^TagStephen Hawking

advanced ancient invisible forcefield dome pattern fading fractal mathematical laws of nature

^{Type
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 5, 2023

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Agency in nature, Aristotle and nature, Daniel Joachim Kleiven, Edward Feser, Entropy, gravity, Laws of motion, Laws of nature, Leonard Mlodinow, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Stephen Hawking, Time direction}

What Do the “Laws of Nature” Actually Explain?

_{To what extent does the phrase simply stand in for an explanation?} _{Denyse O'Leary

August 5, 2023

6

Philosophy, Science}

The question of what the “laws of nature” actually explain is worth asking when we consider the way the term is sometimes used. Norwegian philosopher Daniel Joachim Kleiven points to an example in The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) and Leonard Mlodinow: They argue that the history of science can be summarized as “the long process of replacing the notion of the reign of gods with the concept of a universe that is governed by laws of nature.” But, Kleiven (pictured) probes, what is the precise nature of the change we are asked to applaud? He quotes the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951), who specialized in mathematics and logic: At the basis of the whole modern view of the world Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Peter Biles
Date
July 8, 2023

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
IAI News, Materialism, Micrographia, Peter West, Philosophy, Physicalism, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Reality, Robert Hooke, Stephen Hawking}

Can the Quantum Realm Explain Reality?

_{If we can uncover the smallest quantum particles in nature, will we have uncovered the fundamental secrets of reality?} _{Peter Biles

July 8, 2023

3

Philosophy, Science}

If we can uncover the smallest quantum particles in nature, will we have uncovered the fundamental secrets of reality? A longstanding philosophical tradition in the sciences claims “yes.” Uncovering the mystery of the world lies in the ability to interrogate the smallest of the small. But is that the right way to approach it? What special status does the tiny have over the large? A paper at IAI News by London philosopher Peter West argues that reality can’t in fact be elucidated simply by observing quantum mechanics. He talks in some length about the 17th century text Micrographia by Robert Hooke, which features various images of insects and other organisms under the microscope. West notes that Hooke set the stage, Read More ›

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 24, 2022

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Aristotle, Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, descartes, Elon Musk, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, human dignity, Human exceptionalism, Jaegwon Kim, Michael Egnor, mind-body dualism, mind-body problem, Mind-Body problem (types of theory), Mind-Brain Distinction, Near-death experiences, Ned Block, Neuralink, Paul Churchland, religious liberty and the law, Richard Swinburne, Robert J. Marks, Roger Penrose, Roger Penrose (on consciousness), Stephen Hawking, Sybil, Sybil (1976 film), Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Aquinas (on perception)}

Discussing Consciousness and the Mind-Body Problem

_{Robert J. Marks

February 24, 2022

2}

What does it even mean to be aware of something, to be conscious? Why do the vast majority of people only have one consciousness? Will computers ever experience consciousness? On this Bingecast, Dr. Robert J. Marks and Dr. Angus Menuge discuss these questions and more. Show Notes 00:01:36 | Introducing Dr. Angus Menuge 00:07:02 | Near-death experiences 00:10:32 | The Read More ›

Abstract Technology Background. Web Developer. Computer Code. Programming. Coding. Hacker concept. Green and blue neon figures fall from top to bottom.

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
December 30, 2021

Tagged
A Mathematician's Apology, Active Information in Metabiology, Alan Turing, Andrew Wiles, Automacoin, Bitcoim, But Bang. Ls nascita della filosofia digitale, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Chris Calude, Claude Shannon, Collatz Conjecture, Consciousness and information classical quantum or algorithmic, Dangerous Knowledge, David J. Chalmers, Elements of Information Theory, Elon Musk, Fermat's Last Tango, Fermat's Last Tango (musical), G.H Hardy, George Cantor, Geroge Gilder, Goldbach Conjecture, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Gregory Chaitin, Guilio Tononi, Hector Zenil, Jack Schwartz, Karl Popper, Kurt Gödel, Legendre's Conjecture, Leonard Euler, Lofti Zadeh, Marvin Minsky, Mathematica, Meta Math The quest for the Omega, Neuralink, ON the length of programs for computing finite binary sequences, Paul Erdős, Proving Darwin Making biology mathematical, Ray Solomonoff, Robert J. Marks, Roger Penrose, Selmer Bringsjord, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Stephen Hawking, Stephen Wolfram, The Conscious Mind, The Emperor's New Mind, The Unknowable, Twin Prime Conjecture, Unravelling Complexity The Life and Works of Gregory Chaitin, William Sealy Gosset, WolframAlpha}

