23:20,149 --> 00:23:18,640 schumer he was just blown away there's 683 00:23:20,950 --> 00:23:20,159 no way that space time can't be 684 00:23:22,390 --> 00:23:20,960 fundamental 685 00:23:25,270 --> 00:23:22,400 there's a cup in front of me i see the 686 00:23:26,630 --> 00:23:25,280 cup that's that's beside the point 687 00:23:27,909 --> 00:23:26,640 there's been many times where we have an 688 00:23:29,430 --> 00:23:27,919 effective theory and then we find one 689 00:23:30,070 --> 00:23:29,440 that's more fundamental that produces 690 00:23:34,470 --> 00:23:30,080 that 691 00:23:37,270 --> 00:23:34,480 current theories aren't effective 692 00:23:38,870 --> 00:23:37,280 right and and my colleagues in the 693 00:23:39,750 --> 00:23:38,880 cognitive neurosciences can can be 694 00:23:41,269 --> 00:23:39,760 forgiven 695 00:23:43,269 --> 00:23:41,279 if they don't understand the state of 696 00:23:44,710 --> 00:23:43,279 the play in in physics right i mean 697 00:23:47,909 --> 00:23:44,720 they're they 698 00:23:50,789 --> 00:23:47,919 were taught some physics 699 00:23:51,750 --> 00:23:50,799 in their backgrounds and they have just 700 00:23:53,669 --> 00:23:51,760 absorbed 701 00:23:55,350 --> 00:23:53,679 the idea that space-time is fundamental 702 00:23:56,630 --> 00:23:55,360 and that's perfectly fine in a newtonian 703 00:23:59,669 --> 00:23:56,640 universe and 704 00:24:02,070 --> 00:23:59,679 even in special relativity um it's and 705 00:24:03,990 --> 00:24:02,080 in general relativity is when you put 706 00:24:05,909 --> 00:24:04,000 einstein's theory of gravity together 707 00:24:08,470 --> 00:24:05,919 with quantum theory 708 00:24:09,430 --> 00:24:08,480 that you get the problem and that that's 709 00:24:11,269 --> 00:24:09,440 sort of beyond 710 00:24:13,269 --> 00:24:11,279 what you could expect a normal cognitive 711 00:24:13,750 --> 00:24:13,279 neuroscientist to to really have studied 712 00:24:15,669 --> 00:24:13,760 and so 713 00:24:16,789 --> 00:24:15,679 so you know i don't i don't blame my 714 00:24:20,070 --> 00:24:16,799 colleagues there 715 00:24:22,710 --> 00:24:20,080 for for not understanding this um but 716 00:24:23,269 --> 00:24:22,720 but for for any real professional 717 00:24:25,430 --> 00:24:23,279 physicist 718 00:24:26,870 --> 00:24:25,440 is just obviously you generally quantum 719 00:24:28,630 --> 00:24:26,880 field they don't play well 720 00:24:30,070 --> 00:24:28,640 i see there's two problems one if you 721 00:24:31,510 --> 00:24:30,080 encounter the general public and when i 722 00:24:33,269 --> 00:24:31,520 say general public i mean 723 00:24:35,430 --> 00:24:33,279 the rationally minded skeptics like 724 00:24:36,950 --> 00:24:35,440 michael sherman or maybe even sam harris 725 00:24:39,590 --> 00:24:36,960 and they'll their sticking point might 726 00:24:40,870 --> 00:24:39,600 be the space-time fundamental aspect 727 00:24:42,549 --> 00:24:40,880 right but then when you speak to a 728 00:24:43,430 --> 00:24:42,559 physicist their sticking point would be 729 00:24:44,630 --> 00:24:43,440 consciousness you're saying 730 00:24:46,470 --> 00:24:44,640 consciousness is fun like i agree with 731 00:24:48,710 --> 00:24:46,480 you space time is emerging but then 732 00:24:49,830 --> 00:24:48,720 consciousness is complicated that's an 733 00:24:52,870 --> 00:24:49,840 emerging phenomenon 734 00:24:55,430 --> 00:24:52,880 for a neuroscientist to figure out or or 735 00:24:56,950 --> 00:24:55,440 some people like penrose there's some 736 00:24:57,269 --> 00:24:56,960 quantum mechanical aspect to it but it's 737 00:24:59,269 --> 00:24:57,279 still 738 00:25:01,110 --> 00:24:59,279 somewhat complicated it's not simple why 739 00:25:03,830 --> 00:25:01,120 would you start with consciousness 740 00:25:05,190 --> 00:25:03,840 right okay i have a question about sure 741 00:25:08,310 --> 00:25:05,200 can you just respond to 742 00:25:11,029 --> 00:25:08,320 why that is the idea 743 00:25:12,549 --> 00:25:11,039 is very very simple if space time isn't 744 00:25:13,990 --> 00:25:12,559 fundamental 745 00:25:15,990 --> 00:25:14,000 then objects in spacetime aren't 746 00:25:17,430 --> 00:25:16,000 fundamental either 747 00:25:19,269 --> 00:25:17,440 and if they're not fundamental then they 748 00:25:21,029 --> 00:25:19,279 aren't this true source of causal 749 00:25:22,549 --> 00:25:21,039 power in the universe physical objects 750 00:25:24,789 --> 00:25:22,559 have no cause of powers 751 00:25:25,990 --> 00:25:24,799 it's a useful fiction to think that the 752 00:25:29,029 --> 00:25:26,000 eight ball 753 00:25:30,870 --> 00:25:29,039 being hit by the cue ball um has 754 00:25:32,630 --> 00:25:30,880 there's a causal interaction or that 755 00:25:34,549 --> 00:25:32,640 neurons have causal effects 756 00:25:36,310 --> 00:25:34,559 but it's just a fiction and so that's 757 00:25:40,149 --> 00:25:36,320 why i tied the two together 758 00:25:41,510 --> 00:25:40,159 neurons being objects in space time has 759 00:25:44,390 --> 00:25:41,520 no have no causal powers 760 00:25:47,430 --> 00:25:44,400 my brain causes none of my behavior it 761 00:25:51,029 --> 00:25:47,440 causes none of my experiences 762 00:25:53,190 --> 00:25:51,039 but that that means that therefore 763 00:25:54,470 --> 00:25:53,200 any attempt to show how we solve the 764 00:25:55,750 --> 00:25:54,480 hard problem of consciousness starting 765 00:25:57,190 --> 00:25:55,760 with brain activity and trying to boot 766 00:25:58,870 --> 00:25:57,200 up consciousness will fail 767 00:26:00,870 --> 00:25:58,880 so my idea is simple let's start with 768 00:26:03,750 --> 00:26:00,880 the theory of consciousness and show how 769 00:26:05,830 --> 00:26:03,760 space-time is not fundamental it's just 770 00:26:07,750 --> 00:26:05,840 a data structure within consciousness 771 00:26:10,149 --> 00:26:07,760 that's why space-time isn't fundamental 772 00:26:11,430 --> 00:26:10,159 it's merely a data structure a 773 00:26:13,350 --> 00:26:11,440 visualization tool 774 00:26:15,029 --> 00:26:13,360 that con that consciousness uses to 775 00:26:17,350 --> 00:26:15,039 interact with other consciousnesses 776 00:26:18,149 --> 00:26:17,360 so so i'm the reason so this is all tied 777 00:26:21,110 --> 00:26:18,159 together 778 00:26:22,710 --> 00:26:21,120 the the space time being not fundamental 779 00:26:23,990 --> 00:26:22,720 and the move to make consciousness 780 00:26:27,110 --> 00:26:24,000 fundamental is all part 781 00:26:29,430 --> 00:26:27,120 of one big move recognizing that 782 00:26:32,470 --> 00:26:29,440 that brain activity could not possibly 783 00:26:33,990 --> 00:26:32,480 cause our conscious experiences 784 00:26:35,350 --> 00:26:34,000 so why don't we try the other way let's 785 00:26:38,390 --> 00:26:35,360 start with conscious experiences and 786 00:26:40,710 --> 00:26:38,400 show how they cause 787 00:26:41,590 --> 00:26:40,720 and objects to arise merely as data 788 00:26:43,909 --> 00:26:41,600 structures 789 00:26:45,750 --> 00:26:43,919 within consciousness okay getting to the 790 00:26:48,390 --> 00:26:45,760 neural correlates aspect 791 00:26:50,230 --> 00:26:48,400 you mentioned that it would be to say 792 00:26:52,149 --> 00:26:50,240 that hey because our brain is correlated 793 00:26:54,070 --> 00:26:52,159 with certain conscious experiences 794 00:26:55,909 --> 00:26:54,080 it's that's one thing but then to say 795 00:26:57,350 --> 00:26:55,919 that the brain causes it is another it 796 00:26:58,950 --> 00:26:57,360 would be akin to saying 797 00:27:00,870 --> 00:26:58,960 there's a train track there's a subway 798 00:27:01,990 --> 00:27:00,880 station and people form right before the 799 00:27:03,110 --> 00:27:02,000 train comes 800 00:27:05,029 --> 00:27:03,120 right but it doesn't mean that the 801 00:27:05,830 --> 00:27:05,039 people themselves caused the train to 802 00:27:08,470 --> 00:27:05,840 come 803 00:27:10,470 --> 00:27:08,480 however you just mentioned that there's 804 00:27:14,630 --> 00:27:10,480 transcranial magnetic stimulation 805 00:27:16,870 --> 00:27:14,640 where we can in fact perturb neurons 806 00:27:18,230 --> 00:27:16,880 and then see it would be one thing if we 807 00:27:19,830 --> 00:27:18,240 saw conscious experience 808 00:27:20,950 --> 00:27:19,840 then looked at the neurons and then saw 809 00:27:21,590 --> 00:27:20,960 that there's some association that's 810 00:27:23,350 --> 00:27:21,600 correlation 811 00:27:25,350 --> 00:27:23,360 but then if we can perturb the neurons 812 00:27:27,830 --> 00:27:25,360 to elicit a conscious experience 813 00:27:29,590 --> 00:27:27,840 why is that not evidence for the causal 814 00:27:31,669 --> 00:27:29,600 power going from neurons to 815 00:27:32,789 --> 00:27:31,679 conscious experience great question and 816 00:27:34,470 --> 00:27:32,799 that's what my colleagues would all 817 00:27:36,870 --> 00:27:34,480 point to is that look they'd say 818 00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:36,880 look we can intervene i can literally 819 00:27:40,070 --> 00:27:38,000 manipulate the brain 820 00:27:42,070 --> 00:27:40,080 and get a change in conscious experience 821 00:27:42,870 --> 00:27:42,080 the fact that i can intervene means i'm 822 00:27:44,389 --> 00:27:42,880 showing you 823 00:27:46,070 --> 00:27:44,399 the true causal structure of what's 824 00:27:46,789 --> 00:27:46,080 going on there and that's a logical 825 00:27:48,470 --> 00:27:46,799 error 826 00:27:49,750 --> 00:27:48,480 and it's very easy to see the logical 827 00:27:50,710 --> 00:27:49,760 air imagine you're playing a virtual 828 00:27:52,710 --> 00:27:50,720 reality game and 829 00:27:55,110 --> 00:27:52,720 you're driving a car you're driving a 830 00:27:56,870 --> 00:27:55,120 mustang in a virtual reality game right 831 00:27:58,630 --> 00:27:56,880 and you have a steering wheel and it 832 00:28:00,310 --> 00:27:58,640 turns out you can you can 833 00:28:02,710 --> 00:28:00,320 intervene in that if i turn the steering 834 00:28:03,669 --> 00:28:02,720 wheel to the left my car actually turns 835 00:28:04,789 --> 00:28:03,679 left in the game 836 00:28:06,310 --> 00:28:04,799 if i turn the steering wheel to the 837 00:28:07,669 --> 00:28:06,320 right the car turns right therefore 838 00:28:09,590 --> 00:28:07,679 there must be a real steering wheel and 839 00:28:11,909 --> 00:28:09,600 it must have real causal powers 840 00:28:13,430 --> 00:28:11,919 nope there's no real steering wheel that 841 00:28:13,830 --> 00:28:13,440 that's not that's not the claim well 842 00:28:16,149 --> 00:28:13,840 that's 843 00:28:17,029 --> 00:28:16,159 that might be their claim my claim or my 844 00:28:20,230 --> 00:28:17,039 question 845 00:28:22,389 --> 00:28:20,240 is it is correct to say that the turning 846 00:28:22,950 --> 00:28:22,399 of the steering wheel causes turning in 847 00:28:24,710 --> 00:28:22,960 the game 848 00:28:27,029 --> 00:28:24,720 now it might not be that the turning of 849 00:28:29,110 --> 00:28:27,039 the steering wheel 850 00:28:30,070 --> 00:28:29,120 is akin in causal power to weigh the to 851 00:28:31,430 --> 00:28:30,080 the way that we would think that the 852 00:28:35,990 --> 00:28:31,440 turning of the steering wheel in a 853 00:28:39,190 --> 00:28:36,000 real car changes the wheels and the axes 854 00:28:40,710 --> 00:28:39,200 but all that we need for for causation 855 00:28:41,590 --> 00:28:40,720 to be shown is a implies b 856 00:28:44,549 --> 00:28:41,600 it doesn't matter that they're 857 00:28:45,830 --> 00:28:44,559 intermediate steps 858 00:28:47,909 --> 00:28:45,840 do you understand what i'm saying or am 859 00:28:48,549 --> 00:28:47,919 i not well i'm not explaining it 860 00:28:50,149 --> 00:28:48,559 correctly 861 00:28:52,070 --> 00:28:50,159 well the the thing about the steering 862 00:28:53,590 --> 00:28:52,080 wheel that you see in in the virtual 863 00:28:56,630 --> 00:28:53,600 reality game is that 864 00:28:58,549 --> 00:28:56,640 if you turn your headset to the side 865 00:28:59,669 --> 00:28:58,559 the steering wheel ceases to exist there 866 00:29:00,710 --> 00:28:59,679 is no steering wheel because i'm not 867 00:29:02,870 --> 00:29:00,720 looking at it anymore 868 00:29:03,990 --> 00:29:02,880 the steering when i look back over to 869 00:29:05,750 --> 00:29:04,000 where the steering wheel should be 870 00:29:07,990 --> 00:29:05,760 i see a steering wheel the steering 871 00:29:10,950 --> 00:29:08,000 wheel is something 872 00:29:11,590 --> 00:29:10,960 that i create and destroy as i need it's 873 00:29:14,310 --> 00:29:11,600 gone 874 00:29:15,350 --> 00:29:14,320 now it's back it has no causal powers 875 00:29:17,909 --> 00:29:15,360 the steering wheel 876 00:29:19,750 --> 00:29:17,919 literally has no causal powers it it 877 00:29:21,990 --> 00:29:19,760 informs 878 00:29:23,269 --> 00:29:22,000 me as the player about actions that i 879 00:29:25,350 --> 00:29:23,279 can take 880 00:29:26,870 --> 00:29:25,360 to to interact with the game but the stu 881 00:29:30,070 --> 00:29:26,880 but and the way i 882 00:29:30,789 --> 00:29:30,080 see myself the way i visualize what i'm 883 00:29:32,389 --> 00:29:30,799 doing is i 884 00:29:34,149 --> 00:29:32,399 visualize myself turning the steering 885 00:29:35,029 --> 00:29:34,159 wheel but that's all just a useful 886 00:29:36,710 --> 00:29:35,039 fiction 887 00:29:38,830 --> 00:29:36,720 and the steering wheel itself literally 888 00:29:41,350 --> 00:29:38,840 has no causal powers it's 889 00:29:43,830 --> 00:29:41,360 literally only in my head 890 00:29:45,029 --> 00:29:43,840 there is no external steering wheel with 891 00:29:46,710 --> 00:29:45,039 with causal powers 892 00:29:49,029 --> 00:29:46,720 and i'm saying that that's true not just 893 00:29:50,149 --> 00:29:49,039 in virtual reality but in everyday life 894 00:29:52,710 --> 00:29:50,159 because 895 00:29:53,990 --> 00:29:52,720 space-time is not fundamental it's just 896 00:29:56,310 --> 00:29:54,000 your headset 897 00:29:58,389 --> 00:29:56,320 when you go around in everyday life 898 00:30:01,269 --> 00:29:58,399 think virtual reality 899 00:30:02,070 --> 00:30:01,279 i create the moon when i look up in the 900 00:30:04,470 --> 00:30:02,080 sky 901 00:30:05,269 --> 00:30:04,480 i delete it when i look away there is no 902 00:30:06,549 --> 00:30:05,279 moon just 903 00:30:08,070 --> 00:30:06,559 in the same way that there is no 904 00:30:08,789 --> 00:30:08,080 steering wheel in the virtual reality 905 00:30:12,549 --> 00:30:08,799 game 906 00:30:14,630 --> 00:30:12,559 so when einstein you know asked uh 907 00:30:16,789 --> 00:30:14,640 someone that was with him um do you 908 00:30:18,310 --> 00:30:16,799 really believe the moon is only there 909 00:30:20,789 --> 00:30:18,320 when you look and it's not there when 910 00:30:22,230 --> 00:30:20,799 when no one looks um my answer is yeah 911 00:30:23,269 --> 00:30:22,240 it does it's not there when no one looks 912 00:30:25,590 --> 00:30:23,279 there is no moon 913 00:30:26,710 --> 00:30:25,600 because there is no space time it's and 914 00:30:28,070 --> 00:30:26,720 see that's the part 915 00:30:29,350 --> 00:30:28,080 that einstein wouldn't like right 916 00:30:30,230 --> 00:30:29,360 because his theory was the theory of 917 00:30:34,230 --> 00:30:30,240 space time 918 00:30:37,350 --> 00:30:34,240 really understand what that means 919 00:30:39,430 --> 00:30:37,360 nothing inside space-time is fundamental 920 00:30:41,909 --> 00:30:39,440 nothing and therefore nothing inside 921 00:30:44,149 --> 00:30:41,919 space-time has genuine causal powers it 922 00:30:46,470 --> 00:30:44,159 emerges from something deeper 923 00:30:47,750 --> 00:30:46,480 it's a useful fiction that our species 924 00:30:50,070 --> 00:30:47,760 has to think that 925 00:30:50,870 --> 00:30:50,080 physical objects have causal powers i 926 00:30:52,710 --> 00:30:50,880 throw a rock 927 00:30:55,510 --> 00:30:52,720 it hits a window the rock caused the 928 00:30:59,669 --> 00:30:55,520 window to break that's a useful fiction 929 00:31:02,630 --> 00:30:59,679 i inhibit area v4 color disappears 930 00:31:04,630 --> 00:31:02,640 aha therefore v4 causes color it's a 931 00:31:05,990 --> 00:31:04,640 useful fiction but it's just a fiction 932 00:31:08,470 --> 00:31:06,000 just like the steering wheel 933 00:31:09,990 --> 00:31:08,480 in the virtual reality game okay let's 934 00:31:11,909 --> 00:31:10,000 remove the virtual reality let's just 935 00:31:13,350 --> 00:31:11,919 pretend it's a regular game with a tv 936 00:31:13,990 --> 00:31:13,360 screen and you have a controller in 937 00:31:15,669 --> 00:31:14,000 front of you 938 00:31:17,110 --> 00:31:15,679 right and then you move your analog 939 00:31:18,230 --> 00:31:17,120 stick to the left and the character 940 00:31:20,149 --> 00:31:18,240 moves to the left 941 00:31:22,070 --> 00:31:20,159 then would you say that the move that 942 00:31:24,710 --> 00:31:22,080 you moving the analog stick to the left 943 00:31:26,950 --> 00:31:24,720 causes the character to move to the left 944 00:31:28,789 --> 00:31:26,960 yeah in that metaphor now you within 945 00:31:30,710 --> 00:31:28,799 that metaphor you would say that the 946 00:31:32,310 --> 00:31:30,720 the the icon on the screen was the thing 947 00:31:33,990 --> 00:31:32,320 that caused things to move right 948 00:31:35,830 --> 00:31:34,000 so if i saw myself right now like a 949 00:31:38,950 --> 00:31:35,840 paddle hit the thing like in pawn 950 00:31:40,310 --> 00:31:38,960 i hit hit a ball with the no it's really 951 00:31:41,669 --> 00:31:40,320 in that in that metaphor would be the 952 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:41,679 joystick that was the real thing 953 00:31:44,789 --> 00:31:43,840 but i'm saying once you get that 954 00:31:47,509 --> 00:31:44,799 recognize that 955 00:31:49,190 --> 00:31:47,519 the world around you is just the screen 956 00:31:50,789 --> 00:31:49,200 even the joystick in your head 957 00:31:52,389 --> 00:31:50,799 like the joystick in your hand the 958 00:31:54,630 --> 00:31:52,399 joystick is in your head okay 959 00:31:56,470 --> 00:31:54,640 is in your head itself because space see 960 00:31:57,509 --> 00:31:56,480 that's the real point about what physics 961 00:32:00,549 --> 00:31:57,519 has discovered 962 00:32:03,269 --> 00:32:00,559 space-time is not fundamental it's hard 963 00:32:06,789 --> 00:32:03,279 for us to really grasp that 964 00:32:09,750 --> 00:32:06,799 it's really we so deeply believe 965 00:32:12,149 --> 00:32:09,760 that of course space-time is fundamental 966 00:32:14,470 --> 00:32:12,159 of course the moon is there 967 00:32:17,190 --> 00:32:14,480 when no one looks but when you really 968 00:32:19,590 --> 00:32:17,200 grasp space-time is not fundamental 969 00:32:20,470 --> 00:32:19,600 it and it's actually our construction 970 00:32:22,070 --> 00:32:20,480 then 971 00:32:23,909 --> 00:32:22,080 physical objects don't even exist when 972 00:32:26,070 --> 00:32:23,919 they're not perceived 973 00:32:27,430 --> 00:32:26,080 they don't have causal powers they don't 974 00:32:29,909 --> 00:32:27,440 even exist 975 00:32:31,830 --> 00:32:29,919 you can think of this what i'm doing 976 00:32:34,630 --> 00:32:31,840 right now as 977 00:32:36,549 --> 00:32:34,640 as partly to convince because i already 978 00:32:37,269 --> 00:32:36,559 have a predilection towards your ideas i 979 00:32:39,350 --> 00:32:37,279 already like 980 00:32:40,630 --> 00:32:39,360 you and i like your ideas so you don't 981 00:32:42,230 --> 00:32:40,640 need to convince me too much although i 982 00:32:45,909 --> 00:32:42,240 do have some objections 983 00:32:48,149 --> 00:32:45,919 but i'm i'm demarcating where i feel 984 00:32:48,950 --> 00:32:48,159 people like michael shermer and so on 985 00:32:51,909 --> 00:32:48,960 have problems 986 00:32:52,630 --> 00:32:51,919 because they take that virtual reality 987 00:32:54,230 --> 00:32:52,640 metaphor 988 00:32:56,870 --> 00:32:54,240 and there's some there are some problems 989 00:32:58,230 --> 00:32:56,880 with it because well like i said forget 990 00:32:59,750 --> 00:32:58,240 the virtual reality just imagine a 991 00:33:02,310 --> 00:32:59,760 screen and then you have an analog stick 992 00:33:02,870 --> 00:33:02,320 and then those two get conflated right 993 00:33:04,710 --> 00:33:02,880 okay 994 00:33:06,149 --> 00:33:04,720 there's another problem that i see with 995 00:33:10,630 --> 00:33:06,159 the virtual reality 996 00:33:12,789 --> 00:33:10,640 metaphor when you take off the headset 997 00:33:13,990 --> 00:33:12,799 there is still the computer rendering it 998 00:33:15,909 --> 00:33:14,000 to the lcd 999 00:33:17,750 --> 00:33:15,919 now there are some monitors there are 1000 00:33:18,870 --> 00:33:17,760 some virtual reality headsets that 1001 00:33:20,389 --> 00:33:18,880 detect when your 1002 00:33:22,310 --> 00:33:20,399 forehead is there and then just shut it 1003 00:33:23,830 --> 00:33:22,320 off but let's imagine that's not there 1004 00:33:25,430 --> 00:33:23,840 then they're like well it still persists 1005 00:33:26,789 --> 00:33:25,440 even if when i look to the left it 1006 00:33:27,750 --> 00:33:26,799 renders what's on the left or look to 1007 00:33:31,269 --> 00:33:27,760 the right it renders 1008 00:33:33,430 --> 00:33:31,279 but i can even simulate someone 1009 00:33:34,389 --> 00:33:33,440 going through a game without a conscious 1010 00:33:36,789 --> 00:33:34,399 perceiver 1011 00:33:37,669 --> 00:33:36,799 and then i can set my video camera up to 1012 00:33:39,509 --> 00:33:37,679 record that 1013 00:33:41,590 --> 00:33:39,519 and that person that character is moving 1014 00:33:42,870 --> 00:33:41,600 through the game there is no perceiver 1015 00:33:47,269 --> 00:33:42,880 right then and there 1016 00:33:50,549 --> 00:33:47,279 that's that's that's why i see this 1017 00:33:51,990 --> 00:33:50,559 virtual reality metaphor as having some 1018 00:33:55,509 --> 00:33:52,000 limitations but what would you say to 1019 00:33:56,950 --> 00:33:55,519 that that look even without a perceiver 1020 00:33:59,029 --> 00:33:56,960 i put the headset down it's still 1021 00:34:03,669 --> 00:33:59,039 rendering 1022 00:34:07,029 --> 00:34:03,679 well um that now in terms of physics 1023 00:34:10,069 --> 00:34:07,039 is the question of um 1024 00:34:12,470 --> 00:34:10,079 do physical objects literally 1025 00:34:13,109 --> 00:34:12,480 exist and have definite values of their 1026 00:34:15,430 --> 00:34:13,119 properties 1027 00:34:16,869 --> 00:34:15,440 when they're not perceived so that's the 1028 00:34:19,190 --> 00:34:16,879 question of 1029 00:34:19,990 --> 00:34:19,200 local realism right so local so this is 1030 00:34:21,510 --> 00:34:20,000 a technical question 1031 00:34:23,109 --> 00:34:21,520 in physics and this is what we're really 1032 00:34:23,909 --> 00:34:23,119 addressing here is the question of local 1033 00:34:26,069 --> 00:34:23,919 realism 1034 00:34:27,669 --> 00:34:26,079 do physical objects really exist and 1035 00:34:29,349 --> 00:34:27,679 have definite values 1036 00:34:31,109 --> 00:34:29,359 of physical properties like position 1037 00:34:31,990 --> 00:34:31,119 momentum and spin when they're not 1038 00:34:34,230 --> 00:34:32,000 observed 1039 00:34:35,750 --> 00:34:34,240 and is it true that those properties 1040 00:34:37,430 --> 00:34:35,760 have effects that propagate no faster 1041 00:34:40,710 --> 00:34:37,440 than the speed of light 1042 00:34:41,669 --> 00:34:40,720 and you might intuitively think well of 1043 00:34:43,829 --> 00:34:41,679 course 1044 00:34:45,510 --> 00:34:43,839 the moon has a position it has a 1045 00:34:46,869 --> 00:34:45,520 momentum an electron has a position a 1046 00:34:49,990 --> 00:34:46,879 momentum 1047 00:34:51,510 --> 00:34:50,000 a spin value spin axis when it's not 1048 00:34:55,190 --> 00:34:51,520 observed of course 1049 00:34:57,190 --> 00:34:55,200 but when we do the experiments um 1050 00:34:58,390 --> 00:34:57,200 first you know when this was first 1051 00:34:59,829 --> 00:34:58,400 raised you know 1052 00:35:02,390 --> 00:34:59,839 einstein was one of the ones who asked 1053 00:35:03,510 --> 00:35:02,400 this question back in the epr paper back 1054 00:35:07,030 --> 00:35:03,520 in 1935 1055 00:35:08,710 --> 00:35:07,040 right and a number of physicists 1056 00:35:10,870 --> 00:35:08,720 including wolfgang paulie thought that 1057 00:35:13,030 --> 00:35:10,880 this was ludicrous that einstein was 1058 00:35:15,030 --> 00:35:13,040 asking a question like you know that was 1059 00:35:16,550 --> 00:35:15,040 no more 1060 00:35:18,310 --> 00:35:16,560 interesting than how many angels can 1061 00:35:20,230 --> 00:35:18,320 dance on the head of a pen how could you 1062 00:35:20,470 --> 00:35:20,240 possibly answer einstein's question does 1063 00:35:27,670 --> 00:35:20,480 a 1064 00:35:28,950 --> 00:35:27,680 silly by definition 1065 00:35:30,310 --> 00:35:28,960 if you're not observing how could you 1066 00:35:31,670 --> 00:35:30,320 tell whether it has a positional 1067 00:35:36,230 --> 00:35:31,680 momentum or not 1068 00:35:38,790 --> 00:35:36,240 but it when it turned out in 1963 or so 1069 00:35:40,950 --> 00:35:38,800 uh the physicist john bell discovered 1070 00:35:43,270 --> 00:35:40,960 that we can answer that question you 1071 00:35:44,550 --> 00:35:43,280 there is a series of experiments you 1072 00:35:45,589 --> 00:35:44,560 know that you can do measurements that 1073 00:35:47,670 --> 00:35:45,599 you can do 1074 00:35:49,030 --> 00:35:47,680 that will give you certain statistics 1075 00:35:50,870 --> 00:35:49,040 that can 1076 00:35:52,470 --> 00:35:50,880 allow you to decide whether or not local 1077 00:35:54,150 --> 00:35:52,480 realism is true 1078 00:35:55,349 --> 00:35:54,160 and that was a real stunning achievement 1079 00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:55,359 one of the greatest intellectual 1080 00:36:00,310 --> 00:35:56,800 achievements in human history 1081 00:36:03,030 --> 00:36:00,320 john bell's inequalities 1082 00:36:05,190 --> 00:36:03,040 and and then a year later john bell and 1083 00:36:08,310 --> 00:36:05,200 coken and specker 1084 00:36:09,589 --> 00:36:08,320 apparently independently also came up 1085 00:36:13,310 --> 00:36:09,599 with a way to 1086 00:36:15,510 --> 00:36:13,320 to test non-contextual realism 1087 00:36:16,470 --> 00:36:15,520 non-contextualism realism is the claim 1088 00:36:18,630 --> 00:36:16,480 that 1089 00:36:19,829 --> 00:36:18,640 objects exist and have definite values 1090 00:36:21,030 --> 00:36:19,839 of their properties when they're not 1091 00:36:24,870 --> 00:36:21,040 observed that's 1092 00:36:26,950 --> 00:36:24,880 the the realism and the values of those 1093 00:36:28,470 --> 00:36:26,960 properties don't depend on the way you 1094 00:36:31,910 --> 00:36:28,480 measure them 1095 00:36:35,030 --> 00:36:31,920 that's the non-contextual part and 1096 00:36:38,630 --> 00:36:35,040 once again quantum theory entails 1097 00:36:40,470 --> 00:36:38,640 that non-contextual realism is false 1098 00:36:42,630 --> 00:36:40,480 it also entails that local realism is 1099 00:36:45,349 --> 00:36:42,640 false and 1100 00:36:46,550 --> 00:36:45,359 it's been tested and it's true local 1101 00:36:52,630 --> 00:36:46,560 realism is false 1102 00:36:54,870 --> 00:36:52,640 that is that electron has a position 1103 00:36:56,150 --> 00:36:54,880 when it's not observed or locality is 1104 00:36:57,990 --> 00:36:56,160 false 1105 00:36:59,750 --> 00:36:58,000 the influences propagate no faster than 1106 00:37:02,470 --> 00:36:59,760 the speed of light or both 1107 00:37:04,069 --> 00:37:02,480 and i think that both both are false 1108 00:37:06,470 --> 00:37:04,079 local realism is just plain false 1109 00:37:07,670 --> 00:37:06,480 non-contextual realism is false and once 1110 00:37:09,750 --> 00:37:07,680 we understand that 1111 00:37:13,109 --> 00:37:09,760 that means that there right did you say 1112 00:37:14,470 --> 00:37:13,119 that non-local realism is also false 1113 00:37:16,150 --> 00:37:14,480 uh yeah because space time is not 1114 00:37:18,230 --> 00:37:16,160 fundamental so the right 1115 00:37:19,349 --> 00:37:18,240 right now space time itself is just i 1116 00:37:21,510 --> 00:37:19,359 mean the big 1117 00:37:22,790 --> 00:37:21,520 take home is space time is not 1118 00:37:24,790 --> 00:37:22,800 fundamental therefore 1119 00:37:26,390 --> 00:37:24,800 particles and their properties inside 1120 00:37:28,790 --> 00:37:26,400 space-time are not fundamental 1121 00:37:29,670 --> 00:37:28,800 for a physicist this is obvious because 1122 00:37:31,990 --> 00:37:29,680 um you know 1123 00:37:33,750 --> 00:37:32,000 as soon as you say space-time is not 1124 00:37:34,790 --> 00:37:33,760 fundamental it's emergent from something 1125 00:37:36,390 --> 00:37:34,800 else 1126 00:37:38,950 --> 00:37:36,400 well that takes particles with them 1127 00:37:42,069 --> 00:37:38,960 because particles are nothing 1128 00:37:43,670 --> 00:37:42,079 but irreducible representations of the 1129 00:37:46,310 --> 00:37:43,680 symmetries of space-time 1130 00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:46,320 the poincare group so particles are 1131 00:37:48,950 --> 00:37:47,760 irreducible representations of the 1132 00:37:50,150 --> 00:37:48,960 poincare group which are just the 1133 00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:50,160 symmetries of space time 1134 00:37:53,190 --> 00:37:51,680 the space time's not fundamental neither 1135 00:37:55,430 --> 00:37:53,200 are particles so 1136 00:37:56,550 --> 00:37:55,440 so my colleagues in cognitive 1137 00:37:58,390 --> 00:37:56,560 neurosciences 1138 00:37:59,990 --> 00:37:58,400 we're still back thinking that oh we 1139 00:38:01,349 --> 00:38:00,000 have this reductionist view space time 1140 00:38:03,670 --> 00:38:01,359 is fundamental 1141 00:38:04,470 --> 00:38:03,680 you start off with protons and neutrons 1142 00:38:07,589 --> 00:38:04,480 or if you're 1143 00:38:10,710 --> 00:38:07,599 more sophisticated quarks and leptons 1144 00:38:12,550 --> 00:38:10,720 in gluons than gravitons and 1145 00:38:13,750 --> 00:38:12,560 those are the elementary particles the 1146 00:38:14,870 --> 00:38:13,760 laws that govern them are the 1147 00:38:17,190 --> 00:38:14,880 fundamental laws of 1148 00:38:18,630 --> 00:38:17,200 of all of reality and we can in a 1149 00:38:20,870 --> 00:38:18,640 reductive fashion 1150 00:38:22,710 --> 00:38:20,880 fashion build up everything from that 1151 00:38:24,630 --> 00:38:22,720 well that whole foundation is gone 1152 00:38:26,150 --> 00:38:24,640 space-time is not fundamental those 1153 00:38:28,310 --> 00:38:26,160 particles are not fundamental 1154 00:38:29,750 --> 00:38:28,320 reductionism is dead space-time 1155 00:38:32,870 --> 00:38:29,760 reductionism is dead 1156 00:38:34,790 --> 00:38:32,880 we need a completely new framework now 1157 00:38:37,030 --> 00:38:34,800 brilliant physicists like neymar connie 1158 00:38:37,510 --> 00:38:37,040 hamid going after the amplitude and so 1159 00:38:41,270 --> 00:38:37,520 forth 1160 00:38:44,150 --> 00:38:41,280 are looking for new foundations for 1161 00:38:45,750 --> 00:38:44,160 physics outside of space time 1162 00:38:47,510 --> 00:38:45,760 but it's not a reductionist kind of 1163 00:38:50,069 --> 00:38:47,520 approach does 1164 00:38:51,030 --> 00:38:50,079 nema say that consciousness is 1165 00:38:52,550 --> 00:38:51,040 fundamental or 1166 00:38:54,390 --> 00:38:52,560 are you just saying well nema has a 1167 00:38:55,430 --> 00:38:54,400 theory that simplifies space and time 1168 00:38:58,069 --> 00:38:55,440 down to something else 1169 00:39:00,310 --> 00:38:58,079 and maybe with your theory the cognitive 1170 00:39:02,230 --> 00:39:00,320 the conscious agent theory you can imply 1171 00:39:05,030 --> 00:39:02,240 the amplitude of hedron and therefore 1172 00:39:06,870 --> 00:39:05,040 you can apply whatever neem is implying 1173 00:39:08,310 --> 00:39:06,880 or does not does nima think that 1174 00:39:11,750 --> 00:39:08,320 consciousness is fundamental 1175 00:39:12,870 --> 00:39:11,760 i i i have no idea what nema thinks 1176 00:39:15,109 --> 00:39:12,880 about consciousness 1177 00:39:16,710 --> 00:39:15,119 i haven't seen him talk about it myself 1178 00:39:19,589 --> 00:39:16,720 in any of his 1179 00:39:21,190 --> 00:39:19,599 writings or or lectures um i mean i 1180 00:39:24,310 --> 00:39:21,200 would be surprised 1181 00:39:25,589 --> 00:39:24,320 if it turned out he thinks consciousness 1182 00:39:26,150 --> 00:39:25,599 is fundamental i would be very very 1183 00:39:27,910 --> 00:39:26,160 surprised 1184 00:39:29,349 --> 00:39:27,920 but i but the right answer is i don't i 1185 00:39:31,510 --> 00:39:29,359 don't know what he thinks about that 1186 00:39:33,030 --> 00:39:31,520 i would bet good odds that he doesn't 1187 00:39:34,950 --> 00:39:33,040 think consciousness is fundamental but 1188 00:39:36,390 --> 00:39:34,960 but i don't know i certainly would not 1189 00:39:36,870 --> 00:39:36,400 want to ascribe that point of view to 1190 00:39:39,589 --> 00:39:36,880 him 1191 00:39:40,470 --> 00:39:39,599 all all i've seen from his lectures in 1192 00:39:42,150 --> 00:39:40,480 writing is that 1193 00:39:43,990 --> 00:39:42,160 there are these beautiful mathematical 1194 00:39:46,069 --> 00:39:44,000 structures these positive geometries 1195 00:39:49,670 --> 00:39:46,079 amplitude sociohedra 1196 00:39:50,470 --> 00:39:49,680 that are that are more fundamental than 1197 00:39:53,270 --> 00:39:50,480 space-time 1198 00:39:55,510 --> 00:39:53,280 and that in magical ways seem to give 1199 00:39:57,030 --> 00:39:55,520 rise to the scattering amplitude so like 1200 00:39:58,950 --> 00:39:57,040 two glones hitting each other four 1201 00:40:01,670 --> 00:39:58,960 gluons go spraying out 1202 00:40:02,230 --> 00:40:01,680 those scattering amplitudes turn out to 1203 00:40:05,349 --> 00:40:02,240 be 1204 00:40:07,670 --> 00:40:05,359 volumes of these geometric objects he's 1205 00:40:10,470 --> 00:40:07,680 finding these positive geometries 1206 00:40:11,430 --> 00:40:10,480 but what this new deeper realm is about 1207 00:40:14,309 --> 00:40:11,440 i haven't seen him 1208 00:40:16,069 --> 00:40:14,319 speculate about you know what is this 1209 00:40:18,309 --> 00:40:16,079 telling us 1210 00:40:19,829 --> 00:40:18,319 is the realm behind spacetime what is 1211 00:40:21,910 --> 00:40:19,839 that realm about i haven't seen him 1212 00:40:23,589 --> 00:40:21,920 speculate that he might have some 1213 00:40:25,829 --> 00:40:23,599 some speculations but i haven't seen him 1214 00:40:27,510 --> 00:40:25,839 he just goes with the math 1215 00:40:28,950 --> 00:40:27,520 ask for bell's inequality i'm sure 1216 00:40:29,589 --> 00:40:28,960 you're aware that there are some ways 1217 00:40:32,230 --> 00:40:29,599 around it 1218 00:40:33,990 --> 00:40:32,240 so for example super determinism as well 1219 00:40:34,550 --> 00:40:34,000 as a couple others that i can't recall 1220 00:40:36,710 --> 00:40:34,560 right now 1221 00:40:38,630 --> 00:40:36,720 edwin james he didn't particularly think 1222 00:40:39,990 --> 00:40:38,640 bell's inequalities or the experiments 1223 00:40:43,349 --> 00:40:40,000 that validate those inequalities 1224 00:40:44,230 --> 00:40:43,359 demonstrate that non-realism is is the 1225 00:40:47,109 --> 00:40:44,240 way to go 1226 00:40:48,309 --> 00:40:47,119 what do you say to those objections well 1227 00:40:53,190 --> 00:40:48,319 i i would say 1228 00:40:54,870 --> 00:40:53,200 that um the deeper 1229 00:40:56,309 --> 00:40:54,880 problems between general relativity and 1230 00:40:57,910 --> 00:40:56,319 quantum field theory 1231 00:40:59,829 --> 00:40:57,920 that force us to recognize that 1232 00:41:01,270 --> 00:40:59,839 space-time isn't fundamental 1233 00:41:03,190 --> 00:41:01,280 are the ones that clinch it for me 1234 00:41:05,750 --> 00:41:03,200 against realism because 1235 00:41:07,349 --> 00:41:05,760 realism about art but entities that are 1236 00:41:07,829 --> 00:41:07,359 that are merely representations of space 1237 00:41:11,510 --> 00:41:07,839 time 1238 00:41:13,910 --> 00:41:11,520 fundamental is is is now beside the 1239 00:41:17,670 --> 00:41:15,750 why what made you choose nema's 1240 00:41:19,030 --> 00:41:17,680 amplitude of hedron as opposed to the 1241 00:41:21,190 --> 00:41:19,040 other 1242 00:41:22,470 --> 00:41:21,200 perhaps simpler models that demonstrate 