Episode 100: Interview with David Deutsch
The Theory of Anything
Deep Dive
Why did David Deutsch shift his perspective on free will between 'Fabric of Reality' and 'Beginning of Infinity'?
Deutsch initially linked free will to the many-worlds interpretation in 'Fabric of Reality,' but later changed his view, emphasizing that free will is a creative act where humans bring something new into the world, rather than being caused by earlier events or the state of the universe at the Big Bang.
How does David Deutsch explain the origin of suffering in the world?
Deutsch attributes the origin of suffering to a combination of ignorance and anti-rational memes, which create psychological blocks that prevent people from improving their existing answers or solutions.
What does David Deutsch think about the relationship between free will and downward causation?
Deutsch believes that free will and downward causation are related but cautions against understanding free will in terms of causation, as it risks misunderstanding. Instead, he suggests thinking in terms of explanation, where decisions are creative acts rather than caused events.
How does David Deutsch view the concept of genes coercing humans?
Deutsch does not think genes coerce humans in a meaningful sense, especially in modern times. He argues that while genes may have coerced humans in prehistoric times due to lack of food, today's coercion comes more from societal structures and anti-rational memes rather than biological impulses.
What is David Deutsch's stance on the Omega Point theory proposed by Tipler?
Deutsch initially supported the Omega Point theory in 'Fabric of Reality' but later felt it had been refuted by observation. He distinguishes his view from Tipler's, stating that while Tipler relies on specific physical mechanisms, Deutsch is more interested in the possibility of humans overcoming cosmological challenges through knowledge and technology.
How does David Deutsch explain the concept of stochasticity or randomness?
Deutsch argues that stochastic processes, or physical randomness, do not exist. Instead, what we call randomness in dice rolls or other events is unpredictability due to the complexity of the system, not true randomness. He suggests that probability theory is a useful mathematical model for fairness and unpredictability, but not a reflection of physical reality.
What does David Deutsch think about the idea of panpsychism?
Deutsch is critical of panpsychism, particularly its claim that consciousness exists at the level of fundamental particles. He believes that while humans may feel vulnerable to the idea that consciousness is just atoms, panpsychism is an attempt to avoid this by attributing consciousness to all matter, which he finds unscientific and unnecessary.
How does David Deutsch view the role of genes in shaping human behavior?
Deutsch does not see genes as coercive forces in modern humans. He argues that while genes may have influenced behavior in prehistoric times, today's behavior is more shaped by societal factors, anti-rational memes, and individual choices rather than biological impulses.
What is David Deutsch's view on the principle of optimism?
Deutsch's principle of optimism holds that humans are inherently creative and capable of improving the world, with only a tiny minority causing net harm. He believes that suffering arises from ignorance and anti-rational memes, not from human nature itself, and that humans can overcome these challenges through knowledge and progress.
How does David Deutsch explain the concept of universality in human minds?
Deutsch explains that human minds are universal explainers, meaning they can understand and create explanations for any problem. This universality is tied to the hardware of the brain being a universal computer, which allows for the execution of any program, including creative and novel explanations.
- Popper's philosophy was a significant turning point in Deutsch's worldview.
- Deutsch's philosophical interests influenced his work in physics.
- Deutsch's worldview has remained largely consistent, with some evolution over time.
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