Randomness, Information Theory, and the Unknowable

_{Robert J. Marks

December 30, 2021

4}

In the 1960s, mathematician and computer scientist Gregory Chaitin published a landmark paper in the field of algorithmic information theory in the Journal of the ACM – and he was only a teenager. Since then he’s explored mathematics, computer science, and even gotten a mathematical constant named after him. Robert J. Marks leads the discussion with Professor Gregory Chaitin on Read More ›

Science and research of the universe, spiral galaxy and physical formulas, concept of knowledge and education

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
September 27, 2021

Categorized
Science

Tagged
Ethan Siegel, Featured, Fine tuning (general theory), Friedmann Equation, gravity, Hubble Constant squared, Kurt Gödel, Life-permitting interval (LPI), Ola Hössjer, Paul Davies, Probability (of life in universe), Ratios (of constants), Robert J. Marks, Stephen Hawking, Theory of Everything, Universal constants}

Why Did Stephen Hawking Give Up on a Theory of Everything?

_{Daniel Díaz and Ola Hössjer continue their discussion of the fine tuning of the universal constants of nature with Robert J. Marks} _{News

September 27, 2021

14

Science}

In a continuing conversation with Swedish mathematician Ola Hössjer and Colombian biostatistician Daniel Díaz on the fine-tuning of the universe — and Earth — for life, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks asks them about why a Theory of Everything eludes us and about the life-permitting interval — the narrow window for life that the constants of the universe permit. This is the second part of Episode 3, “The universe is so fine-tuned!” (September 16, 2021). Earlier portions, with transcripts and notes, are listed below. https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-Episode-152-Hossjer-Diaz.mp3 This portion begins at 12:36 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: In truth, there’s a lot of fundamental constants — the electric charge of an electron, Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 23, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Science

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Consciousness, Dualism, Ether, Featured, Michelson-Morley experiment, Physicalism, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Robert J. Marks, Stephen Hawking, Thomas Nagel}

Can a Materialist Consciousness Theory Survive Quantum Mechanics?

_{Quantum mechanics requires that the observer be part of the measurement; thus quantum measurements must include consciousness} _{News

May 23, 2021

5

Philosophy of Mind, Science}

In Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks’s second podcast with philosopher Angus Menuge, where the big topic is the perennial “Hard Problem of consciousness, one of the questions was whether quantum mechanics can help decipher consciousness. But that leads to another question: Can any materialist view of consciousness survive quantum mechanics? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-134-Angus-Menuge.mp3 This portion begins at 22:35 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: Is quantum consciousness rooted in materialism? Can you look at quantum consciousness and say, this is materialistic? Angus Menuge: That’s a tricky question. For most materialists, their paradigm is really set by older 19th-century views of physical science. By definition, this goes beyond that. However, if one defines materialism Read More ›

Looking through glasses to bleach nature landscape - tulips field. Color blindness. World perception during depression. Medical condition. Health and disease concept.

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
May 13, 2021

Tagged
Christof Koch, Consciousness, Frank Jackson, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Gregory Chaitin, Henry Stapp, Integrated Information Theory (IIT), John von Neumann, Knowledge Argument, Lynne Rudder Baker, Near-death experiences, Ned Block, Panpsychism, Paul Churchland, phenomenal consciousness, Philosophy of Mind, qualia, quantum consciousness, Roger Penrose, Stephen Hawking, Thomas Nagel}

Dr. Angus Menuge: Models of Consciousness (Part II)

_{Robert J. Marks

May 13, 2021

1}

What is it like to see a red rose? To smell a red rose? To feel pain? In this week’s podcast, Dr. Robert J. Marks and Dr. Angus Menuge continue their discussion on philosophies of the mind, delving into competing definitions of consciousness. Show Notes 00:26 | Introducing Dr. Angus Menuge 01:01 | Phenomenal consciousness and qualia 07:25 | Experiencing Read More ›

World philosophy day education concept: tree of knowledge planting on opening old big book in library with textbook in natural background

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 9, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Christopher Norris, Evolution, Grand Design (book), Immanuel Kant, Larry Krauss, Leonard Mlodinow, Massimo Pigliucci, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Patrick Stokes, Philosophy denialism, Philosophy of Science, Quantum Mechanics, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking}

Why Do Some Famous Materialist Scientists Hate Philosophy?