1243 00:41:24,069 --> 00:41:22,480 the space time is emergent 1244 00:41:26,150 --> 00:41:24,079 we mentioned a few others before this 1245 00:41:27,990 --> 00:41:26,160 call like causal causal dynamic 1246 00:41:30,230 --> 00:41:28,000 triangulation there's also spin foam 1247 00:41:33,670 --> 00:41:30,240 networks 1248 00:41:40,710 --> 00:41:33,680 right um i've been 1249 00:41:44,470 --> 00:41:43,349 because he explains in ways that i 1250 00:41:48,870 --> 00:41:44,480 really understand 1251 00:41:51,910 --> 00:41:48,880 why we can't really 1252 00:41:52,950 --> 00:41:51,920 even have a vestige of space-time as 1253 00:41:56,550 --> 00:41:52,960 being fundamental 1254 00:41:57,990 --> 00:41:56,560 right so we we can't we can't take one 1255 00:41:59,750 --> 00:41:58,000 part of a time 1256 00:42:01,190 --> 00:41:59,760 or one part of its space and and try to 1257 00:42:04,150 --> 00:42:01,200 boot up the other we 1258 00:42:04,950 --> 00:42:04,160 and and and nemo recognizes that we we 1259 00:42:06,790 --> 00:42:04,960 also 1260 00:42:08,069 --> 00:42:06,800 can't expect that quantum theory is 1261 00:42:10,950 --> 00:42:08,079 fundamental 1262 00:42:13,510 --> 00:42:10,960 he's saying look it's it's it's deeper 1263 00:42:14,630 --> 00:42:13,520 than just space time 1264 00:42:16,710 --> 00:42:14,640 we're going to have to have a deeper 1265 00:42:19,750 --> 00:42:16,720 framework in which space-time 1266 00:42:23,270 --> 00:42:19,760 and quantum theory together 1267 00:42:25,510 --> 00:42:23,280 arise joined at the hip and 1268 00:42:26,470 --> 00:42:25,520 and so many of the techniques are saying 1269 00:42:29,990 --> 00:42:26,480 look what 1270 00:42:31,990 --> 00:42:30,000 let's if general relativity 1271 00:42:33,589 --> 00:42:32,000 is a you know is not a quantum theory 1272 00:42:36,630 --> 00:42:33,599 it's it's a classical theory 1273 00:42:39,589 --> 00:42:36,640 it's continuous space and so forth so 1274 00:42:40,630 --> 00:42:39,599 maybe what we need to do is let quantum 1275 00:42:42,550 --> 00:42:40,640 be fundamental 1276 00:42:44,630 --> 00:42:42,560 and then we'll try to somehow quantize 1277 00:42:47,510 --> 00:42:44,640 space time and nema is going 1278 00:42:48,630 --> 00:42:47,520 far more deep he's saying we need a new 1279 00:42:51,750 --> 00:42:48,640 framework in which 1280 00:42:55,829 --> 00:42:51,760 locality and space time and 1281 00:42:57,750 --> 00:42:55,839 unitarity of quantum theory 1282 00:42:59,750 --> 00:42:57,760 arise together from something that's 1283 00:43:03,030 --> 00:42:59,760 neither local in space-time and 1284 00:43:05,829 --> 00:43:03,040 non-unitary and that's 1285 00:43:06,710 --> 00:43:05,839 i think so i'm going i'm going after 1286 00:43:09,109 --> 00:43:06,720 nema 1287 00:43:11,349 --> 00:43:09,119 um partly because i think that he makes 1288 00:43:12,230 --> 00:43:11,359 a good case that that space-time and 1289 00:43:14,150 --> 00:43:12,240 quantum theory 1290 00:43:16,630 --> 00:43:14,160 both have to emerge from something 1291 00:43:18,470 --> 00:43:16,640 deeper and that we really need them 1292 00:43:20,309 --> 00:43:18,480 we need to bite the bullet and recognize 1293 00:43:23,990 --> 00:43:20,319 we can't go halfway we need 1294 00:43:26,150 --> 00:43:24,000 to go really a radical new foundation 1295 00:43:28,470 --> 00:43:26,160 the constraint on the new foundation of 1296 00:43:30,150 --> 00:43:28,480 course is that it has to give rise to 1297 00:43:32,630 --> 00:43:30,160 space time and quantum theory in ways 1298 00:43:35,910 --> 00:43:32,640 that we know and love and in particular 1299 00:43:44,470 --> 00:43:40,790 the only observable 1300 00:43:46,390 --> 00:43:44,480 of quantum gravity in our space in 1301 00:43:48,390 --> 00:43:46,400 an asymptotically flat space time like 1302 00:43:52,230 --> 00:43:48,400 ours the only observable 1303 00:43:53,430 --> 00:43:52,240 that there is is scattering amplitude 1304 00:43:55,109 --> 00:43:53,440 the scouting objects that's the only 1305 00:43:55,910 --> 00:43:55,119 observer there are no local observables 1306 00:43:59,589 --> 00:43:55,920 and 1307 00:44:02,390 --> 00:43:59,599 nemo explains that so so when we look at 1308 00:44:05,190 --> 00:44:02,400 how to get the only 1309 00:44:10,870 --> 00:44:05,200 observable in asymptotically flat space 1310 00:44:15,030 --> 00:44:13,190 what i'm asking is that there are 1311 00:44:16,550 --> 00:44:15,040 several contenders to 1312 00:44:18,150 --> 00:44:16,560 fundamental theories of everything which 1313 00:44:19,109 --> 00:44:18,160 they have to be fundamental theory of 1314 00:44:21,270 --> 00:44:19,119 everything 1315 00:44:22,150 --> 00:44:21,280 but there there are several and i'm glad 1316 00:44:24,150 --> 00:44:22,160 that you're pursuing 1317 00:44:25,829 --> 00:44:24,160 nema's amplitude of hedron because i'm 1318 00:44:27,190 --> 00:44:25,839 also interested in how consciousness can 1319 00:44:28,790 --> 00:44:27,200 give rise to some of those other 1320 00:44:30,309 --> 00:44:28,800 potential theories of everything and i 1321 00:44:32,069 --> 00:44:30,319 only have a finite amount of time 1322 00:44:34,150 --> 00:44:32,079 so i'm glad that you're doing it but i'm 1323 00:44:36,390 --> 00:44:34,160 curious as to why you chose that one 1324 00:44:38,390 --> 00:44:36,400 the criteria you just said which is qft 1325 00:44:40,390 --> 00:44:38,400 and general relativity have to come 1326 00:44:41,510 --> 00:44:40,400 from something else and you would prefer 1327 00:44:43,190 --> 00:44:41,520 that not 1328 00:44:44,470 --> 00:44:43,200 be embedded within space time but in 1329 00:44:45,750 --> 00:44:44,480 fact have some other structure that 1330 00:44:47,349 --> 00:44:45,760 gives rise to space time 1331 00:44:49,270 --> 00:44:47,359 but there are quite a there are quite a 1332 00:44:51,750 --> 00:44:49,280 few for example 1333 00:44:53,430 --> 00:44:51,760 i just have a list here and i'm just 1334 00:44:55,109 --> 00:44:53,440 curious why you chose 1335 00:44:56,470 --> 00:44:55,119 the amplitude of heatron other than you 1336 00:44:57,990 --> 00:44:56,480 have to start somewhere so for example 1337 00:44:59,109 --> 00:44:58,000 wolfram's theory of everything 1338 00:45:00,870 --> 00:44:59,119 which starts with computation which 1339 00:45:01,829 --> 00:45:00,880 seems so similar to yours actually we 1340 00:45:04,790 --> 00:45:01,839 can get to that later 1341 00:45:05,990 --> 00:45:04,800 and there's pati salaam there's sl-10 1342 00:45:08,870 --> 00:45:06,000 there is e8 1343 00:45:09,750 --> 00:45:08,880 as well right right right and there's 1344 00:45:11,990 --> 00:45:09,760 strand model 1345 00:45:13,190 --> 00:45:12,000 from christopher schiller there's also 1346 00:45:15,910 --> 00:45:13,200 one more frightens 1347 00:45:16,710 --> 00:45:15,920 frightens frighten his name is bernard 1348 00:45:20,230 --> 00:45:16,720 royd friden 1349 00:45:22,950 --> 00:45:20,240 he believes that the the laws of 1350 00:45:24,710 --> 00:45:22,960 physics i believe can be unified under 1351 00:45:25,510 --> 00:45:24,720 fischer information so they're purely 1352 00:45:28,550 --> 00:45:25,520 informational 1353 00:45:29,990 --> 00:45:28,560 at their base i'm curious why nemo's 1354 00:45:31,829 --> 00:45:30,000 as opposed to those that i just listed 1355 00:45:34,870 --> 00:45:31,839 well there's there's a couple reasons 1356 00:45:37,030 --> 00:45:34,880 one is i'm convinced 1357 00:45:37,990 --> 00:45:37,040 by nemo's argument that scattering 1358 00:45:41,910 --> 00:45:38,000 amplitudes aren't 1359 00:45:44,950 --> 00:45:41,920 are the only observable and 1360 00:45:46,069 --> 00:45:44,960 his is the only theory that predicts 1361 00:45:47,829 --> 00:45:46,079 from first principles 1362 00:45:49,190 --> 00:45:47,839 the exact scattering amplitudes and 1363 00:45:50,470 --> 00:45:49,200 shows deep symmetries behind those 1364 00:45:53,510 --> 00:45:50,480 scattering amplitudes 1365 00:45:55,430 --> 00:45:53,520 right and that also you know 1366 00:45:58,150 --> 00:45:55,440 explains why when we look at these 1367 00:46:00,550 --> 00:45:58,160 deeper symmetries outside of space time 1368 00:46:02,069 --> 00:46:00,560 um hundreds or thousands of pages of 1369 00:46:03,589 --> 00:46:02,079 computation that you get 1370 00:46:06,069 --> 00:46:03,599 from fineman diagrams on the scattering 1371 00:46:10,710 --> 00:46:06,079 amplitudes turns into two or three terms 1372 00:46:12,150 --> 00:46:10,720 so so he's got the beef he's actually 1373 00:46:14,630 --> 00:46:12,160 he starts with something outside of 1374 00:46:15,910 --> 00:46:14,640 space-time he gives rise to quantum 1375 00:46:19,109 --> 00:46:15,920 theory unitarity 1376 00:46:22,550 --> 00:46:19,119 and locality and the the precise phi 1377 00:46:25,670 --> 00:46:22,560 cube theory fight of the four theory um 1378 00:46:28,630 --> 00:46:25,680 yang mills super yang mills gravit 1379 00:46:30,230 --> 00:46:28,640 he's getting one after another he's 1380 00:46:32,710 --> 00:46:30,240 getting these scattering amplitudes 1381 00:46:33,589 --> 00:46:32,720 he's got the beef these other theories 1382 00:46:34,950 --> 00:46:33,599 are you know 1383 00:46:37,109 --> 00:46:34,960 saying we can do this we can do this 1384 00:46:39,430 --> 00:46:37,119 he's doing it i see in other words he's 1385 00:46:40,870 --> 00:46:39,440 the closest so far 1386 00:46:43,270 --> 00:46:40,880 yeah he's the closest and then there's 1387 00:46:47,910 --> 00:46:43,280 one other thing that that also 1388 00:46:49,030 --> 00:46:47,920 is is making me pursue this and that is 1389 00:46:51,430 --> 00:46:49,040 i'm starting with this theory of 1390 00:46:54,069 --> 00:46:51,440 markovian kernels this this dynamical 1391 00:46:56,550 --> 00:46:54,079 system of conscious agents 1392 00:46:58,390 --> 00:46:56,560 now markovian kernels in general are not 1393 00:47:00,309 --> 00:46:58,400 associated with positive geometries 1394 00:47:02,630 --> 00:47:00,319 right and nema's saying this deeper 1395 00:47:04,550 --> 00:47:02,640 structure is positive geometries 1396 00:47:05,670 --> 00:47:04,560 but and this is what i'm working with my 1397 00:47:08,150 --> 00:47:05,680 mathematician 1398 00:47:08,829 --> 00:47:08,160 uh colleague chaitan prakash and and 1399 00:47:11,829 --> 00:47:08,839 others 1400 00:47:14,309 --> 00:47:11,839 on i claim and we're 1401 00:47:16,950 --> 00:47:14,319 and we'll see if i'm right i claim that 1402 00:47:20,069 --> 00:47:16,960 the asymptotic 1403 00:47:21,750 --> 00:47:20,079 and invariant behavior of markovian 1404 00:47:26,470 --> 00:47:21,760 systems 1405 00:47:29,829 --> 00:47:26,480 is identified with positive geometries 1406 00:47:31,109 --> 00:47:29,839 so even though the step-by-step dynamics 1407 00:47:33,270 --> 00:47:31,119 repeat that one more time repeat that 1408 00:47:35,670 --> 00:47:33,280 one more time the so so 1409 00:47:37,430 --> 00:47:35,680 when you have a markovian system right 1410 00:47:37,990 --> 00:47:37,440 you have the step-by-step dynamics but 1411 00:47:40,710 --> 00:47:38,000 you can also 1412 00:47:42,390 --> 00:47:40,720 ask what happens long term if you look 1413 00:47:45,109 --> 00:47:42,400 at the long the broads 1414 00:47:48,309 --> 00:47:45,119 okay broad view technically i have a 1415 00:47:53,829 --> 00:47:51,589 i'm looking at p to the end 1416 00:47:56,950 --> 00:47:53,839 which is p composed with p composed of p 1417 00:48:00,470 --> 00:47:56,960 n times as n goes to infinity 1418 00:48:02,230 --> 00:48:00,480 those kernels i claim are are 1419 00:48:05,109 --> 00:48:02,240 invariably associated with positive 1420 00:48:08,150 --> 00:48:05,119 geometries without adding more structure 1421 00:48:08,470 --> 00:48:08,160 that's all you need p to the n if you 1422 00:48:10,950 --> 00:48:08,480 take 1423 00:48:12,230 --> 00:48:10,960 kernel p p to the n will be associated 1424 00:48:13,109 --> 00:48:12,240 with positive geometry as n goes to 1425 00:48:14,870 --> 00:48:13,119 infinity 1426 00:48:16,470 --> 00:48:14,880 okay that's interesting i gotta i gotta 1427 00:48:18,710 --> 00:48:16,480 think about that 1428 00:48:20,710 --> 00:48:18,720 one of your papers with your friend your 1429 00:48:23,349 --> 00:48:20,720 i love this guy for prakash 1430 00:48:25,270 --> 00:48:23,359 right yeah i haven't had a chance to 1431 00:48:27,430 --> 00:48:25,280 look at any of his papers that weren't 1432 00:48:28,790 --> 00:48:27,440 co-authored with you though either way 1433 00:48:30,870 --> 00:48:28,800 one of the papers 1434 00:48:33,109 --> 00:48:30,880 a recent one was showing that the payoff 1435 00:48:34,710 --> 00:48:33,119 functions 1436 00:48:36,309 --> 00:48:34,720 that are homomorphic to totally ordered 1437 00:48:37,349 --> 00:48:36,319 sets as well as permutation groups 1438 00:48:39,750 --> 00:48:37,359 cyclic groups 1439 00:48:41,109 --> 00:48:39,760 and one other right if you take their 1440 00:48:43,670 --> 00:48:41,119 number 1441 00:48:44,950 --> 00:48:43,680 and you divide it by the total amount 1442 00:48:47,430 --> 00:48:44,960 that's admissible 1443 00:48:48,950 --> 00:48:47,440 that it tends to zero and for the people 1444 00:48:52,150 --> 00:48:48,960 listening 1445 00:48:53,829 --> 00:48:52,160 what i've what i hear from you is saying 1446 00:48:54,790 --> 00:48:53,839 that therefore the probability that we 1447 00:48:57,829 --> 00:48:54,800 see 1448 00:48:59,349 --> 00:48:57,839 reality as it is is zero but 1449 00:49:00,790 --> 00:48:59,359 i don't know if that was but but i see 1450 00:49:01,510 --> 00:49:00,800 that as a leap so i must be missing a 1451 00:49:04,069 --> 00:49:01,520 step 1452 00:49:05,829 --> 00:49:04,079 because the leap is that there's a 1453 00:49:08,069 --> 00:49:05,839 hidden claim 1454 00:49:09,270 --> 00:49:08,079 you can go from the total size of the 1455 00:49:13,030 --> 00:49:09,280 set of admissible 1456 00:49:16,470 --> 00:49:13,040 functions over the sorry 1457 00:49:18,309 --> 00:49:16,480 under as the denominator of the total 1458 00:49:21,349 --> 00:49:18,319 functions that are homomorphic to 1459 00:49:22,950 --> 00:49:21,359 certain groups and certain structures 1460 00:49:24,950 --> 00:49:22,960 that's fine you can say that that goes 1461 00:49:26,549 --> 00:49:24,960 to zero but then you have to say 1462 00:49:27,750 --> 00:49:26,559 that there's an even probability 1463 00:49:29,190 --> 00:49:27,760 distribution that we could have gotten 1464 00:49:30,470 --> 00:49:29,200 any one of them for you to say that the 1465 00:49:33,109 --> 00:49:30,480 probability then 1466 00:49:34,790 --> 00:49:33,119 as n goes to infinity of us seeing truth 1467 00:49:35,670 --> 00:49:34,800 or reality as it is or homomorphic to 1468 00:49:39,030 --> 00:49:35,680 the structure 1469 00:49:40,630 --> 00:49:39,040 is also zero excellent point so this is 1470 00:49:41,670 --> 00:49:40,640 a very technical point but it's an 1471 00:49:45,109 --> 00:49:41,680 important one 1472 00:49:46,790 --> 00:49:45,119 so so in evolutionary theory the fitness 1473 00:49:47,990 --> 00:49:46,800 payoff functions 1474 00:49:49,589 --> 00:49:48,000 depend on the state of the world 1475 00:49:50,630 --> 00:49:49,599 whatever objective reality might be it 1476 00:49:52,549 --> 00:49:50,640 depends on that 1477 00:49:54,309 --> 00:49:52,559 but it also depends on the organism its 1478 00:49:55,030 --> 00:49:54,319 state its action and the competitors and 1479 00:49:57,030 --> 00:49:55,040 so forth 1480 00:49:59,030 --> 00:49:57,040 so it's a complicated function with a 1481 00:50:01,270 --> 00:49:59,040 very complicated domain 1482 00:50:02,390 --> 00:50:01,280 including the state of the world and the 1483 00:50:04,870 --> 00:50:02,400 range of the function 1484 00:50:05,510 --> 00:50:04,880 are the payoff values you may like from 1485 00:50:09,510 --> 00:50:05,520 one to n 1486 00:50:11,510 --> 00:50:09,520 if they're n you know payoff values and 1487 00:50:13,510 --> 00:50:11,520 of course evolutionary theory 1488 00:50:16,309 --> 00:50:13,520 evolutionary game theory 1489 00:50:17,990 --> 00:50:16,319 is saying that our we're tuned our 1490 00:50:18,549 --> 00:50:18,000 senses will be tuned to the payoffs 1491 00:50:21,829 --> 00:50:18,559 right 1492 00:50:24,870 --> 00:50:21,839 in other words organisms that 1493 00:50:26,230 --> 00:50:24,880 uh better perceive how to get high 1494 00:50:28,470 --> 00:50:26,240 payoffs are the ones that are going to 1495 00:50:29,510 --> 00:50:28,480 survive so it's our senses will be tuned 1496 00:50:30,950 --> 00:50:29,520 to the payoffs 1497 00:50:32,950 --> 00:50:30,960 so the question then the technical 1498 00:50:35,270 --> 00:50:32,960 question is what is the probability that 1499 00:50:38,230 --> 00:50:35,280 the payoff functions 1500 00:50:39,829 --> 00:50:38,240 preserve information about the structure 1501 00:50:40,710 --> 00:50:39,839 of the world say the world has a group 1502 00:50:44,069 --> 00:50:40,720 structure 1503 00:50:45,990 --> 00:50:44,079 or total order um and i ask what is the 1504 00:50:48,549 --> 00:50:46,000 probability that a payoff function will 1505 00:50:50,150 --> 00:50:48,559 will preserve that structure you know 1506 00:50:51,589 --> 00:50:50,160 and we looked at two kinds of symmetry 1507 00:50:53,990 --> 00:50:51,599 groups and total orders and also 1508 00:50:58,150 --> 00:50:54,000 measurable structures 1509 00:51:01,190 --> 00:50:58,160 and in what we did is we used 1510 00:51:02,150 --> 00:51:01,200 just we assumed a discrete set of states 1511 00:51:04,790 --> 00:51:02,160 on the world 1512 00:51:06,150 --> 00:51:04,800 a finite set of states and a finite set 1513 00:51:09,270 --> 00:51:06,160 of payoff values so like 1514 00:51:12,390 --> 00:51:09,280 you know n states in the world 1515 00:51:14,950 --> 00:51:12,400 m states of the payoff values and 1516 00:51:16,870 --> 00:51:14,960 and then what we can do is literally 1517 00:51:20,230 --> 00:51:16,880 using combinatorical 1518 00:51:21,990 --> 00:51:20,240 combinatorial arguments count the number 1519 00:51:25,030 --> 00:51:22,000 of payoff functions that preserve 1520 00:51:26,870 --> 00:51:25,040 the structure like the group structure 1521 00:51:28,390 --> 00:51:26,880 and divide as you say by the total 1522 00:51:29,270 --> 00:51:28,400 number which is a finite number this is 1523 00:51:32,790 --> 00:51:29,280 a finite number 1524 00:51:35,430 --> 00:51:32,800 of total payoff functions and 1525 00:51:36,790 --> 00:51:35,440 there of course counting measure 1526 00:51:37,349 --> 00:51:36,800 literally counting the number of 1527 00:51:39,589 --> 00:51:37,359 functions 1528 00:51:40,870 --> 00:51:39,599 is the canonical measure and then we 1529 00:51:42,870 --> 00:51:40,880 take the limit as the 1530 00:51:44,309 --> 00:51:42,880 number of states in the world and the 1531 00:51:47,270 --> 00:51:44,319 number of payoff values 1532 00:51:48,230 --> 00:51:47,280 goes to infinity now now someone could 1533 00:51:49,670 --> 00:51:48,240 argue as 1534 00:51:51,589 --> 00:51:49,680 raised the question that you just raised 1535 00:51:52,309 --> 00:51:51,599 why is counting measure the measure that 1536 00:51:54,790 --> 00:51:52,319 we used 1537 00:51:56,230 --> 00:51:54,800 why should there be some other measure 1538 00:51:58,790 --> 00:51:56,240 and the answer is that 1539 00:52:00,309 --> 00:51:58,800 evolutionary theory gives us no argument 1540 00:52:03,109 --> 00:52:00,319 for any other measure 1541 00:52:03,990 --> 00:52:03,119 so if someone wants to say we use the 1542 00:52:05,670 --> 00:52:04,000 wrong measure 1543 00:52:07,589 --> 00:52:05,680 then the burden of proof is on them to 1544 00:52:11,109 --> 00:52:07,599 say what is the new measure 1545 00:52:12,710 --> 00:52:11,119 and on principled evolutionary grounds 1546 00:52:15,030 --> 00:52:12,720 what is the measure that we should use 1547 00:52:17,990 --> 00:52:15,040 instead of counting measure and why 1548 00:52:19,270 --> 00:52:18,000 and that will be a brand new addition to 1549 00:52:19,990 --> 00:52:19,280 the theory of evolution of natural 1550 00:52:24,950 --> 00:52:20,000 selection 1551 00:52:28,150 --> 00:52:26,390 extra condition doesn't come from 1552 00:52:30,790 --> 00:52:28,160 evolutionary theory but instead 1553 00:52:32,470 --> 00:52:30,800 classical physics like people like nema 1554 00:52:35,510 --> 00:52:32,480 or even michael shermer might think 1555 00:52:38,309 --> 00:52:35,520 which is saying that okay there is 1556 00:52:40,069 --> 00:52:38,319 a probability distribution that favors 1557 00:52:41,829 --> 00:52:40,079 certain structure preservedness for 1558 00:52:43,270 --> 00:52:41,839 whatever reason much like we don't know 1559 00:52:44,470 --> 00:52:43,280 why the fundamental laws are the way 1560 00:52:46,069 --> 00:52:44,480 they are now of course you're saying 1561 00:52:47,990 --> 00:52:46,079 well i can derive the fundamental laws 1562 00:52:49,829 --> 00:52:48,000 forget that because i'm going to another 1563 00:52:51,349 --> 00:52:49,839 model them saying that the fundamental 1564 00:52:53,109 --> 00:52:51,359 laws are fundamental 1565 00:52:55,190 --> 00:52:53,119 and one of them is that the probability 1566 00:52:57,589 --> 00:52:55,200 distribution of your perceptions 1567 00:52:59,510 --> 00:52:57,599 will tend not necessarily tend to but 1568 00:53:02,309 --> 00:52:59,520 they're not uniform 1569 00:53:03,030 --> 00:53:02,319 absolutely and and i if someone can do 1570 00:53:06,069 --> 00:53:03,040 that 1571 00:53:09,510 --> 00:53:06,079 so 1572 00:53:11,589 --> 00:53:09,520 think of our theorem 1573 00:53:14,790 --> 00:53:11,599 as putting out that challenge come up 1574 00:53:15,750 --> 00:53:14,800 with some new principle that explains 1575 00:53:19,109 --> 00:53:15,760 why 1576 00:53:20,710 --> 00:53:19,119 there's a bias toward payoff functions 1577 00:53:22,150 --> 00:53:20,720 that are homomorphic to the structure of 1578 00:53:25,190 --> 00:53:22,160 reality what is 1579 00:53:25,829 --> 00:53:25,200 the conspiracy in nature that makes that 1580 00:53:27,910 --> 00:53:25,839 happen 1581 00:53:29,510 --> 00:53:27,920 there's i mean evolution by natural 1582 00:53:30,870 --> 00:53:29,520 selection this is currently formulated 1583 00:53:31,670 --> 00:53:30,880 and physics says it's currently 1584 00:53:33,670 --> 00:53:31,680 formulated 1585 00:53:35,109 --> 00:53:33,680 gives us no belief that there's a 1586 00:53:37,270 --> 00:53:35,119 conspiracy 1587 00:53:38,950 --> 00:53:37,280 going on to make the homomorphic 1588 00:53:40,870 --> 00:53:38,960 functions more probable 1589 00:53:43,109 --> 00:53:40,880 but if someone can come up with a theory 1590 00:53:45,430 --> 00:53:43,119 that explains why 1591 00:53:46,150 --> 00:53:45,440 nature conspires that way i'm i'll be 1592 00:53:48,790 --> 00:53:46,160 the first to 1593 00:53:50,150 --> 00:53:48,800 to listen very intently by the way do 1594 00:53:52,790 --> 00:53:50,160 you also have a measure 1595 00:53:53,430 --> 00:53:52,800 of structure preservedness that isn't a 1596 00:53:56,710 --> 00:53:53,440 strict 1597 00:53:59,829 --> 00:53:56,720 homomorphism because if okay 1598 00:54:00,710 --> 00:53:59,839 just for people listening in the way 1599 00:54:03,030 --> 00:54:00,720 that it's written 1600 00:54:04,069 --> 00:54:03,040 that i saw from the paper that that you 1601 00:54:05,510 --> 00:54:04,079 published recently is 1602 00:54:07,030 --> 00:54:05,520 it's like you have one two three four 1603 00:54:08,390 --> 00:54:07,040 five imagine that's a totally order set 1604 00:54:09,109 --> 00:54:08,400 one two three four five and that's how 1605 00:54:11,109 --> 00:54:09,119 the world is 1606 00:54:12,470 --> 00:54:11,119 but if someone sees the world as one two 1607 00:54:14,870 --> 00:54:12,480 three four five 1608 00:54:16,150 --> 00:54:14,880 four i'd be like nope no you're not 1609 00:54:19,030 --> 00:54:16,160 seeing the world as it is 1610 00:54:20,630 --> 00:54:19,040 but yet it's still similar right so you 1611 00:54:22,790 --> 00:54:20,640 can use things like the l2 norm or the l 1612 00:54:25,270 --> 00:54:22,800 infinity norm to to look at how many 1613 00:54:26,630 --> 00:54:25,280 so for you could say suppose that here's 1614 00:54:29,030 --> 00:54:26,640 a payoff function that's 1615 00:54:29,670 --> 00:54:29,040 that's purely homomorphic we can ask how 1616 00:54:31,829 --> 00:54:29,680 many 1617 00:54:33,910 --> 00:54:31,839 payoff functions are within a certain 1618 00:54:35,349 --> 00:54:33,920 distance like an l2 distance or an l 1619 00:54:37,349 --> 00:54:35,359 infinity distance 1620 00:54:38,549 --> 00:54:37,359 of that payoff function and we can for 1621 00:54:41,430 --> 00:54:38,559 each 1622 00:54:42,470 --> 00:54:41,440 distance that we look at we can ask how 1623 00:54:43,910 --> 00:54:42,480 many 1624 00:54:45,829 --> 00:54:43,920 payoff functions even though if they're 1625 00:54:47,030 --> 00:54:45,839 not exactly homomorphic are that close 1626 00:54:48,390 --> 00:54:47,040 to homomorphism 1627 00:54:50,230 --> 00:54:48,400 and then we can look at the ratio of 1628 00:54:53,190 --> 00:54:50,240 those to all payoff and see 1629 00:54:55,190 --> 00:54:53,200 again if they go to zero or not um and 1630 00:54:58,309 --> 00:54:55,200 and so in the case of total orders 1631 00:55:02,230 --> 00:54:58,319 um it turns out that 1632 00:55:05,270 --> 00:55:04,549 generous width like i think there's like 1633 00:55:08,150 --> 00:55:05,280 20 1634 00:55:08,710 --> 00:55:08,160 variation sure um the set of payoff 1635 00:55:11,910 --> 00:55:08,720 functions 1636 00:55:15,829 --> 00:55:11,920 that were within 20 variation of of any 1637 00:55:20,630 --> 00:55:15,839 homomorphic function still went to zero 1638 00:55:23,990 --> 00:55:20,640 in the case of um 1639 00:55:26,230 --> 00:55:24,000 symmetric groups that was not true um 1640 00:55:27,190 --> 00:55:26,240 if you allowed just a small window 1641 00:55:29,910 --> 00:55:27,200 around 1642 00:55:31,430 --> 00:55:29,920 the the homowork functions then most of 1643 00:55:32,789 --> 00:55:31,440 them 1644 00:55:36,069 --> 00:55:32,799 then it would they would have full 1645 00:55:39,109 --> 00:55:36,079 weight so most functions were 1646 00:55:40,710 --> 00:55:39,119 most payoff functions were very close to 1647 00:55:43,670 --> 00:55:40,720 a function which was homomorphic 1648 00:55:45,589 --> 00:55:43,680 to um you know for automorphism of the 1649 00:55:47,109 --> 00:55:45,599 symmetry 1650 00:55:49,510 --> 00:55:47,119 same thing for measurable structures in 1651 00:55:53,270 --> 00:55:49,520 measurable structures 1652 00:55:55,910 --> 00:55:53,280 almost every function was close to 1653 00:55:56,390 --> 00:55:55,920 a payoff function that is homomorphic 1654 00:56:00,829 --> 00:55:56,400 but 1655 00:56:04,230 --> 00:56:00,839 anything 1656 00:56:07,910 --> 00:56:04,240 because there are 1657 00:56:11,190 --> 00:56:07,920 countless structures that 1658 00:56:13,829 --> 00:56:11,200 nature might have countless 1659 00:56:15,349 --> 00:56:13,839 the fact that a random function a 1660 00:56:18,390 --> 00:56:15,359 randomly chosen pail function 1661 00:56:19,349 --> 00:56:18,400 is close to a symmetric something that's 1662 00:56:22,390 --> 00:56:19,359 homomorphic 1663 00:56:23,349 --> 00:56:22,400 a symmetry preserving function also a 1664 00:56:25,270 --> 00:56:23,359 measurable function 1665 00:56:26,390 --> 00:56:25,280 you could now give me thousands of 1666 00:56:29,030 --> 00:56:26,400 different 1667 00:56:29,670 --> 00:56:29,040 kinds of homomorphisms it's close to 1668 00:56:31,589 --> 00:56:29,680 well 1669 00:56:32,950 --> 00:56:31,599 which one is natural selection choosing 1670 00:56:35,670 --> 00:56:32,960 to shape you to 1671 00:56:36,710 --> 00:56:35,680 there are a random function is is close 1672 00:56:38,789 --> 00:56:36,720 to all of these 1673 00:56:40,950 --> 00:56:38,799 where is the where's the selection 1674 00:56:41,430 --> 00:56:40,960 pressure to push you toward one or the 1675 00:56:47,910 --> 00:56:41,440 other 1676 00:56:49,430 --> 00:56:47,920 yeah a randomly chosen fail function you 1677 00:56:51,030 --> 00:56:49,440 could show us it's it's 1678 00:56:52,789 --> 00:56:51,040 close to lots of different things that 1679 00:56:54,230 --> 00:56:52,799 are homomorphic to all else 1680 00:56:55,589 --> 00:56:54,240 but where's the selection pressure there 1681 00:56:57,430 --> 00:56:55,599 there's no selection pressure there at 1682 00:57:00,549 --> 00:56:57,440 all 1683 00:57:03,910 --> 00:57:00,559 yeah now let's one more 1684 00:57:04,309 --> 00:57:03,920 critique is that gravity is not a cyclic 1685 00:57:06,870 --> 00:57:04,319 group 1686 00:57:08,069 --> 00:57:06,880 it's not a totally ordered set it's not 1687 00:57:10,950 --> 00:57:08,079 a permutation group 1688 00:57:12,309 --> 00:57:10,960 it's not a measure well maybe but but 1689 00:57:13,829 --> 00:57:12,319 either way the structure of the 1690 00:57:14,950 --> 00:57:13,839 fundamental physics coming from a 1691 00:57:17,990 --> 00:57:14,960 different frame that is where 1692 00:57:20,630 --> 00:57:18,000 consciousness is not fundamental 1693 00:57:21,750 --> 00:57:20,640 it doesn't follow what i've seen so far 1694 00:57:23,190 --> 00:57:21,760 i think you've done totally ordered 1695 00:57:24,069 --> 00:57:23,200 permutations cyclic and measurable 1696 00:57:25,750 --> 00:57:24,079 spaces 1697 00:57:28,069 --> 00:57:25,760 right but it's not as if the fundamental 1698 00:57:31,109 --> 00:57:28,079 laws or the fundamental space of being 1699 00:57:34,549 --> 00:57:31,119 from the materialist point of view 1700 00:57:38,549 --> 00:57:34,559 are those so what you're counting isn't 1701 00:57:39,190 --> 00:57:38,559 necessarily reality per se it could be 1702 00:57:40,789 --> 00:57:39,200 it could be 1703 00:57:42,390 --> 00:57:40,799 but right it's not as if as far as we 1704 00:57:42,870 --> 00:57:42,400 know and the lagrangian is a condition 1705 00:57:44,150 --> 00:57:42,880 on that 1706 00:57:46,630 --> 00:57:44,160 and it's not as if the lagrangian is a 1707 00:57:49,670 --> 00:57:46,640 cyclical group so right 1708 00:57:52,789 --> 00:57:52,309 fair point okay so why is so why does 1709 00:57:54,470 --> 00:57:52,799 that 1710 00:57:55,910 --> 00:57:54,480 does what you've studied demonstrate 1711 00:57:59,510 --> 00:57:55,920 anything about reality right 1712 00:58:01,750 --> 00:57:59,520 so yeah so i think a good 1713 00:58:03,750 --> 00:58:01,760 argument against our paper is we we've 1714 00:58:05,109 --> 00:58:03,760 looked at four different structures 1715 00:58:08,309 --> 00:58:05,119 and we showed in each case that the 1716 00:58:09,349 --> 00:58:08,319 probability is zero that um a randomly 1717 00:58:10,789 --> 00:58:09,359 chosen payoff function would be a 1718 00:58:13,829 --> 00:58:10,799 homomorphism 1719 00:58:17,030 --> 00:58:13,839 and what we want 1720 00:58:17,990 --> 00:58:17,040 is a paper that proves that for any 1721 00:58:19,349 --> 00:58:18,000 possible structure 1722 00:58:20,630 --> 00:58:19,359 right not just the four structures that 1723 00:58:21,349 --> 00:58:20,640 we looked at we don't have that theorem 1724 00:58:25,990 --> 00:58:21,359 yet 1725 00:58:27,589 --> 00:58:26,000 so someone could come along and say look 1726 00:58:29,270 --> 00:58:27,599 we have independent evidence that this 1727 00:58:30,789 --> 00:58:29,280 is the structure of the world and we can 1728 00:58:31,349 --> 00:58:30,799 prove that for that structure of the 1729 00:58:33,990 --> 00:58:31,359 world 1730 00:58:36,470 --> 00:58:34,000 payoff almost every payoff function is a 1731 00:58:37,829 --> 00:58:36,480 homomorphism of that structure so 1732 00:58:39,510 --> 00:58:37,839 we're throwing down that ghana we're 1733 00:58:42,230 --> 00:58:39,520 saying for you 1734 00:58:44,630 --> 00:58:42,240 for someone to argue that natural 1735 00:58:47,510 --> 00:58:44,640 selection will of course 1736 00:58:49,589 --> 00:58:47,520 favor vertical perceptions seeing the 1737 00:58:51,910 --> 00:58:49,599 truth of the true structure of the world 1738 00:58:53,510 --> 00:58:51,920 then what you have to do you it's it's 1739 00:58:55,190 --> 00:58:53,520 not obvious that that's the case 1740 00:58:58,150 --> 00:58:55,200 here's four counter examples we give 1741 00:59:01,589 --> 00:58:58,160 four counter examples right total orders 1742 00:59:03,589 --> 00:59:01,599 so here are four counter examples so so 1743 00:59:05,109 --> 00:59:03,599 it's not just obviously true that that's 1744 00:59:06,630 --> 00:59:05,119 going to happen for the structure of the 1745 00:59:08,470 --> 00:59:06,640 world so you now 1746 00:59:09,910 --> 00:59:08,480 to convince me that natural selection 1747 00:59:11,270 --> 00:59:09,920 favors vertical perceptions you have to 1748 00:59:11,670 --> 00:59:11,280 tell me exactly the structure of the 1749 00:59:15,030 --> 00:59:11,680 world 1750 00:59:15,349 --> 00:59:15,040 and prove that in fact the homomorphisms 1751 00:59:17,670 --> 00:59:15,359 have 1752 00:59:18,470 --> 00:59:17,680 full measure so so we've thrown the 1753 00:59:20,549 --> 00:59:18,480 gauntlet down 1754 00:59:22,390 --> 00:59:20,559 all of my colleagues almost all of my 1755 00:59:23,510 --> 00:59:22,400 colleagues in cognitive neuroscience who 1756 00:59:25,589 --> 00:59:23,520 study perception 1757 00:59:27,589 --> 00:59:25,599 have just assumed that of course natural 1758 00:59:29,589 --> 00:59:27,599 selection favors vertical perception 1759 00:59:31,109 --> 00:59:29,599 we gave four counter examples and we're 1760 00:59:31,990 --> 00:59:31,119 basically throwing down the gauntlet to 1761 00:59:33,910 --> 00:59:32,000 our field and saying 1762 00:59:35,589 --> 00:59:33,920 if you believe that you you need to come 1763 00:59:37,190 --> 00:59:35,599 up with a beef where is the beef 1764 00:59:39,109 --> 00:59:37,200 what is the structure of the world that 1765 00:59:41,190 --> 00:59:39,119 would have full measure 1766 00:59:42,789 --> 00:59:41,200 for the homomorphisms if you can't do 1767 00:59:45,510 --> 00:59:42,799 that then then 1768 00:59:46,630 --> 00:59:45,520 what is the conspiracy in the laws of 1769 00:59:49,510 --> 00:59:46,640 nature 1770 00:59:50,950 --> 00:59:49,520 that would so in other words what we've 1771 00:59:53,270 --> 00:59:50,960 done is thrown down the gauntlet 1772 00:59:55,589 --> 00:59:53,280 in some sense we're saying hey the 1773 00:59:58,390 --> 00:59:55,599 burden of proof is now on the person 1774 00:59:59,670 --> 00:59:58,400 who claims that evolution is going to 1775 01:00:01,750 --> 00:59:59,680 shape vertical perceptions 1776 01:00:03,510 --> 01:00:01,760 here for here are four counter examples 1777 01:00:04,069 --> 01:00:03,520 give us an example of where it possibly 1778 01:00:06,870 --> 01:00:04,079 could 1779 01:00:07,430 --> 01:00:06,880 and good luck because here's why they're 1780 01:00:11,190 --> 01:00:07,440 not going to 1781 01:00:13,109 --> 01:00:11,200 succeed to be a homomorphism 1782 01:00:14,870 --> 01:00:13,119 a function has to satisfy some strict 1783 01:00:17,349 --> 01:00:14,880 equations 1784 01:00:19,589 --> 01:00:17,359 most functions don't satisfy them end of 1785 01:00:22,069 --> 01:00:19,599 proof 1786 01:00:23,670 --> 01:00:22,079 it's just that simple good luck but but 1787 01:00:25,829 --> 01:00:23,680 so we've thrown down the gauntlet 1788 01:00:26,950 --> 01:00:25,839 that the argument i just gave you is 1789 01:00:29,190 --> 01:00:26,960 going to be the heart 1790 01:00:30,390 --> 01:00:29,200 of a deeper theory a deeper paper that 1791 01:00:32,150 --> 01:00:30,400 will that we hope to get 1792 01:00:33,990 --> 01:00:32,160 in which we just proved that no matter 1793 01:00:36,309 --> 01:00:34,000 what yeah i'm excited about that 1794 01:00:37,589 --> 01:00:36,319 right have you pursued category theory 1795 01:00:38,950 --> 01:00:37,599 that's what works as far as 1796 01:00:40,230 --> 01:00:38,960 like the most abstract of all the 1797 01:00:41,829 --> 01:00:40,240 mathematical theories that's where we're 1798 01:00:42,309 --> 01:00:41,839 headed exactly right category theorem 1799 01:00:45,670 --> 01:00:42,319 inside 1800 01:00:47,030 --> 01:00:45,680 okay cool cool i just said with category 1801 01:00:49,109 --> 01:00:47,040 three right 1802 01:00:50,549 --> 01:00:49,119 what about partially ordered sets not as 1803 01:00:51,270 --> 01:00:50,559 if even if you proved in the partially 1804 01:00:54,150 --> 01:00:51,280 ordered set 1805 01:00:56,150 --> 01:00:54,160 case it's like okay that's it's yeah 1806 01:00:57,030 --> 01:00:56,160 we'd like to do partial orders and also 1807 01:00:59,990 --> 01:00:57,040 topologies 1808 01:01:01,829 --> 01:01:00,000 right so those are some obvious big ones 1809 01:01:02,789 --> 01:01:01,839 so if we can't get the full category 1810 01:01:05,270 --> 01:01:02,799 i mean we'd like to get the full 1811 01:01:06,870 --> 01:01:05,280 category theory um proof 1812 01:01:08,710 --> 01:01:06,880 that just basically says you got a 1813 01:01:10,069 --> 01:01:08,720 structure in the world your payoff 1814 01:01:12,150 --> 01:01:10,079 functions won't preserve it almost 1815 01:01:14,870 --> 01:01:12,160 surely and destroy that's what we want 1816 01:01:15,430 --> 01:01:14,880 we've got only four examples um and then 1817 01:01:17,270 --> 01:01:15,440 we've got this 1818 01:01:19,030 --> 01:01:17,280 high level argument that i gave you that 1819 01:01:20,390 --> 01:01:19,040 to be a homomorphism you have to satisfy 1820 01:01:23,109 --> 01:01:20,400 these equations so good luck 1821 01:01:23,589 --> 01:01:23,119 most won't be so that suggests to me 1822 01:01:25,910 --> 01:01:23,599 that there's 1823 01:01:27,270 --> 01:01:25,920 going to be probably a very simple 1824 01:01:29,750 --> 01:01:27,280 category theoretic 1825 01:01:30,870 --> 01:01:29,760 proof of this thing uh and that will 1826 01:01:32,870 --> 01:01:30,880 take care of it 1827 01:01:34,950 --> 01:01:32,880 or perhaps you find the one structure 1828 01:01:36,069 --> 01:01:34,960 maybe there's even one or two structures 1829 01:01:38,470 --> 01:01:36,079 a finite amount 1830 01:01:39,750 --> 01:01:38,480 that's satisfied that the vertical 1831 01:01:40,549 --> 01:01:39,760 perception and then from that you're 1832 01:01:41,990 --> 01:01:40,559 like okay 1833 01:01:43,750 --> 01:01:42,000 that's interesting that's uniqueness 1834 01:01:45,349 --> 01:01:43,760 among all the structures and therefore 1835 01:01:47,030 --> 01:01:45,359 something special and maybe we can imply 1836 01:01:48,069 --> 01:01:47,040 the laws of physics from that either way 1837 01:01:50,230 --> 01:01:48,079 would be interesting 1838 01:01:51,349 --> 01:01:50,240 oh absolutely so you know i don't care 1839 01:01:53,430 --> 01:01:51,359 how it comes out 1840 01:01:54,950 --> 01:01:53,440 um i i just want to pursue and see what 1841 01:01:56,789 --> 01:01:54,960 see what does come out right 1842 01:01:58,549 --> 01:01:56,799 but what i am saying is this way too 1843 01:01:59,670 --> 01:01:58,559 fast my colleagues thinking oh of course 1844 01:02:01,670 --> 01:01:59,680 natural selection 1845 01:02:03,349 --> 01:02:01,680 favors two percent oh that's way way too 1846 01:02:05,190 --> 01:02:03,359 fast 1847 01:02:06,710 --> 01:02:05,200 why do they think that if they come from 1848 01:02:09,029 --> 01:02:06,720 an evolutionary background 1849 01:02:09,750 --> 01:02:09,039 because evolution just is all about what 1850 01:02:13,829 --> 01:02:09,760 works 1851 01:02:14,789 --> 01:02:13,839 true true in the in the materialist 1852 01:02:18,710 --> 01:02:14,799 sense 1853 01:02:20,789 --> 01:02:18,720 i agree and i should say um there are 1854 01:02:21,990 --> 01:02:20,799 many of my colleagues and friends like 1855 01:02:24,230 --> 01:02:22,000 steve pinker 1856 01:02:27,029 --> 01:02:24,240 a good colleague and long time friend 1857 01:02:30,470 --> 01:02:27,039 who clearly understands 1858 01:02:33,670 --> 01:02:30,480 that natural selection does not 1859 01:02:35,750 --> 01:02:33,680 in general favor true beliefs right and 1860 01:02:39,670 --> 01:02:35,760 he's got a brilliant paper 1861 01:02:41,670 --> 01:02:39,680 um a published um called 1862 01:02:43,029 --> 01:02:41,680 so how does the mind work it's a 1863 01:02:44,870 --> 01:02:43,039 wonderful paper so if you look up steve 1864 01:02:47,430 --> 01:02:44,880 pinker so how does the mind work 1865 01:02:48,630 --> 01:02:47,440 he he gives in that paper five good 1866 01:02:51,430 --> 01:02:48,640 reasons for 1867 01:02:51,990 --> 01:02:51,440 why evolution will not lead us to have 1868 01:02:55,270 --> 01:02:52,000 true 1869 01:02:58,789 --> 01:02:55,280 beliefs in general um 1870 01:03:00,630 --> 01:02:58,799 and also real robert trevors has 1871 01:03:01,990 --> 01:03:00,640 argued you know brilliantly on 1872 01:03:03,589 --> 01:03:02,000 evolutionary grounds that there are 1873 01:03:05,990 --> 01:03:03,599 reasons why we should be deeply 1874 01:03:08,390 --> 01:03:06,000 self-deceived we the best 1875 01:03:09,829 --> 01:03:08,400 liar the best the most convincing liar 1876 01:03:11,670 --> 01:03:09,839 in social situations is the one who 1877 01:03:13,190 --> 01:03:11,680 believes his own lie 1878 01:03:15,109 --> 01:03:13,200 and so there are selection pressures for 1879 01:03:19,029 --> 01:03:15,119 us to be deeply deceived 1880 01:03:20,470 --> 01:03:19,039 now in trevor's case however he then 1881 01:03:22,309 --> 01:03:20,480 even though he understands that aspect 1882 01:03:24,150 --> 01:03:22,319 of evolution and 1883 01:03:25,349 --> 01:03:24,160 leading to false beliefs when it came to 1884 01:03:28,950 --> 01:03:25,359 perception 1885 01:03:32,710 --> 01:03:28,960 trevors still believed and wrote 1886 01:03:34,390 --> 01:03:32,720 that seeing the structure of reality as 1887 01:03:35,829 --> 01:03:34,400 it is would make you more fit 1888 01:03:38,870 --> 01:03:35,839 and that's the argument that most people 1889 01:03:41,029 --> 01:03:38,880 believe it's 1890 01:03:42,069 --> 01:03:41,039 the argument goes like this those of our 1891 01:03:45,910 --> 01:03:42,079 ancestors 1892 01:03:47,750 --> 01:03:45,920 who saw reality more accurately 1893 01:03:50,390 --> 01:03:47,760 had a competitive advantage over those 1894 01:03:51,990 --> 01:03:50,400 who saw the world less accurately 1895 01:03:53,990 --> 01:03:52,000 a new competitive advantage in the you 1896 01:03:55,670 --> 01:03:54,000 know the the basic 1897 01:03:58,789 --> 01:03:55,680 activities of life feeding fighting 1898 01:04:00,470 --> 01:03:58,799 fleeing and mating right and therefore 1899 01:04:02,950 --> 01:04:00,480 those who saw more accurately were more 1900 01:04:04,470 --> 01:04:02,960 likely to pass on their genes 1901 01:04:06,069 --> 01:04:04,480 that code for the more accurate 1902 01:04:07,910 --> 01:04:06,079 perceptions 1903 01:04:10,309 --> 01:04:07,920 and therefore we can be quite confident 1904 01:04:12,470 --> 01:04:10,319 that we may not see all of the truth 1905 01:04:14,470 --> 01:04:12,480 but we see those aspects of the truth 1906 01:04:16,470 --> 01:04:14,480 that we need to survive 1907 01:04:17,829 --> 01:04:16,480 and that kind of argument completely 1908 01:04:21,109 --> 01:04:17,839 persuades most of my 1909 01:04:23,270 --> 01:04:21,119 my colleagues it apparently persuaded 1910 01:04:25,270 --> 01:04:23,280 trivers because he he wrote that you 1911 01:04:26,309 --> 01:04:25,280 know yeah it's more fit to see reality 1912 01:04:28,630 --> 01:04:26,319 as it is 1913 01:04:30,630 --> 01:04:28,640 it didn't persuade pinker although 1914 01:04:32,069 --> 01:04:30,640 pinker in the in that paper that i 1915 01:04:34,069 --> 01:04:32,079 the brilliant paper that i mentioned you 1916 01:04:37,029 --> 01:04:34,079 know so how does the mind work 1917 01:04:38,829 --> 01:04:37,039 he does at the at the end of his 1918 01:04:41,910 --> 01:04:38,839 discussion of the five 1919 01:04:45,349 --> 01:04:41,920 reasons uh why evolution wouldn't 1920 01:04:47,029 --> 01:04:45,359 lead to to true beliefs he does make an 1921 01:04:49,109 --> 01:04:47,039 exception for everyday middle-sized 1922 01:04:51,349 --> 01:04:49,119 objects 1923 01:04:52,710 --> 01:04:51,359 and for the quotidian beliefs of of our 1924 01:04:53,029 --> 01:04:52,720 friends the everyday quotation beliefs 1925 01:04:55,510 --> 01:04:53,039 are 1926 01:04:56,390 --> 01:04:55,520 so he he he doesn't explain why he makes 1927 01:04:57,910 --> 01:04:56,400 those exceptions 1928 01:04:59,430 --> 01:04:57,920 but he does make those two exceptions 1929 01:05:00,950 --> 01:04:59,440 and so i'm really focusing on that 1930 01:05:02,630 --> 01:05:00,960 exception about everyday middle-sized 1931 01:05:04,390 --> 01:05:02,640 objects yeah i'm saying 1932 01:05:05,670 --> 01:05:04,400 that our perception of everyday 1933 01:05:08,710 --> 01:05:05,680 middle-sized objects 1934 01:05:11,109 --> 01:05:08,720 is also not an example of a true belief 1935 01:05:12,069 --> 01:05:11,119 it's just an example of something as you 1936 01:05:15,190 --> 01:05:12,079 said that's 1937 01:05:16,390 --> 01:05:15,200 fit enough to keep you alive uh okay 1938 01:05:18,789 --> 01:05:16,400 well this is a question 1939 01:05:20,150 --> 01:05:18,799 more about evolutionary modeling in 1940 01:05:21,589 --> 01:05:20,160 general 1941 01:05:23,109 --> 01:05:21,599 and please forgive me as i verbally 1942 01:05:24,069 --> 01:05:23,119 fumble through this because i haven't my 1943 01:05:27,109 --> 01:05:24,079 thoughts on this aren't 1944 01:05:27,990 --> 01:05:27,119 fully developed are fitness payoffs as 1945 01:05:30,390 --> 01:05:28,000 simple as just 1946 01:05:31,910 --> 01:05:30,400 a one-dimensional case so for example 1947 01:05:33,270 --> 01:05:31,920 some issue that i an issue that i have 1948 01:05:35,029 --> 01:05:33,280 with utilitarians 1949 01:05:37,270 --> 01:05:35,039 is that they will project pleasure and 1950 01:05:39,750 --> 01:05:37,280 pain down to one dimensional axis 1951 01:05:41,349 --> 01:05:39,760 which to me neglects that there are 1952 01:05:41,990 --> 01:05:41,359 different kinds of pleasures or that you 1953 01:05:43,190 --> 01:05:42,000 can combine 1954 01:05:45,270 --> 01:05:43,200 pleasure and pain or that there are 1955 01:05:49,510 --> 01:05:45,280 different kinds of pain 1956 01:05:52,870 --> 01:05:51,190 this means to me that projecting onto 1957 01:05:55,270 --> 01:05:52,880 the real line is either not possible 1958 01:05:56,549 --> 01:05:55,280 or it's not trivial or it's not useful 1959 01:05:58,789 --> 01:05:56,559 and i've always wondered the same 1960 01:06:01,029 --> 01:05:58,799 about fitness payoffs i see something 1961 01:06:03,670 --> 01:06:01,039 similar happening so perhaps fitness 1962 01:06:06,230 --> 01:06:03,680 is a complex multi-dimensional space and 1963 01:06:07,430 --> 01:06:06,240 the choice between any given two points 1964 01:06:09,349 --> 01:06:07,440 in order for you to make it you need to 1965 01:06:10,630 --> 01:06:09,359 employ a metric or norm and then that 1966 01:06:13,510 --> 01:06:10,640 would need to be justified 1967 01:06:16,789 --> 01:06:13,520 in other words do you have do you see 1968 01:06:21,190 --> 01:06:16,799 any problems with fitness payoffs being 1969 01:06:24,390 --> 01:06:21,200 real r1 to r1 uh well 1970 01:06:27,750 --> 01:06:24,400 yes i do and the the reason 1971 01:06:29,829 --> 01:06:27,760 is that the domain need not be r1 1972 01:06:31,190 --> 01:06:29,839 the domain could be as high dimensional 1973 01:06:33,349 --> 01:06:31,200 as you want or the very notion of 1974 01:06:36,069 --> 01:06:33,359 dimension may not even apply 1975 01:06:37,349 --> 01:06:36,079 so but but you sticking with you know 1976 01:06:39,349 --> 01:06:37,359 the domain having 1977 01:06:41,190 --> 01:06:39,359 it could be you know a 50 dimensional 1978 01:06:44,230 --> 01:06:41,200 image going down to r1 1979 01:06:47,349 --> 01:06:44,240 yeah so going down to r1 now 1980 01:06:50,069 --> 01:06:47,359 fitness in terms of evolution is very 1981 01:06:54,150 --> 01:06:52,230 do you have more kids in the competition 1982 01:06:57,589 --> 01:06:54,160 end of story 1983 01:06:58,870 --> 01:06:57,599 that's r1 so the but 1984 01:07:01,109 --> 01:06:58,880 what you were talking about though the 1985 01:07:04,069 --> 01:07:01,119 pain and pleasure and so forth 1986 01:07:05,510 --> 01:07:04,079 the the kinds of emotions that we may 1987 01:07:06,950 --> 01:07:05,520 evolve 1988 01:07:08,870 --> 01:07:06,960 to guide our behaviors in an 1989 01:07:10,789 --> 01:07:08,880 evolutionary theory could be as 1990 01:07:14,549 --> 01:07:10,799 complicated as you want 1991 01:07:17,510 --> 01:07:14,559 right so so the payoff is 1992 01:07:20,069 --> 01:07:17,520 reproductive success that's it that's 1993 01:07:22,789 --> 01:07:20,079 the only payoff that there is 1994 01:07:23,510 --> 01:07:22,799 we we we will talk about you know payoff 1995 01:07:25,910 --> 01:07:23,520 functions as 1996 01:07:26,950 --> 01:07:25,920 like points in the game but ultimately 1997 01:07:28,870 --> 01:07:26,960 the idea is that 1998 01:07:30,470 --> 01:07:28,880 you you gather the number of points you 1999 01:07:31,829 --> 01:07:30,480 get in playing the game is really 2000 01:07:34,710 --> 01:07:31,839 translated into how many kids do you 2001 01:07:36,549 --> 01:07:34,720 have how many genes do you pass on so 2002 01:07:39,349 --> 01:07:36,559 that's why in evolutionary theory 2003 01:07:39,910 --> 01:07:39,359 the the domain can be as complicated as 2004 01:07:43,190 --> 01:07:39,920 you want 2005 01:07:44,870 --> 01:07:43,200 the range is r1 kids 2006 01:07:47,510 --> 01:07:44,880 what is it's not the absolute number of 2007 01:07:50,069 --> 01:07:47,520 kids it all that matters is that you 2008 01:07:51,430 --> 01:07:50,079 have more than the competition right so 2009 01:07:52,710 --> 01:07:51,440 it's not like it you have to be perfect 2010 01:07:54,630 --> 01:07:52,720 or anything like that it's just a 2011 01:07:57,670 --> 01:07:54,640 satisficing solution 2012 01:08:02,230 --> 01:07:57,680 so so we have to distinguish the 2013 01:08:05,270 --> 01:08:02,240 payoff value which is 2014 01:08:06,710 --> 01:08:05,280 reproductive success versus all the 2015 01:08:09,910 --> 01:08:06,720 complicated emotions 2016 01:08:11,190 --> 01:08:09,920 that will guide our behaviors to get 2017 01:08:13,190 --> 01:08:11,200 enough payoff value right 2018 01:08:15,430 --> 01:08:13,200 so so so we don't want to conflate those 2019 01:08:16,950 --> 01:08:15,440 two things so evolutionary theory allows 2020 01:08:17,829 --> 01:08:16,960 you to have as complicated a set of 2021 01:08:20,149 --> 01:08:17,839 emotions and 2022 01:08:21,189 --> 01:08:20,159 motivations as as you want very very 2023 01:08:24,390 --> 01:08:21,199 complicated 2024 01:08:26,149 --> 01:08:24,400 the payoff value is r1 2025 01:08:27,430 --> 01:08:26,159 i got it all right thanks man i 2026 01:08:29,189 --> 01:08:27,440 appreciate that we're gonna have to 2027 01:08:31,030 --> 01:08:29,199 schedule another call if you don't mind 2028 01:08:33,349 --> 01:08:31,040 no you're asking um it's fun for me 2029 01:08:36,789 --> 01:08:33,359 because this is far more technical than 2030 01:08:37,510 --> 01:08:36,799 most um questions so and uh it's it's 2031 01:08:39,510 --> 01:08:37,520 enjoyable 2032 01:08:41,430 --> 01:08:39,520 i i just hope that your audience will be 2033 01:08:42,870 --> 01:08:41,440 able to follow this is probably 2034 01:08:45,110 --> 01:08:42,880 some of them won't be able to but that's 2035 01:08:46,470 --> 01:08:45,120 fine i feel like most people 2036 01:08:48,149 --> 01:08:46,480 one of the reasons why i've been 2037 01:08:51,430 --> 01:08:48,159 successful to the degree that i have 2038 01:08:54,550 --> 01:08:51,440 is that people are watching more because 2039 01:08:55,829 --> 01:08:54,560 i as an interviewer i'm engaged like i'm 2040 01:08:56,390 --> 01:08:55,839 asking questions that i want to know the 2041 01:08:57,590 --> 01:08:56,400 answer to 2042 01:08:59,510 --> 01:08:57,600 right rather than what i think the 2043 01:09:00,149 --> 01:08:59,520 audience cares about and there's a bit 2044 01:09:02,630 --> 01:09:00,159 of a 2045 01:09:03,189 --> 01:09:02,640 facade there on manufacturing good well 2046 01:09:05,510 --> 01:09:03,199 well 2047 01:09:07,030 --> 01:09:05,520 i think for a certain audience then 2048 01:09:07,349 --> 01:09:07,040 these are the right questions absolutely 2049 01:09:09,349 --> 01:09:07,359 for 2050 01:09:10,630 --> 01:09:09,359 any i mean you're asking the right 2051 01:09:12,229 --> 01:09:10,640 questions for anybody that really knows 2052 01:09:14,070 --> 01:09:12,239 their math and science 2053 01:09:15,110 --> 01:09:14,080 and it must be hard knows about you 2054 01:09:15,749 --> 01:09:15,120 you're asking exactly the right 2055 01:09:17,990 --> 01:09:15,759 questions 2056 01:09:19,990 --> 01:09:18,000 thanks man i i appreciate that you know 2057 01:09:21,749 --> 01:09:20,000 like it gets a bit more technical like 2058 01:09:23,590 --> 01:09:21,759 like why did you why are you choosing 2059 01:09:24,229 --> 01:09:23,600 the geometric algebra with the signature 2060 01:09:25,910 --> 01:09:24,239 one three 2061 01:09:27,430 --> 01:09:25,920 and then saying that implies space time 2062 01:09:30,470 --> 01:09:27,440 because because that to me is 2063 01:09:36,709 --> 01:09:30,480 putting extra structure on but okay well 2064 01:09:40,550 --> 01:09:38,309 all right i'm gonna have to i don't 2065 01:09:42,070 --> 01:09:40,560 recall exactly where we left off but 2066 01:09:44,390 --> 01:09:42,080 it's all right i'll put intermission and 2067 01:09:45,990 --> 01:09:44,400 people will understand if there's a 2068 01:09:49,590 --> 01:09:46,000 change in topic 2069 01:09:51,829 --> 01:09:49,600 sure okay how's it going donald 2070 01:09:53,749 --> 01:09:51,839 i'm doing great how about you kurt good 2071 01:09:55,750 --> 01:09:53,759 man okay you were just mentioning that 2072 01:09:56,229 --> 01:09:55,760 some of your practices of meditation are 2073 01:09:58,229 --> 01:09:56,239 intense 2074 01:09:59,990 --> 01:09:58,239 and they usually are today was 2075 01:10:02,550 --> 01:10:00,000 particularly intense or 2076 01:10:03,830 --> 01:10:02,560 average intensity just average but it's 2077 01:10:05,750 --> 01:10:03,840 always pretty intense 2078 01:10:08,070 --> 01:10:05,760 it's um okay what do you see what 2079 01:10:12,229 --> 01:10:08,080 happens during it 2080 01:10:16,390 --> 01:10:14,229 it's going into the unknown letting go 2081 01:10:20,790 --> 01:10:16,400 of all thoughts 2082 01:10:23,830 --> 01:10:20,800 and there's innate fear 2083 01:10:27,350 --> 01:10:23,840 of the unknown and 2084 01:10:30,229 --> 01:10:27,360 so facing that fear and letting it go 2085 01:10:31,830 --> 01:10:30,239 can be can be very very intense just so 2086 01:10:36,229 --> 01:10:31,840 if you you know tried 2087 01:10:40,709 --> 01:10:36,239 just sitting for 10 minutes 2088 01:10:42,390 --> 01:10:40,719 with absolutely no thoughts just being 2089 01:10:43,990 --> 01:10:42,400 in the moment you'll find that thoughts 2090 01:10:47,510 --> 01:10:44,000 just come up and they 2091 01:10:49,830 --> 01:10:47,520 invade and and and 2092 01:10:51,590 --> 01:10:49,840 if you let them go and and go back into 2093 01:10:52,149 --> 01:10:51,600 quiet you'll see the thoughts just keep 2094 01:10:54,870 --> 01:10:52,159 coming back 2095 01:10:56,229 --> 01:10:54,880 up and and but when you actually go into 2096 01:10:59,430 --> 01:10:56,239 a space where 2097 01:11:02,550 --> 01:10:59,440 you do let go of thoughts and it is 2098 01:11:04,790 --> 01:11:02,560 it's utter silence then 2099 01:11:07,350 --> 01:11:04,800 it starts to appear that those thoughts 2100 01:11:10,390 --> 01:11:07,360 are part of a defense mechanism 2101 01:11:14,950 --> 01:11:10,400 that they're they're they're hiding 2102 01:11:17,910 --> 01:11:14,960 uh behind them uh a good deal of um 2103 01:11:18,550 --> 01:11:17,920 fear of the unknown and yeah we're 2104 01:11:20,390 --> 01:11:18,560 always you know 2105 01:11:22,550 --> 01:11:20,400 one thing about our species is that we 2106 01:11:24,470 --> 01:11:22,560 build models of our environment 2107 01:11:26,470 --> 01:11:24,480 and we rely on our models to protect us 2108 01:11:29,910 --> 01:11:26,480 right we predict 2109 01:11:30,470 --> 01:11:29,920 you know some some creatures don't build 2110 01:11:32,149 --> 01:11:30,480 models 2111 01:11:33,430 --> 01:11:32,159 or or don't very build very 2112 01:11:34,550 --> 01:11:33,440 sophisticated models of their 2113 01:11:36,790 --> 01:11:34,560 environment 2114 01:11:39,430 --> 01:11:36,800 and their strategy is like you know with 2115 01:11:42,310 --> 01:11:39,440 back some bacteria 2116 01:11:42,870 --> 01:11:42,320 you just multiply multiply multiply and 2117 01:11:44,950 --> 01:11:42,880 and 2118 01:11:46,070 --> 01:11:44,960 um that's that's how you survive you 2119 01:11:48,229 --> 01:11:46,080 know just 2120 01:11:50,229 --> 01:11:48,239 vast multiplication our species is 2121 01:11:54,310 --> 01:11:50,239 different we have 2122 01:11:56,790 --> 01:11:54,320 very few kids and um 2123 01:11:58,149 --> 01:11:56,800 we have a big cerebral cortex a frontal 2124 01:11:59,669 --> 01:11:58,159 lobe that's building models 2125 01:12:01,750 --> 01:11:59,679 of of our environment and we're 2126 01:12:04,790 --> 01:12:01,760 simulating what will happen 2127 01:12:06,470 --> 01:12:04,800 um and so that we you know in the 2128 01:12:07,590 --> 01:12:06,480 simulation something goes wrong we see 2129 01:12:09,189 --> 01:12:07,600 oh i shouldn't do that 2130 01:12:10,790 --> 01:12:09,199 instead of sacrificing our bodies we 2131 01:12:12,310 --> 01:12:10,800 sacrifice our virtual body in the 2132 01:12:14,229 --> 01:12:12,320 simulation right 2133 01:12:17,110 --> 01:12:14,239 and we learn so when you start letting 2134 01:12:19,510 --> 01:12:17,120 go of all of your thoughts 2135 01:12:21,270 --> 01:12:19,520 you're letting go of this very deeply 2136 01:12:23,110 --> 01:12:21,280 ingrained 2137 01:12:24,709 --> 01:12:23,120 protective mechanism that we have of 2138 01:12:26,790 --> 01:12:24,719 building models and and 2139 01:12:28,390 --> 01:12:26,800 analyzing things and looking into the 2140 01:12:30,550 --> 01:12:28,400 future and 2141 01:12:32,070 --> 01:12:30,560 running through scenarios and so forth 2142 01:12:33,669 --> 01:12:32,080 it's one of the great strengths of our 2143 01:12:36,870 --> 01:12:33,679 species 2144 01:12:38,310 --> 01:12:36,880 it's all a big difference 2145 01:12:40,870 --> 01:12:38,320 do you feel like all our thoughts are 2146 01:12:43,910 --> 01:12:40,880 defense mechanisms 2147 01:12:45,669 --> 01:12:43,920 well uh no but 2148 01:12:48,310 --> 01:12:45,679 it's it's pretty much like this it's 2149 01:12:51,430 --> 01:12:48,320 it's like um 2150 01:12:53,990 --> 01:12:51,440 if we look at eating 2151 01:12:56,950 --> 01:12:54,000 we all have to eat and so it's a 2152 01:12:59,990 --> 01:12:56,960 necessary part of life to to eat 2153 01:13:01,350 --> 01:13:00,000 but but if um 2154 01:13:02,790 --> 01:13:01,360 you decide that you know you're gonna 2155 01:13:03,350 --> 01:13:02,800 you know you've had lunch and you're 2156 01:13:04,630 --> 01:13:03,360 just going to 2157 01:13:06,470 --> 01:13:04,640 do something else but you find that you 2158 01:13:08,390 --> 01:13:06,480 can't stop thinking about food and you 2159 01:13:09,669 --> 01:13:08,400 keep walking over to the refrigerator 2160 01:13:11,270 --> 01:13:09,679 and you get that well that's that's 2161 01:13:12,790 --> 01:13:11,280 different that's that's now something 2162 01:13:14,790 --> 01:13:12,800 healthy that's turned into an obsession 2163 01:13:16,709 --> 01:13:14,800 it's a problem right 2164 01:13:19,030 --> 01:13:16,719 and it's the same thing with thoughts 2165 01:13:19,510 --> 01:13:19,040 thoughts are great we use them to go to 2166 01:13:21,590 --> 01:13:19,520 the moon 2167 01:13:23,669 --> 01:13:21,600 we use them to build all this technology 2168 01:13:27,830 --> 01:13:23,679 we use them to cure disease 2169 01:13:29,590 --> 01:13:27,840 they're wonderful but if you find 2170 01:13:31,590 --> 01:13:29,600 that when you say okay you know thought 2171 01:13:31,990 --> 01:13:31,600 is a great tool but for the next 10 2172 01:13:33,669 --> 01:13:32,000 minutes 2173 01:13:35,750 --> 01:13:33,679 i would just like to relax without any 2174 01:13:36,630 --> 01:13:35,760 thoughts and then you find you can't do 2175 01:13:39,750 --> 01:13:36,640 it 2176 01:13:40,630 --> 01:13:39,760 you find that these thoughts invade and 2177 01:13:42,149 --> 01:13:40,640 that when you 2178 01:13:43,830 --> 01:13:42,159 let go of the thoughts and you just go 2179 01:13:47,510 --> 01:13:43,840 into pure silence 2180 01:13:50,070 --> 01:13:47,520 that um you're afraid 2181 01:13:51,590 --> 01:13:50,080 and you retreat back into the thoughts 2182 01:13:54,390 --> 01:13:51,600 well that that suggests that 2183 01:13:57,669 --> 01:13:54,400 um just like in the case of of the food 2184 01:14:01,110 --> 01:14:00,390 usage of food and it's very very 2185 01:14:02,870 --> 01:14:01,120 necessary 2186 01:14:04,229 --> 01:14:02,880 but there's a case where it becomes an 2187 01:14:05,910 --> 01:14:04,239 obsession and there's a problem 2188 01:14:08,229 --> 01:14:05,920 same thing with thought it's a great 2189 01:14:10,310 --> 01:14:08,239 tool but but when you can't let go of 2190 01:14:12,310 --> 01:14:10,320 thought for 10 minutes 2191 01:14:13,990 --> 01:14:12,320 in it and the thoughts invade and you 2192 01:14:18,070 --> 01:14:14,000 find that going into the 2193 01:14:19,189 --> 01:14:18,080 silence triggers um an innate fear 2194 01:14:21,110 --> 01:14:19,199 then you know that there's something 2195 01:14:24,070 --> 01:14:21,120 else that's going on and so 2196 01:14:25,430 --> 01:14:24,080 so in the meditation it's it's a matter 2197 01:14:28,790 --> 01:14:25,440 of 2198 01:14:32,470 --> 01:14:28,800 for me facing the silence 2199 01:14:34,390 --> 01:14:32,480 and the fears that come up um without 2200 01:14:36,229 --> 01:14:34,400 judgment without condemnation without 2201 01:14:37,830 --> 01:14:36,239 trying just being 2202 01:14:39,669 --> 01:14:37,840 being with that and just watching that 2203 01:14:41,990 --> 01:14:39,679 whole amazing process to 2204 01:14:43,590 --> 01:14:42,000 is sort of finding out wow i didn't know 2205 01:14:44,709 --> 01:14:43,600 that this was part of me i just was 2206 01:14:47,750 --> 01:14:44,719 living in my thoughts 2207 01:14:50,229 --> 01:14:47,760 i had no idea that it would be so hard 2208 01:14:51,910 --> 01:14:50,239 to let go of thoughts so it's nothing 2209 01:14:54,630 --> 01:14:51,920 wrong about thoughts 2210 01:14:56,229 --> 01:14:54,640 but when they're obsessive then that's a 2211 01:14:58,390 --> 01:14:56,239 different thing 2212 01:15:00,229 --> 01:14:58,400 and in the case the analogy with the 2213 01:15:02,229 --> 01:15:00,239 fridge and the food 2214 01:15:04,070 --> 01:15:02,239 it's me it's an obsession when it 2215 01:15:05,270 --> 01:15:04,080 becomes maladaptive 2216 01:15:07,350 --> 01:15:05,280 is that what you're defining as 2217 01:15:08,950 --> 01:15:07,360 obsession right yeah so 2218 01:15:10,470 --> 01:15:08,960 you can't your thoughts are always about 2219 01:15:12,070 --> 01:15:10,480 the refrigerator and getting the next 2220 01:15:13,590 --> 01:15:12,080 food and you find yourself gaining tons 2221 01:15:14,950 --> 01:15:13,600 of tons of weight and to the point where 2222 01:15:15,750 --> 01:15:14,960 you have heart disease and things like 2223 01:15:19,669 --> 01:15:15,760 that 2224 01:15:22,709 --> 01:15:19,679 realize okay well maybe i've got 2225 01:15:24,229 --> 01:15:22,719 uh you know food is necessary but but 2226 01:15:26,709 --> 01:15:24,239 too much food and too much thinking 2227 01:15:29,990 --> 01:15:26,719 about food is food is a sign of 2228 01:15:32,149 --> 01:15:30,000 of something maladaptive um 2229 01:15:33,750 --> 01:15:32,159 okay you also mentioned in the case 2230 01:15:35,669 --> 01:15:33,760 against reality that illusions are a 2231 01:15:37,030 --> 01:15:35,679 failure to guide adaptive behavior 2232 01:15:38,870 --> 01:15:37,040 i don't know if you mentioned that 2233 01:15:39,189 --> 01:15:38,880 quoting someone else or if you mention 2234 01:15:41,590 --> 01:15:39,199 that 2235 01:15:43,590 --> 01:15:41,600 and because you believe it and either 2236 01:15:46,149 --> 01:15:43,600 way do you agree with that statement or 2237 01:15:46,790 --> 01:15:46,159 disagree yeah i i do agree with that 2238 01:15:50,070 --> 01:15:46,800 that that 2239 01:15:51,430 --> 01:15:50,080 um and it was sort of a statement that i 2240 01:15:53,189 --> 01:15:51,440 was making 2241 01:15:55,510 --> 01:15:53,199 in contrast to what most of my 2242 01:15:57,350 --> 01:15:55,520 colleagues in in perception science 2243 01:15:58,950 --> 01:15:57,360 would say most of my colleagues would 2244 01:16:01,270 --> 01:15:58,960 say that an elite 2245 01:16:02,870 --> 01:16:01,280 is a perception that fails to match 2246 01:16:07,110 --> 01:16:02,880 reality 2247 01:16:08,390 --> 01:16:07,120 right so i see a stick in the water it 2248 01:16:09,830 --> 01:16:08,400 looks bent 2249 01:16:11,750 --> 01:16:09,840 but the stick isn't bent so my 2250 01:16:12,950 --> 01:16:11,760 perception fails to match the reality i 2251 01:16:13,830 --> 01:16:12,960 see something that looks bent but the 2252 01:16:18,390 --> 01:16:13,840 stick isn't bent 2253 01:16:21,510 --> 01:16:18,400 right that kind of thing and 2254 01:16:24,709 --> 01:16:21,520 i'm suggesting on evolutionary grounds 2255 01:16:27,669 --> 01:16:24,719 well i'm claiming 2256 01:16:29,189 --> 01:16:27,679 that the theory of evolution entails 2257 01:16:31,350 --> 01:16:29,199 mathematically 2258 01:16:32,950 --> 01:16:31,360 that the probability that any of our 2259 01:16:35,189 --> 01:16:32,960 perceptions 2260 01:16:36,229 --> 01:16:35,199 in any way match the structure of 2261 01:16:40,070 --> 01:16:36,239 reality is zero 2262 01:16:43,030 --> 01:16:41,669 tell us truths about the structure of 2263 01:16:44,390 --> 01:16:43,040 objective reality according to 2264 01:16:48,149 --> 01:16:44,400 evolutionary theory 2265 01:16:50,390 --> 01:16:48,159 that's just are you aware of the various 2266 01:16:52,790 --> 01:16:50,400 notions of truth such as correspondence 2267 01:16:55,910 --> 01:16:52,800 and deflationary and pragmatic 2268 01:16:57,430 --> 01:16:55,920 sure absolutely so so most 2269 01:16:59,030 --> 01:16:57,440 most of my colleagues are taking a 2270 01:17:03,110 --> 01:16:59,040 correspondence notion right 2271 01:17:06,229 --> 01:17:03,120 they're saying that that i see 2272 01:17:07,910 --> 01:17:06,239 a red apple 2273 01:17:09,750 --> 01:17:07,920 that's because in fact in objective 2274 01:17:11,750 --> 01:17:09,760 reality there is something with that 2275 01:17:13,590 --> 01:17:11,760 that shape and that color that would 2276 01:17:15,510 --> 01:17:13,600 continue to exist even if no one were 2277 01:17:17,110 --> 01:17:15,520 there to perceive it and so there's 2278 01:17:19,510 --> 01:17:17,120 a correspondence no one thinks it's 2279 01:17:20,709 --> 01:17:19,520 perfect correspondence we don't see 2280 01:17:22,709 --> 01:17:20,719 all of the structure of objective 2281 01:17:24,790 --> 01:17:22,719 reality but but the 2282 01:17:25,910 --> 01:17:24,800 idea of truth that i'm talking about is 2283 01:17:28,390 --> 01:17:25,920 reality 2284 01:17:28,950 --> 01:17:28,400 whatever it is has certain structures to 2285 01:17:32,310 --> 01:17:28,960 it 2286 01:17:35,189 --> 01:17:32,320 topologies perhaps 2287 01:17:36,390 --> 01:17:35,199 group structures metrics whatever it 2288 01:17:38,310 --> 01:17:36,400 might be whatever the structures of 2289 01:17:41,990 --> 01:17:38,320 reality are 2290 01:17:45,189 --> 01:17:42,000 and our perceptions then 2291 01:17:46,310 --> 01:17:45,199 tell us truths about those structures 2292 01:17:48,229 --> 01:17:46,320 some of the structures of our 2293 01:17:49,830 --> 01:17:48,239 perceptions are 2294 01:17:51,189 --> 01:17:49,840 matching the structures of objective 2295 01:17:53,030 --> 01:17:51,199 reality the structure of the shape of 2296 01:17:56,229 --> 01:17:53,040 the apple that we perceive 2297 01:17:57,430 --> 01:17:56,239 is homomorphic to the structure that the 2298 01:18:01,110 --> 01:17:57,440 apple really has 2299 01:18:05,750 --> 01:18:01,120 and so forth and that's what i'm saying 2300 01:18:11,430 --> 01:18:08,550 now are you taking more of a pragmatic 2301 01:18:15,750 --> 01:18:11,440 stance on the definition of truth 2302 01:18:20,310 --> 01:18:18,950 so what's what's interesting is when i 2303 01:18:22,229 --> 01:18:20,320 talk about 2304 01:18:23,510 --> 01:18:22,239 if you don't mind just for the audience 2305 01:18:25,189 --> 01:18:23,520 do you mind defining 2306 01:18:26,790 --> 01:18:25,199 the difference between correspondence 2307 01:18:28,070 --> 01:18:26,800 and then pragmatic and then where you 2308 01:18:29,669 --> 01:18:28,080 defer from pragmatic 2309 01:18:31,430 --> 01:18:29,679 as far as i can tell it sounds like 2310 01:18:33,830 --> 01:18:31,440 yours is pragmatic because it's 2311 01:18:35,910 --> 01:18:33,840 about adaptive behavior so i'm curious 2312 01:18:37,910 --> 01:18:35,920 to know where the difference is 2313 01:18:39,590 --> 01:18:37,920 right so in the correspondence theory of 2314 01:18:42,709 --> 01:18:39,600 truth the 2315 01:18:44,229 --> 01:18:42,719 the idea is that um there is an 2316 01:18:47,590 --> 01:18:44,239 objective reality that has 2317 01:18:51,590 --> 01:18:47,600 a definite state a definite structure 2318 01:18:53,350 --> 01:18:51,600 and to see truly to perceive truly 2319 01:18:54,709 --> 01:18:53,360 is to have the structures of your 2320 01:18:58,310 --> 01:18:54,719 perception 2321 01:18:59,590 --> 01:18:58,320 be homomorphic to at least 2322 01:19:01,590 --> 01:18:59,600 some of the structures in objective 2323 01:19:02,550 --> 01:19:01,600 reality so to to preserve those 2324 01:19:05,590 --> 01:19:02,560 structures 2325 01:19:10,070 --> 01:19:05,600 um a 2326 01:19:14,070 --> 01:19:10,080 pragmatist would would say 2327 01:19:16,390 --> 01:19:14,080 that's not possible we there are no 2328 01:19:18,149 --> 01:19:16,400 true perceptions of that kind all we can 2329 01:19:21,430 --> 01:19:18,159 ask of our perceptions 2330 01:19:23,910 --> 01:19:21,440 is do they work 2331 01:19:25,510 --> 01:19:23,920 so do our concepts work do our 2332 01:19:28,470 --> 01:19:25,520 perceptions work 2333 01:19:30,870 --> 01:19:28,480 and you know and what i'm saying is that 2334 01:19:34,550 --> 01:19:30,880 from an evolutionary point of view 2335 01:19:38,149 --> 01:19:34,560 the theory of evolution gives us 2336 01:19:41,350 --> 01:19:38,159 no reason to believe that our cognitive 2337 01:19:43,510 --> 01:19:41,360 or perceptual systems were shaped 2338 01:19:44,390 --> 01:19:43,520 to give us the correspondence kinds of 2339 01:19:46,149 --> 01:19:44,400 truths 2340 01:19:48,149 --> 01:19:46,159 no reason now that doesn't mean that 2341 01:19:50,630 --> 01:19:48,159 evolutionary theory is true i i 2342 01:19:52,229 --> 01:19:50,640 write i my attitude about scientific 2343 01:19:53,750 --> 01:19:52,239 theories is is 2344 01:19:56,149 --> 01:19:53,760 very very pragmatic in the following 2345 01:19:59,270 --> 01:19:56,159 sense i don't think that any of our 2346 01:20:01,669 --> 01:19:59,280 scientific theories are true 2347 01:20:03,110 --> 01:20:01,679 including mine but they're the best 2348 01:20:05,590 --> 01:20:03,120 tools that we have so far 2349 01:20:07,110 --> 01:20:05,600 and so what we do as scientists is to 2350 01:20:10,070 --> 01:20:07,120 very carefully study 2351 01:20:11,350 --> 01:20:10,080 these tools we study evolution by 2352 01:20:12,709 --> 01:20:11,360 natural selection we study 2353 01:20:14,950 --> 01:20:12,719 general relativity we study quantum 2354 01:20:18,470 --> 01:20:14,960 field theory and we 2355 01:20:20,229 --> 01:20:18,480 see what these theories entail because 2356 01:20:21,590 --> 01:20:20,239 not because they're the final answer 2357 01:20:23,350 --> 01:20:21,600 they're not i don't think any good 2358 01:20:25,110 --> 01:20:23,360 scientists think so the final answer 2359 01:20:26,470 --> 01:20:25,120 is they're they're the answers we've got 2360 01:20:29,669 --> 01:20:26,480 so far the the 2361 01:20:31,030 --> 01:20:29,679 the tools that we have so far so 2362 01:20:34,470 --> 01:20:31,040 i'm saying that evolution by natural 2363 01:20:38,070 --> 01:20:34,480 selection absolutely entails 2364 01:20:39,669 --> 01:20:38,080 that none of our perceptions correspond 2365 01:20:41,830 --> 01:20:39,679 to a true structure of an objective 2366 01:20:44,149 --> 01:20:41,840 reality 2367 01:20:45,030 --> 01:20:44,159 now does that mean that i'm a pragmatist 2368 01:20:46,870 --> 01:20:45,040 no i'm just telling you what 2369 01:20:48,550 --> 