CM memes

I struggle (again) with the Buddhist concept of emptiness and offer a (preliminary) interpretation from my naive perspective as a scientific idealist.

Motivated by a listener comment, I first reflect on whether it is a problem to talk publicly about topics without (much) knowledge. Finally, as part 1 of a new mini series on Buddhist concepts, I talk about Emptiness.

I first talk about the vagueness of notions like matter and mind, then about perplexity as a desirable mind state.

I start with new theories of natural evolution, touch on the limits of present AI, and end with new interpretations of prediction error minimization. LINKS

I respond to two important listener comments on existence (W.S.) and artificial consciousness (C.M.), ending up with the speculation that the brain  is actively preventing us from leaving the 'human subspace of consciousness'. 

Motivated by a listener comment, I end up trying to define 'existence' from the standpoint of an idealist (naively, with a beginner's mind). Finally I talk about the incompleteness of science.

I first provide some background information for my new listeners and then (re-)consider the role of science under idealism. Finally, I start to think about the minimum required ingredients for a scientifically transparent idealist worldview. To be continued ...

A Twitter user raised the topic of experiencing without experiencer. I approach the question first introspectively, then from the viewpoint of analytic idealism. This brings me to the predictive processing model and the notion of pure information.

After a comment on the 'bit string universe', I speculate about a possible link between Platonic ideal forms and cosmic evolution, and then present highlights from podcast interviews with Elon Musk and Gordon Hempton .

In this episode, I argue that some people misunderstand what is consciousness and what is physicality. I discuss the idea that the physical universe can be seen as pure evolving information, an abstract string of (q)bits, which our mind renders into structured experiences.

In this multi-topic episode, after some meta-talk about podcasting, I argue that minimalism will not work for everyone, that bodily health is not the only important goal in life, and that physicists and life scientists have a different notion of 'understanding a system'. Finally I present an idea from Michael Levin about the almost inevitable evolution of intelligence.

I first talk about our difficulties as humans to update our beliefs properly. I then discuss possibilities how our seemingly deterministic universe could be manipulated from outside our known reality. I then relate this idea to the latest trends in the UFO community. Link to a thought provoking comment of Luis Elizondo . Link to the conference video of 'Our future in Space'.

I first comment on a listener email and then talk about micro stress, caused by checkmark thinking and bad law making.

[Topical Review, Part 4: Minimalism, Jazz and Good Life]. I talk about these three topics and finally explore an analogy between food and information.

[Topical Review, Part 3: Buddhism] I start with my life-long interest in Buddhism and end up with sharing a recent dream.

[Topical Review, Part 1: Science] I talk about my current research project, the life as a scientist, and about having fun with 'fringe science'. Also play the 'sound of a sleeping brain'. Mentioned:  Michael Levin, Mike McCulloch, Paul LaViolette and Thomas Townsend Brown, Kaluza-Klein theory.

I talk about Stochastic Electrodynamics (SED), the Zero Point Field (ZPF), and the ideas of Joachim Keppler , who links these concepts from physics to consciousness. 

Get your weekly dose of idealism and open your mind for crazy stuff, too.

Response to a listener comment.

After reporting a recent 'anxiety attack', I discuss the possibility that science might even work better under idealism.

A long-time listener, A.T., asked for my opinion on a talk between John Horgan and Sabine Hossenfelder . This episode is (part 1 of) my reply.

Reply to listener comments; New evidence for the 'Desktop' and 'Software' metaphors of mind and body.

References to 'That UFO podcast' , an interview of Luis Elizondo on the 'Theories of Everything' podcast , an interview of Kevin Knuth also on TOE, and an interview of Sarah Walker on the Lex Fridman podcast.

Updates on UFOs and consciousness, plus remarks on instrumental music.

A rant on the Clubhouse app and my opinion on Unidentified Areal Phenomena.