Episode 10: Steve Patterson on Physics, Paradoxes, and Patronage

Steve Patterson comes back to the show to defend his claim that popular conceptions of quantum physics are claptrap, paradoxes don’t and can’t exist, and that being accurate is more important than believing what feels good. He also talks about his experiment as a freelance philosopher.

You can find Steve on the web here, and support his work here.

This and every other episode is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Three Unpopular Beliefs

I have a number of beliefs that are outside the mainstream.  Probably the three most controversial are listed below.  These beliefs were hard to arrive at.  None of them came naturally or intuitively, and all of them are a fairly significant departure from what I once believed.  In many ways it would be easier if I did not believe these things.  Still, these three unpopular beliefs play defining roles in what I do, and how and why I do it.

  1. The deliberate instruction of children is a net-negative. (Unless they seek and choose it themselves.)
  2. Government is unnecessary.
  3. Efforts to improve your own life do more good for the world than efforts to do good for the world.

Episode 9: Chris Nelson on Language, Meaning, and Movements

*I typically release an episode every Monday, but I had a few great ones ready to go so decided to do this special Friday release.

The most widely read person I know, Chris Nelson, joins me to discuss some of the lesser known work of Adam Smith on language and meaning.  We also talk about interdisciplinary research and problems in the social sciences, as well as philosophical movements and how they change over time for better or worse, and how these changes coincide with changes in language.

Chris always gives me something interesting to think about, and today’s episode is no exception!

As always, this and all other episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.