01:20:46,880 evolutionary theory entails that's all 2370 01:20:50,229 --> 01:20:48,560 that's done so i'm just being very very 2371 01:20:51,830 --> 01:20:50,239 hard-nosed this is what the theory 2372 01:20:53,350 --> 01:20:51,840 entails we've got theorems about it if 2373 01:20:54,950 --> 01:20:53,360 someone wants to argue i can show 2374 01:20:56,950 --> 01:20:54,960 my theorem and they can we can argue 2375 01:20:58,709 --> 01:20:56,960 about the theorems but now once i've 2376 01:21:00,709 --> 01:20:58,719 said that about evolutionary theory i 2377 01:21:02,950 --> 01:21:00,719 can step back and say is there a deeper 2378 01:21:05,350 --> 01:21:02,960 point of view that i would like to take 2379 01:21:07,830 --> 01:21:05,360 in which i still argue for a 2380 01:21:11,270 --> 01:21:07,840 correspondence theory of truth 2381 01:21:12,470 --> 01:21:11,280 and i'm i'm absolutely open to a deeper 2382 01:21:13,750 --> 01:21:12,480 point of view 2383 01:21:15,669 --> 01:21:13,760 in which there is a correspondence 2384 01:21:17,350 --> 01:21:15,679 theory of truth whatever that deeper 2385 01:21:19,830 --> 01:21:17,360 point of view is though and this is the 2386 01:21:23,750 --> 01:21:19,840 interesting and tricky part about it 2387 01:21:31,590 --> 01:21:28,149 it better be the case that i can explain 2388 01:21:34,870 --> 01:21:31,600 why within space and time 2389 01:21:38,390 --> 01:21:34,880 and evolution by natural selection that 2390 01:21:44,470 --> 01:21:41,430 entail only a pragmatic view 2391 01:21:46,629 --> 01:21:44,480 of perceptions not a truth view 2392 01:21:47,830 --> 01:21:46,639 so if i'm going to take a deeper point 2393 01:21:49,590 --> 01:21:47,840 of view in which i say there is a 2394 01:21:52,229 --> 01:21:49,600 correspondence theory of truth 2395 01:21:53,030 --> 01:21:52,239 then for that to work i have to be able 2396 01:21:55,270 --> 01:21:53,040 to explain 2397 01:21:56,709 --> 01:21:55,280 why such a successful theory as 2398 01:21:58,950 --> 01:21:56,719 evolution by natural selection and is 2399 01:22:01,910 --> 01:21:58,960 spectacularly successful 2400 01:22:05,910 --> 01:22:01,920 why that theory entails a pragmatic view 2401 01:22:09,669 --> 01:22:07,990 abilities they're all pragmatic not not 2402 01:22:12,709 --> 01:22:09,679 about truth 2403 01:22:14,629 --> 01:22:12,719 and so that's so that's sort of the 2404 01:22:16,149 --> 01:22:14,639 subtlety of of this point of view a lot 2405 01:22:18,470 --> 01:22:16,159 of people will will 2406 01:22:20,709 --> 01:22:18,480 contradict or or you know critique what 2407 01:22:23,990 --> 01:22:20,719 i'm saying on on two counts they'll say 2408 01:22:26,070 --> 01:22:24,000 first how in the world can you 2409 01:22:27,510 --> 01:22:26,080 say that we don't see the truth about 2410 01:22:29,030 --> 01:22:27,520 the world 2411 01:22:30,149 --> 01:22:29,040 do you know what the truth about reality 2412 01:22:31,430 --> 01:22:30,159 is if you don't know what the truth 2413 01:22:31,910 --> 01:22:31,440 about reality is then how could you ever 2414 01:22:34,629 --> 01:22:31,920 know 2415 01:22:35,430 --> 01:22:34,639 that we don't see it okay that's the 2416 01:22:39,270 --> 01:22:35,440 first argument 2417 01:22:41,430 --> 01:22:39,280 and and the reply is 2418 01:22:42,870 --> 01:22:41,440 and this is the power of mathematical 2419 01:22:43,830 --> 01:22:42,880 models like evolution by natural 2420 01:22:46,950 --> 01:22:43,840 selection 2421 01:22:48,790 --> 01:22:46,960 that mathematical model entails that 2422 01:22:49,750 --> 01:22:48,800 whatever the structure of objective 2423 01:22:52,470 --> 01:22:49,760 reality is 2424 01:22:54,149 --> 01:22:52,480 it we don't need to propose that we know 2425 01:22:58,070 --> 01:22:54,159 what the structure objective really is 2426 01:22:59,750 --> 01:22:58,080 whatever it is the probability is zero 2427 01:23:01,110 --> 01:22:59,760 that natural selection would shape us to 2428 01:23:04,070 --> 01:23:01,120 see it 2429 01:23:05,189 --> 01:23:04,080 so the nice thing about that answer is i 2430 01:23:08,629 --> 01:23:05,199 don't need 2431 01:23:10,229 --> 01:23:08,639 to guess or know what objective reality 2432 01:23:11,990 --> 01:23:10,239 is 2433 01:23:13,830 --> 01:23:12,000 to know that evolution by natural 2434 01:23:16,070 --> 01:23:13,840 selection entails 2435 01:23:17,910 --> 01:23:16,080 that whatever the reality is we don't 2436 01:23:20,229 --> 01:23:17,920 see it we don't perceive it 2437 01:23:21,910 --> 01:23:20,239 okay so so that the first objection is 2438 01:23:22,950 --> 01:23:21,920 is a very natural objection by the way 2439 01:23:23,910 --> 01:23:22,960 right how could you know that we don't 2440 01:23:24,470 --> 01:23:23,920 see reality because you don't know 2441 01:23:26,550 --> 01:23:24,480 reality 2442 01:23:27,830 --> 01:23:26,560 is well the answer is the mathematics is 2443 01:23:29,910 --> 01:23:27,840 so sophisticated 2444 01:23:31,669 --> 01:23:29,920 it's allowing you to say that whatever 2445 01:23:34,790 --> 01:23:31,679 reality is you don't see it 2446 01:23:36,390 --> 01:23:34,800 without ever claiming to know what 2447 01:23:38,870 --> 01:23:36,400 reality is 2448 01:23:39,430 --> 01:23:38,880 the the second point then is that you 2449 01:23:43,590 --> 01:23:39,440 know 2450 01:23:46,149 --> 01:23:43,600 you've just said 2451 01:23:48,149 --> 01:23:46,159 that none of our perceptions none of our 2452 01:23:49,350 --> 01:23:48,159 cognitive capacities are about the truth 2453 01:23:51,350 --> 01:23:49,360 and then you try to come up with a model 2454 01:23:53,270 --> 01:23:51,360 of objective reality right this theory 2455 01:23:56,629 --> 01:23:53,280 of conscious agents and so forth 2456 01:23:57,990 --> 01:23:56,639 well and indeed i am and and that's 2457 01:23:59,430 --> 01:23:58,000 because 2458 01:24:01,510 --> 01:23:59,440 i don't take evolution by natural 2459 01:24:03,910 --> 01:24:01,520 selection as the final word 2460 01:24:05,030 --> 01:24:03,920 is just a tool that tool entails a 2461 01:24:07,110 --> 01:24:05,040 pragmatic view 2462 01:24:08,629 --> 01:24:07,120 great that's what that tool entails i 2463 01:24:10,950 --> 01:24:08,639 would like to get a deeper view 2464 01:24:13,189 --> 01:24:10,960 in which consciousness is fundamental 2465 01:24:16,709 --> 01:24:13,199 and from that deep review 2466 01:24:18,470 --> 01:24:16,719 show how space time emerges as 2467 01:24:19,750 --> 01:24:18,480 an interface representation of this 2468 01:24:23,030 --> 01:24:19,760 deeper reality 2469 01:24:26,470 --> 01:24:23,040 and show within that interface why 2470 01:24:28,790 --> 01:24:26,480 the dynamics of this deeper realm looks 2471 01:24:29,990 --> 01:24:28,800 at least in certain cases like evolution 2472 01:24:33,189 --> 01:24:30,000 by natural selection and why 2473 01:24:34,950 --> 01:24:33,199 it looks like the kind of structure that 2474 01:24:38,550 --> 01:24:34,960 we see in evolutionary theory 2475 01:24:42,229 --> 01:24:38,560 so so evolution of natural selection 2476 01:24:44,550 --> 01:24:42,239 will be a constraint on any deeper 2477 01:24:47,189 --> 01:24:44,560 theory of reality that i propose 2478 01:24:48,470 --> 01:24:47,199 any deeper theory when it projects into 2479 01:24:51,270 --> 01:24:48,480 space time 2480 01:24:52,550 --> 01:24:51,280 it better look like general relativity 2481 01:24:54,470 --> 01:24:52,560 quantum field theory 2482 01:24:56,229 --> 01:24:54,480 evolution of natural selection when you 2483 01:24:59,350 --> 01:24:56,239 project it into space time 2484 01:25:01,030 --> 01:24:59,360 or improvements on those theories 2485 01:25:02,390 --> 01:25:01,040 but not less than those theories you 2486 01:25:03,669 --> 01:25:02,400 know it it 2487 01:25:06,629 --> 01:25:03,679 has to explain everything those theories 2488 01:25:09,990 --> 01:25:06,639 explain and more within space time 2489 01:25:10,790 --> 01:25:10,000 so so but and this is maybe subtle for 2490 01:25:12,550 --> 01:25:10,800 those who 2491 01:25:14,790 --> 01:25:12,560 who aren't scientists but this is just 2492 01:25:18,550 --> 01:25:14,800 standard i mean what i'm saying here is 2493 01:25:22,470 --> 01:25:18,560 is just the standard view of scientists 2494 01:25:24,709 --> 01:25:22,480 we take our theories not as the truth 2495 01:25:25,990 --> 01:25:24,719 just the best accounts that we have so 2496 01:25:29,669 --> 01:25:26,000 far the best tools that we have 2497 01:25:30,550 --> 01:25:29,679 so far a good theory will tell you where 2498 01:25:33,830 --> 01:25:30,560 it stops 2499 01:25:35,189 --> 01:25:33,840 where it fails but no no 2500 01:25:37,270 --> 01:25:35,199 and by the way general relativity and 2501 01:25:40,629 --> 01:25:37,280 quantum field theory 2502 01:25:44,310 --> 01:25:40,639 very very clearly tell us that they fail 2503 01:25:46,629 --> 01:25:44,320 that space time itself 2504 01:25:47,669 --> 01:25:46,639 is only an emerging concept it cannot be 2505 01:25:49,510 --> 01:25:47,679 fundamental 2506 01:25:50,950 --> 01:25:49,520 and so the very foundations of quantum 2507 01:25:53,510 --> 01:25:50,960 field theory which is 2508 01:25:55,110 --> 01:25:53,520 fields on space time and the very nature 2509 01:25:58,950 --> 01:25:55,120 of general relativity which is 2510 01:26:03,750 --> 01:26:00,950 can't be fundamental so those theories 2511 01:26:06,550 --> 01:26:03,760 are good enough to tell us 2512 01:26:08,550 --> 01:26:06,560 that despite their successes they're not 2513 01:26:10,790 --> 01:26:08,560 the final answer there's something 2514 01:26:12,870 --> 01:26:10,800 deeper but they can't tell us 2515 01:26:14,390 --> 01:26:12,880 what that deeper thing is and that's 2516 01:26:17,430 --> 01:26:14,400 where the creativity 2517 01:26:18,070 --> 01:26:17,440 of the of the scientific endeavor kicks 2518 01:26:22,149 --> 01:26:18,080 in 2519 01:26:26,390 --> 01:26:22,159 it's up to the scientists to take a leap 2520 01:26:28,390 --> 01:26:26,400 of imagination what deeper notion 2521 01:26:30,709 --> 01:26:28,400 of reality what deeper theoretical 2522 01:26:34,870 --> 01:26:30,719 structures can we come up with 2523 01:26:37,350 --> 01:26:34,880 that would project down 2524 01:26:39,110 --> 01:26:37,360 into what we call space-time and in that 2525 01:26:41,110 --> 01:26:39,120 projection they would look like general 2526 01:26:41,910 --> 01:26:41,120 relativity they would look like quantum 2527 01:26:43,910 --> 01:26:41,920 field therian 2528 01:26:45,430 --> 01:26:43,920 and evolution by natural selection 2529 01:26:46,950 --> 01:26:45,440 what's the deeper dynamics in this 2530 01:26:51,030 --> 01:26:46,960 deeper realm that would project 2531 01:26:53,910 --> 01:26:51,040 into that and so there 2532 01:26:54,790 --> 01:26:53,920 our current theories can only give us 2533 01:26:57,510 --> 01:26:54,800 very very 2534 01:26:58,550 --> 01:26:57,520 loose guidance there's a lot of creative 2535 01:27:00,390 --> 01:26:58,560 imagination 2536 01:27:01,669 --> 01:27:00,400 that then is required to go into this 2537 01:27:03,430 --> 01:27:01,679 deeper realm and 2538 01:27:05,270 --> 01:27:03,440 and that's where the most creative 2539 01:27:09,910 --> 01:27:05,280 scientists of course want to go 2540 01:27:12,870 --> 01:27:09,920 it's it's great fun when we find a hole 2541 01:27:13,750 --> 01:27:12,880 in our current theories and get the 2542 01:27:16,310 --> 01:27:13,760 chance 2543 01:27:18,390 --> 01:27:16,320 to discover something new and so that's 2544 01:27:19,990 --> 01:27:18,400 that's the fun part of it now when it 2545 01:27:22,070 --> 01:27:20,000 comes to space and time i've heard you 2546 01:27:24,790 --> 01:27:22,080 describe it as a data compression tool 2547 01:27:27,430 --> 01:27:24,800 for us conscious agents 2548 01:27:28,950 --> 01:27:27,440 why do we need as conscious agents data 2549 01:27:31,990 --> 01:27:28,960 compression why is there a limit to how 2550 01:27:33,350 --> 01:27:32,000 much we can process 2551 01:27:35,590 --> 01:27:33,360 well that's going to be a very 2552 01:27:38,310 --> 01:27:35,600 interesting 2553 01:27:39,270 --> 01:27:38,320 thing for this deeper theory to to try 2554 01:27:42,629 --> 01:27:39,280 to explain 2555 01:27:46,070 --> 01:27:42,639 why is there this limit it 2556 01:27:50,550 --> 01:27:46,080 it may be that all conscious 2557 01:27:57,030 --> 01:27:51,990 and that's one theory that i'm playing 2558 01:28:00,950 --> 01:27:59,430 the realm of conscious agents may be 2559 01:28:03,750 --> 01:28:00,960 such that 2560 01:28:06,070 --> 01:28:03,760 there is no bound to the complexity that 2561 01:28:08,870 --> 01:28:06,080 a conscious agent can have 2562 01:28:11,669 --> 01:28:08,880 but it's but it's always finite so it's 2563 01:28:13,669 --> 01:28:11,679 as big as you wish but but always finite 2564 01:28:15,110 --> 01:28:13,679 and in which case no matter how complex 2565 01:28:17,990 --> 01:28:15,120 you are compared 2566 01:28:19,669 --> 01:28:18,000 to all the possible complexity your 2567 01:28:20,870 --> 01:28:19,679 measure zero your probability zero right 2568 01:28:24,709 --> 01:28:20,880 you have 2569 01:28:28,629 --> 01:28:24,719 so so in that sense 2570 01:28:29,189 --> 01:28:28,639 if but but there may be a really really 2571 01:28:35,110 --> 01:28:29,199 deep 2572 01:28:41,350 --> 01:28:39,110 may be taking these 2573 01:28:43,110 --> 01:28:41,360 dividing itself into sort of 2574 01:28:44,550 --> 01:28:43,120 subconsciousnesses which are sort of 2575 01:28:46,629 --> 01:28:44,560 different perspectives 2576 01:28:48,629 --> 01:28:46,639 that are looking at the whole and these 2577 01:28:50,390 --> 01:28:48,639 different perspectives would necessarily 2578 01:28:52,229 --> 01:28:50,400 then have limited 2579 01:28:54,229 --> 01:28:52,239 information about the whole they'll only 2580 01:28:55,189 --> 01:28:54,239 be able to see through an interface but 2581 01:28:57,590 --> 01:28:55,199 necessarily 2582 01:28:58,950 --> 01:28:57,600 right this is it's sort of the kind of 2583 01:29:02,870 --> 01:28:58,960 thing like right 2584 01:29:05,110 --> 01:29:02,880 in the twitterverse i can 2585 01:29:06,390 --> 01:29:05,120 it's a there's tens of millions of users 2586 01:29:07,990 --> 01:29:06,400 billions of tweets 2587 01:29:09,990 --> 01:29:08,000 i could talk with one or two twitter 2588 01:29:12,470 --> 01:29:10,000 users extensively and 2589 01:29:13,990 --> 01:29:12,480 follow all of their tweets maybe if i 2590 01:29:15,990 --> 01:29:14,000 really into it maybe 2591 01:29:17,830 --> 01:29:16,000 a hundred of them and follow all their 2592 01:29:20,709 --> 01:29:17,840 tweets but there's 2593 01:29:22,149 --> 01:29:20,719 10 million or more twitter users so i ca 2594 01:29:24,709 --> 01:29:22,159 there's no way 2595 01:29:25,830 --> 01:29:24,719 there's absolutely no way so if i want 2596 01:29:29,270 --> 01:29:25,840 to get a 2597 01:29:30,709 --> 01:29:29,280 feel for what's happening in general in 2598 01:29:31,990 --> 01:29:30,719 the twitterverse 2599 01:29:34,070 --> 01:29:32,000 i'm going to need to have some kind of 2600 01:29:34,550 --> 01:29:34,080 data compression tool some visualization 2601 01:29:36,550 --> 01:29:34,560 tool 2602 01:29:37,990 --> 01:29:36,560 right we see this all the time whenever 2603 01:29:41,350 --> 01:29:38,000 whenever there's big 2604 01:29:43,110 --> 01:29:41,360 social media data we use visualization 2605 01:29:45,669 --> 01:29:43,120 tools to see what's going on 2606 01:29:48,149 --> 01:29:45,679 and that's what i think space time is 2607 01:29:50,470 --> 01:29:48,159 space time 2608 01:29:53,189 --> 01:29:50,480 is our headset we've mistaken the 2609 01:29:55,590 --> 01:29:53,199 headset for reality we've assumed that 2610 01:29:57,030 --> 01:29:55,600 space and time are fundamental or space 2611 01:29:58,390 --> 01:29:57,040 time is fundamental 2612 01:30:00,550 --> 01:29:58,400 we've assumed that that's subjective 2613 01:30:02,950 --> 01:30:00,560 reality and it's just a rookie mistake 2614 01:30:03,830 --> 01:30:02,960 it's our headset it's our visualization 2615 01:30:06,790 --> 01:30:03,840 tool 2616 01:30:08,790 --> 01:30:06,800 and what what's behind it is this vast 2617 01:30:11,669 --> 01:30:08,800 network of other conscious agents 2618 01:30:13,590 --> 01:30:11,679 now it's one thing for me to say this it 2619 01:30:16,470 --> 01:30:13,600 sounds you know 2620 01:30:18,149 --> 01:30:16,480 interesting but where's the beef and 2621 01:30:19,270 --> 01:30:18,159 where the beef is going to have to come 2622 01:30:21,990 --> 01:30:19,280 from 2623 01:30:23,830 --> 01:30:22,000 is a precise mathematical description of 2624 01:30:26,709 --> 01:30:23,840 the dynamics of conscious agents 2625 01:30:27,750 --> 01:30:26,719 so it's for those interested in the math 2626 01:30:31,430 --> 01:30:27,760 it's 2627 01:30:32,950 --> 01:30:31,440 theory 2628 01:30:34,790 --> 01:30:32,960 so the kind of stuff that you use when 2629 01:30:37,990 --> 01:30:34,800 you're studying like the internet and 2630 01:30:39,189 --> 01:30:38,000 um the dynamics of information flow on 2631 01:30:40,629 --> 01:30:39,199 the internet and so forth there's that 2632 01:30:43,669 --> 01:30:40,639 kind of mathematics 2633 01:30:44,870 --> 01:30:43,679 so it's it's it's proposing a specific 2634 01:30:48,070 --> 01:30:44,880 mathematical dynamics 2635 01:30:50,470 --> 01:30:48,080 on a network of conscious agents 2636 01:30:52,149 --> 01:30:50,480 then the way i think it'll go is that 2637 01:30:55,270 --> 01:30:52,159 the asymptotic behavior 2638 01:30:57,510 --> 01:30:55,280 of that dynamics which is that 2639 01:30:58,470 --> 01:30:57,520 that just means you can't see every 2640 01:30:59,750 --> 01:30:58,480 single tweet 2641 01:31:01,669 --> 01:30:59,760 you can't interact with every single 2642 01:31:02,550 --> 01:31:01,679 user but you can see the long-term 2643 01:31:03,990 --> 01:31:02,560 trends 2644 01:31:05,910 --> 01:31:04,000 what are the things that are trending 2645 01:31:07,430 --> 01:31:05,920 long-term what are the big 2646 01:31:09,110 --> 01:31:07,440 picture kinds of that's what i mean by 2647 01:31:11,030 --> 01:31:09,120 the asymptotics what what happens 2648 01:31:12,629 --> 01:31:11,040 if you look at it over a long period of 2649 01:31:14,310 --> 01:31:12,639 time what are the like the patterns over 2650 01:31:18,790 --> 01:31:14,320 a long period of time 2651 01:31:21,990 --> 01:31:18,800 and i think that that is 2652 01:31:24,310 --> 01:31:22,000 what is behind space time and and in 2653 01:31:25,750 --> 01:31:24,320 modern physics what they're seeing what 2654 01:31:28,830 --> 01:31:25,760 with the physicists right now 2655 01:31:30,310 --> 01:31:28,840 when they try to get structures beyond 2656 01:31:31,510 --> 01:31:30,320 space-time 2657 01:31:33,430 --> 01:31:31,520 you know they're trying to take the next 2658 01:31:35,030 --> 01:31:33,440 step beyond space-time 2659 01:31:37,510 --> 01:31:35,040 they they are seeing some interesting 2660 01:31:40,070 --> 01:31:37,520 structures called positive geometries 2661 01:31:42,390 --> 01:31:40,080 amplitude sociohedra and so forth these 2662 01:31:44,310 --> 01:31:42,400 positive geometries 2663 01:31:46,550 --> 01:31:44,320 i want the direction i'm going is to 2664 01:31:48,870 --> 01:31:46,560 show that those positive geometry 2665 01:31:51,830 --> 01:31:48,880 structures that they're coming up with 2666 01:31:53,510 --> 01:31:51,840 are representations of the asymptotic 2667 01:31:55,990 --> 01:31:53,520 behavior 2668 01:31:57,110 --> 01:31:56,000 of this dynamics of conscious agents and 2669 01:31:58,790 --> 01:31:57,120 if i can do that 2670 01:32:00,470 --> 01:31:58,800 then i will be able to use their work 2671 01:32:01,590 --> 01:32:00,480 and pull the thread all the way from a 2672 01:32:02,629 --> 01:32:01,600 theory of conscious agents and their 2673 01:32:05,350 --> 01:32:02,639 dynamics 2674 01:32:06,950 --> 01:32:05,360 through the asymptotics of that into 2675 01:32:07,750 --> 01:32:06,960 these positive geometries that they 2676 01:32:09,350 --> 01:32:07,760 found 2677 01:32:12,470 --> 01:32:09,360 and then they tell you how to go from 2678 01:32:14,709 --> 01:32:12,480 that to the actual 2679 01:32:16,550 --> 01:32:14,719 prediction of scattering events like at 2680 01:32:18,709 --> 01:32:16,560 the large hadron collider 2681 01:32:20,790 --> 01:32:18,719 so that's my goal the beef will be if i 2682 01:32:22,470 --> 01:32:20,800 can start with a theory of consciousness 2683 01:32:23,910 --> 01:32:22,480 look at it at its asymptotics and show 2684 01:32:25,430 --> 01:32:23,920 that the asymptotics of that theory 2685 01:32:26,709 --> 01:32:25,440 consciousness 2686 01:32:28,550 --> 01:32:26,719 through this route that the physicists 2687 01:32:29,750 --> 01:32:28,560 have found already leads to the 2688 01:32:31,430 --> 01:32:29,760 scattering amplitudes 2689 01:32:33,270 --> 01:32:31,440 that we can then test at the at the 2690 01:32:34,790 --> 01:32:33,280 large hadron collider that's where we 2691 01:32:36,390 --> 01:32:34,800 have the beef 2692 01:32:38,149 --> 01:32:36,400 space and time aren't fundamental in 2693 01:32:41,430 --> 01:32:38,159 your theory 2694 01:32:42,870 --> 01:32:41,440 is cause it's causality fundamental um 2695 01:32:44,790 --> 01:32:42,880 certainly not causality in space and 2696 01:32:46,229 --> 01:32:44,800 time right so when we think about 2697 01:32:49,030 --> 01:32:46,239 causality 2698 01:32:50,470 --> 01:32:49,040 we think about for example the um the 2699 01:32:53,110 --> 01:32:50,480 cue ball hitting the eight ball and 2700 01:32:54,790 --> 01:32:53,120 making a crane into the corner pocket 2701 01:32:57,669 --> 01:32:54,800 and or we think about 2702 01:33:00,550 --> 01:32:57,679 uh neurons in the brain causing our 2703 01:33:05,110 --> 01:33:00,560 behaviors and causing our experiences 2704 01:33:08,550 --> 01:33:05,120 and and so i flat out deny 2705 01:33:12,390 --> 01:33:08,560 that anything in space-time 2706 01:33:14,229 --> 01:33:12,400 has any causal powers can you help me 2707 01:33:16,149 --> 01:33:14,239 something i'm working on is a definition 2708 01:33:19,990 --> 01:33:16,159 of causality it turns out it's extremely 2709 01:33:23,830 --> 01:33:22,390 it's intuitive the closer you look the 2710 01:33:25,990 --> 01:33:23,840 more slippery it gets 2711 01:33:27,669 --> 01:33:26,000 how are you defining causality in your 2712 01:33:29,990 --> 01:33:27,679 theory 2713 01:33:31,110 --> 01:33:30,000 so you're absolutely right in fact there 2714 01:33:33,430 --> 01:33:31,120 are there's the 2715 01:33:34,149 --> 01:33:33,440 what there's there's a handbook of 2716 01:33:36,310 --> 01:33:34,159 causality 2717 01:33:37,830 --> 01:33:36,320 a bunch of philosophers and and others 2718 01:33:39,189 --> 01:33:37,840 talking about causality of the oxford 2719 01:33:40,390 --> 01:33:39,199 handbook of causality or something like 2720 01:33:44,629 --> 01:33:40,400 that 2721 01:33:48,149 --> 01:33:44,639 if you read through it there are 2722 01:33:51,830 --> 01:33:48,159 many many different views on causality 2723 01:33:54,390 --> 01:33:51,840 and there is no agreed upon 2724 01:33:56,790 --> 01:33:54,400 universal definition of causality 2725 01:33:59,990 --> 01:33:56,800 mathematically 2726 01:34:02,709 --> 01:34:00,000 in computer science when we 2727 01:34:04,229 --> 01:34:02,719 when we talk about causality some of the 2728 01:34:05,990 --> 01:34:04,239 best work there 2729 01:34:08,390 --> 01:34:06,000 is based on the notion of directed 2730 01:34:11,430 --> 01:34:08,400 acyclic graphs 2731 01:34:14,709 --> 01:34:11,440 judea pearl professor at ucla 2732 01:34:18,629 --> 01:34:14,719 and his students and many collaborators 2733 01:34:20,470 --> 01:34:18,639 have been modeling causality 2734 01:34:22,870 --> 01:34:20,480 whatever it is as directed acyclic 2735 01:34:24,790 --> 01:34:22,880 graphs but i think that even judea pearl 2736 01:34:26,390 --> 01:34:24,800 um doesn't hazard definition of 2737 01:34:29,510 --> 01:34:26,400 causality right 2738 01:34:31,590 --> 01:34:29,520 he it's it's much like how do you define 2739 01:34:34,950 --> 01:34:31,600 if you're in geometry how do you define 2740 01:34:36,470 --> 01:34:34,960 a point well it's it's sort of a 2741 01:34:39,669 --> 01:34:36,480 primitive concept you 2742 01:34:41,990 --> 01:34:39,679 you but two of them make a line right 2743 01:34:42,950 --> 01:34:42,000 two of them define a line and so you 2744 01:34:45,109 --> 01:34:42,960 start 2745 01:34:47,270 --> 01:34:45,119 so for for many scientific theories the 2746 01:34:50,070 --> 01:34:47,280 notion of causality 2747 01:34:51,030 --> 01:34:50,080 is a primitive it's a place where 2748 01:34:54,070 --> 01:34:51,040 explanation 2749 01:34:57,189 --> 01:34:54,080 stops and 2750 01:34:59,590 --> 01:34:57,199 and that's not a unique problem to the 2751 01:35:03,590 --> 01:34:59,600 notion of causality 2752 01:35:07,189 --> 01:35:06,310 must stop at some point it can't explain 2753 01:35:09,830 --> 01:35:07,199 everything 2754 01:35:11,430 --> 01:35:09,840 there will be some primitive notions and 2755 01:35:13,270 --> 01:35:11,440 this is unavoidable 2756 01:35:14,629 --> 01:35:13,280 so there are no scientific theories that 2757 01:35:17,270 --> 01:35:14,639 explain everything 2758 01:35:18,310 --> 01:35:17,280 every scientific theory will have some 2759 01:35:20,550 --> 01:35:18,320 handful 2760 01:35:22,149 --> 01:35:20,560 hopefully as small as possible of 2761 01:35:24,709 --> 01:35:22,159 primitive notions 2762 01:35:26,950 --> 01:35:24,719 that where you just say you know like if 2763 01:35:28,390 --> 01:35:26,960 you have a little kid that says but what 2764 01:35:30,070 --> 01:35:28,400 why is that you tell them and say but 2765 01:35:32,070 --> 01:35:30,080 but how come that and then so 2766 01:35:33,990 --> 01:35:32,080 at some point you just say it it just is 2767 01:35:36,310 --> 01:35:34,000 right your theory just stops and says 2768 01:35:38,629 --> 01:35:36,320 that's just the way it is and so so for 2769 01:35:39,750 --> 01:35:38,639 causality 2770 01:35:42,229 --> 01:35:39,760 we you know we tend to think of 2771 01:35:45,669 --> 01:35:42,239 causality well 2772 01:35:47,830 --> 01:35:45,679 if i can intervene in 2773 01:35:48,790 --> 01:35:47,840 some system and then change things 2774 01:35:50,870 --> 01:35:48,800 change 2775 01:35:52,950 --> 01:35:50,880 as a result of my intervention that's a 2776 01:35:56,390 --> 01:35:52,960 proof of causality 2777 01:36:00,470 --> 01:35:56,400 but that turns out not to work um 2778 01:36:02,550 --> 01:36:00,480 you can get counter examples to that um 2779 01:36:04,229 --> 01:36:02,560 what about causes always perceive their 2780 01:36:07,430 --> 01:36:04,239 facts well 2781 01:36:09,350 --> 01:36:07,440 you can have you can 2782 01:36:11,590 --> 01:36:09,360 set up thought experiments where that 2783 01:36:13,109 --> 01:36:11,600 where the the effects 2784 01:36:15,430 --> 01:36:13,119 um don't perceive the causes but where 2785 01:36:16,709 --> 01:36:15,440 there's yes right so that's the reason 2786 01:36:18,390 --> 01:36:16,719 why 2787 01:36:20,870 --> 01:36:18,400 i forget the person's name pearl you 2788 01:36:23,189 --> 01:36:20,880 mentioned jay pearl right 2789 01:36:24,070 --> 01:36:23,199 that's why he said acyclic because he 2790 01:36:26,470 --> 01:36:24,080 doesn't want 2791 01:36:28,470 --> 01:36:26,480 the causes to proceed effect or because 2792 01:36:31,510 --> 01:36:28,480 he doesn't want it to 2793 01:36:32,790 --> 01:36:31,520 to get to some place where you cause 2794 01:36:34,709 --> 01:36:32,800 yourself 2795 01:36:36,229 --> 01:36:34,719 right yeah once once you get cycles it 2796 01:36:37,109 --> 01:36:36,239 gets pretty complicated and the notion 2797 01:36:39,270 --> 01:36:37,119 of causality 2798 01:36:40,950 --> 01:36:39,280 would start to slip through your fingers 2799 01:36:43,750 --> 01:36:40,960 things where you were in everyday life 2800 01:36:46,070 --> 01:36:43,760 you see cycles 2801 01:36:46,950 --> 01:36:46,080 you can you can unwrap them as an ever 2802 01:36:49,590 --> 01:36:46,960 extending 2803 01:36:51,109 --> 01:36:49,600 directed acyclic graph so you can just 2804 01:36:52,870 --> 01:36:51,119 take the time parameter instead of 2805 01:36:54,550 --> 01:36:52,880 cycling back you go to new states 2806 01:36:57,830 --> 01:36:54,560 downward so 2807 01:36:58,870 --> 01:36:57,840 ways to to avoid cycles even in what we 2808 01:37:01,910 --> 01:36:58,880 in everyday life 2809 01:37:02,790 --> 01:37:01,920 think of as as cyclic behavior so i 2810 01:37:05,990 --> 01:37:02,800 would say that 2811 01:37:10,629 --> 01:37:06,000 causality you're you're right to pick 2812 01:37:12,070 --> 01:37:10,639 on it it's the the best and brightest 2813 01:37:13,830 --> 01:37:12,080 when i look at i think it's the oxford 2814 01:37:16,550 --> 01:37:13,840 handbook of causality 2815 01:37:17,270 --> 01:37:16,560 wonderful articles brilliant thinkers 2816 01:37:20,310 --> 01:37:17,280 and they 2817 01:37:22,790 --> 01:37:20,320 disagree they don't know so there's no 2818 01:37:24,550 --> 01:37:22,800 received opinion about what causality is 2819 01:37:32,830 --> 01:37:24,560 and is there one that you feel like 2820 01:37:32,840 --> 01:37:36,310 um 2821 01:37:42,550 --> 01:37:39,350 i'll tell you why i asked all these 2822 01:37:43,830 --> 01:37:42,560 yeah all the ones i saw there um i think 2823 01:37:44,950 --> 01:37:43,840 that they all were were touching 2824 01:37:47,910 --> 01:37:44,960 different parts of 2825 01:37:48,709 --> 01:37:47,920 the elephant in interesting ways right 2826 01:37:52,070 --> 01:37:48,719 but but that 2827 01:37:54,550 --> 01:37:52,080 um it may be that ultimately causality 2828 01:37:57,750 --> 01:37:54,560 is one of these primitives like points 2829 01:38:04,629 --> 01:38:01,750 okay when you say that reality is 2830 01:38:08,070 --> 01:38:04,639 innately objective 2831 01:38:09,430 --> 01:38:08,080 so there's the w the world state x g 2832 01:38:11,109 --> 01:38:09,440 experience so that's like the conscious 2833 01:38:13,430 --> 01:38:11,119 agent then 2834 01:38:14,470 --> 01:38:13,440 i assume what you're saying is objective 2835 01:38:18,550 --> 01:38:14,480 reality is the w 2836 01:38:20,950 --> 01:38:18,560 the world state and the agents right 2837 01:38:21,590 --> 01:38:20,960 then later you do this i love this you 2838 01:38:23,590 --> 01:38:21,600 then take 2839 01:38:26,070 --> 01:38:23,600 well w could also be composed of 2840 01:38:28,229 --> 01:38:26,080 different conscious agents 2841 01:38:29,990 --> 01:38:28,239 and then we can have a string of them 2842 01:38:32,629 --> 01:38:30,000 why are you calling that 2843 01:38:33,590 --> 01:38:32,639 objective to me and this just might be 2844 01:38:35,350 --> 01:38:33,600 semantics 2845 01:38:37,430 --> 01:38:35,360 i hear that as subjective given that 2846 01:38:39,590 --> 01:38:37,440 it's a conscious agent 2847 01:38:41,030 --> 01:38:39,600 that is it's a subject all the way 2848 01:38:42,709 --> 01:38:41,040 through the chain 2849 01:38:44,550 --> 01:38:42,719 right if it was just if you were like 2850 01:38:45,590 --> 01:38:44,560 hey there's one world or there's a few 2851 01:38:47,270 --> 01:38:45,600 but w 2852 01:38:48,870 --> 01:38:47,280 is not dependent on other causal 2853 01:38:50,550 --> 01:38:48,880 necessary conscious agents 2854 01:38:52,149 --> 01:38:50,560 then i could see using the term 2855 01:38:52,709 --> 01:38:52,159 objective why is it that you still use 2856 01:38:56,310 --> 01:38:52,719 the term 2857 01:39:00,950 --> 01:38:56,320 objective when we can extend the graph 2858 01:39:03,990 --> 01:39:00,960 to just conscious agents right so 2859 01:39:07,830 --> 01:39:04,000 so the the proposal is 2860 01:39:11,270 --> 01:39:07,840 that what the universe is 2861 01:39:13,590 --> 01:39:11,280 fundamentally is a vast network of 2862 01:39:15,270 --> 01:39:13,600 interacting conscious agents 2863 01:39:17,350 --> 01:39:15,280 so when i say that that's the objective 2864 01:39:21,189 --> 01:39:17,360 truth of course each agent is a subject 2865 01:39:24,310 --> 01:39:21,199 right each agent is a conscious entity 2866 01:39:27,430 --> 01:39:24,320 but what i'm saying is that even 2867 01:39:30,950 --> 01:39:27,440 when i'm asleep the network 2868 01:39:32,790 --> 01:39:30,960 still exists that's all so even if i'm 2869 01:39:34,390 --> 01:39:32,800 sound asleep and i'm not having any 2870 01:39:35,189 --> 01:39:34,400 conscious experiences or anything like 2871 01:39:38,229 --> 01:39:35,199 that 2872 01:39:41,109 --> 01:39:38,239 right now 2873 01:39:42,229 --> 01:39:41,119 the that that network of conscious 2874 01:39:45,109 --> 01:39:42,239 agents 2875 01:39:47,510 --> 01:39:45,119 is just like a twitter user right um 2876 01:39:49,750 --> 01:39:47,520 whether or not i happen to be 2877 01:39:51,030 --> 01:39:49,760 reading tweets or sending tweets the 2878 01:39:53,030 --> 01:39:51,040 twitterverse exists 2879 01:39:55,350 --> 01:39:53,040 it's out there even though really the 2880 01:39:58,350 --> 01:39:55,360 twitter verse is just a bunch of other 2881 01:39:59,510 --> 01:39:58,360 subjects people people tweeting 2882 01:40:03,030 --> 01:39:59,520 intersubjectivity 2883 01:40:05,830 --> 01:40:03,040 implies the objectivity that's right 2884 01:40:07,109 --> 01:40:05,840 and and and specifically the fact that 2885 01:40:11,990 --> 01:40:07,119 it's 2886 01:40:13,669 --> 01:40:12,000 it still exists even if i 2887 01:40:15,669 --> 01:40:13,679 don't perceive it okay we're going to 2888 01:40:17,189 --> 01:40:15,679 get philosophical there 2889 01:40:19,350 --> 01:40:17,199 i was going to get to this later but now 2890 01:40:21,270 --> 01:40:19,360 that we're here how 2891 01:40:23,350 --> 01:40:21,280 what's the i in this conscious agent 2892 01:40:25,990 --> 01:40:23,360 model right 2893 01:40:27,990 --> 01:40:26,000 so in the conscious agent model the 2894 01:40:31,430 --> 01:40:28,000 notion of a self 2895 01:40:33,270 --> 01:40:31,440 is not fundamental so conscious agents 2896 01:40:35,189 --> 01:40:33,280 are just these mathematical structures 2897 01:40:38,310 --> 01:40:35,199 that have experiences 2898 01:40:39,430 --> 01:40:38,320 i'll make decisions and then act on 2899 01:40:41,350 --> 01:40:39,440 those decisions 2900 01:40:42,550 --> 01:40:41,360 but the notion of a self is not 2901 01:40:45,430 --> 01:40:42,560 fundamental 2902 01:40:46,950 --> 01:40:45,440 a self is something that a network of 2903 01:40:51,590 --> 01:40:46,960 conscious agents can build 2904 01:40:53,590 --> 01:40:51,600 so it can be a an experience 2905 01:40:56,070 --> 01:40:53,600 dead okay i might stop you every once in 2906 01:40:57,830 --> 01:40:56,080 a while to clarify just for myself 2907 01:40:59,189 --> 01:40:57,840 you're saying that a self is a 2908 01:41:01,510 --> 01:40:59,199 conglomeration of 2909 01:41:04,149 --> 01:41:01,520 conscious agents it's a data structure 2910 01:41:05,910 --> 01:41:04,159 that they build 2911 01:41:07,669 --> 01:41:05,920 does that mean that right now i'm 2912 01:41:10,149 --> 01:41:07,679 talking to donald 2913 01:41:11,270 --> 01:41:10,159 you're not one conscious agent i'm 2914 01:41:15,270 --> 01:41:11,280 speaking to 2915 01:41:18,070 --> 01:41:15,280 quite a few uh probably a countless 2916 01:41:19,510 --> 01:41:18,080 collection of countries uncountable well 2917 01:41:21,430 --> 01:41:19,520 i don't know if it's uncountable but 2918 01:41:23,430 --> 01:41:21,440 i certainly couldn't count them but as 2919 01:41:24,470 --> 01:41:23,440 you know uncountable as a technical term 2920 01:41:25,669 --> 01:41:24,480 in mathematics so i just want to make 2921 01:41:27,830 --> 01:41:25,679 sure people 2922 01:41:29,350 --> 01:41:27,840 who know that i'm not saying it is 2923 01:41:31,270 --> 01:41:29,360 uncountable in that sense it may be but 2924 01:41:32,790 --> 01:41:31,280 i'm not claiming that um 2925 01:41:35,189 --> 01:41:32,800 but it's it's certainly not countable by 2926 01:41:38,790 --> 01:41:35,199 me so the idea is that you'll 2927 01:41:40,390 --> 01:41:38,800 for example we know that 2928 01:41:41,830 --> 01:41:40,400 there are at least two different 2929 01:41:45,030 --> 01:41:41,840 subjects 2930 01:41:46,950 --> 01:41:45,040 in in me we can see that if i take a 2931 01:41:49,430 --> 01:41:46,960 knife and cut the corpus callosum 2932 01:41:50,470 --> 01:41:49,440 which which um i have a left hemisphere 2933 01:41:52,310 --> 01:41:50,480 in the right