_{Philosopher of biology Massimo Pigliucci takes Richard Dawkins to task for dismissing philosophy but he might have said the same of Stephen Hawking} _{News

May 9, 2021

6

Philosophy, Science}

Massimo Pigliucci (pictured) makes clear that he is a naturalist (materialist) like zoologist Richard Dawkins. For example, he tells us that they crossed paths at a conference whose purpose was to promote naturalism (materialism): Over four centuries of scientific progress have convinced most professional philosophers and scientists of the validity of naturalism: the view that there is only one realm of existence, the natural world, whose behavior can be studied through reason and empirical investigation. The basic operating principles of the natural world appear to be impersonal and inviolable; microscopic constituents of inanimate matter obeying the laws of physics fit together in complex structures to form intelligent, emotive, conscious human beings. Sean Carroll, “Moving Naturalism Forward (announcement)” at Preposterous Universe Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
April 18, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Creator, god, Goldbach's Conjecture, Incompleteness theorems (Gödel), Kurt Gödel, Peter Atkins, Proof (in mathematics), Scientific materialism, Scientism, Stephen Hawking, String theory, Theism, Theory of Everything, William Lane Craig}

How Materialism Proves Unbounded Scientific Ignorance

_{There is an infinite number of things that are true that we cannot prove scientifically and never will} _{Robert J. Marks

April 18, 2021

6

Philosophy, Science}

Science is based on a glut of laws from physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other areas. The assumption of scientific materialism, as I understand it, is that science has explained or will explain everything. The final conclusion of scientific materialism, also known as scientism, is nicely captured in a question chemist Peter Atkins asked philosopher William Lane Craig in a debate: “Do you deny that science can account for everything?” Scientism’s assumption that science can establish everything is self-refuting. Careful analysis shows that there is an infinite number of things that are true that we cannot prove scientifically and never will. Stephen Hawking saw the tip of the iceberg of this truth when he said, “Up to now, most people have Read More ›

Omega, the letter of a Greek alphabet. Greek numerals, mathematical eight hundred number concept. Abstract, digital, wireframe, low poly mesh, Raster blue neon 3d illustration. Triangle, line dot

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
March 25, 2021

Tagged
Algorithmic Information Theory, Chaitin's Constant, Christof Koch, computable, Consciousness, Creativity, David Chalmers, Giulio Tononi, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Gregory Chaitin, Halting Probability Omega, halting problem, Jack Schwartz, knowability, Lovelace test, non-computable, Panpsychism, Paul Erdős, Roger Penrose, Selmer Bringsjord, Stephen Hawking, unknowability}

The Chaitin Interview IV: Knowability and Unknowability

_{Robert J. Marks

March 25, 2021

2}

What does it mean for something to be unknowable? Is creativity non-computable? Do all things have a level of consciousness? Jump into today’s podcast, where Robert J. Marks continues his discussion with Gregory Chaitin about mathematical theory and philosophy. Show Notes 00:23 | Introducing Gregory Chaitin 00:40 | What is unknowability? 06:07 | Does non-computable mean unknowable? 09:43 | A Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
September 23, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Intelligence, Science

Tagged
Algorithms, Bacteria as living computers, Ben Medlock, Computers, James Shapiro, Self-organization, Stephen Hawking}

SwiftKey Co-founder: Computers Can’t Just “Evolve” Intelligence

_{Can vain hopes for AI spring from a wrong understanding of evolution?} _{News

September 23, 2020

5

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Intelligence, Science}

Ben Medlock asks us to look at self-organization as a principle of life, lacking in computers. Read More ›

media reporter with microphone making journalist interview for news

^{Type
post

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
May 25, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Science

Tagged
celebrity, Featured, Stephen Hawking}

Advice to Physicists: “Shut Up and Do Physics”

_{Well-known public intellectuals sometimes stray outside their silos of expertise, showing questionable judgment about, for example, AI} _{Robert J. Marks

May 25, 2020

4

Artificial Intelligence, Science}

Stephen Hawking was a genius in theoretical physics but he did not know much about computers and his fears of an AI takeover were unfounded.

Stephen Hawking and the AI Apocalypse

_{Can doomsday headlines, chasing fame, stand in for deep knowledge of a subject?} _{Mind Matters

December 4, 2018

4

Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Technocracy}

One thing a celebrity pundit can usually count on is an audience of media professionals who haven’t considered the problems carefully either and don’t want to. It is much easier and more profitable to market Doomsday than Levin’s Law. As always, the fact that laws governing the universe will eventually triumph is true but not news. Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
July 12, 2018

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence

Tagged
Apocalypticism, Elon Musk, predictions, Rodney Brooks, Stephen Hawking}

AI machines taking over the world?

_{It’s a cool apocalypse but does that make it more likely?} _{Denyse O'Leary

July 12, 2018

5

Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence}

Doomsday thinking is easily mocked. The character marching hairy and barefoot under his “End Is Near” sign, is a staple of cartoons in middlebrow mags. Yet when media magnets market doomsday scenarios—like the late Stephen Hawking (“worst event in the history of our civilization”) and Elon Musk (“an immortal dictator from which we would never escape”) — it’s a Cool apocalypse.