THUNK

There are many absurd fictional AI-gone-haywire stories, but the real potential of general AI is unsettling. Video: http://youtu.be/3X-9sCYEO3s Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/05/06/65.-The-Real-Dangers-of-AI.html

If humans evolved reason to find truth, it’s weirdly flawed. But what if it evolved for the purpose of argument? Video: http://youtu.be/Cduyyif7BVY Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/04/22/64.-The-Argumentative-Theory-of-Human-Reason.html

Metaethics investigates where morals supposedly come from and how they might (or might not!) be real. Fascinating! Video: http://youtu.be/krOBdYnWKNk Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/04/08/63.-Metaethics-Moral-Realism-and-Antirealism.html

Sci-fi really defines our future, but when sci-fi writers eschew big questions, we still need to ask them! Video: http://youtu.be/BaRWyRFLj10 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/03/25/62.-Lo-Fi-Sci-Fi-and-the-Future.html

Unity is strength, but sometimes it leads to mobs or worse. Learn how to fight your brain’s urge to conform! Video: http://youtu.be/zX5wN_rNRZU Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/03/11/61.-On-Nonconformity.html

Reason is a fantastic tool & great fun…but sometimes, it can get in the way of simple (statistical) methods. Video: http://youtu.be/6Oba23HOzM8 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/02/25/60.-Blind-Empiricism-When-Thinking-Sucks.html

The anti-vax movement persists despite scientific consensus - what makes it such a convincing conspiracy theory? Video: http://youtu.be/atb4Kl73afI Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/02/11/59.-Anti-Vax-and-Conspiracies.html

NOTE TO COMMENTERS: This video does not assert that, because the assumptions of science are arbitrary, a person is justified in choosing not to believe scientific theories, or that its predictions are somehow invalid. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS VIDEO CLAIMS. This video claims that, DESPITE making assumptions which are arbitrary, SCIENCE IS STILL THE BEST METHOD TO DATE FOR ACCESSING TRUTH, BECAUSE IT I...

When the context of someone’s speech is corrupted by extremism, it gets much harder to say anything detailed. Video: http://youtu.be/XyeoWAOmuNE Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2015/01/14/57.-Free-Speech-and-Nuance.html

Doot de doo, browsing the web…oooo! A THUNK video! I wonder what it’s about??? Video: http://youtu.be/7l4iDtzaz3A Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/12/31/56.-Attention,-Nerd-Sniping,-and-Flow.html

“Turn Down for What” is the party anthem of 2014, and a great backdrop for meditating on Buddhist philosophy. Video: http://youtu.be/pkqz7il2U7w Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/12/17/55.-'Turn-Down-for-What'-and-Buddhism.html

What do shark attacks have to do with Star Trek: TOS and misleading news stories? Statisti-HEY COME BACK! Video: http://youtu.be/9_tS7Qe5x4o Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/12/03/54.-Shark-Attacks,-Red-Shirts,-and-Statistics.html

It seems the Christmas season comes earlier every year…and there’s actually a decent reason why: game theory! Video: http://youtu.be/AffNY9jEWTA Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/11/19/53.-Christmas-Creep-and-Wars-of-Attrition.html

Happy anniversary to my THUNK viewers! Let’s talk about where we came from & where we’re going! Video: http://youtu.be/TkgRfNutQu8 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/11/05/52.-One-Year-Anniversary.html

The eight-hour workday has been a standard for centuries. Have you ever wondered why? Video: http://youtu.be/wuvgUevoleA Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/10/29/51.-What's-in-a-Workweek.html

How do allied players in Settlers of Catan always come out ahead? I’ll trade two sheep for some social capital. Video: http://youtu.be/pnHpdRPLZTw Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/10/22/50.-Settlers-of-Catan-and-Social-Capital.html

Some argue that faith or lack thereof indicates intelligence, but it’s really more indicative of culture. Video: http://youtu.be/oQoMphCo6lk Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/10/15/49.-Theism,-Atheism,-and-Culture.html

Is it possible that the act of trolling, by any definition, is fundamentally corrosive to geeks? Video: http://youtu.be/d4Pn0CozboY Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/10/08/48.-Is-Trolling-Anti-Geek.html

Economists readily admit their models can’t dictate the best economic system - I wonder how so many people can? Video: http://youtu.be/BH354QmTOO8 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/10/01/47.-Economics-is-Hard.html

Have you ever realized you’re acting a little like a fictional character? It’s not just you - “fiction lag” is normal & powerful! Video: http://youtu.be/29jdsQnijE0 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/09/24/46.-Fiction-Lag-Becoming-a-Character.html

Everybody’s had an idea for something cool, but some think that it would be beyond them to make it real. Wrong. Video: http://youtu.be/pPMXL14V-s0 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/09/17/45.-You-Should-be-Making.html

NOTE: I fumble a few definitions and facts in this video (perhaps appropriately) - please be sure to check out some of the links below for a better understanding than I can provide here! Video: http://youtu.be/reSApZ0TK_s Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/09/10/44.-Thinking-Clearly-and-the-Origins-of-Analytic-Philosophy.html

You might believe that you suck at math…but it’s probably something (fun) you’ve never actually tried before. Video: http://youtu.be/BNqVvH2jqzI Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/09/03/43.-You-Don't-Suck-at-Math.html

What does life, the universe, or anything mean? The most likely answer is both daunting and emboldening at once. (Be sure to check the description for related material!) Video: http://youtu.be/aqjZqzM3rqg Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/08/27/42.-The-Meaning-of-Life,-the-Universe,-and-Everything.html

We frequently think of “emotional” as the opposite of “rational,” but research suggests that feelings might make us think more clearly. Video: http://youtu.be/x8OJnVCbbzw Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/08/20/41.-Emotions-and-Rationality.html