hemisphere 2934 01:41:54,149 --> 01:41:52,320 you do too there's a band of fibers 2935 01:41:57,270 --> 01:41:54,159 called the core hopefully i do 2936 01:41:59,750 --> 01:41:57,280 yeah and sometimes i wonder 2937 01:42:01,270 --> 01:41:59,760 where's there 225 million fibers and if 2938 01:42:02,390 --> 01:42:01,280 you cut those fibers it turns out you 2939 01:42:05,510 --> 01:42:02,400 can actually 2940 01:42:07,270 --> 01:42:05,520 get clear evidence in a few people that 2941 01:42:10,310 --> 01:42:07,280 this has been done with 2942 01:42:11,350 --> 01:42:10,320 that there's a different personality in 2943 01:42:11,990 --> 01:42:11,360 the left hemisphere than the right 2944 01:42:17,270 --> 01:42:12,000 hemisphere 2945 01:42:19,430 --> 01:42:17,280 an atheist 2946 01:42:21,189 --> 01:42:19,440 the left hemisphere wanted to be have a 2947 01:42:22,709 --> 01:42:21,199 desk job the right hemisphere wanted to 2948 01:42:24,950 --> 01:42:22,719 be a race car driver 2949 01:42:26,550 --> 01:42:24,960 and they can even fight the the left 2950 01:42:27,910 --> 01:42:26,560 hemisphere controls the right hand 2951 01:42:30,229 --> 01:42:27,920 the right hemisphere controls the left 2952 01:42:30,950 --> 01:42:30,239 hand and the they can fight the left 2953 01:42:32,950 --> 01:42:30,960 hand can be 2954 01:42:34,470 --> 01:42:32,960 fighting what the right hand is doing 2955 01:42:36,550 --> 01:42:34,480 you know trying to cook 2956 01:42:37,669 --> 01:42:36,560 the the left hand might destroy an 2957 01:42:39,189 --> 01:42:37,679 omelet that you're making 2958 01:42:40,550 --> 01:42:39,199 you try to put on some clothes the left 2959 01:42:42,390 --> 01:42:40,560 hand might be taking off the clothes the 2960 01:42:45,350 --> 01:42:42,400 right hand is trying to put on 2961 01:42:46,709 --> 01:42:45,360 so these two different consciousnesses 2962 01:42:48,629 --> 01:42:46,719 and i'm saying the 2963 01:42:50,550 --> 01:42:48,639 tip of an iceberg there's this whole 2964 01:42:53,910 --> 01:42:50,560 lattice of conscious agents that 2965 01:42:57,990 --> 01:42:53,920 that together um cooperate 2966 01:43:02,070 --> 01:42:58,000 to create um the the conscious age 2967 01:43:04,390 --> 01:43:02,080 that's me but but the self that i have 2968 01:43:05,750 --> 01:43:04,400 the the sense of of myself with my 2969 01:43:09,270 --> 01:43:05,760 personal history and so forth 2970 01:43:11,750 --> 01:43:09,280 is a data structure that i create okay i 2971 01:43:12,870 --> 01:43:11,760 you know i i feel like i'm slipping up 2972 01:43:14,310 --> 01:43:12,880 because i don't know 2973 01:43:16,310 --> 01:43:14,320 and this is another one by the way 2974 01:43:17,830 --> 01:43:16,320 causality is elusive identity 2975 01:43:19,750 --> 01:43:17,840 is also one of those where the closer 2976 01:43:23,350 --> 01:43:19,760 you look the more 2977 01:43:26,629 --> 01:43:23,360 liquid liquid it gets are you using 2978 01:43:29,990 --> 01:43:26,639 self and identity synonymously 2979 01:43:32,229 --> 01:43:30,000 well so no 2980 01:43:33,830 --> 01:43:32,239 so i'm thinking about self in the 2981 01:43:34,550 --> 01:43:33,840 colloquial sense that we most of you 2982 01:43:37,350 --> 01:43:34,560 know think about 2983 01:43:38,870 --> 01:43:37,360 you know i am so and so here's my name 2984 01:43:40,950 --> 01:43:38,880 this is my personal history 2985 01:43:42,870 --> 01:43:40,960 this is what's important to me this is 2986 01:43:47,350 --> 01:43:42,880 my goals and so 2987 01:43:51,590 --> 01:43:49,189 self that we that we that we experience 2988 01:43:54,229 --> 01:43:51,600 ourselves the thing that we're afraid of 2989 01:43:55,109 --> 01:43:54,239 losing in death and so forth right that 2990 01:44:05,189 --> 01:43:55,119 that 2991 01:44:07,189 --> 01:44:05,199 data structure yes 2992 01:44:08,390 --> 01:44:07,199 that's right okay sorry continue at 2993 01:44:11,750 --> 01:44:08,400 least in this theory 2994 01:44:13,109 --> 01:44:11,760 that i'm working on um and i can explain 2995 01:44:17,109 --> 01:44:13,119 why we're going that direction if you 2996 01:44:20,229 --> 01:44:17,119 want but but but the notion of a self 2997 01:44:21,350 --> 01:44:20,239 right so there's certain views of the 2998 01:44:24,550 --> 01:44:21,360 self that it's 2999 01:44:25,189 --> 01:44:24,560 um there's no such thing as a persisting 3000 01:44:26,950 --> 01:44:25,199 self 3001 01:44:28,790 --> 01:44:26,960 but this like this is called the pearl 3002 01:44:31,750 --> 01:44:28,800 view it's like the number of pearls on 3003 01:44:33,109 --> 01:44:31,760 a string so there's a pearl a different 3004 01:44:35,669 --> 01:44:33,119 instantiation of the self 3005 01:44:36,390 --> 01:44:35,679 at each moment along this string so 3006 01:44:38,149 --> 01:44:36,400 there are certain 3007 01:44:39,669 --> 01:44:38,159 eastern mystical traditions but also 3008 01:44:41,830 --> 01:44:39,679 certain western philosophers 3009 01:44:43,350 --> 01:44:41,840 who take this this point of view that 3010 01:44:44,550 --> 01:44:43,360 this there's not you don't have one 3011 01:44:47,750 --> 01:44:44,560 persisting self 3012 01:44:50,870 --> 01:44:47,760 but you have a sequence of cells and so 3013 01:44:52,629 --> 01:44:50,880 william james point of view um but 3014 01:44:54,070 --> 01:44:52,639 but the the pearl analogy would imply 3015 01:44:55,030 --> 01:44:54,080 that there's a continuum there's a 3016 01:44:59,510 --> 01:44:55,040 string 3017 01:45:03,270 --> 01:44:59,520 said the thought itself 3018 01:45:05,030 --> 01:45:03,280 is the thinker um which is interesting i 3019 01:45:07,030 --> 01:45:05,040 don't know exactly what james means by 3020 01:45:10,470 --> 01:45:07,040 that but he was saying that there's no 3021 01:45:14,950 --> 01:45:10,480 there's no thinker no self 3022 01:45:17,109 --> 01:45:14,960 beyond the occurring thought right now 3023 01:45:18,629 --> 01:45:17,119 but the but the thought itself is 3024 01:45:21,590 --> 01:45:18,639 creating the illusion 3025 01:45:22,470 --> 01:45:21,600 of a persisting thinker of a persisting 3026 01:45:24,229 --> 01:45:22,480 self 3027 01:45:25,669 --> 01:45:24,239 now many western religions on the other 3028 01:45:27,109 --> 01:45:25,679 hand will take 3029 01:45:28,709 --> 01:45:27,119 just the opposite point of view they'll 3030 01:45:30,550 --> 01:45:28,719 say there's a 3031 01:45:33,990 --> 01:45:30,560 there is of course a self and it's 3032 01:45:35,270 --> 01:45:34,000 eternal and what you do here 3033 01:45:37,590 --> 01:45:35,280 determines whether that self will go to 3034 01:45:40,070 --> 01:45:37,600 heaven or to hell or something like that 3035 01:45:41,750 --> 01:45:40,080 so so so you can see there's a lot 3036 01:45:43,430 --> 01:45:41,760 riding on this notion of self and there 3037 01:45:46,950 --> 01:45:43,440 are widely differing 3038 01:45:48,709 --> 01:45:46,960 points of view and the reason in 3039 01:45:50,390 --> 01:45:48,719 in my theory that i've been working by 3040 01:45:53,030 --> 01:45:50,400 the way by my throat of course i'm 3041 01:45:53,750 --> 01:45:53,040 not alone i've got a bunch of wonderful 3042 01:45:56,149 --> 01:45:53,760 collaborators 3043 01:45:57,590 --> 01:45:56,159 chaitan prakash bruce bennett when 3044 01:46:00,550 --> 01:45:57,600 you've seen chris fields 3045 01:46:01,669 --> 01:46:00,560 robert prentner federico fajin a bunch 3046 01:46:03,750 --> 01:46:01,679 of really 3047 01:46:04,790 --> 01:46:03,760 brilliant people so when i say my theory 3048 01:46:06,550 --> 01:46:04,800 you know that's 3049 01:46:07,830 --> 01:46:06,560 in quotes and also when you say maya 3050 01:46:08,790 --> 01:46:07,840 that you're implying itself 3051 01:46:10,550 --> 01:46:08,800 myself that's right but you're 3052 01:46:11,430 --> 01:46:10,560 questioning at the same time yourself 3053 01:46:14,149 --> 01:46:11,440 itself 3054 01:46:16,229 --> 01:46:14,159 sorry continue it's so tricky to talk 3055 01:46:19,430 --> 01:46:16,239 about this but anyway 3056 01:46:23,350 --> 01:46:19,440 that's right but it's fun when 3057 01:46:28,310 --> 01:46:26,390 that we have never questioned in many 3058 01:46:30,070 --> 01:46:28,320 cases or just assumed 3059 01:46:31,669 --> 01:46:30,080 it's i think i find it really refreshing 3060 01:46:32,550 --> 01:46:31,679 to have everything that i thought i knew 3061 01:46:34,870 --> 01:46:32,560 blown away 3062 01:46:35,990 --> 01:46:34,880 i mean it's really quite fun it's it's 3063 01:46:38,390 --> 01:46:36,000 maybe an acquired taste 3064 01:46:39,430 --> 01:46:38,400 like you know but but but it's an 3065 01:46:42,390 --> 01:46:39,440 interesting 3066 01:46:43,750 --> 01:46:42,400 thing to be surprised what i thought i 3067 01:46:45,590 --> 01:46:43,760 knew i don't know 3068 01:46:47,270 --> 01:46:45,600 but in the case of the self when i was 3069 01:46:48,790 --> 01:46:47,280 trying to come up with the theory of 3070 01:46:51,109 --> 01:46:48,800 consciousness 3071 01:46:51,830 --> 01:46:51,119 as a scientist what you try to do when 3072 01:46:56,229 --> 01:46:51,840 you're 3073 01:46:57,510 --> 01:46:56,239 put as few assumptions as possible up 3074 01:47:01,189 --> 01:46:57,520 front 3075 01:47:02,470 --> 01:47:01,199 right because every assumption you build 3076 01:47:03,910 --> 01:47:02,480 in is something you're not explaining is 3077 01:47:05,430 --> 01:47:03,920 something you're assuming 3078 01:47:07,669 --> 01:47:05,440 so you want to assume as little as 3079 01:47:08,950 --> 01:47:07,679 possible so in the theory of conscious 3080 01:47:11,189 --> 01:47:08,960 agents 3081 01:47:12,870 --> 01:47:11,199 i don't i mean of course i could have 3082 01:47:14,629 --> 01:47:12,880 said okay they also have a self and they 3083 01:47:17,590 --> 01:47:14,639 have an i and so forth but 3084 01:47:19,270 --> 01:47:17,600 but i decided not to do that because it 3085 01:47:22,550 --> 01:47:19,280 turned out if i just said 3086 01:47:23,910 --> 01:47:22,560 there are these entities just call them 3087 01:47:25,189 --> 01:47:23,920 formal structural entities called 3088 01:47:27,030 --> 01:47:25,199 conscious agents 3089 01:47:28,950 --> 01:47:27,040 they may not at all be aware of 3090 01:47:31,350 --> 01:47:28,960 themselves 3091 01:47:32,550 --> 01:47:31,360 as entities so they may not have any 3092 01:47:34,870 --> 01:47:32,560 self-awareness at all 3093 01:47:36,470 --> 01:47:34,880 they just have conscious experiences 3094 01:47:38,229 --> 01:47:36,480 that's all they have 3095 01:47:39,669 --> 01:47:38,239 they make decisions and they take 3096 01:47:42,070 --> 01:47:39,679 actions but those actions 3097 01:47:43,669 --> 01:47:42,080 all they do is affect the conscious 3098 01:47:46,470 --> 01:47:43,679 experience of the other entities 3099 01:47:47,510 --> 01:47:46,480 that's it there's no self there's 3100 01:47:49,270 --> 01:47:47,520 nothing like that 3101 01:47:50,629 --> 01:47:49,280 there's no memory by the way there's no 3102 01:47:54,470 --> 01:47:50,639 intelligence 3103 01:47:57,030 --> 01:47:54,480 nothing it's just experiences leading to 3104 01:47:58,070 --> 01:47:57,040 decisions at the fundamental atomic 3105 01:48:02,390 --> 01:47:58,080 level 3106 01:48:05,189 --> 01:48:02,400 so that that and i do this on purpose 3107 01:48:06,070 --> 01:48:05,199 the the goal is to make the foundations 3108 01:48:09,669 --> 01:48:06,080 of your theory 3109 01:48:13,270 --> 01:48:09,679 as sparse as possible that's different 3110 01:48:14,149 --> 01:48:13,280 we do a scientist as few assumptions as 3111 01:48:15,830 --> 01:48:14,159 possible 3112 01:48:17,510 --> 01:48:15,840 sure i could have thrown in myself i 3113 01:48:19,350 --> 01:48:17,520 could throw in the kitchen sink let me 3114 01:48:21,270 --> 01:48:19,360 throw in intelligence let me throw in 3115 01:48:22,790 --> 01:48:21,280 just well there's nothing left to 3116 01:48:23,510 --> 01:48:22,800 explain i've just i've just assumed it 3117 01:48:25,189 --> 01:48:23,520 all right 3118 01:48:26,629 --> 01:48:25,199 there we go that's well there's no 3119 01:48:30,830 --> 01:48:26,639 theory there so that 3120 01:48:33,990 --> 01:48:30,840 so the reason i stopped where i stopped 3121 01:48:37,030 --> 01:48:34,000 was very nice 3122 01:48:37,910 --> 01:48:37,040 theorem by writing down a set of 3123 01:48:42,390 --> 01:48:37,920 experiences 3124 01:48:44,070 --> 01:48:42,400 markovian kernel 3125 01:48:45,510 --> 01:48:44,080 which is a way of talking about the 3126 01:48:47,830 --> 01:48:45,520 probabilities of the different decisions 3127 01:48:50,790 --> 01:48:47,840 that you could take 3128 01:48:52,870 --> 01:48:50,800 the markovian kernels are provably 3129 01:48:56,310 --> 01:48:52,880 computationally universal 3130 01:49:00,550 --> 01:48:56,320 that means that with that 3131 01:49:03,109 --> 01:49:00,560 little foundation experiences and 3132 01:49:04,790 --> 01:49:03,119 decisions to act that are modeled by 3133 01:49:06,870 --> 01:49:04,800 markovian kernels 3134 01:49:10,390 --> 01:49:06,880 i am computationally universal anything 3135 01:49:13,990 --> 01:49:10,400 that can be simulated by any computer 3136 01:49:16,070 --> 01:49:14,000 quantum or otherwise i believe can be 3137 01:49:18,790 --> 01:49:16,080 simulated by this network of conscious 3138 01:49:20,470 --> 01:49:18,800 agents so 3139 01:49:22,709 --> 01:49:20,480 even though my foundations are 3140 01:49:25,830 --> 01:49:22,719 incredibly 3141 01:49:27,830 --> 01:49:25,840 sparse there are there are agents 3142 01:49:31,510 --> 01:49:27,840 which have experiences and make choices 3143 01:49:35,270 --> 01:49:33,669 networks of agents can provably compute 3144 01:49:38,390 --> 01:49:35,280 anything that's computable at all 3145 01:49:39,910 --> 01:49:38,400 period so because i know in cognitive 3146 01:49:41,189 --> 01:49:39,920 neuroscience for example that we have 3147 01:49:44,229 --> 01:49:41,199 mathematical models that are 3148 01:49:47,430 --> 01:49:44,239 very very good at problem solving 3149 01:49:49,910 --> 01:49:47,440 um intelligence 3150 01:49:51,350 --> 01:49:49,920 creating all sorts of structures um i 3151 01:49:52,550 --> 01:49:51,360 can build networks of conscious agents 3152 01:49:54,390 --> 01:49:52,560 that can do anything that cognitive 3153 01:49:57,189 --> 01:49:54,400 neuroscience can do right now 3154 01:49:58,390 --> 01:49:57,199 so that's why i stopped i i don't need 3155 01:50:00,149 --> 01:49:58,400 anything more 3156 01:50:01,830 --> 01:50:00,159 i can build models of the self out of 3157 01:50:04,870 --> 01:50:01,840 networks of conscious agents 3158 01:50:06,149 --> 01:50:04,880 if if so so there's no reason for me to 3159 01:50:08,229 --> 01:50:06,159 assume them 3160 01:50:09,750 --> 01:50:08,239 i should force myself to build them from 3161 01:50:10,390 --> 01:50:09,760 networks of conscious agents and so 3162 01:50:14,070 --> 01:50:10,400 that's 3163 01:50:16,550 --> 01:50:14,080 so i've what we've got is 3164 01:50:17,830 --> 01:50:16,560 essentially the tinker toys of 3165 01:50:19,189 --> 01:50:17,840 consciousness 3166 01:50:22,470 --> 01:50:19,199 now we can build up any structure that 3167 01:50:27,830 --> 01:50:25,910 going back to this d and a and 3168 01:50:29,510 --> 01:50:27,840 p model let's forget about the p because 3169 01:50:31,189 --> 01:50:29,520 it's just conscious agents 3170 01:50:33,189 --> 01:50:31,199 the decisions and the actions are 3171 01:50:36,830 --> 01:50:33,199 stochastic so they're markov kernels 3172 01:50:39,750 --> 01:50:36,840 right where's the free will there right 3173 01:50:42,470 --> 01:50:39,760 so 3174 01:50:43,669 --> 01:50:42,480 all the of course this raises a deep 3175 01:50:44,790 --> 01:50:43,679 question about the relationship between 3176 01:50:45,990 --> 01:50:44,800 mathematics 3177 01:50:47,990 --> 01:50:46,000 and the thing that you're modeling with 3178 01:50:48,550 --> 01:50:48,000 the mathematics right all right so all 3179 01:50:51,910 --> 01:50:48,560 i've got 3180 01:50:53,270 --> 01:50:51,920 are measurable structures that i say are 3181 01:50:54,629 --> 01:50:53,280 conscious experiences spaces of 3182 01:50:56,709 --> 01:50:54,639 conscious experiences 3183 01:50:58,310 --> 01:50:56,719 right and then i've got these markovian 3184 01:51:01,109 --> 01:50:58,320 kernels which i say are 3185 01:51:01,510 --> 01:51:01,119 modeling the choices and you can say 3186 01:51:02,709 --> 01:51:01,520 well 3187 01:51:04,229 --> 01:51:02,719 you know i just see that i see 3188 01:51:05,109 --> 01:51:04,239 probabilities there but i don't see any 3189 01:51:06,709 --> 01:51:05,119 free will 3190 01:51:08,870 --> 01:51:06,719 and so it's a matter of how i interpret 3191 01:51:11,030 --> 01:51:08,880 those probabilities 3192 01:51:12,070 --> 01:51:11,040 i'm one could interpret those 3193 01:51:15,270 --> 01:51:12,080 probabilities as 3194 01:51:18,390 --> 01:51:15,280 pure objective chance and i think many 3195 01:51:19,510 --> 01:51:18,400 of my physicalist colleagues would 3196 01:51:21,430 --> 01:51:19,520 would say you know if you see 3197 01:51:24,870 --> 01:51:21,440 probability somewhere then um 3198 01:51:26,149 --> 01:51:24,880 if it's not due to ignorance if 3199 01:51:27,990 --> 01:51:26,159 the probabilities are not due to my 3200 01:51:28,629 --> 01:51:28,000 ignorance then it's due to an objective 3201 01:51:32,709 --> 01:51:28,639 chance 3202 01:51:35,830 --> 01:51:32,719 in nature and but i 3203 01:51:37,830 --> 01:51:35,840 want to be a monist in 3204 01:51:39,350 --> 01:51:37,840 my theory i don't want to be a dualist i 3205 01:51:41,350 --> 01:51:39,360 if i'm going to say that consciousness 3206 01:51:45,109 --> 01:51:41,360 is fundamental 3207 01:51:48,629 --> 01:51:45,119 then i don't also want 3208 01:51:50,149 --> 01:51:48,639 to propose as a dualist that there are 3209 01:51:52,709 --> 01:51:50,159 other sources of novelty 3210 01:51:54,070 --> 01:51:52,719 outside of consciousness into the 3211 01:51:56,470 --> 01:51:54,080 universe 3212 01:51:58,070 --> 01:51:56,480 i want consciousness to be the only 3213 01:52:01,109 --> 01:51:58,080 source of novelty 3214 01:52:03,030 --> 01:52:01,119 in in this universe objective chance 3215 01:52:04,310 --> 01:52:03,040 i mean what do we mean when we say 3216 01:52:06,709 --> 01:52:04,320 objective chance 3217 01:52:08,550 --> 01:52:06,719 in as a physicalist right so i suppose 3218 01:52:11,109 --> 01:52:08,560 i'm a physicalist i believe space-time 3219 01:52:12,950 --> 01:52:11,119 say is fundamental and i believe that 3220 01:52:14,709 --> 01:52:12,960 there are things called objective chants 3221 01:52:16,310 --> 01:52:14,719 that are not just due to my ignorance 3222 01:52:18,790 --> 01:52:16,320 this is something 3223 01:52:19,589 --> 01:52:18,800 objective that we call objective chances 3224 01:52:23,030 --> 01:52:19,599 what i'm saying 3225 01:52:26,070 --> 01:52:24,709 these probabilities objective chance i'm 3226 01:52:29,109 --> 01:52:26,080 saying 3227 01:52:31,510 --> 01:52:29,119 there is a source of novelty 3228 01:52:33,430 --> 01:52:31,520 coming into my universe that i cannot 3229 01:52:35,189 --> 01:52:33,440 explain 3230 01:52:38,229 --> 01:52:35,199 there is where a miracle is happening so 3231 01:52:41,030 --> 01:52:38,239 to be very very clear objective chance 3232 01:52:43,030 --> 01:52:41,040 is a miracle it's you're in in the 3233 01:52:46,149 --> 01:52:43,040 following sense you're saying 3234 01:52:48,790 --> 01:52:46,159 my theory has no resources 3235 01:52:49,589 --> 01:52:48,800 to explain those outcomes i cannot 3236 01:52:50,870 --> 01:52:49,599 predict 3237 01:52:53,510 --> 01:52:50,880 those outcomes that's why i'm calling it 3238 01:52:57,910 --> 01:52:53,520 objective chance well 3239 01:52:59,350 --> 01:52:57,920 that that reinterpreted re-explained is 3240 01:53:01,350 --> 01:52:59,360 in the language of your theory you have 3241 01:53:04,550 --> 01:53:01,360 no resources to explain 3242 01:53:06,070 --> 01:53:04,560 what's happening so in terms of your 3243 01:53:10,070 --> 01:53:06,080 theory that's a miracle 3244 01:53:11,830 --> 01:53:10,080 it's unexplainable now so every theory 3245 01:53:13,270 --> 01:53:11,840 and this is not a put down every theory 3246 01:53:14,390 --> 01:53:13,280 has its miracles we just have to own 3247 01:53:16,310 --> 01:53:14,400 that every scientific thing 3248 01:53:19,750 --> 01:53:16,320 right right and you're using miracles as 3249 01:53:22,629 --> 01:53:19,760 a synonym for axioms 3250 01:53:23,910 --> 01:53:22,639 that's right it's where it's a miracle 3251 01:53:26,149 --> 01:53:23,920 for your theory 3252 01:53:27,430 --> 01:53:26,159 if your theory has to assume it can't 3253 01:53:30,870 --> 01:53:27,440 explain it 3254 01:53:33,189 --> 01:53:30,880 okay right okay now when you have 3255 01:53:36,470 --> 01:53:33,199 probabilities 3256 01:53:37,350 --> 01:53:36,480 there are two kinds of miracles that you 3257 01:53:40,149 --> 01:53:37,360 can 3258 01:53:41,350 --> 01:53:40,159 imagine if it's not just due to lack of 3259 01:53:43,109 --> 01:53:41,360 knowledge right so sometimes you have 3260 01:53:44,709 --> 01:53:43,119 probabilities just because 3261 01:53:45,830 --> 01:53:44,719 there's a true state of affairs but 3262 01:53:46,790 --> 01:53:45,840 you're you're you don't have enough 3263 01:53:47,669 --> 01:53:46,800 knowledge that's a different kind of 3264 01:53:50,310 --> 01:53:47,679 thing 3265 01:53:51,589 --> 01:53:50,320 but when it's a fundamental probability 3266 01:53:53,669 --> 01:53:51,599 you can 3267 01:53:55,350 --> 01:53:53,679 either ascribe it to the miracle of 3268 01:53:58,550 --> 01:53:55,360 objective chance 3269 01:54:01,910 --> 01:53:58,560 or free will they're both 3270 01:54:03,430 --> 01:54:01,920 equally miracles but i since i'm trying 3271 01:54:05,510 --> 01:54:03,440 to have a monist theory 3272 01:54:06,950 --> 01:54:05,520 i interpret probability not as a as 3273 01:54:10,070 --> 01:54:06,960 objective chance but as 3274 01:54:11,990 --> 01:54:10,080 free will choices and then it's you know 3275 01:54:14,950 --> 01:54:12,000 up to me then in the mathematics to 3276 01:54:17,830 --> 01:54:14,960 unpack what does that free will choice 3277 01:54:19,350 --> 01:54:17,840 idea amount to and it's really quite 3278 01:54:20,550 --> 01:54:19,360 interesting because this is a network 3279 01:54:23,350 --> 01:54:20,560 dynamics 3280 01:54:23,830 --> 01:54:23,360 each agent at each level of the net of 3281 01:54:26,390 --> 01:54:23,840 the 3282 01:54:28,149 --> 01:54:26,400 dynamics is making its own contributions 3283 01:54:29,830 --> 01:54:28,159 to free will choices and there 3284 01:54:31,350 --> 01:54:29,840 there are bottom-up influences the free 3285 01:54:32,709 --> 01:54:31,360 will choices of lower level agents 3286 01:54:36,310 --> 01:54:32,719 influence higher agents 3287 01:54:39,350 --> 01:54:36,320 and vice versa and the whole system 3288 01:54:41,669 --> 01:54:39,360 of conscious agents also itself 3289 01:54:42,870 --> 01:54:41,679 is an agent by the mathematics of 3290 01:54:45,510 --> 01:54:42,880 mathematics says 3291 01:54:46,470 --> 01:54:45,520 collections of agents also form an agent 3292 01:54:49,270 --> 01:54:46,480 and so 3293 01:54:50,629 --> 01:54:49,280 what you get is this really interesting 3294 01:54:53,189 --> 01:54:50,639 analysis and synthesis 3295 01:54:54,149 --> 01:54:53,199 approach where i can get a dynamical 3296 01:54:57,510 --> 01:54:54,159 model 3297 01:54:59,189 --> 01:54:57,520 of free will bottom up and top down 3298 01:55:01,830 --> 01:54:59,199 at the same time and that would be my 3299 01:55:04,629 --> 01:55:01,840 model of the free will choice of the one 3300 01:55:05,350 --> 01:55:04,639 single agent and so it's it's going to 3301 01:55:08,790 --> 01:55:05,360 be 3302 01:55:12,229 --> 01:55:08,800 it's again forcing me to do the work 3303 01:55:15,510 --> 01:55:12,239 um is forcing me to do the work of what 3304 01:55:17,589 --> 01:55:15,520 what ultimately do i mean by free will 3305 01:55:18,629 --> 01:55:17,599 by by assigning it only to local agents 3306 01:55:20,070 --> 01:55:18,639 and then saying what 3307 01:55:21,669 --> 01:55:20,080 what do you mean by free will when you 3308 01:55:24,470 --> 01:55:21,679 have agents interact 3309 01:55:25,030 --> 01:55:24,480 what is right right so a question i have 3310 01:55:26,470 --> 01:55:25,040 for you 3311 01:55:28,070 --> 01:55:26,480 let's imagine we have this graph and 3312 01:55:28,629 --> 01:55:28,080 it's extended and they're all conscious 3313 01:55:31,830 --> 01:55:28,639 agents 3314 01:55:33,189 --> 01:55:31,840 okay we pick one of them but and there's 3315 01:55:34,629 --> 01:55:33,199 free will associated 3316 01:55:36,790 --> 01:55:34,639 and they influence one another does that 3317 01:55:40,390 --> 01:55:36,800 mean from sheer will 3318 01:55:42,390 --> 01:55:40,400 can one drastically change the game for 3319 01:55:44,550 --> 01:55:42,400 the rest 3320 01:55:47,589 --> 01:55:44,560 um there may be cases where that can 3321 01:55:51,189 --> 01:55:47,599 happen but it looks like 3322 01:55:57,189 --> 01:55:51,199 it's every agent 3323 01:56:01,510 --> 01:55:59,270 it's a it's almost like a symphony right 3324 01:56:03,510 --> 01:56:01,520 every member of the symphony 3325 01:56:05,030 --> 01:56:03,520 makes their contribution to the hole 3326 01:56:08,070 --> 01:56:05,040 there may be a conductor 3327 01:56:10,470 --> 01:56:08,080 but but um 3328 01:56:12,550 --> 01:56:10,480 it's it's an organic hole so where would 3329 01:56:14,790 --> 01:56:12,560 the conductor be in this model 3330 01:56:15,830 --> 01:56:14,800 well that's the thing there wouldn't 3331 01:56:17,990 --> 01:56:15,840 there would only be 3332 01:56:18,950 --> 01:56:18,000 like relative conductors that the agents 3333 01:56:22,470 --> 01:56:18,960 above 3334 01:56:25,270 --> 01:56:22,480 would have sort of top-down influence 3335 01:56:26,149 --> 01:56:25,280 but the agents below have really strong 3336 01:56:28,229 --> 01:56:26,159 bottom-up 3337 01:56:29,750 --> 01:56:28,239 influence on the free will decisions so 3338 01:56:31,350 --> 01:56:29,760 it's hard for me to say at this point 3339 01:56:32,229 --> 01:56:31,360 that one is more important than the 3340 01:56:33,750 --> 01:56:32,239 other 3341 01:56:35,910 --> 01:56:33,760 yeah and i'm having a difficult time 3342 01:56:38,149 --> 01:56:35,920 when you say that one is above another 3343 01:56:39,270 --> 01:56:38,159 because as far as i know from just from 3344 01:56:40,470 --> 01:56:39,280 reading the papers and it could be 3345 01:56:43,189 --> 01:56:40,480 mistaken it 3346 01:56:45,189 --> 01:56:43,199 it's not as if one is privileged one 3347 01:56:47,270 --> 01:56:45,199 node is privileged over another 3348 01:56:48,790 --> 01:56:47,280 right so so that's right when i say 3349 01:56:51,750 --> 01:56:48,800 above it's it's 3350 01:56:52,149 --> 01:56:51,760 it's like um my two hemispheres in my 3351 01:56:55,750 --> 01:56:52,159 brain 3352 01:56:58,149 --> 01:56:55,760 right when the corpus callosum is intact 3353 01:56:59,030 --> 01:56:58,159 there seems to be a unified me that i 3354 01:57:02,870 --> 01:56:59,040 called on 3355 01:57:04,870 --> 01:57:02,880 right but if you cut my corpus closum 3356 01:57:07,189 --> 01:57:04,880 you could easily it turns out and this 3357 01:57:11,830 --> 01:57:07,199 is how strange it can get 3358 01:57:14,390 --> 01:57:11,840 they would they were able um to get 3359 01:57:15,910 --> 01:57:14,400 these split brain patients to have to 3360 01:57:17,109 --> 01:57:15,920 play 20 questions with each other with 3361 01:57:19,830 --> 01:57:17,119 themselves 3362 01:57:20,629 --> 01:57:19,840 you the right hemisphere has a word in 3363 01:57:22,070 --> 01:57:20,639 mind 3364 01:57:24,950 --> 01:57:22,080 the left hemisphere doesn't know what it 3365 01:57:25,750 --> 01:57:24,960 is and then the left hemisphere which 3366 01:57:27,910 --> 01:57:25,760 can talk 3367 01:57:29,750 --> 01:57:27,920 can start asking questions is it uh 3368 01:57:31,030 --> 01:57:29,760 animal is it vegetable is it mineral 3369 01:57:33,270 --> 01:57:31,040 things like that 3370 01:57:35,270 --> 01:57:33,280 and the right hemisphere which can't 3371 01:57:36,629 --> 01:57:35,280 talk but can understand language can use 3372 01:57:39,350 --> 01:57:36,639 say the left hand to 3373 01:57:39,990 --> 01:57:39,360 thumbs up for yes thumbs down for no and 3374 01:57:43,830 --> 01:57:40,000 so 3375 01:57:45,109 --> 01:57:43,840 these a split brain patient 3376 01:57:47,189 --> 01:57:45,119 has two separate spheres of 3377 01:57:48,629 --> 01:57:47,199 consciousness so separate that they can 3378 01:57:50,790 --> 01:57:48,639 play 20 questions and the left 3379 01:57:53,510 --> 01:57:50,800 hemisphere doesn't know the answer 3380 01:57:55,669 --> 01:57:53,520 right the left hemisphere does not know 3381 01:57:57,270 --> 01:57:55,679 and sometimes will fail to guess in 20 3382 01:57:58,310 --> 01:57:57,280 questions what's in the mind of the 3383 01:57:59,750 --> 01:57:58,320 right hemisphere 3384 01:58:01,669 --> 01:57:59,760 now you might some people argue that 3385 01:58:03,270 --> 01:58:01,679 there's no separate personalities no 3386 01:58:06,070 --> 01:58:03,280 separate consciousnesses 3387 01:58:06,310 --> 01:58:06,080 um good luck making that point when you 3388 01:58:08,709 --> 01:58:06,320 know 3389 01:58:09,750 --> 01:58:08,719 the left hemisphere can fail to to win a 3390 01:58:11,750 --> 01:58:09,760 20 questions 3391 01:58:13,030 --> 01:58:11,760 game with the right hemisphere even 3392 01:58:14,390 --> 01:58:13,040 giving its level best 3393 01:58:16,870 --> 01:58:14,400 and i'm saying that's just the tip of an 3394 01:58:18,550 --> 01:58:16,880 iceberg but it goes all the way 3395 01:58:20,950 --> 01:58:18,560 it goes all the way down to what i call 3396 01:58:23,830 --> 01:58:20,960 these one-bit agents that have just 3397 01:58:25,990 --> 01:58:23,840 basically two conscious experiences say 3398 01:58:27,830 --> 01:58:26,000 red or nothing or something like that 3399 01:58:30,229 --> 01:58:27,840 um and and so it's in that sense when i 3400 01:58:33,910 --> 01:58:30,239 talk about agents being above 3401 01:58:34,629 --> 01:58:33,920 and whatever agent is me that's talking 3402 01:58:36,390 --> 01:58:34,639 to you 3403 01:58:37,910 --> 01:58:36,400 seems to be a combination of my left 3404 01:58:38,709 --> 01:58:37,920 hemisphere and my right hemisphere 3405 01:58:41,430 --> 01:58:38,719 agents 3406 01:58:42,390 --> 01:58:41,440 if we split my corpus closum that higher 3407 01:58:44,229 --> 01:58:42,400 level agent 3408 01:58:45,589 --> 01:58:44,239 apparently would be gone and there would 3409 01:58:47,270 --> 01:58:45,599 be two different agents 3410 01:58:49,189 --> 01:58:47,280 that could now play 20 questions with it 3411 01:58:50,870 --> 01:58:49,199 with each other and lose lose the game 3412 01:58:52,709 --> 01:58:50,880 of 20 questions with each other 3413 01:58:54,629 --> 01:58:52,719 whereas i couldn't play 20 questions 3414 01:58:56,790 --> 01:58:54,639 with myself right now and lose 3415 01:58:58,390 --> 01:58:56,800 but if you if you told me something i 3416 01:58:59,189 --> 01:58:58,400 would all i would know my left minister 3417 01:59:03,270 --> 01:58:59,199 would know 3418 01:59:03,830 --> 01:59:03,280 which i talk about agents being higher 3419 01:59:06,870 --> 01:59:03,840 and lower 3420 01:59:08,070 --> 01:59:06,880 agents can combine to create new agents 3421 01:59:11,030 --> 01:59:08,080 are you familiar with douglas 3422 01:59:13,189 --> 01:59:11,040 hofsteder's work a bit 3423 01:59:14,950 --> 01:59:13,199 what do you think of his theory of 3424 01:59:16,390 --> 01:59:14,960 consciousness it sounds similar to what 3425 01:59:17,669 --> 01:59:16,400 you're describing in the sense of a 3426 01:59:20,070 --> 01:59:17,679 strange loop that 3427 01:59:22,709 --> 01:59:20,080 well you can do a much better job at 3428 01:59:25,910 --> 01:59:22,719 describing it than i can 3429 01:59:32,470 --> 01:59:29,189 there's a fundamental difference in 3430 01:59:34,390 --> 01:59:32,480 the approach that we're taking um 3431 01:59:36,390 --> 01:59:34,400 and you know hofstadter is brilliant 3432 01:59:40,149 --> 01:59:36,400 right he's 3433 01:59:42,629 --> 01:59:40,159 a world-class genius um he's 3434 01:59:44,950 --> 01:59:42,639 going after the notion of of 3435 01:59:47,350 --> 01:59:44,960 self-referential systems 3436 01:59:47,990 --> 01:59:47,360 and those have really interesting 3437 01:59:50,629 --> 01:59:48,000 properties 3438 01:59:51,350 --> 01:59:50,639 right if i have a sentence that of the 3439 01:59:54,550 --> 01:59:51,360 form 3440 01:59:56,390 --> 01:59:54,560 um this sentence is false 3441 01:59:58,149 --> 01:59:56,400 that the sentence is referring to itself 3442 02:00:00,470 --> 01:59:58,159 by saying this sentence 3443 02:00:03,189 --> 02:00:00,480 is false the sentence is is got an a 3444 02:00:06,790 --> 02:00:03,199 strange loop it's got a self-referential 3445 02:00:08,870 --> 02:00:06,800 loop in it and then you get all sorts of 3446 02:00:10,550 --> 02:00:08,880 weird things that happen because is that 3447 02:00:11,350 --> 02:00:10,560 sentence true i mean the sentence says 3448 02:00:14,709 --> 02:00:11,360 the sentence 3449 02:00:15,510 --> 02:00:14,719 is false well if it's true then it's 3450 02:00:18,550 --> 02:00:15,520 false 3451 02:00:22,070 --> 02:00:18,560 get 3452 02:00:23,510 --> 02:00:22,080 caught in this weird thing and so 3453 02:00:25,430 --> 02:00:23,520 i mean hofstadter has a lot of brilliant 3454 02:00:26,870 --> 02:00:25,440 ideas and i don't want to claim that i'm 3455 02:00:31,589 --> 02:00:26,880 doing justice to them but but 3456 02:00:37,270 --> 02:00:34,510 there's a an essential role to this 3457 02:00:37,910 --> 02:00:37,280 self-referential kind of structure that 3458 02:00:39,189 --> 02:00:37,920 that we see 3459 02:00:41,030 --> 02:00:39,199 in in that kind of sentence this 3460 02:00:43,990 --> 02:00:41,040 sentence is so is false 3461 02:00:45,510 --> 02:00:44,000 and that you get um in the work of kurt 3462 02:00:47,830 --> 02:00:45,520 gerdel when he proves his incompleteness 3463 02:00:50,390 --> 02:00:47,840 theorems and so forth there's this this 3464 02:00:51,109 --> 02:00:50,400 really clever use of mathematics to to 3465 02:00:54,310 --> 02:00:51,119 refer 3466 02:00:56,310 --> 02:00:54,320 of loops and 3467 02:00:57,910 --> 02:00:56,320 and his idea is that these kinds of 3468 02:01:00,709 --> 02:00:57,920 self-referential loops 3469 02:01:02,950 --> 02:01:00,719 are somehow critical perhaps to booting 3470 02:01:05,990 --> 02:01:02,960 up consciousness to booting up 3471 02:01:10,149 --> 02:01:06,000 what we call a self and so forth 3472 02:01:13,990 --> 02:01:11,510 there's a fundamental difference in 3473 02:01:18,550 --> 02:01:14,000 philosophy um 3474 02:01:21,990 --> 02:01:21,189 do you mean between you and hofstetter 3475 02:01:25,030 --> 02:01:22,000 that's right 3476 02:01:26,470 --> 02:01:25,040 and and my colleagues who who 3477 02:01:28,070 --> 02:01:26,480 and many of my colleagues are taking a 3478 02:01:28,709 --> 02:01:28,080 similar kind of thing that that's saying 3479 02:01:33,430 --> 02:01:28,719 that 3480 02:01:36,950 --> 02:01:33,440 property 3481 02:01:39,030 --> 02:01:36,960 of computational systems 3482 02:01:40,790 --> 02:01:39,040 like this ability to have self-reference 3483 02:01:41,910 --> 02:01:40,800 and so forth 3484 02:01:43,990 --> 02:01:41,920 but it could be other properties it 3485 02:01:45,990 --> 02:01:44,000 could be some kind of um 3486 02:01:49,350 --> 02:01:46,000 compute other computational properties 3487 02:01:50,310 --> 02:01:49,360 of of systems 3488 02:01:52,229 --> 02:01:50,320 this is called you know like the 3489 02:01:52,790 --> 02:01:52,239 computational theory of mind and so 3490 02:01:55,030 --> 02:01:52,800 forth 3491 02:01:56,229 --> 02:01:55,040 but the idea is that you start with 3492 02:01:58,950 --> 02:01:56,239 systems that are 3493 02:01:59,990 --> 02:01:58,960 that are not conscious but if they have 3494 02:02:01,109 --> 02:02:00,000 certain 3495 02:02:03,510 --> 02:02:01,119 interesting properties like 3496 02:02:06,550 --> 02:02:03,520 self-reference or other computational 3497 02:02:10,870 --> 02:02:08,470 for example certain kind of integrated 3498 02:02:13,030 --> 02:02:10,880 information that tanoni and koch 3499 02:02:14,470 --> 02:02:13,040 are looking at so they have certain 3500 02:02:15,830 --> 02:02:14,480 kinds of computational properties like 3501 02:02:16,950 --> 02:02:15,840 that they call high integrated 3502 02:02:21,430 --> 02:02:16,960 information 3503 02:02:25,030 --> 02:02:21,440 then these unconscious systems 3504 02:02:27,750 --> 02:02:25,040 give rise to consciousness now 3505 02:02:28,229 --> 02:02:27,760 i that's a fundamentally different point 3506 02:02:30,390 --> 02:02:28,239 of view 3507 02:02:31,270 --> 02:02:30,400 than the one i'm taking i'm saying look 3508 02:02:34,310 --> 02:02:31,280 i'm not 3509 02:02:37,910 --> 02:02:34,320 that's unconscious 3510 02:02:39,350 --> 02:02:37,920 i'm proposing at the foundation 3511 02:02:41,270 --> 02:02:39,360 the conscious experiences are 3512 02:02:42,790 --> 02:02:41,280 fundamental this that's where 3513 02:02:44,790 --> 02:02:42,800 explanation stops 3514 02:02:45,990 --> 02:02:44,800 this i'm not explaining how conscious 3515 02:02:48,229 --> 02:02:46,000 experiences arise 3516 02:02:49,270 --> 02:02:48,239 i'm saying that they are what what 3517 02:02:50,709 --> 02:02:49,280 exists 3518 02:02:52,550 --> 02:02:50,719 just like a physicalist who believes in 3519 02:02:53,030 --> 02:02:52,560 space-time and takes it as fundamental 3520 02:02:54,550 --> 02:02:53,040 says 3521 02:02:56,149 --> 02:02:54,560 i don't know where space time comes from 3522 02:02:58,149 --> 02:02:56,159 i'm assuming it i'm assuming that 3523 02:03:00,790 --> 02:02:58,159 space-time and fundamental particles 3524 02:03:01,350 --> 02:03:00,800 exist right every theory is going to 3525 02:03:03,830 --> 02:03:01,360 make 3526 02:03:05,750 --> 02:03:03,840 its its own assumptions so so we're all 3527 02:03:07,910 --> 02:03:05,760 equal footing in that 3528 02:03:09,430 --> 02:03:07,920 regard we all have miracles at the start 3529 02:03:10,310 --> 02:03:09,440 the question is what miracles do you 3530 02:03:13,350 --> 02:03:10,320 pick 3531 02:03:16,950 --> 02:03:13,360 and the reason i don't go 3532 02:03:18,629 --> 02:03:16,960 with a physical starting point like a 3533 02:03:20,229 --> 02:03:18,639 computational system that 3534 02:03:21,669 --> 02:03:20,239 that most of the time is going to be 3535 02:03:23,350 --> 02:03:21,679 unconscious but if it has the right 3536 02:03:24,709 --> 02:03:23,360 integrated information or has the right 3537 02:03:26,390 --> 02:03:24,719 kind of self-reference 3538 02:03:28,310 --> 02:03:26,400 then the magic of consciousness somehow 3539 02:03:32,390 --> 02:03:28,320 emerges the reason i don't go after that 3540 02:03:35,430 --> 02:03:32,400 is a couple of reasons 3541 02:03:38,550 --> 02:03:37,109 no one has been able to use that 3542 02:03:41,109 --> 02:03:38,560 approach 3543 02:03:42,149 --> 02:03:41,119 to predict exactly even how one specific 3544 02:03:45,510 --> 02:03:42,159 conscious experience 3545 02:03:48,870 --> 02:03:45,520 could arise right so how could 3546 02:03:52,229 --> 02:03:48,880 self-reference or integrated information 3547 02:03:53,830 --> 02:03:52,239 or collapse 3548 02:03:55,669 --> 02:03:53,840 orchestrated collapses microtubule 3549 02:03:58,470 --> 02:03:55,679 states and certain neurons 3550 02:03:59,910 --> 02:03:58,480 be or cause my experience of the taste 3551 02:04:04,149 --> 02:03:59,920 of vanilla 3552 02:04:06,629 --> 02:04:04,159 what specific patterns of activity 3553 02:04:08,550 --> 02:04:06,639 of the brain or computational system 3554 02:04:09,270 --> 02:04:08,560 must be or must cause the taste of 3555 02:04:11,109 --> 02:04:09,280 vanilla 3556 02:04:12,629 --> 02:04:11,119 and why is it that it could not be the 3557 02:04:13,750 --> 02:04:12,639 taste of chocolate or the smell of 3558 02:04:15,830 --> 02:04:13,760 garlic 3559 02:04:17,669 --> 02:04:15,840 there's those theories have utterly 3560 02:04:20,390 --> 02:04:17,679 failed 3561 02:04:21,109 --> 02:04:20,400 to explain even one specific conscious 3562 02:04:23,350 --> 02:04:21,119 experience 3563 02:04:25,189 --> 02:04:23,360 in other words there's not one success 3564 02:04:26,870 --> 02:04:25,199 for even one specific conscious 3565 02:04:28,950 --> 02:04:26,880 experience on the table 3566 02:04:31,030 --> 02:04:28,960 that is to say why does this brain state 3567 02:04:32,390 --> 02:04:31,040 or this computational model correspond 3568 02:04:35,189 --> 02:04:32,400 to this qualia 3569 02:04:36,550 --> 02:04:35,199 it's not another and does your theory 3570 02:04:39,510 --> 02:04:36,560 deal with that 3571 02:04:40,629 --> 02:04:39,520 so so i i choose a different miracle so 3572 02:04:42,550 --> 02:04:40,639 their miracle is 3573 02:04:43,669 --> 02:04:42,560 grant me computational systems in space 3574 02:04:46,229 --> 02:04:43,679 and time 3575 02:04:47,589 --> 02:04:46,239 i will predict qualia well they can't 3576 02:04:49,350 --> 02:04:47,599 predict qualia 3577 02:04:50,629 --> 02:04:49,360 so i've granted them what they want and 3578 02:04:52,390 --> 02:04:50,639 they can't give me what they promised 3579 02:04:53,189 --> 02:04:52,400 they can't give me even one specific 3580 02:04:56,229 --> 02:04:53,199 qualia 3581 02:04:59,030 --> 02:04:56,239 it's a failure and by the way the 3582 02:04:59,669 --> 02:04:59,040 these are friends they're brilliant this 3583 02:05:02,310 --> 02:04:59,679 is good 3584 02:05:03,030 --> 02:05:02,320 they're doing great work there's not 3585 02:05:05,270 --> 02:05:03,040 absolutely 3586 02:05:06,870 --> 02:05:05,280 but i but i think that they've given 3587 02:05:08,149 --> 02:05:06,880 themselves an impossible task 3588 02:05:10,229 --> 02:05:08,159 you can't start with unconscious 3589 02:05:11,669 --> 02:05:10,239 ingredients and boot up consciousness 3590 02:05:14,229 --> 02:05:11,679 can't be done 3591 02:05:15,189 --> 02:05:14,239 so what i'm doing is i'm saying look 3592 02:05:17,430 --> 02:05:15,199 they can't explain 3593 02:05:18,470 --> 02:05:17,440 qualia no one's been able to explain 3594 02:05:20,229 --> 02:05:18,480 conscious experiences 3595 02:05:22,629 --> 02:05:20,239 i'm going to start with quiet i'm going 3596 02:05:23,990 --> 02:05:22,639 to start with 3597 02:05:26,149 --> 02:05:24,000 conscious experiences the taste of 3598 02:05:28,069 --> 02:05:26,159 garlic the smell of chocolate 3599 02:05:29,430 --> 02:05:28,079 all of these things those are the things 3600 02:05:31,189 --> 02:05:29,440 i'm going to start with 3601 02:05:32,550 --> 02:05:31,199 those are my so those are my miracles 3602 02:05:36,149 --> 02:05:32,560 right i'm not 3603 02:05:39,350 --> 02:05:36,159 explaining them i'm assuming them now 3604 02:05:40,069 --> 02:05:39,360 my goal is to say grant me this model of 3605 02:05:43,030 --> 02:05:40,079 that 3606 02:05:44,310 --> 02:05:43,040 my conscious agent model then i will 3607 02:05:46,550 --> 02:05:44,320 show you how space 3608 02:05:47,830 --> 02:05:46,560 time and quantum mechanics and general 3609 02:05:48,790 --> 02:05:47,840 relativity and evolution by natural 3610 02:05:51,830 --> 02:05:48,800 selection 3611 02:05:55,350 --> 02:05:51,840 come out as interface representations 3612 02:05:59,589 --> 02:05:55,360 of the dynamics of consciousness so 3613 02:06:04,790 --> 02:06:02,629 and as my my miracle and booting up 3614 02:06:06,229 --> 02:06:04,800 consciousness i'm going the other way 3615 02:06:08,069 --> 02:06:06,239 start with conscious experiences of my 3616 02:06:09,270 --> 02:06:08,079 miracle i will show you how to boot up 3617 02:06:12,629 --> 02:06:09,280 space time 3618 02:06:16,069 --> 02:06:12,639 now the 3619 02:06:18,149 --> 02:06:16,079 the winner will be whoever can explain 3620 02:06:19,430 --> 02:06:18,159 the most with the least assumptions 3621 02:06:23,750 --> 02:06:19,440 right 3622 02:06:25,990 --> 02:06:23,760 who are physicalists are assuming 3623 02:06:28,790 --> 02:06:26,000 space-time and computational systems 3624 02:06:30,709 --> 02:06:28,800 and they have yet failed to explain even 3625 02:06:32,229 --> 02:06:30,719 one conscious experience 3626 02:06:33,990 --> 02:06:32,239 i'm starting with conscious experiences 3627 02:06:35,830 --> 02:06:34,000 that no one can explain i can't explain 3628 02:06:38,069 --> 02:06:35,840 them either i'm assuming them 3629 02:06:39,669 --> 02:06:38,079 but if i can explain how space-time and 3630 02:06:41,589 --> 02:06:39,679 quantum mechanics and general relativity 3631 02:06:43,589 --> 02:06:41,599 come out then i have fewer miracles than 3632 02:06:45,750 --> 02:06:43,599 them so that wins 3633 02:06:47,270 --> 02:06:45,760 whichever theory has the fewer miracles 3634 02:06:49,589 --> 02:06:47,280 is the one we should prefer that's sort 3635 02:06:53,030 --> 02:06:49,599 of occam's razor 3636 02:06:55,270 --> 02:06:53,040 in your theory why is it that we would 3637 02:06:56,629 --> 02:06:55,280 let's say taste vanilla why is it that 3638 02:06:57,109 --> 02:06:56,639 we would have one experience taste of 3639 02:07:00,870 --> 02:06:57,119 villain 3640 02:07:04,470 --> 02:07:00,880 vanilla versus the sight of tico mielmo 3641 02:07:06,870 --> 02:07:04,480 which is another conscious experience 3642 02:07:07,589 --> 02:07:06,880 well i don't have an answer to that 3643 02:07:10,709 --> 02:07:07,599 right now 3644 02:07:14,310 --> 02:07:10,719 so and and the 3645 02:07:16,310 --> 02:07:14,320 very existence of conscious experiences 3646 02:07:17,589 --> 02:07:16,320 is something that i don't explain it's 3647 02:07:20,629 --> 02:07:17,599 something i assume 3648 02:07:22,390 --> 02:07:20,639 right so so my colleagues and 3649 02:07:23,830 --> 02:07:22,400 my physicalist colleagues would like to 3650 02:07:27,589 --> 02:07:23,840 say 3651 02:07:28,709 --> 02:07:27,599 the conscious experiences are 3652 02:07:30,629 --> 02:07:28,719 fundamental 3653 02:07:32,229 --> 02:07:30,639 in fact at the big bang there were no 3654 02:07:33,430 --> 02:07:32,239 conscious experiences there was just 3655 02:07:36,310 --> 02:07:33,440 space time and matter 3656 02:07:37,430 --> 02:07:36,320 and energy and so we will tell you how 3657 02:07:39,510 --> 02:07:37,440 conscious experiences 3658 02:07:40,550 --> 02:07:39,520 emerge from that but they failed to do 3659 02:07:43,669 --> 02:07:40,560 so 3660 02:07:45,350 --> 02:07:43,679 i'm saying you guys assume space time 3661 02:07:55,669 --> 02:07:45,360 and 3662 02:07:58,950 --> 02:07:55,679 you're assuming the 3663 02:08:01,750 --> 02:07:58,960 various qualia but why is it that one 3664 02:08:03,510 --> 02:08:01,760 is chosen versus another it sounds to me 3665 02:08:05,750 --> 02:08:03,520 like a similar problem that the 3666 02:08:09,189 --> 02:08:05,760 physicalists have which is to explain 3667 02:08:10,470 --> 02:08:09,199 why one qualia over another 3668 02:08:12,069 --> 02:08:10,480 and i don't have an answer to that 3669 02:08:12,950 --> 02:08:12,079 that's that's that's a very very good 3670 02:08:19,990 --> 02:08:12,960 question 3671 02:08:22,069 --> 02:08:20,000 intense 3672 02:08:23,750 --> 02:08:22,079 we can look at people with synesthesia 3673 02:08:26,310 --> 02:08:23,760 right so 3674 02:08:27,510 --> 02:08:26,320 um there was a synesthesia about four 3675 02:08:29,669 --> 02:08:27,520 percent of the population has 3676 02:08:33,109 --> 02:08:29,679 synesthesia a human population has four 3677 02:08:36,149 --> 02:08:33,119 synesthesia and to be 3678 02:08:37,270 --> 02:08:36,159 100 if you take lsd i want to talk about 3679 02:08:39,830 --> 02:08:37,280 psychedelics by the way 3680 02:08:40,470 --> 02:08:39,840 sorry continue right so so there's this 3681 02:08:43,270 --> 02:08:40,480 one guy like 3682 02:08:44,870 --> 02:08:43,280 michael watson um his synesthesia was 3683 02:08:46,870 --> 02:08:44,880 that everything he tasted 3684 02:08:47,910 --> 02:08:46,880 with his tongue he felt as a 3685 02:08:50,950 --> 02:08:47,920 three-dimensional shape 3686 02:08:52,470 --> 02:08:50,960 in space that's your friend uh he wasn't 3687 02:08:54,709 --> 02:08:52,480 a friend of mine but he um 3688 02:08:55,510 --> 02:08:54,719 he was studied um extensively by a 3689 02:08:58,950 --> 02:08:55,520 neurologist 3690 02:09:02,149 --> 02:08:58,960 um he he died 3691 02:09:05,350 --> 02:09:02,159 he's dead now but but okay but 3692 02:09:06,870 --> 02:09:05,360 but he was a great cook um everything 3693 02:09:07,430 --> 02:09:06,880 that he tasted that's interesting that's 3694 02:09:09,830 --> 02:09:07,440 interesting 3695 02:09:10,790 --> 02:09:09,840 he felt with his hands so mint was a 3696 02:09:13,910 --> 02:09:10,800 tall 3697 02:09:15,350 --> 02:09:13,920 cold smooth column of glass he could 3698 02:09:16,950 --> 02:09:15,360 feel it he could feel the weight of it 3699 02:09:18,390 --> 02:09:16,960 he could feel the the coldness of the 3700 02:09:19,910 --> 02:09:18,400 surface he could feel the smoothness of 3701 02:09:22,310 --> 02:09:19,920 the surface with his hand 3702 02:09:23,830 --> 02:09:22,320 angostura bitters which is a something 3703 02:09:26,550 --> 02:09:23,840 you put in drinks 3704 02:09:28,310 --> 02:09:26,560 felt like a basket of ivy he could feel 3705 02:09:29,510 --> 02:09:28,320 the leaves the sponginess the texture 3706 02:09:32,550 --> 02:09:29,520 the warmth 3707 02:09:34,069 --> 02:09:32,560 so it was a very rich sensory experience 3708 02:09:37,669 --> 02:09:34,079 that he had 3709 02:09:39,030 --> 02:09:37,679 and so you and i don't have 3710 02:09:40,709 --> 02:09:39,040 most of us don't have those experiences 3711 02:09:42,629 --> 02:09:40,719 when we cook he did 3712 02:09:46,390 --> 02:09:42,639 and it allowed him to be an exceptional 3713 02:09:49,030 --> 02:09:46,400 cook he had this other way of of 3714 02:09:49,510 --> 02:09:49,040 dealing with complex tastes when he was 3715 02:09:52,229 --> 02:09:49,520 putting 3716 02:09:54,149 --> 02:09:52,239 you know foods together so so that 3717 02:09:57,589 --> 02:09:54,159 raises your question really really 3718 02:09:59,830 --> 02:09:57,599 sharply why is it that we experience 3719 02:10:01,109 --> 02:09:59,840 when we put something on our tongue why 3720 02:10:04,229 --> 02:10:01,119 do we experience it as 3721 02:10:05,750 --> 02:10:04,239 what we call taste saltiness sugar you 3722 02:10:07,350 --> 02:10:05,760 know sweetness and so forth 3723 02:10:09,189 --> 02:10:07,360 why don't we all experience it like 3724 02:10:11,189 --> 02:10:09,199 michael watson did as 3725 02:10:12,310 --> 02:10:11,199 shapes that we feel with our hands in 3726 02:10:15,189 --> 02:10:12,320 space 3727 02:10:15,510 --> 02:10:15,199 now what was what's interesting is that 3728 02:10:19,589 --> 02:10:15,520 there 3729 02:10:21,510 --> 02:10:19,599 kind of homomorphism 3730 02:10:23,030 --> 02:10:21,520 that you could write down mathematically 3731 02:10:24,629 --> 02:10:23,040 between the shapes 3732 02:10:26,310 --> 02:10:24,639 and the textures and the weights and so 3733 02:10:29,510 --> 02:10:26,320 forth he felt with his hands 3734 02:10:31,510 --> 02:10:29,520 and the experiences of taste 3735 02:10:32,870 --> 02:10:31,520 that we all feel so so there's probably 3736 02:10:36,310 --> 02:10:32,880 some homomorphism that 3737 02:10:37,910 --> 02:10:36,320 some mapping some dictionary between 3738 02:10:39,830 --> 02:10:37,920 what he felt with his hand and what we 3739 02:10:40,870 --> 02:10:39,840 taste uh what we experienced with her 3740 02:10:42,629 --> 02:10:40,880 taste 3741 02:10:45,750 --> 02:10:42,639 and and that's why your question is so 3742 02:10:49,350 --> 02:10:45,760 difficult in in many cases 3743 02:10:52,069 --> 02:10:49,360 from a functional point of view 3744 02:10:53,750 --> 02:10:52,079 the details of exactly why you have that 3745 02:10:57,589 --> 02:10:53,760 experience 3746 02:10:59,189 --> 02:10:57,599 don't matter lots of other kinds of qual 3747 02:11:01,510 --> 02:10:59,199 qualitative experiences could have the 3748 02:11:02,310 --> 02:11:01,520 same functional structure as those 3749 02:11:04,790 --> 02:11:02,320 experiences 3750 02:11:05,990 --> 02:11:04,800 so in fact you count them in one of your 3751 02:11:07,350 --> 02:11:06,000 papers you count the amount of 3752 02:11:11,189 --> 02:11:07,360 homomorphisms 3753 02:11:13,669 --> 02:11:11,199 that's right which which makes me wonder 3754 02:11:16,229 --> 02:11:13,679 like erase like why why this and not 3755 02:11:19,589 --> 02:11:16,239 another given that there are so many 3756 02:11:20,069 --> 02:11:19,599 homomorphisms so here's the best i 3757 02:11:22,390 --> 02:11:20,079 mentioned 3758 02:11:23,189 --> 02:11:22,400 okay this is the best i've got so far on 3759 02:11:24,870 --> 02:11:23,199 this right 3760 02:11:26,470 --> 02:11:24,880 so you so first of all i just wanted to 3761 02:11:28,790 --> 02:11:26,480 say hats off you asked a really 3762 02:11:29,669 --> 02:11:28,800 good good question it's a really tough 3763 02:11:32,629 --> 02:11:29,679 question and this 3764 02:11:33,350 --> 02:11:32,639 synesthesia thing really makes it clear 3765 02:11:37,589 --> 02:11:33,360 how 3766 02:11:44,470 --> 02:11:40,790 the only idea i've got right now 3767 02:11:46,310 --> 02:11:44,480 that i think is interesting enough 3768 02:11:48,709 --> 02:11:46,320 is based on girdle's incompleteness 3769 02:11:50,709 --> 02:11:48,719 theorem great 3770 02:11:52,790 --> 02:11:50,719 familiar with this girl so yeah yeah i'm 3771 02:11:55,510 --> 02:11:52,800 gonna ask you about that later yeah 3772 02:11:56,470 --> 02:11:55,520 right so girdles incompleteness theorem 3773 02:11:59,910 --> 02:11:56,480 um 3774 02:12:01,109 --> 02:11:59,920 in intuitively basically says that 3775 02:12:02,629 --> 02:12:01,119 there's no end 3776 02:12:05,430 --> 02:12:02,639 to the exploration of mathematical 3777 02:12:05,440 --> 02:12:08,709 and 3778 02:12:16,149 --> 02:12:12,870 if we take consciousness as fundamental 3779 02:12:17,589 --> 02:12:16,159 as as i'm proposing then there's only 3780 02:12:19,270 --> 02:12:17,599 one thing that mathematical structure 3781 02:12:21,189 --> 02:12:19,280 could be about 3782 02:12:22,870 --> 02:12:21,199 which is consciousness conscious 3783 02:12:27,350 --> 02:12:22,880 experiences 3784 02:12:28,790 --> 02:12:27,360 and so in that context girdles 3785 02:12:29,990 --> 02:12:28,800 incompleteness theorem would i would 3786 02:12:31,830 --> 02:12:30,000 interpret as saying that there's an 3787 02:12:34,709 --> 02:12:31,840 infinite variety 3788 02:12:36,470 --> 02:12:34,719 of kinds of conscious experience that 3789 02:12:38,310 --> 02:12:36,480 are out there of possible structures of 3790 02:12:39,990 --> 02:12:38,320 conscious experience 3791 02:12:41,350 --> 02:12:40,000 and for each kind of structure that 3792 02:12:42,790 --> 02:12:41,360 there is there's an infinite variety of 3793 02:12:45,350 --> 02:12:42,800 conscious experiences that all share 3794 02:12:47,589 --> 02:12:45,360 that structure 3795 02:12:48,709 --> 02:12:47,599 right so i would so i would call this 3796 02:12:51,990 --> 02:12:48,719 girls candy store 3797 02:12:54,790 --> 02:12:52,000 this infinite variety of possible 3798 02:12:57,270 --> 02:12:54,800 structures of conscious experiences 3799 02:12:58,709 --> 02:12:57,280 and with each with for each structure 3800 02:13:00,470 --> 02:12:58,719 probably an infinite variety of 3801 02:13:03,830 --> 02:13:00,480 conscious experiences that that share 3802 02:13:08,149 --> 02:13:03,840 that structure so this very very rich 3803 02:13:09,669 --> 02:13:08,159 and the goal of consciousness then on 3804 02:13:11,589 --> 02:13:09,679 this theory would be 3805 02:13:13,350 --> 02:13:11,599 to explore girdle's candy store that's 3806 02:13:15,669 --> 02:13:13,360 what consciousness is up to 3807 02:13:17,030 --> 02:13:15,679 girdle basically his incompleteness 3808 02:13:19,990 --> 02:13:17,040 theorem is saying 3809 02:13:21,910 --> 02:13:20,000 no matter how much mathematics you have 3810 02:13:23,350 --> 02:13:21,920 you haven't even begun 3811 02:13:25,589 --> 02:13:23,360 no matter how much structure you've 3812 02:13:27,430 --> 02:13:25,599 explored you've not even begun 3813 02:13:29,589 --> 02:13:27,440 because there's endless endless 3814 02:13:31,589 --> 02:13:29,599 exploration in some sense 3815 02:13:34,229 --> 02:13:31,599 god could never know it all there would 3816 02:13:36,149 --> 02:13:34,239 be and so god has endless 3817 02:13:37,669 --> 02:13:36,159 whatever you think about god there's an 3818 02:13:40,629 --> 02:13:37,679 endless structure 3819 02:13:42,149 --> 02:13:40,639 for even god to explore right and so 3820 02:13:45,270 --> 02:13:42,159 that 3821 02:13:46,310 --> 02:13:45,280 endless exploration of all the rich 3822 02:13:49,270 --> 02:13:46,320 varieties and 3823 02:13:50,470 --> 02:13:49,280 it's it's here i don't know here i don't 3824 02:13:53,669 --> 02:13:50,480 know how to think about it yet 3825 02:13:56,470 --> 02:13:53,679 is it an exploration 3826 02:13:56,830 --> 02:13:56,480 of a pre-existing candy store or is it 3827 02:14:00,470 --> 02:13:56,840 an 3828 02:14:03,270 --> 02:14:00,480 endless store 3829 02:14:04,069 --> 02:14:03,280 my my feeling right now is it's an 3830 02:14:06,950 --> 02:14:04,079 invention 3831 02:14:08,709 --> 02:14:06,960 that girdle is telling us girdles 3832 02:14:11,430 --> 02:14:08,719 incompleteness theorem is saying 3833 02:14:13,510 --> 02:14:11,440 there's an infinite variety of 3834 02:14:15,189 --> 02:14:13,520 structures to be invented 3835 02:14:16,790 --> 02:14:15,199 and then in the context of consciousness 3836 02:14:18,310 --> 02:14:16,800 i interpret it as saying 3837 02:14:21,750 --> 02:14:18,320 an infinite variety of conscious 3838 02:14:25,030 --> 02:14:21,760 experiences to be 3839 02:14:26,870 --> 02:14:25,040 invented i think it's invented not 3840 02:14:28,870 --> 02:14:26,880 explored you know in terms of 3841 02:14:31,510 --> 02:14:28,880 pre-existing conscious experiences 3842 02:14:33,750 --> 02:14:31,520 but there i must say my my intuitions at 3843 02:14:35,510 --> 02:14:33,760 this point fail me i don't know 3844 02:14:36,950 --> 02:14:35,520 okay let's go even further off the deep 3845 02:14:38,709 --> 02:14:36,960 end sure you're 3846 02:14:41,189 --> 02:14:38,719 completely allowed to speculate i'm not 3847 02:14:43,830 --> 02:14:41,199 michael schumer i'm not gonna 3848 02:14:45,669 --> 02:14:43,840 throw skepticism at you skepticism to 3849 02:14:50,390 --> 02:14:45,679 you straight out the gate 3850 02:14:53,589 --> 02:14:50,400 what where in your model does 3851 02:14:56,790 --> 02:14:53,599 god lie well 3852 02:14:58,550 --> 02:14:56,800 it's the the word god 3853 02:15:00,229 --> 02:14:58,560 is something that's been used in various 3854 02:15:01,350 --> 02:15:00,239 forms for thousands of years by human 3855 02:15:03,430 --> 02:15:01,360 beings 3856 02:15:04,709 --> 02:15:03,440 and it's never been precisely defined 3857 02:15:06,470 --> 02:15:04,719 right 3858 02:15:07,669 --> 02:15:06,480 never been precisely defined there's 3859 02:15:09,669 --> 02:15:07,679 there's quite a few of those words 3860 02:15:13,030 --> 02:15:09,679 causality free will identity 3861 02:15:14,069 --> 02:15:13,040 god slippery slippery but they all might 3862 02:15:15,910 --> 02:15:14,079 be related 3863 02:15:17,910 --> 02:15:15,920 but we don't kill each other over our 3864 02:15:19,430 --> 02:15:17,920 differences about the word causality 3865 02:15:21,270 --> 02:15:19,440 we do kill each other over our 3866 02:15:24,149 --> 02:15:21,280 differences about the word god 3867 02:15:24,790 --> 02:15:24,159 and we then so that's a particularly 3868 02:15:27,030 --> 02:15:24,800 troublesome 3869 02:15:29,270 --> 02:15:27,040 problem that we have that that we think 3870 02:15:31,270 --> 02:15:29,280 that's a very very important word 3871 02:15:32,790 --> 02:15:31,280 and in many cases in human history we've 3872 02:15:33,830 --> 02:15:32,800 proven that we're willing to kill 3873 02:15:36,229 --> 02:15:33,840 millions of people 3874 02:15:37,830 --> 02:15:36,239 who disagree with us about what we mean 3875 02:15:40,550 --> 02:15:37,840 by that word 3876 02:15:42,470 --> 02:15:40,560 and the remarkable thing is that's when 3877 02:15:45,510 --> 02:15:42,480 there's no precise definition 3878 02:15:47,109 --> 02:15:45,520 so i would like to propose a precise 3879 02:15:49,750 --> 02:15:47,119 definition of god 3880 02:15:51,510 --> 02:15:49,760 all right let's hear it and of course 3881 02:15:55,430 --> 02:15:51,520 i'm wrong 3882 02:15:56,629 --> 02:15:55,440 have something on the table so that we 3883 02:15:59,189 --> 02:15:56,639 can now 3884 02:16:00,550 --> 02:15:59,199 begin to figure out why it's wrong so i 3885 02:16:01,270 --> 02:16:00,560 have this definition of a conscious 3886 02:16:04,790 --> 02:16:01,280 agent 3887 02:16:07,669 --> 02:16:04,800 i'll just propose that a con that god is 3888 02:16:08,229 --> 02:16:07,679 any conscious agent that has an infinite 3889 02:16:12,390 --> 02:16:08,239 set of 3890 02:16:15,030 --> 02:16:12,400 of possible conscious experiences 3891 02:16:16,709 --> 02:16:15,040 start there now of course i'm wrong but 3892 02:16:19,510 --> 02:16:16,719 now the fun part is 3893 02:16:20,629 --> 02:16:19,520 where what's wrong with it now oh wait 3894 02:16:22,149 --> 02:16:20,639 that to me sounds like there could be 3895 02:16:24,149 --> 02:16:22,159 multiple guns 3896 02:16:25,430 --> 02:16:24,159 because you could have multiple agents 3897 02:16:28,470 --> 02:16:25,440 that's for infinite sets 3898 02:16:30,470 --> 02:16:28,480 that's exactly right one so now 3899 02:16:32,230 --> 02:16:30,480 by the way with that definition it may 3900 02:16:34,549 --> 02:16:32,240 end up being a theorem 3901 02:16:35,910 --> 02:16:34,559 that polytheism is true not monotheism 3902 02:16:38,790 --> 02:16:35,920 but so what but notice 3903 02:16:39,830 --> 02:16:38,800 all of a sudden that we we get this 3904 02:16:42,070 --> 02:16:39,840 thing where 3905 02:16:44,230 --> 02:16:42,080 we're now i gave you a definition of god 3906 02:16:46,389 --> 02:16:44,240 and you immediately saw an implication 3907 02:16:48,230 --> 02:16:46,399 try that with with most other religious 3908 02:16:49,429 --> 02:16:48,240 views of god that they're not precise 3909 02:16:51,589 --> 02:16:49,439 enough 3910 02:16:53,110 --> 02:16:51,599 to to have these kinds of inferential 3911 02:16:53,990 --> 02:16:53,120 implications where we can actually what 3912 02:16:56,070 --> 02:16:54,000 if someone said 3913 02:16:57,830 --> 02:16:56,080 okay i can save monotheism by saying 3914 02:16:59,270 --> 02:16:57,840 that god is the amalgam of all the 3915 02:17:01,190 --> 02:16:59,280 conscious agents 3916 02:17:02,629 --> 02:17:01,200 and that would be that would be another 3917 02:17:04,389 --> 02:17:02,639 way to to go at it 3918 02:17:05,669 --> 02:17:04,399 and you might not and that might be the 3919 02:17:07,110 --> 02:17:05,679 critique that you give of my first 3920 02:17:09,190 --> 02:17:07,120 definition of god it would be my 3921 02:17:12,709 --> 02:17:09,200 critique of my first definition of god 3922 02:17:15,589 --> 02:17:12,719 would be to say well no let god 3923 02:17:16,629 --> 02:17:15,599 be the top conscious agent the the the 3924 02:17:18,870 --> 02:17:16,639 one that's the unit 3925 02:17:20,469 --> 02:17:18,880 um you know the super saiyan nation the 3926 02:17:21,429 --> 02:17:20,479 combination of all the other agents that 3927 02:17:23,349 --> 02:17:21,439 exist 3928 02:17:25,349 --> 02:17:23,359 but then we may turn out as we look at 3929 02:17:26,150 --> 02:17:25,359 the dynamics of conscious agents and the 3930 02:17:28,389 --> 02:17:26,160 combination 3931 02:17:30,150 --> 02:17:28,399 we may find that there is no at any 3932 02:17:32,150 --> 02:17:30,160 moment there may not be a single 3933 02:17:33,190 --> 02:17:32,160 maximum so it may not be a lattice where 3934 02:17:34,950 --> 02:17:33,200 there's one peak 3935 02:17:37,030 --> 02:17:34,960 to the whole network there may be 3936 02:17:40,309 --> 02:17:37,040 multiple and and no single 3937 02:17:41,990 --> 02:17:40,319 maximal at any one at any one moment in 3938 02:17:44,549 --> 02:17:42,000 the dynamics so so again 3939 02:17:46,389 --> 02:17:44,559 it would be a matter of and it may turn 3940 02:17:47,910 --> 02:17:46,399 out to be a 3941 02:17:49,910 --> 02:17:47,920 property of the kind of dynamics of 3942 02:17:52,150 --> 02:17:49,920 conscious agents that you propose 3943 02:17:53,750 --> 02:17:52,160 that in these kinds of dynamics it's a 3944 02:17:55,110 --> 02:17:53,760 polytheism and this one there's a 3945 02:17:58,709 --> 02:17:55,120 monotheism 3946 02:18:02,230 --> 02:17:58,719 so so that's what's so fun about this is 3947 02:18:04,309 --> 02:18:02,240 now all of a sudden we're 3948 02:18:05,669 --> 02:18:04,319 we're already engaging by the way like 3949 02:18:07,509 --> 02:18:05,679 this on on 3950 02:18:09,190 --> 02:18:07,519 the word god in a way that we could 3951 02:18:11,669 --> 02:18:09,200 never before engaged 3952 02:18:13,190 --> 02:18:11,679 this is now a technical term now and 3953 02:18:14,709 --> 02:18:13,200 again of course 3954 02:18:17,509 --> 02:18:14,719 everything that we've said so far is 3955 02:18:20,790 --> 02:18:17,519 almost surely deeply wrong 3956 02:18:22,709 --> 02:18:20,800 but it's precise and so we can find out 3957 02:18:24,950 --> 02:18:22,719 precisely where it's wrong 3958 02:18:26,070 --> 02:18:24,960 and and by the way notice now we're in a 3959 02:18:29,509 --> 02:18:26,080 very different space 3960 02:18:31,190 --> 02:18:29,519 i'm not tempted to kill you or or hurt 3961 02:18:33,110 --> 02:18:31,200 you because you disagree with me 3962 02:18:35,429 --> 02:18:33,120 i'm rather tempted to listen to your 3963 02:18:37,110 --> 02:18:35,439 ideas and go oh wow that's really cool 3964 02:18:38,709 --> 02:18:37,120 i hadn't thought about that let me let 3965 02:18:40,469 --> 02:18:38,719 me rethink my position 3966 02:18:42,549 --> 02:18:40,479 it's a very very different kind of thing 3967 02:18:44,709 --> 02:18:42,559 and so can we 3968 02:18:46,790 --> 02:18:44,719 i mean it seems that the word god is 3969 02:18:48,950 --> 02:18:46,800 very very important to us 3970 02:18:49,830 --> 02:18:48,960 instead of having it be an ambiguous 3971 02:18:51,589 --> 02:18:49,840 term that we 3972 02:18:53,030 --> 02:18:51,599 fight to the death over and hate each 3973 02:18:56,070 --> 02:18:53,040 other over 3974 02:19:03,030 --> 02:18:59,429 since we think it's so important 3975 02:19:04,549 --> 02:19:03,040 it's important enough to be precise 3976 02:19:05,669 --> 02:19:04,559 if it's that important to us then it's 3977 02:19:08,230 --> 02:19:05,679 important enough that we should be 3978 02:19:14,469 --> 02:19:08,240 precise about what we mean 3979 02:19:15,830 --> 02:19:14,479 then we can start to have a dialogue and 3980 02:19:17,349 --> 02:19:15,840 try to refine it 3981 02:19:18,870 --> 02:19:17,359 and and come to some kind of mutual 3982 02:19:20,790 --> 02:19:18,880 understanding 3983 02:19:22,070 --> 02:19:20,800 so so that's sort of the scientific 3984 02:19:26,549 --> 02:19:22,080 attitude of 3985 02:19:28,389 --> 02:19:26,559 um be precise so that we 3986 02:19:29,830 --> 02:19:28,399 don't get stuck in the same thoughts 3987 02:19:30,230 --> 02:19:29,840 that we've had for thousands of years we 3988 02:19:32,629 --> 02:19:30,240 don't 3989 02:19:35,190 --> 02:19:32,639 end up being dogmatic defenders of 3990 02:19:39,669 --> 02:19:35,200 something that's not even well defined 3991 02:19:42,230 --> 02:19:39,679 rather we it's it's a sense of humility 3992 02:19:42,790 --> 02:19:42,240 these are the best ideas that i and my 3993 02:19:45,910 --> 02:19:42,800 tradition 3994 02:19:46,549 --> 02:19:45,920 have had so far about god there's 3995 02:19:48,950 --> 02:19:46,559 probably 3996 02:19:51,830 --> 02:19:48,960 a lot of insight in those ideas and 3997 02:19:54,950 --> 02:19:51,840 there's probably some mistakes 3998 02:19:58,150 --> 02:19:54,960 let me listen to your ideas 3999 02:20:02,150 --> 02:19:58,160 let's have you listen to my ideas 4000 02:20:04,870 --> 02:20:02,160 and can we then get to a new and deeper 4001 02:20:06,550 --> 02:20:04,880 and more precise notion of god 4002 02:20:08,790 --> 02:20:06,560 since we agree that this seems to be an 4003 02:20:12,070 --> 02:20:08,800 important concept for us 4004 02:20:13,990 --> 02:20:12,080 can we together work in humility 4005 02:20:15,670 --> 02:20:14,000 and both admit up front that maybe we 4006 02:20:17,270 --> 02:20:15,680 don't have it quite right 4007 02:20:18,710 --> 02:20:17,280 that's sort of the scientific attitude 4008 02:20:23,270 --> 02:20:18,720 about this thing being pre 4009 02:20:26,870 --> 02:20:23,280 being precise is an ultimate act 4010 02:20:28,469 --> 02:20:26,880 of humility on the one hand because 4011 02:20:30,230 --> 02:20:28,479 you're making yourself vulnerable to 4012 02:20:32,870 --> 02:20:30,240 being shown wrong 4013 02:20:34,469 --> 02:20:32,880 but it's also the ultimate act of true 4014 02:20:38,070 --> 02:20:34,479 inquisitiveness 4015 02:20:39,990 --> 02:20:38,080 it's saying this is precisely the best 4016 02:20:42,150 --> 02:20:40,000 idea i've got so far 4017 02:20:43,750 --> 02:20:42,160 but i really want to understand so i'm 4018 02:20:45,750 --> 02:20:43,760 stating it precisely 4019 02:20:46,870 --> 02:20:45,760 so i can figure out where i'm wrong and 4020 02:20:49,110 --> 02:20:46,880 then we can move on 4021 02:20:50,550 --> 02:20:49,120 into a deeper inquiry so that's what i 4022 02:20:51,590 --> 02:20:50,560 would like to see in the in the 4023 02:20:54,309 --> 02:20:51,600 discussion 4024 02:20:55,830 --> 02:20:54,319 of god i would love to see in this sense 4025 02:21:28,230 --> 02:20:55,840 a 4026 02:21:31,670 --> 02:21:28,240 terms how will we ever 4027 02:21:33,830 --> 02:21:31,680 make progress on the deeper questions 4028 02:21:34,710 --> 02:21:33,840 okay we're in the defend already let's 4029 02:21:38,830 --> 02:21:34,720 go to the 4030 02:21:40,950 --> 02:21:38,840 mariana trench what happens when you 4031 02:21:44,710 --> 02:21:40,960 die well 4032 02:21:47,110 --> 02:21:44,720 if you're a physicalist 4033 02:21:48,550 --> 02:21:47,120 it's quite clear right your 4034 02:21:52,389 --> 02:21:48,560 consciousness 4035 02:21:55,750 --> 02:21:52,399 is entirely the product 4036 02:21:57,830 --> 02:21:55,760 of your brain or your embodied 4037 02:21:59,030 --> 02:21:57,840 brain i mean some of my colleagues will 4038 02:22:02,070 --> 02:21:59,040 will emphasize 4039 02:22:02,950 --> 02:22:02,080 the cycle between sort of an inactive 4040 02:22:04,230 --> 02:22:02,960 point of view that 4041 02:22:05,670 --> 02:22:04,240 it's not just the brain it's the brain 4042 02:22:06,230 --> 02:22:05,680 and the body in the environment in that 4043 02:22:14,309 --> 02:22:06,240 loop 4044 02:22:16,389 --> 02:22:14,319 therefore your consciousness stops and 4045 02:22:18,150 --> 02:22:16,399 so from that point of view it's it's 4046 02:22:19,510 --> 02:22:18,160 the prediction is quite clear there's 4047 02:22:23,590 --> 02:22:19,520 nothing that survives death 4048 02:22:27,270 --> 02:22:23,600 um from you that that i'm proposing here 4049 02:22:30,950 --> 02:22:27,280 space time itself is not fundamental 4050 02:22:34,550 --> 02:22:33,830 including our conscious experiences 4051 02:22:38,870 --> 02:22:34,560 instead 4052 02:22:44,950 --> 02:22:38,880 it's a virtual reality headset 4053 02:22:51,670 --> 02:22:48,070 does not have to die 4054 02:22:55,270 --> 02:22:51,680 when the body dies but as i said 4055 02:22:57,510 --> 02:22:55,280 the self is not fundamental in the 4056 02:22:59,750 --> 02:22:57,520 theory that i'm developing 4057 02:23:03,030 --> 02:22:59,760 the self is just a data structure like 4058 02:23:05,110 --> 02:23:03,040 space time is a data structure 4059 02:23:06,870 --> 02:23:05,120 so from the point of view that i'm 4060 02:23:10,309 --> 02:23:06,880 working on right now 4061 02:23:13,030 --> 02:23:10,319 my death does not mean that 4062 02:23:14,309 --> 02:23:13,040 my consciousness disappears but myself 4063 02:23:15,750 --> 02:23:14,319 may 4064 02:23:18,230 --> 02:23:15,760 i don't know yet i mean that's going to 4065 02:23:20,389 --> 02:23:18,240 be something i want to work on in 4066 02:23:21,830 --> 02:23:20,399 this theory the self just being a data 4067 02:23:23,190 --> 02:23:21,840 structure maybe that data structure 4068 02:23:25,430 --> 02:23:23,200 dissolves 4069 02:23:26,790 --> 02:23:25,440 um or maybe it's like 4070 02:23:30,550 --> 02:23:26,800 [Music] 4071 02:23:33,910 --> 02:23:30,560 what happens in metamorphosis 4072 02:23:36,150 --> 02:23:33,920 a caterpillar becoming a butterfly 4073 02:23:38,389 --> 02:23:36,160 right in some sense there's not much 4074 02:23:40,230 --> 02:23:38,399 recognizable 4075 02:23:42,389 --> 02:23:40,240 left of the caterpillar when the 4076 02:23:46,469 --> 02:23:42,399 butterfly emerges 4077 02:23:50,150 --> 02:23:46,479 um there is a a continuity 4078 02:23:53,910 --> 02:23:50,160 but you know the butterfly has 4079 02:23:56,070 --> 02:23:53,920 only six legs the the caterpillar 4080 02:23:57,270 --> 02:23:56,080 had quite a few more the caterpillar 4081 02:23:59,190 --> 02:23:57,280 eats leaves 4082 02:24:01,270 --> 02:23:59,200 the butterfly can't eat leaves the 4083 02:24:02,710 --> 02:24:01,280 butterfly drinks nectar the caterpillar 4084 02:24:04,630 --> 02:24:02,720 never drank nectar 4085 02:24:06,309 --> 02:24:04,640 the butterfly has wings caterpillar has 4086 02:24:07,830 --> 02:24:06,319 no concept of wings 4087 02:24:10,309 --> 02:24:07,840 they're they're the same creature at 4088 02:24:13,110 --> 02:24:10,319 different stages but they're utterly 4089 02:24:13,750 --> 02:24:13,120 alien and and maybe the thing that 4090 02:24:15,910 --> 02:24:13,760 survives 4091 02:24:17,670 --> 02:24:15,920 death is as different from me as a 4092 02:24:20,309 --> 02:24:17,680 butterfly is from a caterpillar 4093 02:24:21,030 --> 02:24:20,319 um and it you know so i i just don't 4094 02:24:24,150 --> 02:24:21,040 know so 4095 02:24:25,429 --> 02:24:24,160 um i'm still on that i'll be 4096 02:24:27,429 --> 02:24:25,439 be very interested to work on the 4097 02:24:32,230 --> 02:24:27,439 mathematics and see 4098 02:24:36,070 --> 02:24:34,469 that maybe that may be helpful here so 4099 02:24:38,070 --> 02:24:36,080 suppose you go to a virtual reality 4100 02:24:40,950 --> 02:24:38,080 arcade with some friends 4101 02:24:41,990 --> 02:24:40,960 to place a virtual volleyball you put on 4102 02:24:44,389 --> 02:24:42,000 your headset and bodysuit 4103 02:24:45,110 --> 02:24:44,399 and you see yourself emerge immersed in 4104 02:24:51,349 --> 02:24:45,120 a 4105 02:24:53,270 --> 02:24:51,359 cross the net 4106 02:24:54,630 --> 02:24:53,280 and so you serve the virtual volleyball 4107 02:24:56,150 --> 02:24:54,640 and you guys play for a while 4108 02:24:58,630 --> 02:24:56,160 and then one of your friends you know 4109 02:24:59,590 --> 02:24:58,640 bob says excuse me i'm thirsty i'm gonna 4110 02:25:01,349 --> 02:24:59,600 go get a drink 4111 02:25:02,630 --> 02:25:01,359 and he takes off his headset in his body 4112 02:25:07,429 --> 02:25:02,640 suit to go get a drink 4113 02:25:11,030 --> 02:25:07,439 and his avatar collapses on the sand 4114 02:25:14,150 --> 02:25:11,040 well within that virtual reality 4115 02:25:15,750 --> 02:25:14,160 he's effectively dead but 4116 02:25:17,190 --> 02:25:15,760 of course bob isn't dead he just stepped 4117 02:25:20,230 --> 02:25:17,200 out of the interface 4118 02:25:21,830 --> 02:25:20,240 and so there's the sense in the theory 4119 02:25:25,590 --> 02:25:21,840 that i'm developing 4120 02:25:28,630 --> 02:25:25,600 that your body is just an avatar 4121 02:25:29,750 --> 02:25:28,640 the death of your body just like the 4122 02:25:31,349 --> 02:25:29,760 death of bob 4123 02:25:33,110 --> 02:25:31,359 in the virtual reality game is not the 4124 02:25:33,830 --> 02:25:33,120 death of bob bob just was not getting a 4125 02:25:35,910 --> 02:25:33,840 drink 4126 02:25:38,870 --> 02:25:35,920 so death may just be stepping out of the 4127 02:25:40,150 --> 02:25:38,880 interface but even if consciousness 4128 02:25:43,830 --> 02:25:40,160 survives 4129 02:25:45,510 --> 02:25:43,840 different from the consciousness that 4130 02:25:46,870 --> 02:25:45,520 you now have as 4131 02:25:48,790 --> 02:25:46,880 you could imagine a butterfly being 4132 02:25:51,990 --> 02:25:48,800 different from a caterpillar 4133 02:25:53,590 --> 02:25:52,000 even more in the analogy of bob going to 4134 02:25:54,630 --> 02:25:53,600 get a drink there's a retainment of 4135 02:25:57,910 --> 02:25:54,640 memory 4136 02:26:00,150 --> 02:25:57,920 in your model i recall you 4137 02:26:01,349 --> 02:26:00,160 saying earlier in the conversation that 4138 02:26:02,790 --> 02:26:01,359 you don't have a 4139 02:26:04,630 --> 02:26:02,800 a theory for memory or there is no 4140 02:26:08,150 --> 02:26:04,640 memory i could be wrong you might but 4141 02:26:11,349 --> 02:26:08,160 regardless does memory survive death 4142 02:26:12,469 --> 02:26:11,359 is it possible memories are data 4143 02:26:15,830 --> 02:26:12,479 structures as well 4144 02:26:18,230 --> 02:26:15,840 so those data structures 4145 02:26:19,830 --> 02:26:18,240 may may or may not be preserved so that 4146 02:26:20,710 --> 02:26:19,840 would be another aspect of this whole 4147 02:26:23,429 --> 02:26:20,720 thing but 4148 02:26:23,990 --> 02:26:23,439 right now i have no reason to say up 4149 02:26:26,230 --> 02:26:24,000 front 4150 02:26:27,270 --> 02:26:26,240 that i would claim that they necessarily 4151 02:26:29,429 --> 02:26:27,280 are preserved so 4152 02:26:31,349 --> 02:26:29,439 i can't claim that that your current 4153 02:26:32,830 --> 02:26:31,359 notion of self would be preserved 4154 02:26:34,710 --> 02:26:32,840 or your current memories would be 4155 02:26:37,030 --> 02:26:34,720 preserved and 4156 02:26:37,990 --> 02:26:37,040 the issue would then be could i build 4157 02:26:41,190 --> 02:26:38,000 models 4158 02:26:43,429 --> 02:26:41,200 of conscious agents in which 4159 02:26:44,389 --> 02:26:43,439 i first modeled what the death process 4160 02:26:45,830 --> 02:26:44,399 is as 4161 02:26:48,230 --> 02:26:45,840 in terms of stepping out of a particular 4162 02:26:49,910 --> 02:26:48,240 interface and can i find models 4163 02:26:52,070 --> 02:26:49,920 so but but notice what i'm saying here 4164 02:26:53,670 --> 02:26:52,080 now i'm actually trying to model the 4165 02:26:55,670 --> 02:26:53,680 death process 4166 02:26:57,349 --> 02:26:55,680 with a mathematical model in terms of 4167 02:26:58,710 --> 02:26:57,359 conscious agents and then i'm asking a 4168 02:27:01,990 --> 02:26:58,720 technical question 4169 02:27:02,870 --> 02:27:02,000 could certain data structures self data 4170 02:27:05,349 --> 02:27:02,880 structure 4171 02:27:06,469 --> 02:27:05,359 memory my own personal episodic memory 4172 02:27:09,830 --> 02:27:06,479 data structures 4173 02:27:12,230 --> 02:27:09,840 be retained 4174 02:27:14,150 --> 02:27:12,240 in this other process that that is 4175 02:27:15,510 --> 02:27:14,160 leading to the extraction of 4176 02:27:17,190 --> 02:27:15,520 a conscious agent out of a particular 4177 02:27:19,349 --> 02:27:17,200 interface 4178 02:27:20,870 --> 02:27:19,359 that i don't know the answer to it but 4179 02:27:22,230 --> 02:27:20,880 for me it's a technical question and a 4180 02:27:26,550 --> 02:27:22,240 really interesting one 4181 02:27:28,070 --> 02:27:26,560 and and one that i don't think is beyond 4182 02:27:29,910 --> 02:27:28,080 our scope i think it's one that we can 4183 02:27:30,950 --> 02:27:29,920 address we can try to find what i like 4184 02:27:35,110 --> 02:27:30,960 about 4185 02:27:36,950 --> 02:27:35,120 reminds me of newtonian approximation 4186 02:27:38,469 --> 02:27:36,960 where you just guess at what one of the 4187 02:27:40,710 --> 02:27:38,479 roots are and you're 4188 02:27:42,469 --> 02:27:40,720 knowing you know full well that it's 4189 02:27:44,150 --> 02:27:42,479 likely to be wrong 4190 02:27:46,389 --> 02:27:44,160 but because of that guess you can get 4191 02:27:48,309 --> 02:27:46,399 closer and closer to the truth 4192 02:27:50,630 --> 02:27:48,319 that's how science works right you you 4193 02:27:52,309 --> 02:27:50,640 you guess at the foundations 4194 02:27:55,349 --> 02:27:52,319 you guess of what the right assumptions 4195 02:27:57,270 --> 02:27:55,359 are newton did a brilliant job i mean 4196 02:27:59,510 --> 02:27:57,280 he's probably one of the smartest men 4197 02:28:02,710 --> 02:27:59,520 that ever lived maybe the smartest 4198 02:28:07,030 --> 02:28:02,720 uh incredible brilliance and and 4199 02:28:11,990 --> 02:28:10,870 the new theories give i give newton as 4200 02:28:14,710 --> 02:28:12,000 an approximation 4201 02:28:16,070 --> 02:28:14,720 like well einstein gives newton as a 4202 02:28:17,030 --> 02:28:16,080 limiting case as the speed of light goes 4203 02:28:20,309 --> 02:28:17,040 to infinity 4204 02:28:23,349 --> 02:28:20,319 right newton um is wrong but but he's 4205 02:28:23,750 --> 02:28:23,359 deeply right too he had his hands on 4206 02:28:26,790 --> 02:28:23,760 something 4207 02:28:28,710 --> 02:28:26,800 so we would like to have assumptions in 4208 02:28:32,710 --> 02:28:28,720 this area of consciousness 4209 02:28:36,469 --> 02:28:34,870 but that then lead that turn all the 4210 02:28:38,309 --> 02:28:36,479 kinds of questions you're asking 4211 02:28:39,670 --> 02:28:38,319 into technical problems that we can in 4212 02:28:41,830 --> 02:28:39,680 principle solve and 4213 02:28:43,670 --> 02:28:41,840 all the questions you're asking so far 4214 02:28:45,349 --> 02:28:43,680 are ones i think that we can 4215 02:28:47,910 --> 02:28:45,359 pose as technical questions and try to 4216 02:28:51,750 --> 02:28:49,030 let's get back to girdles and 4217 02:28:55,030 --> 02:28:51,760 completeness theorem people like penrose 4218 02:28:57,110 --> 02:28:55,040 and lucas would say that 4219 02:28:59,270 --> 02:28:57,120 any system that's computational in 4220 02:29:00,630 --> 02:28:59,280 nature which yours sounds like 4221 02:29:02,389 --> 02:29:00,640 or at least it's algorithmic or 4222 02:29:04,550 --> 02:29:02,399 rule-based 4223 02:29:07,670 --> 02:29:04,560 would necessarily fail at a model of 4224 02:29:10,550 --> 02:29:07,680 consciousness because 4225 02:29:12,070 --> 02:29:10,560 within that system there are truths that 4226 02:29:15,750 --> 02:29:12,080 that system cannot see 4227 02:29:17,590 --> 02:29:15,760 as being true but we can 4228 02:29:20,830 --> 02:29:17,600 how does your how do you deal with that 4229 02:29:20,840 --> 02:29:24,550 well so 4230 02:29:31,429 --> 02:29:28,550 there are non-computable functions 4231 02:29:32,230 --> 02:29:31,439 right and this is something that penrose 4232 02:29:35,750 --> 02:29:32,240 knows quite well 4233 02:29:38,710 --> 02:29:35,760 and is focused on in some of his work so 4234 02:29:40,469 --> 02:29:38,720 in fact it's quite remarkable if you 4235 02:29:44,230 --> 02:29:40,479 just look 4236 02:29:47,590 --> 02:29:44,240 at the integers or even just the natural 4237 02:29:52,150 --> 02:29:49,750 and you ask look at all the functions 4238 02:29:55,190 --> 02:29:52,160 from the integers to the integers 4239 02:29:57,750 --> 02:29:55,200 right well it's 4240 02:29:59,349 --> 02:29:57,760 mathematicians can show that there's an 4241 02:30:00,469 --> 02:29:59,359 uncountable set of functions 4242 02:30:01,990 --> 02:30:00,479 from the integers to the integers 4243 02:30:03,670 --> 02:30:02,000 because the number of functions is the 4244 02:30:06,550 --> 02:30:03,680 power set of the integer so it's it's 4245 02:30:06,950 --> 02:30:06,560 higher cardinality than the energies so 4246 02:30:10,389 --> 02:30:06,960 it's an 4247 02:30:14,870 --> 02:30:10,399 uncountable scent but 4248 02:30:18,070 --> 02:30:14,880 turing proved that the set 4249 02:30:21,429 --> 02:30:18,080 of all computable functions 4250 02:30:26,950 --> 02:30:25,670 therefore when we look at just 4251 02:30:29,110 --> 02:30:26,960 the collection of functions from the 4252 02:30:31,349 --> 02:30:29,120 integers to the integers 4253 02:30:32,309 --> 02:30:31,359 which is uncountable what that means is 4254 02:30:36,150 --> 02:30:32,319 that 4255 02:30:37,190 --> 02:30:36,160 almost no function is computable 4256 02:30:38,870 --> 02:30:37,200 when you look at the set of all 4257 02:30:39,750 --> 02:30:38,880 functions the set of computable 4258 02:30:42,389 --> 02:30:39,760 functions 4259 02:30:44,870 --> 02:30:42,399 is probability zero for some interesting 4260 02:30:51,990 --> 02:30:48,790 so so the reason we 4261 02:30:53,590 --> 02:30:52,000 focus on computable functions is partly 4262 02:30:55,510 --> 02:30:53,600 because of our lack of imagination it's 4263 02:30:58,550 --> 02:30:55,520 hard for us to imagine 4264 02:31:00,389 --> 02:30:58,560 uncomputable functions right if you've 4265 02:31:02,070 --> 02:31:00,399 taken a class in computer science where 4266 02:31:05,429 --> 02:31:02,080 you actually have to like 4267 02:31:08,150 --> 02:31:05,439 deal with uncomputable functions um 4268 02:31:09,510 --> 02:31:08,160 you can get there you can study in a 4269 02:31:11,830 --> 02:31:09,520 non-computable function 4270 02:31:12,710 --> 02:31:11,840 but boy is it hard it really strips all 4271 02:31:15,429 --> 02:31:12,720 the gears in your head 4272 02:31:17,030 --> 02:31:15,439 it's just so hard for us but so most 4273 02:31:19,030 --> 02:31:17,040 functions are not computable 4274 02:31:20,469 --> 02:31:19,040 our brains have a hard time even 4275 02:31:23,910 --> 02:31:20,479 understanding one of them 4276 02:31:27,030 --> 02:31:23,920 so it's a real limitation of our brains 4277 02:31:34,230 --> 02:31:30,150 in my field cognitive neuroscience we're 4278 02:31:37,429 --> 02:31:34,240 giving computational theories of mind 4279 02:31:39,990 --> 02:31:37,439 there is a way to look at this to 4280 02:31:40,950 --> 02:31:40,000 what my my field is doing um and say 4281 02:31:42,070 --> 02:31:40,960 what are you guys up to 4282 02:31:44,070 --> 02:31:42,080 you're you're trying to give 4283 02:31:47,030 --> 02:31:44,080 computational theories of 4284 02:31:48,550 --> 02:31:47,040 cognition if you're if you're saying 4285 02:31:49,510 --> 02:31:48,560 that cognition is only based on 4286 02:31:50,950 --> 02:31:49,520 computation 4287 02:31:52,550 --> 02:31:50,960 you're claiming that of all the 4288 02:31:54,230 --> 02:31:52,560 functions that are available there's 4289 02:31:56,469 --> 02:31:54,240 this probability zero subset of 4290 02:31:58,550 --> 02:31:56,479 functions that that are only responsible 4291 02:32:01,030 --> 02:31:58,560 for our minds and for consciousness 4292 02:32:01,990 --> 02:32:01,040 right you know if like you know the 4293 02:32:04,790 --> 02:32:02,000 tinonian 4294 02:32:05,429 --> 02:32:04,800 coke approach of you know integrated 4295 02:32:08,950 --> 02:32:05,439 information 4296 02:32:10,950 --> 02:32:08,960 it's a computational function so why 4297 02:32:12,790 --> 02:32:10,960 should we assume that cognition in 4298 02:32:16,230 --> 02:32:12,800 general in consciousness 4299 02:32:18,389 --> 02:32:16,240 um is restricted to this probability 4300 02:32:20,950 --> 02:32:18,399 zero subset of functions 4301 02:32:21,990 --> 02:32:20,960 what what's what's the principled reason 4302 02:32:24,150 --> 02:32:22,000 for that 4303 02:32:25,429 --> 02:32:24,160 and most of my colleagues don't even 4304 02:32:26,550 --> 02:32:25,439 understand that this is an issue and 4305 02:32:27,830 --> 02:32:26,560 certainly don't have an answer for it 4306 02:32:29,510 --> 02:32:27,840 but but of course 4307 02:32:32,550 --> 02:32:29,520 penrose is an exception penrose is 4308 02:32:34,710 --> 02:32:32,560 saying he unders he understands all this 4309 02:32:36,389 --> 02:32:34,720 but but i still don't agree with what 4310 02:32:39,510 --> 02:32:36,399 where penrose goes on this right 4311 02:32:41,110 --> 02:32:39,520 penrose is is saying 4312 02:32:42,950 --> 02:32:41,120 he still wants to start with a 4313 02:32:46,389 --> 02:32:42,960 physicalist framework 4314 02:32:47,429 --> 02:32:46,399 and get consciousness to emerge by some 4315 02:32:50,870 --> 02:32:47,439 kind of 4316 02:32:51,510 --> 02:32:50,880 um objective reduction of forget about 4317 02:32:54,630 --> 02:32:51,520 that 4318 02:32:57,830 --> 02:32:54,640 i i'd say it's more fundamental the 4319 02:33:00,389 --> 02:32:57,840 w the conscious agent model looks to me 4320 02:33:02,790 --> 02:33:00,399 to be algorithmic or rule-based 4321 02:33:03,750 --> 02:33:02,800 and the statement from penrose 4322 02:33:05,270 --> 02:33:03,760 independent of whether or not 4323 02:33:06,710 --> 02:33:05,280 consciousness emerges from physicality 4324 02:33:09,590 --> 02:33:06,720 just forget about that 4325 02:33:10,389 --> 02:33:09,600 is that a rule-based system can't 4326 02:33:12,469 --> 02:33:10,399 account for 4327 02:33:14,150 --> 02:33:12,479 our conscious behavior given that we 4328 02:33:17,030 --> 02:33:14,160 have an understanding of what's 4329 02:33:17,750 --> 02:33:17,040 true but not provable within that 4330 02:33:21,910 --> 02:33:17,760 rule-based 4331 02:33:25,990 --> 02:33:21,920 we have that quality 4332 02:33:29,270 --> 02:33:26,000 our consciousness can't be relegated to 4333 02:33:30,710 --> 02:33:29,280 an algorithm which yours seems like now 4334 02:33:33,110 --> 02:33:30,720 it could just be this is rudimentary 4335 02:33:34,950 --> 02:33:33,120 form kurt i'm like i'm a step one 4336 02:33:37,030 --> 02:33:34,960 or there might be another counter and 4337 02:33:39,910 --> 02:33:37,040 i'm just curious to know what you think 4338 02:33:41,110 --> 02:33:39,920 well so again the framework of what i'm 4339 02:33:44,150 --> 02:33:41,120 doing is different from what 4340 02:33:44,790 --> 02:33:44,160 what what he's trying to do right i i'm 4341 02:33:46,870 --> 02:33:44,800 not too 4342 02:33:48,150 --> 02:33:46,880 i'm not trying to explain how 4343 02:33:50,070 --> 02:33:48,160 consciousness arises 4344 02:33:51,510 --> 02:33:50,080 i'm assuming it so consciousness is 4345 02:33:53,349 --> 02:33:51,520 given 4346 02:33:55,429 --> 02:33:53,359 now there's a question do 4347 02:33:57,670 --> 02:33:55,439 consciousnesses interact only by rule 4348 02:34:00,830 --> 02:33:57,680 right now i'm studying rules 4349 02:34:02,870 --> 02:34:00,840 and but but i'm completely open to 4350 02:34:04,389 --> 02:34:02,880 non-computational 4351 02:34:06,389 --> 02:34:04,399 modes of interaction among these 4352 02:34:08,070 --> 02:34:06,399 countries has no 4353 02:34:10,070 --> 02:34:08,080 bearing because see i'm not trying to 4354 02:34:12,790 --> 02:34:10,080 say how consciousness arises 4355 02:34:13,910 --> 02:34:12,800 i'm saying it it's it exists it's 4356 02:34:15,510 --> 02:34:13,920 fundamental 4357 02:34:17,910 --> 02:34:15,520 but the kinds of interactions the 4358 02:34:20,750 --> 02:34:17,920 consciousnesses have 4359 02:34:21,910 --> 02:34:20,760 surely if they're i don't want to 4360 02:34:24,870 --> 02:34:21,920 exclude 4361 02:34:26,469 --> 02:34:24,880 rule-based interactions but i may find 4362 02:34:27,910 --> 02:34:26,479 that i don't want to restrict to 4363 02:34:29,510 --> 02:34:27,920 rule-based interaction 4364 02:34:30,870 --> 02:34:29,520 so i'm starting with the rule-based ones 4365 02:34:31,590 --> 02:34:30,880 partly because of my background and my 4366 02:34:33,830 --> 02:34:31,600 limitations 4367 02:34:36,630 --> 02:34:33,840 but eventually i'd love to to go beyond 4368 02:34:38,469 --> 02:34:36,640 so i so i would say point well taken 4369 02:34:40,070 --> 02:34:38,479 non-computational approaches may be very 4370 02:34:41,910 --> 02:34:40,080 very interesting um 4371 02:34:43,270 --> 02:34:41,920 in this absolutely there's a cockpit of 4372 02:34:45,750 --> 02:34:43,280 scientist named jonathan 4373 02:34:49,030 --> 02:34:45,760 verveiki or john verveicky and he says 4374 02:34:52,150 --> 02:34:50,870 i i don't know if they're all orthogonal 4375 02:34:53,429 --> 02:34:52,160 they're definitely related but there's 4376 02:34:55,270 --> 02:34:53,439 four different modes of 4377 02:34:57,030 --> 02:34:55,280 knowledge and one is propositional and 4378 02:34:58,550 --> 02:34:57,040 that's what since the science since the 4379 02:35:00,550 --> 02:34:58,560 development of the scientific method 4380 02:35:02,550 --> 02:35:00,560 we've relegated our knowledge to 4381 02:35:03,830 --> 02:35:02,560 the propositions are what are true but 4382 02:35:05,349 --> 02:35:03,840 he says well there are others there's 4383 02:35:07,110 --> 02:35:05,359 participatory knowing 4384 02:35:08,469 --> 02:35:07,120 there's procedural knowledge obviously 4385 02:35:11,429 --> 02:35:08,479 like that one anyone can get 4386 02:35:12,070 --> 02:35:11,439 and then there's perspective and i'm 4387 02:35:15,510 --> 02:35:12,080 curious 4388 02:35:16,950 --> 02:35:15,520 it's like how would one even if your 4389 02:35:18,950 --> 02:35:16,960 if your theory would incorporate then 4390 02:35:20,070 --> 02:35:18,960 how the heck can you even write down 4391 02:35:23,590 --> 02:35:20,080 because this 4392 02:35:26,950 --> 02:35:23,600 notion of writing down is a proposition 4393 02:35:29,990 --> 02:35:26,960 how would one model the other three 4394 02:35:33,190 --> 02:35:30,000 fundamentally well so 4395 02:35:36,230 --> 02:35:33,200 in current neural network models 4396 02:35:40,070 --> 02:35:36,240 um the way that the network learns 4397 02:35:41,190 --> 02:35:40,080 is not by acquiring new propositions is 4398 02:35:44,150 --> 02:35:41,200 by updating 4399 02:35:45,190 --> 02:35:44,160 connection weights in the network that's 4400 02:35:48,230 --> 02:35:45,200 a procedural knowledge 4401 02:35:50,790 --> 02:35:48,240 what what the so the 4402 02:35:53,270 --> 02:35:50,800 the history of ai i i was in the 4403 02:35:55,510 --> 02:35:53,280 artificial intelligence lab at mit 4404 02:35:56,710 --> 02:35:55,520 um that's did my phd there and in the 4405 02:35:58,550 --> 02:35:56,720 brain and cognitive science department 4406 02:36:01,830 --> 02:35:58,560 at mit from 79 to 83. 4407 02:36:03,830 --> 02:36:01,840 at the time ai was mostly about 4408 02:36:05,429 --> 02:36:03,840 propositional right it was good 4409 02:36:08,550 --> 02:36:05,439 old-fashioned ai so we were 4410 02:36:09,590 --> 02:36:08,560 it was explicit algorithms with specific 4411 02:36:12,389 --> 02:36:09,600 things that you could write down as 4412 02:36:14,790 --> 02:36:12,399 propositions and so forth um 4413 02:36:15,830 --> 02:36:14,800 but with neural networks you have this 4414 02:36:17,990 --> 02:36:15,840 kind of thing where 4415 02:36:19,429 --> 02:36:18,000 um the system learns but it's not 4416 02:36:21,110 --> 02:36:19,439 learning propositions 4417 02:36:23,349 --> 02:36:21,120 you're just updating weights and you're 4418 02:36:25,670 --> 02:36:23,359 getting behaviors 4419 02:36:27,030 --> 02:36:25,680 and that turns out to be very very 4420 02:36:28,790 --> 02:36:27,040 effective for modeling 4421 02:36:31,270 --> 02:36:28,800 procedural memories like like motor 4422 02:36:34,870 --> 02:36:31,280 memories and so forth and in fact 4423 02:36:37,270 --> 02:36:34,880 at boston dynamics i believe um 4424 02:36:39,110 --> 02:36:37,280 they've made great progress by by doing 4425 02:36:41,590 --> 02:36:39,120 that by having 4426 02:36:42,230 --> 02:36:41,600 robots that fall down and try things and 4427 02:36:44,150 --> 02:36:42,240 they they 4428 02:36:45,910 --> 02:36:44,160 they walk fall down but their neural 4429 02:36:46,710 --> 02:36:45,920 networks are just updating and updating 4430 02:36:48,469 --> 02:36:46,720 and updating 4431 02:36:50,469 --> 02:36:48,479 and they they don't get any list of 4432 02:36:52,389 --> 02:36:50,479 propositions do this you know do this 4433 02:36:55,670 --> 02:36:52,399 actuator then do that actuator 4434 02:36:58,870 --> 02:36:55,680 no it's just this procedural memory 4435 02:37:00,550 --> 02:36:58,880 um so so we have 4436 02:37:02,070 --> 02:37:00,560 so there's been this big debate between 4437 02:37:02,550 --> 02:37:02,080 propositional procedural that's gone on 4438 02:37:04,309 --> 02:37:02,560 between 4439 02:37:06,710 --> 02:37:04,319 the neural network modelers and the good 4440 02:37:08,150 --> 02:37:06,720 old-fashioned ai kinds of modelers and 4441 02:37:10,550 --> 02:37:08,160 and so forth and you know it's a 4442 02:37:13,590 --> 02:37:10,560 profitable debate 4443 02:37:15,270 --> 02:37:13,600 and and then there's the inactive 4444 02:37:16,790 --> 02:37:15,280 or embody cognition kind of thing that 4445 02:37:18,710 --> 02:37:16,800 comes into it as well 4446 02:37:20,309 --> 02:37:18,720 i'm taking a perspectival thing as well 4447 02:37:21,670 --> 02:37:20,319 right so i'm saying that that in some 4448 02:37:22,710 --> 02:37:21,680 sense conscious experiences and 4449 02:37:26,309 --> 02:37:22,720 perspectives therefore 4450 02:37:27,750 --> 02:37:26,319 are are fundamental but i i see 4451 02:37:30,230 --> 02:37:27,760 within the network of conscious agents 4452 02:37:33,590 --> 02:37:30,240 being able to get both procedural 4453 02:37:35,910 --> 02:37:33,600 and explicit propositional kinds of 4454 02:37:37,349 --> 02:37:35,920 representations coming out but i think 4455 02:37:39,429 --> 02:37:37,359 also as you said 4456 02:37:40,550 --> 02:37:39,439 i should be looking at non-computational 4457 02:37:43,349 --> 02:37:40,560 approaches to this 4458 02:37:43,990 --> 02:37:43,359 and um i've got some mathematician 4459 02:37:45,750 --> 02:37:44,000 friends 4460 02:37:47,030 --> 02:37:45,760 working with me who are expert in 4461 02:37:51,990 --> 02:37:47,040 category theory 4462 02:37:53,830 --> 02:37:52,000 to explode this into a very very general 4463 02:37:55,190 --> 02:37:53,840 mathematical framework and we intend to 4464 02:37:56,950 --> 02:37:55,200 go there 4465 02:37:58,469 --> 02:37:56,960 i know you got to go soon i'm going to 4466 02:37:59,830 --> 02:37:58,479 just get to the 4467 02:38:01,510 --> 02:37:59,840 the best of questions are the ones that 4468 02:38:02,550 --> 02:38:01,520 i like answered which might be more 4469 02:38:04,630 --> 02:38:02,560 technical 4470 02:38:06,230 --> 02:38:04,640 okay at some point you use landauer's 4471 02:38:08,389 --> 02:38:06,240 limit 4472 02:38:09,990 --> 02:38:08,399 i you know what i'm you recall what i'm 4473 02:38:13,270 --> 02:38:10,000 referring to okay 4474 02:38:15,830 --> 02:38:13,280 why do you use that when landorus limit 4475 02:38:17,590 --> 02:38:15,840 presupposes space and time why do you 4476 02:38:18,309 --> 02:38:17,600 use that as a limit for the amount of 4477 02:38:21,270 --> 02:38:18,319 ticks 4478 02:38:21,990 --> 02:38:21,280 or the energy that goes into a tick um 4479 02:38:25,190 --> 02:38:22,000 we've 4480 02:38:27,349 --> 02:38:25,200 used that and this is um largely the uh 4481 02:38:29,110 --> 02:38:27,359 the brilliance of my friend chris fields 4482 02:38:30,790 --> 02:38:29,120 who's who's a 4483 02:38:32,309 --> 02:38:30,800 physicist who's been working on that so 4484 02:38:34,150 --> 02:38:32,319 he likes to look at the 4485 02:38:36,389 --> 02:38:34,160 information theoretic things using 4486 02:38:38,630 --> 02:38:36,399 landauer's principle and to look 4487 02:38:39,750 --> 02:38:38,640 so most of his analyses are in terms of 4488 02:38:40,950 --> 02:38:39,760 quantum theory 4489 02:38:42,950 --> 02:38:40,960 and what what are the limits of 4490 02:38:45,190 --> 02:38:42,960 information transfer in quantum systems 4491 02:38:46,550 --> 02:38:45,200 so that's usually the context in which 4492 02:38:49,670 --> 02:38:46,560 we bring that up 4493 02:38:51,830 --> 02:38:49,680 um ultimately if we 4494 02:38:53,830 --> 02:38:51,840 get a theory of space time trying to 4495 02:38:55,349 --> 02:38:53,840 emerge from our theory of conscious 4496 02:38:57,349 --> 02:38:55,359 agents 4497 02:38:59,429 --> 02:38:57,359 then once again we will face landauer's 4498 02:39:03,190 --> 02:38:59,439 kind of limit when we look at 4499 02:39:06,469 --> 02:39:03,200 how our space-time model 4500 02:39:09,190 --> 02:39:06,479 um is capturing features of the 4501 02:39:10,070 --> 02:39:09,200 information dynamics of conscious agents 4502 02:39:11,670 --> 02:39:10,080 so 4503 02:39:13,830 --> 02:39:11,680 it will come there as a property of the 4504 02:39:17,349 --> 02:39:13,840 interface but not as a fundamental limit 4505 02:39:19,429 --> 02:39:17,359 of of consciousness okay okay and 4506 02:39:20,550 --> 02:39:19,439 does that give a bound for the amount of 4507 02:39:22,550 --> 02:39:20,560 time 4508 02:39:24,070 --> 02:39:22,560 for each click so just so people are 4509 02:39:25,990 --> 02:39:24,080 aware there was that model that i'll 4510 02:39:28,230 --> 02:39:26,000 show on the screen there's the wxg 4511 02:39:29,590 --> 02:39:28,240 i was simplifying it there's a t that's 4512 02:39:32,070 --> 02:39:29,600 in the middle that counts 4513 02:39:33,429 --> 02:39:32,080 the amount of revolutions in the system 4514 02:39:36,870 --> 02:39:33,439 i could be wrong just correct me 4515 02:39:37,510 --> 02:39:36,880 but either way that to me seems akin to 4516 02:39:39,349 --> 02:39:37,520 time 4517 02:39:41,030 --> 02:39:39,359 and then in the paper it seemed like you 4518 02:39:41,510 --> 02:39:41,040 were giving a lower limit to time saying 4519 02:39:44,389 --> 02:39:41,520 that 4520 02:39:45,670 --> 02:39:44,399 experience is something like 100 4521 02:39:47,990 --> 02:39:45,680 femtoseconds 4522 02:39:49,349 --> 02:39:48,000 please correct me if i'm incorrect here 4523 02:39:50,710 --> 02:39:49,359 and i thought that 4524 02:39:52,710 --> 02:39:50,720 well that sounds like a theoretical 4525 02:39:53,429 --> 02:39:52,720 prediction too that if we can get a 4526 02:39:57,910 --> 02:39:53,439 camera or 4527 02:39:59,510 --> 02:39:57,920 conscious experience of a quicker time 4528 02:40:02,309 --> 02:39:59,520 then that would invalidate it or if we 4529 02:40:05,590 --> 02:40:02,319 can't then that would be evidence for it 4530 02:40:06,309 --> 02:40:05,600 right so so i i don't go that direction 4531 02:40:08,469 --> 02:40:06,319 with it 4532 02:40:09,590 --> 02:40:08,479 um and i don't think that chris fields 4533 02:40:16,630 --> 02:40:09,600 goes that direction with it 4534 02:40:24,630 --> 02:40:20,070 there there is no 4535 02:40:29,349 --> 02:40:24,640 fundamental pixelation of space-time 4536 02:40:32,070 --> 02:40:29,359 right so space-time is doomed 4537 02:40:33,269 --> 02:40:32,080 not because we run into pixels at the 4538 02:40:35,590 --> 02:40:33,279 planck scale 4539 02:40:37,269 --> 02:40:35,600 but rather because space time itself 4540 02:40:39,269 --> 02:40:37,279 ceases to be well defined 4541 02:40:41,750 --> 02:40:39,279 it's not a it's not an empirically 4542 02:40:45,429 --> 02:40:41,760 observable construct 4543 02:40:47,670 --> 02:40:45,439 at that level the attempts 4544 02:40:48,870 --> 02:40:47,680 to think about space time as being 4545 02:40:52,630 --> 02:40:48,880 pixelated 4546 02:40:53,990 --> 02:40:52,640 at roughly the blank scale run into a 4547 02:40:57,030 --> 02:40:54,000 very serious problem 4548 02:40:58,070 --> 02:40:57,040 um they're not lorenz invariant the 4549 02:41:00,070 --> 02:40:58,080 pixels 4550 02:41:01,269 --> 02:41:00,080 what's tiny for you may not be tiny for 4551 02:41:03,750 --> 02:41:01,279 someone else so 4552 02:41:05,510 --> 02:41:03,760 it's been no one has a way to make the 4553 02:41:06,550 --> 02:41:05,520 pixelation of space-time lorenz 4554 02:41:09,910 --> 02:41:06,560 invariant 4555 02:41:11,190 --> 02:41:09,920 and and so i wouldn't want to go there 4556 02:41:12,950 --> 02:41:11,200 and i don't think 4557 02:41:15,030 --> 02:41:12,960 chris fields would would want to go 4558 02:41:17,429 --> 02:41:15,040 there nevertheless we may find 4559 02:41:18,950 --> 02:41:17,439 i mean the the landauer limit does play 4560 02:41:20,950 --> 02:41:18,960 a role in information transfers 4561 02:41:22,710 --> 02:41:20,960 in space time so we will want to 4562 02:41:24,309 --> 02:41:22,720 understand where that limit comes from 4563 02:41:27,830 --> 02:41:24,319 from our theory of consciousness 4564 02:41:29,910 --> 02:41:27,840 and our theory of emergent space time 4565 02:41:32,550 --> 02:41:29,920 but i don't see us getting any 4566 02:41:35,190 --> 02:41:32,560 predictions about a pixelation of time 4567 02:41:35,670 --> 02:41:35,200 or pixelation of space because it would 4568 02:41:40,389 --> 02:41:35,680 violate 4569 02:41:42,710 --> 02:41:40,399 lorenz and variance okay 4570 02:41:45,110 --> 02:41:42,720 on the interface theory when i'm not 4571 02:41:47,349 --> 02:41:45,120 looking at let's say the moon 4572 02:41:48,710 --> 02:41:47,359 it's it doesn't necessarily exist but 4573 02:41:50,710 --> 02:41:48,720 you're saying that the 4574 02:41:52,150 --> 02:41:50,720 what doesn't exist is our idea of the 4575 02:41:53,910 --> 02:41:52,160 moon or that the 4576 02:41:55,590 --> 02:41:53,920 that our idea is representing something 4577 02:41:59,030 --> 02:41:55,600 that something still persists it's just 4578 02:42:00,309 --> 02:41:59,040 our idea of the moon doesn't exist 4579 02:42:02,309 --> 02:42:00,319 right so when i say the moon doesn't 4580 02:42:04,309 --> 02:42:02,319 exist um 4581 02:42:05,510 --> 02:42:04,319 i'm i'm saying it in the same way that 4582 02:42:08,790 --> 02:42:05,520 if i look 4583 02:42:10,150 --> 02:42:08,800 like at a an image and see an illusory 4584 02:42:11,830 --> 02:42:10,160 cube 4585 02:42:13,910 --> 02:42:11,840 and i say and then someone and then and 4586 02:42:15,349 --> 02:42:13,920 sometimes the cube i see one corner 4587 02:42:17,190 --> 02:42:15,359 one face in front and sometimes it flips 4588 02:42:20,550 --> 02:42:17,200 and i see another face in front 4589 02:42:21,910 --> 02:42:20,560 um and then when i look away i say that 4590 02:42:23,510 --> 02:42:21,920 there is no such thing as the cube 4591 02:42:24,830 --> 02:42:23,520 because the cube only exists when i look 4592 02:42:26,070 --> 02:42:24,840 at it and then i see the cube and it's 4593 02:42:27,750 --> 02:42:26,080 flipping 4594 02:42:29,590 --> 02:42:27,760 the same thing with the moon the moon is 4595 02:42:32,389 --> 02:42:29,600 like that cube 4596 02:42:34,309 --> 02:42:32,399 now there is some reality that i'm 4597 02:42:35,910 --> 02:42:34,319 interacting with 4598 02:42:38,469 --> 02:42:35,920 and it continues to exist whether or not 4599 02:42:41,110 --> 02:42:38,479 i look but that that reality 4600 02:42:43,269 --> 02:42:41,120 is not inside space and time at all much 4601 02:42:46,389 --> 02:42:43,279 less is at the moon 4602 02:42:47,750 --> 02:42:46,399 space and time themselves are not a 4603 02:42:49,910 --> 02:42:47,760 fundamental reality 4604 02:42:52,150 --> 02:42:49,920 they are data structures that we create 4605 02:42:54,230 --> 02:42:52,160 so anything that's in space time 4606 02:42:56,469 --> 02:42:54,240 is in some sense no more real than the 4607 02:42:58,070 --> 02:42:56,479 illusory cube that i look 4608 02:42:59,750 --> 02:42:58,080 and then destroy when i look away 4609 02:43:01,510 --> 02:42:59,760 spacetime itself is created and 4610 02:43:03,830 --> 02:43:01,520 destroyed by us 4611 02:43:05,510 --> 02:43:03,840 also only exists in the same way that 4612 02:43:06,790 --> 02:43:05,520 that illusory cube exists 4613 02:43:08,710 --> 02:43:06,800 which isn't to say that there isn't 4614 02:43:10,389 --> 02:43:08,720 something that exists but it's not even 4615 02:43:12,469 --> 02:43:10,399 in space and time whenever it exists 4616 02:43:16,550 --> 02:43:12,479 it's outside of space and time 4617 02:43:18,870 --> 02:43:16,560 um it's outside of my headset 4618 02:43:20,070 --> 02:43:18,880 spacetime see i see so let's imagine 4619 02:43:21,429 --> 02:43:20,080 there's tickle me elmo 4620 02:43:23,110 --> 02:43:21,439 and there's a cat and i see that tickle 4621 02:43:24,710 --> 02:43:23,120 me elmo but you're like okay you don't 4622 02:43:26,790 --> 02:43:24,720 you look it's gone it's destroyed it's 4623 02:43:27,910 --> 02:43:26,800 not rendered anymore but a camera that i 4624 02:43:29,750 --> 02:43:27,920 just pressed record on 4625 02:43:31,269 --> 02:43:29,760 can record the tickle memo then i can go 4626 02:43:33,670 --> 02:43:31,279 and press play 4627 02:43:35,269 --> 02:43:33,680 how do you account for that well notice 4628 02:43:36,710 --> 02:43:35,279 you only see the elmo on the camera when 4629 02:43:37,429 --> 02:43:36,720 you look you only see the camera when 4630 02:43:40,230 --> 02:43:37,439 you look 4631 02:43:41,830 --> 02:43:40,240 so the camera itself is again um just 4632 02:43:43,510 --> 02:43:41,840 something that exists when you 4633 02:43:45,590 --> 02:43:43,520 when you perceive it it's pointing to 4634 02:43:46,150 --> 02:43:45,600 another reality there is a reality that 4635 02:43:48,150 --> 02:43:46,160 exists 4636 02:43:49,990 --> 02:43:48,160 independent of you but the reality is 4637 02:43:52,230 --> 02:43:50,000 not the camera and it's not the digital 4638 02:43:54,070 --> 02:43:52,240 recording on the camera those are just 4639 02:43:56,950 --> 02:43:54,080 again your own icons 4640 02:43:58,309 --> 02:43:56,960 so the camera itself is just a simple 4641 02:43:59,750 --> 02:43:58,319 and how does the 4642 02:44:01,750 --> 02:43:59,760 how does your theory i know you've 4643 02:44:02,230 --> 02:44:01,760 covered this before but um just for the 4644 02:44:03,429 --> 02:44:02,240 people 4645 02:44:05,750 --> 02:44:03,439 who are listening how does your theory 4646 02:44:06,309 --> 02:44:05,760 account for inter-subject subjective 4647 02:44:10,790 --> 02:44:06,319 agreement 4648 02:44:12,630 --> 02:44:10,800 is one of our current projects 4649 02:44:13,910 --> 02:44:12,640 right so one of the one of the papers 4650 02:44:21,590 --> 02:44:13,920 we're working on right now 4651 02:44:24,870 --> 02:44:24,150 is critical to science right the way 4652 02:44:27,510 --> 02:44:24,880 scientists 4653 02:44:28,870 --> 02:44:27,520 typically talk about it about what 4654 02:44:30,550 --> 02:44:28,880 science is doing is 4655 02:44:32,870 --> 02:44:30,560 is that what makes science special in 4656 02:44:34,469 --> 02:44:32,880 some sense is that one scientist can 4657 02:44:37,670 --> 02:44:34,479 look at a physical system like 4658 02:44:41,110 --> 02:44:40,389 animal or this planet and another 4659 02:44:42,469 --> 02:44:41,120 scientist 4660 02:44:43,830 --> 02:44:42,479 can make their own independent 4661 02:44:45,590 --> 02:44:43,840 measurements of that animal that 4662 02:44:47,190 --> 02:44:45,600 specific animal or that planet 4663 02:44:48,710 --> 02:44:47,200 and then we can go and compare notes in 4664 02:44:52,230 --> 02:44:48,720 other words we have this notion of 4665 02:44:53,750 --> 02:44:52,240 public physical objects objects that are 4666 02:44:56,230 --> 02:44:53,760 really there 4667 02:44:56,870 --> 02:44:56,240 whether or not we exist like dinosaur 4668 02:44:58,389 --> 02:44:56,880 bones right 4669 02:45:00,070 --> 02:44:58,399 the dinosaur bones have been there for 4670 02:45:01,590 --> 02:45:00,080 200 million years 4671 02:45:03,110 --> 02:45:01,600 they were there if no one had ever been 4672 02:45:04,550 --> 02:45:03,120 around they would still be there i can 4673 02:45:05,830 --> 02:45:04,560 look at the dinosaur bones you can look 4674 02:45:07,030 --> 02:45:05,840 at the dinosaur bones they're public 4675 02:45:07,670 --> 02:45:07,040 physical objects we can make our 4676 02:45:10,950 --> 02:45:07,680 measurements 4677 02:45:13,110 --> 02:45:10,960 get the dna and so forth that's gone 4678 02:45:13,990 --> 02:45:13,120 in my point of view that whole point of 4679 02:45:16,790 --> 02:45:14,000 view is gone because 4680 02:45:18,309 --> 02:45:16,800 space time itself is doomed space time 4681 02:45:19,269 --> 02:45:18,319 isn't fundamental there are no public 4682 02:45:21,990 --> 02:45:19,279 physical objects 4683 02:45:22,950 --> 02:45:22,000 so how do we rethink what we mean by 4684 02:45:26,790 --> 02:45:22,960 objectivity 4685 02:45:29,910 --> 02:45:26,800 with again 4686 02:45:31,510 --> 02:45:29,920 having independent scientists do their 4687 02:45:32,550 --> 02:45:31,520 own experiments and come to some 4688 02:45:34,950 --> 02:45:32,560 agreement 4689 02:45:35,910 --> 02:45:34,960 so the framework that i'm working on 4690 02:45:38,950 --> 02:45:35,920 right now 4691 02:45:41,190 --> 02:45:38,960 poses that as a really serious question 4692 02:45:42,309 --> 02:45:41,200 and so we're writing a paper on that 4693 02:45:43,670 --> 02:45:42,319 right now we're going to be running 4694 02:45:45,349 --> 02:45:43,680 simulations but but 4695 02:45:48,950 --> 02:45:45,359 here's the kind of idea that i'm playing 4696 02:45:54,550 --> 02:45:52,230 i think that we have to take the 4697 02:45:57,429 --> 02:45:54,560 possibility of synesthesia 4698 02:45:59,990 --> 02:45:57,439 very seriously we actually know 4699 02:46:03,190 --> 02:46:00,000 synesthesia occurs 4700 02:46:04,790 --> 02:46:03,200 it could be easily in the cards that 4701 02:46:07,910 --> 02:46:04,800 your 4702 02:46:08,710 --> 02:46:07,920 visual experiences that you described 4703 02:46:11,750 --> 02:46:08,720 with the words 4704 02:46:12,710 --> 02:46:11,760 red and round and square and so forth 4705 02:46:15,429 --> 02:46:12,720 and i described 4706 02:46:15,990 --> 02:46:15,439 if i could get inside your head for all 4707 02:46:18,550 --> 02:46:16,000 i know 4708 02:46:19,190 --> 02:46:18,560 i would go whoa whoa that's not what i 4709 02:46:22,630 --> 02:46:19,200 would call 4710 02:46:26,070 --> 02:46:22,640 the smell of garlic and the taste of 4711 02:46:29,190 --> 02:46:26,080 butter um or a headache those are 4712 02:46:32,469 --> 02:46:29,200 the just like michael watson 4713 02:46:34,550 --> 02:46:32,479 he he tastes mint but he feels a tall 4714 02:46:36,790 --> 02:46:34,560 cold smooth column of glass i don't feel 4715 02:46:38,309 --> 02:46:36,800 that if all michael watson ever 4716 02:46:39,190 --> 02:46:38,319 experienced were the feelings in his 4717 02:46:42,309 --> 02:46:39,200 hand 4718 02:46:43,910 --> 02:46:42,319 he would have a perfectly good taste 4719 02:46:46,950 --> 02:46:43,920 sensation he could cook 4720 02:46:49,429 --> 02:46:46,960 he could figure out what what foods are 4721 02:46:50,790 --> 02:46:49,439 so in other words we could you and i as 4722 02:46:54,870 --> 02:46:50,800 scientists 4723 02:46:58,389 --> 02:46:56,230 believe that we're talking the same 4724 02:47:00,469 --> 02:46:58,399 language and yet your 4725 02:47:01,990 --> 02:47:00,479 experiences could be synesthetically 4726 02:47:04,710 --> 02:47:02,000 utterly different from mine 4727 02:47:05,670 --> 02:47:04,720 and we would never know and i think that 4728 02:47:09,590 --> 02:47:05,680 that's 4729 02:47:13,429 --> 02:47:09,600 going to turn out to be a fundamental 4730 02:47:16,469 --> 02:47:13,439 and unbreachable limit 4731 02:47:18,309 --> 02:47:16,479 to what we can know and to 4732 02:47:19,670 --> 02:47:18,319 the degree of objectivity that we can 4733 02:47:22,309 --> 02:47:19,680 have in science 4734 02:47:23,429 --> 02:47:22,319 we the technical thing would be that we 4735 02:47:26,630 --> 02:47:23,439 can only agree 4736 02:47:28,790 --> 02:47:26,640 up to effectively a homomorphism 4737 02:47:30,630 --> 02:47:28,800 a homomorphism of your set of perceptual 4738 02:47:33,910 --> 02:47:30,640 representations and experiences 4739 02:47:35,349 --> 02:47:33,920 and mine the homomorphism could be as 4740 02:47:37,590 --> 02:47:35,359 radical as the difference between 4741 02:47:39,030 --> 02:47:37,600 the taste of mint and the tall cold 4742 02:47:42,469 --> 02:47:39,040 smooth column of glass it could be 4743 02:47:43,670 --> 02:47:42,479 that different and we would never know 4744 02:47:45,030 --> 02:47:43,680 the only reason we know in michael 4745 02:47:46,389 --> 02:47:45,040 watson's case is because he had both and 4746 02:47:48,150 --> 02:47:46,399 he could tell us about both 4747 02:47:50,230 --> 02:47:48,160 we could say oh well i understand the 4748 02:47:50,870 --> 02:47:50,240 one but gee i never thought about the 4749 02:47:54,389 --> 02:47:50,880 other 4750 02:47:57,030 --> 02:47:54,399 that's that's incredible um so 4751 02:48:01,269 --> 02:47:57,040 so we're gonna have to understand what 4752 02:48:05,510 --> 02:48:04,150 confirmation and what's the greatest 4753 02:48:09,030 --> 02:48:05,520 level of agreement 4754 02:48:10,550 --> 02:48:09,040 that scientists can have given this 4755 02:48:13,830 --> 02:48:10,560 possibility of 4756 02:48:16,870 --> 02:48:13,840 synesthetic complete divergence 4757 02:48:19,990 --> 02:48:16,880 between us 4758 02:48:21,030 --> 02:48:20,000 and i would love to i was talking with 4759 02:48:22,630 --> 02:48:21,040 my colleagues on this 4760 02:48:24,309 --> 02:48:22,640 in the paper that we're writing we may 4761 02:48:25,750 --> 02:48:24,319 actually do this 4762 02:48:28,830 --> 02:48:25,760 not just as a thought experiment paper 4763 02:48:31,510 --> 02:48:28,840 we may actually do this i would love to 4764 02:48:33,030 --> 02:48:31,520 create this really interesting virtual 4765 02:48:36,150 --> 02:48:33,040 reality game 4766 02:48:37,110 --> 02:48:36,160 two-player game or multiplayer but for 4767 02:48:39,750 --> 02:48:37,120 one player 4768 02:48:42,790 --> 02:48:39,760 it's it it they're immersed in what 4769 02:48:44,070 --> 02:48:42,800 seems like say grand theft auto 4770 02:48:46,230 --> 02:48:44,080 player is immersed in a completely 4771 02:48:49,510 --> 02:48:46,240 different game like super mario brothers 4772 02:48:50,870 --> 02:48:49,520 but i've arranged it so they both think 4773 02:48:52,790 --> 02:48:50,880 that they're playing the same game 4774 02:48:53,910 --> 02:48:52,800 and they are actually playing and they 4775 02:48:55,670 --> 02:48:53,920 win and lose 4776 02:48:57,269 --> 02:48:55,680 and but they have no idea that the other 4777 02:48:58,630 --> 02:48:57,279 person is in a completely different 4778 02:49:00,150 --> 02:48:58,640 virtual world 4779 02:49:01,830 --> 02:49:00,160 and they but they're also they're 4780 02:49:02,469 --> 02:49:01,840 they're using language they seem to 4781 02:49:04,150 --> 02:49:02,479 agree 4782 02:49:05,510 --> 02:49:04,160 right you take them out of their heads 4783 02:49:07,190 --> 02:49:05,520 and have them swap and 4784 02:49:08,950 --> 02:49:07,200 blow their minds when they find out what 4785 02:49:09,990 --> 02:49:08,960 the other person was doing i think we 4786 02:49:12,469 --> 02:49:10,000 can do that 4787 02:49:14,230 --> 02:49:12,479 and so we have to be if that's true if 4788 02:49:16,070 --> 02:49:14,240 that's possible 4789 02:49:17,990 --> 02:49:16,080 in category theory that would be the 4790 02:49:20,309 --> 02:49:18,000 idea that you might have 4791 02:49:21,429 --> 02:49:20,319 this one category for your 4792 02:49:22,790 --> 02:49:21,439 representation 4793 02:49:25,110 --> 02:49:22,800 the other scientists might have another 4794 02:49:27,990 --> 02:49:25,120 category but if there's some functor 4795 02:49:29,830 --> 02:49:28,000 if there's some functor that maps the 4796 02:49:32,389 --> 02:49:29,840 objects and relations 4797 02:49:35,110 --> 02:49:32,399 that you have in your interface to the 4798 02:49:37,990 --> 02:49:35,120 objects and relations that the other 4799 02:49:39,030 --> 02:49:38,000 scientist has in their interface if you 4800 02:49:40,790 --> 02:49:39,040 have the right functor 4801 02:49:42,309 --> 02:49:40,800 then the scientists will have the 4802 02:49:43,670 --> 02:49:42,319 appearance of agreement and they will 4803 02:49:46,710 --> 02:49:43,680 never know that they're 4804 02:49:51,510 --> 02:49:46,720 separated by this functor 4805 02:49:54,630 --> 02:49:51,520 and so i think that there's going to be 4806 02:49:55,990 --> 02:49:54,640 category theoretic analyses ahead 4807 02:49:57,670 --> 02:49:56,000 on this that are going to be really 4808 02:49:59,110 --> 02:49:57,680 quite stunning but i think that's going 4809 02:49:59,830 --> 02:49:59,120 to be the future of the philosophy of 4810 02:50:02,389 --> 02:49:59,840 science 4811 02:50:05,910 --> 02:50:02,399 is this category theoretic fundamental 4812 02:50:10,790 --> 02:50:09,110 agreement that scientists can have there 4813 02:50:15,349 --> 02:50:10,800 are no public physical objects 4814 02:50:18,870 --> 02:50:17,830 laboratory independent verification my 4815 02:50:21,990 --> 02:50:18,880 laboratory gets it 4816 02:50:24,150 --> 02:50:22,000 really doing in that case it's going to 4817 02:50:26,230 --> 02:50:24,160 be up to some functor 4818 02:50:27,190 --> 02:50:26,240 right it sounds to me i only have three 4819 02:50:28,870 --> 02:50:27,200 three more questions 4820 02:50:30,550 --> 02:50:28,880 and they might be long but i have three 4821 02:50:30,950 --> 02:50:30,560 questions it sounds to me like you're 4822 02:50:33,429 --> 02:50:30,960 saying 4823 02:50:34,630 --> 02:50:33,439 that there are some homomorphic 4824 02:50:37,110 --> 02:50:34,640 functions between us 4825 02:50:39,269 --> 02:50:37,120 and that's responsible for why we feel 4826 02:50:42,469 --> 02:50:39,279 like we share a similar world 4827 02:50:43,110 --> 02:50:42,479 however can we not use the same argument 4828 02:50:45,990 --> 02:50:43,120 that you use 4829 02:50:47,429 --> 02:50:46,000 to show that the probability that we see 4830 02:50:48,710 --> 02:50:47,439 the truth is zero that is that the 4831 02:50:51,030 --> 02:50:48,720 immiscible functions 4832 02:50:52,550 --> 02:50:51,040 grow much larger than the homomorphic 4833 02:50:54,230 --> 02:50:52,560 functions to the structure 4834 02:50:55,590 --> 02:50:54,240 can we not use that to say that the 4835 02:50:58,870 --> 02:50:55,600 probability that we share 4836 02:51:00,950 --> 02:50:58,880 any interface is also zero including 4837 02:51:04,790 --> 02:51:00,960 homomorphic 4838 02:51:06,710 --> 02:51:04,800 right aspects um not not at least 4839 02:51:08,230 --> 02:51:06,720 within the theory of conscious agents in 4840 02:51:09,990 --> 02:51:08,240 the dynamics that i'm 4841 02:51:12,790 --> 02:51:10,000 talking about now because what we can do 4842 02:51:15,030 --> 02:51:12,800 is we can ask are there certain 4843 02:51:16,070 --> 02:51:15,040 strategies of interaction that conscious 4844 02:51:18,309 --> 02:51:16,080 agents can have 4845 02:51:19,590 --> 02:51:18,319 where they would converge in the limit 4846 02:51:21,670 --> 02:51:19,600 to homomorphic things 4847 02:51:23,030 --> 02:51:21,680 right so that's different evolutionary 4848 02:51:24,630 --> 02:51:23,040 game theory where the rules have been 4849 02:51:26,150 --> 02:51:24,640 spelled out i mean i i 4850 02:51:27,349 --> 02:51:26,160 in that i don't get to play with it 4851 02:51:29,030 --> 02:51:27,359 because they're constraints so it's not 4852 02:51:31,510 --> 02:51:29,040 just uniform probability 4853 02:51:33,190 --> 02:51:31,520 that that's right so i see i see so in 4854 02:51:36,790 --> 02:51:33,200 the case of conscious agents 4855 02:51:38,630 --> 02:51:36,800 the question is can we find dynamics 4856 02:51:42,150 --> 02:51:38,640 in which the agents can converge up to 4857 02:51:43,590 --> 02:51:42,160 homomorphisms and i think we can 4858 02:51:45,510 --> 02:51:43,600 okay here's one that's super 4859 02:51:46,070 --> 02:51:45,520 philosophical if what you're saying is 4860 02:51:48,790 --> 02:51:46,080 that 4861 02:51:50,389 --> 02:51:48,800 we are not tuned for truth because truth 4862 02:51:51,349 --> 02:51:50,399 is deleterious at least compared to 4863 02:51:54,150 --> 02:51:51,359 fitness which is 4864 02:51:55,510 --> 02:51:54,160 so lubrious however let's imagine your 4865 02:51:57,670 --> 02:51:55,520 theory is correct 4866 02:51:59,190 --> 02:51:57,680 then we're starting to see the truth 4867 02:52:01,030 --> 02:51:59,200 does that not mean that 4868 02:52:03,590 --> 02:52:01,040 it's deleterious we shouldn't do that 4869 02:52:05,349 --> 02:52:03,600 we're not designed for that 4870 02:52:06,870 --> 02:52:05,359 um absolutely not and so here's where 4871 02:52:08,950 --> 02:52:06,880 it's very very careful to 4872 02:52:10,550 --> 02:52:08,960 to again see the game that i'm playing 4873 02:52:14,230 --> 02:52:10,560 the game that i'm playing is 4874 02:52:15,830 --> 02:52:14,240 i take evolution at us on its own terms 4875 02:52:17,750 --> 02:52:15,840 and i see what its implications are i 4876 02:52:19,110 --> 02:52:17,760 don't i don't say i believe evolution 4877 02:52:21,110 --> 02:52:19,120 i'm just playing the game 4878 02:52:22,630 --> 02:52:21,120 this is what the math of evolution says 4879 02:52:23,110 --> 02:52:22,640 it says very clearly we don't see the 4880 02:52:25,110 --> 02:52:23,120 truth 4881 02:52:26,230 --> 02:52:25,120 okay that's what evolution says 4882 02:52:28,469 --> 02:52:26,240 probability of zero that we see the 4883 02:52:30,550 --> 02:52:28,479 truth that's not what hoffman says 4884 02:52:32,150 --> 02:52:30,560 hoffman doesn't care about that except 4885 02:52:32,630 --> 02:52:32,160 to understand that that's what evolution 4886 02:52:36,150 --> 02:52:32,640 says 4887 02:52:38,870 --> 02:52:36,160 believe it so i'm free 4888 02:52:40,150 --> 02:52:38,880 on the one hand to prove that evolution 4889 02:52:41,750 --> 02:52:40,160 entails we don't see the truth 4890 02:52:43,349 --> 02:52:41,760 i'm free to prove that and then to step 4891 02:52:44,710 --> 02:52:43,359 back and say i still believe we see the 4892 02:52:45,670 --> 02:52:44,720 truth here's my theory in which we see 4893 02:52:48,630 --> 02:52:45,680 the truth 4894 02:52:49,269 --> 02:52:48,640 but the constraint will then be okay 4895 02:52:50,710 --> 02:52:49,279 then 4896 02:52:53,030 --> 02:52:50,720 you if you have this theory in which we 4897 02:52:54,150 --> 02:52:53,040 see the truth you have to explain how it 4898 02:52:55,670 --> 02:52:54,160 is 4899 02:52:57,269 --> 02:52:55,680 in that framework where you see the 4900 02:53:00,070 --> 02:52:57,279 truth that you 4901 02:53:01,269 --> 02:53:00,080 end up arriving at the theory of 4902 02:53:02,710 --> 02:53:01,279 evolution of natural selection which 4903 02:53:04,790 --> 02:53:02,720 says otherwise 4904 02:53:06,150 --> 02:53:04,800 if you can't do that then you're wrong 4905 02:53:07,830 --> 02:53:06,160 so so so this is 4906 02:53:09,110 --> 02:53:07,840 a really and by the way it's a great 4907 02:53:09,990 --> 02:53:09,120 question because i get this question in 4908 02:53:14,150 --> 02:53:10,000 emails quite quite 4909 02:53:15,590 --> 02:53:14,160 a bit um so so the the key thing is this 4910 02:53:18,469 --> 02:53:15,600 hofmann doesn't say we don't see the 4911 02:53:20,630 --> 02:53:18,479 truth evolution by natural selection 4912 02:53:22,469 --> 02:53:20,640 says we don't see the truth 4913 02:53:24,550 --> 02:53:22,479 i don't say that evolution of natural 4914 02:53:27,349 --> 02:53:24,560 selection says that i just 4915 02:53:28,230 --> 02:53:27,359 i'm just the messenger right that's what 4916 02:53:30,630 --> 02:53:28,240 evolution is 4917 02:53:31,830 --> 02:53:30,640 don't shoot me i'm just the messenger um 4918 02:53:33,830 --> 02:53:31,840 i'm just pointing out what 4919 02:53:35,030 --> 02:53:33,840 one of our best theories entails now i'm 4920 02:53:37,030 --> 02:53:35,040 stepping back and i'm going 4921 02:53:38,950 --> 02:53:37,040 i i would like to see the truth of 4922 02:53:41,030 --> 02:53:38,960 course maybe i can't 4923 02:53:42,550 --> 02:53:41,040 i'm not saying i know that we can see 4924 02:53:44,230 --> 02:53:42,560 the truth i'm just saying 4925 02:53:45,830 --> 02:53:44,240 as a scientist i would like to come up 4926 02:53:47,190 --> 02:53:45,840 with a theory 4927 02:53:48,389 --> 02:53:47,200 which entails that we see the truth and 4928 02:53:48,870 --> 02:53:48,399 that's why i'm looking at consciousness 4929 02:53:51,110 --> 02:53:48,880 because 4930 02:53:52,309 --> 02:53:51,120 i am conscious so if i'm conscious and 4931 02:53:54,469 --> 02:53:52,319 the reality is consciousness 4932 02:53:55,830 --> 02:53:54,479 there is some connection between me and 4933 02:53:57,190 --> 02:53:55,840 the reality i might actually be able to 4934 02:54:00,469 --> 02:53:57,200 understand that reality because 4935 02:54:01,510 --> 02:54:00,479 i'm conscious but then the burden is on 4936 02:54:03,590 --> 02:54:01,520 me 4937 02:54:05,990 --> 02:54:03,600 to then explain how my theory where i 4938 02:54:10,070 --> 02:54:06,000 see the truth of these conscious agents 4939 02:54:12,230 --> 02:54:10,080 leads to an interface of space time 4940 02:54:13,910 --> 02:54:12,240 and in that interface this theory of 4941 02:54:17,750 --> 02:54:13,920 evolution natural selection 4942 02:54:20,389 --> 02:54:17,760 which says you don't see the truth well 4943 02:54:21,910 --> 02:54:20,399 that won't be so strikingly strange 4944 02:54:23,830 --> 02:54:21,920 because 4945 02:54:26,309 --> 02:54:23,840 evolution is telling you that what you 4946 02:54:27,750 --> 02:54:26,319 see in the interface isn't the truth 4947 02:54:29,590 --> 02:54:27,760 well i'm also saying that from this 4948 02:54:30,150 --> 02:54:29,600 bigger picture i'm saying that there's 4949 02:54:33,269 --> 02:54:30,160 this 4950 02:54:33,750 --> 02:54:33,279 the space time interface that's the 4951 02:54:35,030 --> 02:54:33,760 truth 4952 02:54:36,550 --> 02:54:35,040 and you can't see it within the 4953 02:54:37,910 --> 02:54:36,560 interface well it's not going to be a 4954 02:54:38,950 --> 02:54:37,920 surprise that evolution by natural 4955 02:54:40,950 --> 02:54:38,960 selection says that 4956 02:54:42,150 --> 02:54:40,960 inside the interface so it'll all work 4957 02:54:45,190 --> 02:54:42,160 out so 4958 02:54:46,150 --> 02:54:45,200 so so that's i hope that gives that's a 4959 02:54:48,710 --> 02:54:46,160 great question okay 4960 02:54:49,910 --> 02:54:48,720 let me quick let me rephrase it so that 4961 02:54:51,269 --> 02:54:49,920 i get it across 4962 02:54:53,110 --> 02:54:51,279 because i don't think i portrayed it 4963 02:54:54,870 --> 02:54:53,120 correctly 4964 02:54:56,550 --> 02:54:54,880 you're saying that and i'm sorry 4965 02:54:57,590 --> 02:54:56,560 evolutionary theory is saying that we're 4966 02:54:59,510 --> 02:54:57,600 not designed for 4967 02:55:01,030 --> 02:54:59,520 the truth we're designed for fitness 4968 02:55:03,110 --> 02:55:01,040 right and those are two completely 4969 02:55:05,030 --> 02:55:03,120 separate phenomena okay 4970 02:55:06,870 --> 02:55:05,040 the cl if we were designed for truth if 4971 02:55:09,750 --> 02:55:06,880 we were able to see the truth 4972 02:55:10,469 --> 02:55:09,760 that would be horrible for us but at the 4973 02:55:12,950 --> 02:55:10,479 same time 4974 02:55:13,830 --> 02:55:12,960 you're like i want to look at the truth 4975 02:55:15,990 --> 02:55:13,840 so i'm gonna 4976 02:55:17,190 --> 02:55:16,000 let's say you're actually uncovering the 4977 02:55:20,309 --> 02:55:17,200 truth is that not 4978 02:55:22,070 --> 02:55:20,319 harmful given the presupposition that 4979 02:55:23,349 --> 02:55:22,080 we should be pursuing fitness and not 4980 02:55:25,670 --> 02:55:23,359 truth 4981 02:55:27,349 --> 02:55:25,680 no it's not because by stepping outside 4982 02:55:29,110 --> 02:55:27,359 of the entire framework of evolution i'm 4983 02:55:30,550 --> 02:55:29,120 stepping outside of its assumptions 4984 02:55:31,670 --> 02:55:30,560 i'm saying there's a deeper framework in 4985 02:55:32,630 --> 02:55:31,680 which the assumptions of evolution 4986 02:55:35,990 --> 02:55:32,640 aren't true 4987 02:55:37,830 --> 02:55:36,000 i see i see only true within the headset 4988 02:55:40,070 --> 02:55:37,840 the headset is just a headset there's 4989 02:55:42,389 --> 02:55:40,080 this deeper reality outside the headset 4990 02:55:43,429 --> 02:55:42,399 it's it's like if i see the twitterverse 4991 02:55:44,790 --> 02:55:43,439 only through my headset 4992 02:55:46,150 --> 02:55:44,800 and there's certain rules about how i 4993 02:55:47,269 --> 02:55:46,160 perceive in the headset and i assume 4994 02:55:47,830 --> 02:55:47,279 that those rules of what i see in the 4995 02:55:49,349 --> 02:55:47,840 headset 4996 02:55:50,950 --> 02:55:49,359 must apply to all the twitter users well 4997 02:55:52,230 --> 02:55:50,960 that's stupid the twitter users are 4998 02:55:55,030 --> 02:55:52,240 doing their own thing 4999 02:55:56,070 --> 02:55:55,040 my headset is is just smashing all this 5000 02:55:57,990 --> 02:55:56,080 complexity 5001 02:56:00,150 --> 02:55:58,000 into this trivial little headset and 5002 02:56:01,510 --> 02:56:00,160 that's why evolution has to tell us 5003 02:56:02,710 --> 02:56:01,520 that it's not seeing the truth because 5004 02:56:03,910 --> 02:56:02,720 what's happened from this bigger 5005 02:56:06,950 --> 02:56:03,920 framework is 5006 02:56:09,910 --> 02:56:06,960 space time and and objects in spacetime 5007 02:56:12,630 --> 02:56:09,920 is this incredible smashing down 5008 02:56:14,309 --> 02:56:12,640 information losing map from the reality 5009 02:56:17,510 --> 02:56:14,319 this vast social network into 5010 02:56:19,830 --> 02:56:17,520 this trivial little space-time 5011 02:56:21,590 --> 02:56:19,840 interface so it's no surprise that 5012 02:56:22,790 --> 02:56:21,600 evolution by natural selection is saying 5013 02:56:24,070 --> 02:56:22,800 you know what 5014 02:56:25,190 --> 02:56:24,080 you're not going to see the truth you're 5015 02:56:25,990 --> 02:56:25,200 just going to see little interface 5016 02:56:27,910 --> 02:56:26,000 symbols 5017 02:56:29,990 --> 02:56:27,920 that's what it's telling us and i say i 5018 02:56:31,190 --> 02:56:30,000 agree we're only seeing interface 5019 02:56:33,269 --> 02:56:31,200 symbols but 5020 02:56:35,110 --> 02:56:33,279 that's only in space time we're not 5021 02:56:35,910 --> 02:56:35,120 stuck in space time you and i are not in 5022 02:56:40,309 --> 02:56:35,920 space time 5023 02:56:41,349 --> 02:56:40,319 game apply within the game but you can 5024 02:56:43,670 --> 02:56:41,359 step out of the game 5025 02:56:44,950 --> 02:56:43,680 that's right okay okay the authors of 5026 02:56:48,150 --> 02:56:44,960 the game 5027 02:56:51,269 --> 02:56:48,160 okay cool cool i'm gonna 5028 02:56:51,830 --> 02:56:51,279 i'm gonna instead of asking you i'm 5029 02:56:53,269 --> 02:56:51,840 gonna 5030 02:56:54,230 --> 02:56:53,279 list the last questions and then you 5031 02:56:55,349 --> 02:56:54,240 just choose one because i know you've 5032 02:56:57,429 --> 02:56:55,359 got to go 5033 02:56:58,950 --> 02:56:57,439 yeah okay so i was going to say where 5034 02:57:00,790 --> 02:56:58,960 does p where do people like deepak 5035 02:57:02,790 --> 02:57:00,800 chopra take your message too far 5036 02:57:05,110 --> 02:57:02,800 so that's an option you can answer that 5037 02:57:07,510 --> 02:57:05,120 another one is when jesus says i am the 5038 02:57:09,110 --> 02:57:07,520 way the truth and the light 5039 02:57:11,269 --> 02:57:09,120 what truth do you think he was referring 5040 02:57:15,750 --> 02:57:11,279 to and then the other question 5041 02:57:19,830 --> 02:57:18,230 well those are all all tough um with 5042 02:57:22,070 --> 02:57:19,840 with deepak 5043 02:57:23,670 --> 02:57:22,080 deepak and i have been good friends for 5044 02:57:27,110 --> 02:57:23,680 for several years now 5045 02:57:30,710 --> 02:57:27,120 um it's he's 5046 02:57:35,110 --> 02:57:30,720 a spiritual teacher i'm not 5047 02:57:39,190 --> 02:57:35,120 uh we respect each 5048 02:57:42,070 --> 02:57:39,200 i other respect him as as a seeker 5049 02:57:43,510 --> 02:57:42,080 and he's he's he's learning to be 5050 02:57:45,190 --> 02:57:43,520 careful about how he 5051 02:57:47,030 --> 02:57:45,200 throws around words like quantum 5052 02:57:49,510 --> 02:57:47,040 mechanics and so forth i mean he's been 5053 02:57:50,950 --> 02:57:49,520 he's been i'm aware he's taken hits in 5054 02:57:55,510 --> 02:57:50,960 the past and i think that 5055 02:57:58,389 --> 02:57:55,520 that but i have really he and i 5056 02:57:59,910 --> 02:57:58,399 and this is really important science and 5057 02:58:02,870 --> 02:57:59,920 spirituality 5058 02:58:04,469 --> 02:58:02,880 do need to have a dialogue and whenever 5059 02:58:07,190 --> 02:58:04,479 there's a dialogue 5060 02:58:08,469 --> 02:58:07,200 even within members of two different 5061 02:58:09,910 --> 02:58:08,479 scientific disciplines 5062 02:58:11,670 --> 02:58:09,920 you have to have a lot of patience with 5063 02:58:13,349 --> 02:58:11,680 the other person so you know 5064 02:58:15,190 --> 02:58:13,359 someone who is not a cognitive scientist 5065 02:58:16,550 --> 02:58:15,200 coming to talk to me say he's a chemist 5066 02:58:18,309 --> 02:58:16,560 well when i start talking chemistry with 5067 02:58:20,710 --> 02:58:18,319 him i'm going to feel like and 5068 02:58:22,550 --> 02:58:20,720 be really stupid compared to him when he 5069 02:58:24,790 --> 02:58:22,560 talks cognitive science to me it's 5070 02:58:25,830 --> 02:58:24,800 he's going to be really pedestrian to me 5071 02:58:27,030 --> 02:58:25,840 it's going to be the same thing in 5072 02:58:30,150 --> 02:58:27,040 science and spirituality 5073 02:58:31,110 --> 02:58:30,160 so if i want productive dialogue of 5074 02:58:32,630 --> 02:58:31,120 course 5075 02:58:35,190 --> 02:58:32,640 i'm going to be saying things that to 5076 02:58:37,510 --> 02:58:35,200 someone who's spiritually 5077 02:58:39,030 --> 02:58:37,520 trained is going to sound you know 5078 02:58:41,750 --> 02:58:39,040 scientific 5079 02:58:42,950 --> 02:58:41,760 nonsense and immature and not very deep 5080 02:58:46,389 --> 02:58:42,960 and vice versa 5081 02:58:47,110 --> 02:58:46,399 so so of of course i'll have said things 5082 02:58:51,190 --> 02:58:47,120 that that 5083 02:58:52,550 --> 02:58:51,200 deepak thinks are spiritually stupid 5084 02:58:54,630 --> 02:58:52,560 and then he says things that you know on 5085 02:58:56,550 --> 02:58:54,640 quantum mechanics and so forth that that 5086 02:58:57,990 --> 02:58:56,560 you know most scientists would say 5087 02:58:59,349 --> 02:58:58,000 that's not what a 5088 02:59:01,590 --> 02:58:59,359 you know a really trained scientist 5089 02:59:04,950 --> 02:59:01,600 would say 5090 02:59:05,429 --> 02:59:04,960 fine but if we want to have a dialogue 5091 02:59:10,150 --> 02:59:05,439 that's 5092 02:59:13,590 --> 02:59:10,160 really productive we have to 5093 02:59:15,990 --> 02:59:13,600 cut each other some slack we have to 5094 02:59:17,990 --> 02:59:16,000 listen past the barriers and understand 5095 02:59:19,510 --> 02:59:18,000 you know it took me many many years to 5096 02:59:20,630 --> 02:59:19,520 understand what i know about cognitive 5097 02:59:22,309 --> 02:59:20,640 science 5098 02:59:23,510 --> 02:59:22,319 i can't expect someone to just pop into 5099 02:59:24,790 --> 02:59:23,520 my field and sound like they know what 5100 02:59:26,309 --> 02:59:24,800 they're talking about 5101 02:59:28,070 --> 02:59:26,319 if i'm not willing to cut them some 5102 02:59:28,630 --> 02:59:28,080 slack we'll never get a dialogue so for 5103 02:59:31,349 --> 02:59:28,640 me 5104 02:59:33,429 --> 02:59:31,359 that that's so i i and i learned from my 5105 02:59:35,030 --> 02:59:33,439 dialogue with deepak he he learns 5106 02:59:36,630 --> 02:59:35,040 in his dialogue with me and we've 5107 02:59:38,469 --> 02:59:36,640 learned to have this respect 5108 02:59:39,750 --> 02:59:38,479 of what each other knows and trying to 5109 02:59:43,269 --> 02:59:39,760 learn from the other so 5110 02:59:46,389 --> 02:59:43,279 so that's what i hope um we we mirror 5111 02:59:48,790 --> 02:59:46,399 um and of course it's my job to 5112 02:59:50,309 --> 02:59:48,800 gently correct him when i see things 5113 02:59:52,309 --> 02:59:50,319 that he says that might be wrong and 5114 02:59:53,990 --> 02:59:52,319 it's his job to gently correct me when i 5115 02:59:57,590 --> 02:59:54,000 misstate his tradition for example 5116 02:59:58,950 --> 02:59:57,600 so that's that's perfectly fine on jesus 5117 03:00:03,510 --> 02:59:58,960 i don't know what to say about 5118 03:00:05,670 --> 03:00:03,520 um i mean i was raised uh 5119 03:00:07,030 --> 03:00:05,680 my father was a fundamentalist christian 5120 03:00:08,870 --> 03:00:07,040 minister and so i 5121 03:00:11,990 --> 03:00:08,880 i've read the bible cover to cover more 5122 03:00:17,510 --> 03:00:14,870 i know what the standard interpretation 5123 03:00:20,150 --> 03:00:17,520 of the bible is 5124 03:00:21,670 --> 03:00:20,160 among protestant fundamentals christians 5125 03:00:24,230 --> 03:00:21,680 what jesus meant when he said i am the 5126 03:00:28,550 --> 03:00:24,240 way the truth and life 5127 03:00:32,150 --> 03:00:28,560 um i don't know i i'll just say 5128 03:00:39,590 --> 03:00:36,790 i i will say that 5129 03:00:42,230 --> 03:00:39,600 i think that there are many beautiful 5130 03:00:44,790 --> 03:00:42,240 insights in the bible 5131 03:00:46,469 --> 03:00:44,800 and and i think there's also nonsense 5132 03:00:48,550 --> 03:00:46,479 and i think that 5133 03:00:50,469 --> 03:00:48,560 just like in scientific theories there 5134 03:00:52,070 --> 03:00:50,479 are many beautiful insights 5135 03:00:54,309 --> 03:00:52,080 and then there are places where we know 5136 03:00:55,429 --> 03:00:54,319 we're absolutely wrong and and my 5137 03:00:57,110 --> 03:00:55,439 attitude 5138 03:00:59,110 --> 03:00:57,120 in for any scripture and for any 5139 03:01:02,469 --> 03:00:59,120 scientific theory is the same 5140 03:01:06,230 --> 03:01:02,479 let's treasure the insights 5141 03:01:08,870 --> 03:01:06,240 and let's recognize humbly 5142 03:01:09,670 --> 03:01:08,880 that we can be wrong any religious 5143 03:01:12,469 --> 03:01:09,680 tradition 5144 03:01:15,269 --> 03:01:12,479 any scripture any scientific theory if 5145 03:01:18,469 --> 03:01:15,279 we're not willing 5146 03:01:20,550 --> 03:01:18,479 to be wrong 5147 03:01:22,150 --> 03:01:20,560 to open up to the possibility that 5148 03:01:23,190 --> 03:01:22,160 something we deeply believe could be 5149 03:01:25,429 --> 03:01:23,200 deeply wrong 5150 03:01:26,469 --> 03:01:25,439 we can't grow that's the place where we 5151 03:01:31,830 --> 03:01:26,479 stop growing 5152 03:01:34,950 --> 03:01:31,840 so it's it's a matter of humility 5153 03:01:37,349 --> 03:01:34,960 both to listen to to other traditions 5154 03:01:40,150 --> 03:01:37,359 other points of view to be open that 5155 03:01:41,750 --> 03:01:40,160 they may have insights i've never had 5156 03:01:43,990 --> 03:01:41,760 i may have insights that they've never 5157 03:01:45,830 --> 03:01:44,000 had i may have nonsense 5158 03:01:47,269 --> 03:01:45,840 that they can point out they may have 5159 03:01:48,950 --> 03:01:47,279 nonsense that i can point out 5160 03:01:50,070 --> 03:01:48,960 if we can do it in this respectful way 5161 03:01:51,349 --> 03:01:50,080 again like the kind of thing i'm trying 5162 03:01:52,550 --> 03:01:51,359 to do with with depop 5163 03:01:53,910 --> 03:01:52,560 i i don't want to have them say 5164 03:01:54,710 --> 03:01:53,920 something wrong about quantum mechanics 5165 03:01:56,469 --> 03:01:54,720 and go 5166 03:01:57,750 --> 03:01:56,479 ugh you said that about quantum 5167 03:01:59,429 --> 03:01:57,760 mechanics forget it i'm not going to 5168 03:02:00,710 --> 03:01:59,439 talk to you anymore you got that wrong 5169 03:02:03,190 --> 03:02:00,720 that's that's not the way to do it 5170 03:02:05,349 --> 03:02:03,200 that's it it's it's to have 5171 03:02:06,630 --> 03:02:05,359 a respectful dialogue if others are 5172 03:02:09,429 --> 03:02:06,640 willing to 5173 03:02:10,389 --> 03:02:09,439 humbly also put out their ideas and 5174 03:02:11,830 --> 03:02:10,399 listen 5175 03:02:13,590 --> 03:02:11,840 that i think is the heart of true 5176 03:02:14,469 --> 03:02:13,600 religion when we talk about loving each 5177 03:02:16,150 --> 03:02:14,479 other 5178 03:02:17,990 --> 03:02:16,160 what deeper love can you have than to 5179 03:02:20,070 --> 03:02:18,000 respectfully 5180 03:02:21,429 --> 03:02:20,080 and carefully listen to the thoughts and 5181 03:02:23,510 --> 03:02:21,439 opinions of others 5182 03:02:24,469 --> 03:02:23,520 and be willing to entertain the 5183 03:02:26,950 --> 03:02:24,479 possibility 5184 03:02:28,389 --> 03:02:26,960 that they may be right in some places 5185 03:02:31,590 --> 03:02:28,399 and you may be wrong 5186 03:02:32,630 --> 03:02:31,600 that's a deep respectful and humble kind 5187 03:02:33,910 --> 03:02:32,640 of interaction 5188 03:02:37,349 --> 03:02:33,920 and that's how we will learn and that's 5189 03:02:41,750 --> 03:02:39,830 thank you don where can the audience 5190 03:02:44,870 --> 03:02:41,760 find out more about you 5191 03:02:48,230 --> 03:02:44,880 um i if you google 5192 03:02:49,830 --> 03:02:48,240 donald hoffman hof fman my um home page 5193 03:02:51,750 --> 03:02:49,840 at university california comes up and 5194 03:02:53,590 --> 03:02:51,760 i've got links to my papers and 5195 03:02:55,030 --> 03:02:53,600 i have a book um the case against 5196 03:02:56,630 --> 03:02:55,040 reality 5197 03:02:59,750 --> 03:02:56,640 published by norton so the case against 5198 03:03:01,670 --> 03:02:59,760 reality is a great place to get