Robinson's Podcast

Robinson Erhardt

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Robinson's Podcast

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. https://linktr.ee/robinsonerhardt Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

3 DAYS AGO

234 - Richard Wolff & Michael Hudson: Karl Marx and the Fall of the West

This episode came on the heels of a traumatic, eight-interview sprint in NYC. As you’ll see, this one was particularly chaotic, but the stars aligned to make it happen. Camera switches, bathroom breaks, health concerns, equipment malfunctions, and even a robbery didn’t prevent the conversation from coming together. With this in mind, I hope you’ll forgive how crazy and inconsistent the video is; the fact that it even got put together is courtesy of my friend and editor Yu Guo (a philosopher who got his PhD from NYU with past guest Paul Boghossian). Given that there’s some new intro music, and you’re already getting an abundance of distracting production nuggets, I decided to show the soup being made. My thanks go to Richard, who met with me twice in three days (not to mention his wife, who allowed it), and Michael, who put up with me for over four hours. - Robinson P.S. Toward the end of the episode Michael eats a jerky stick from Maui Nui Venison, which is a company operating out of Hawaii that manages the invasive deer population of Maui that is decimating the landscape. Instead of culling the animals and disposing of their bodies, the meat is butchered and sold. It is the only meat I eat, full-stop, and the ethical reasons are sufficient for this, but it is also the best meat that I have ever had. I reached out to Maui Nui and told them that I support what they are doing and would like to be of any help that I can. They gave me this coupon code—ROBINSON—which you can use for 15% off. I am not being paid for this in any way. I believe in what they are doing and I want this model to succeed. People are going to be eating meat for the foreseeable future and I would be happier if it was not factory-farmed meat. So please check Maui Nui out and give them a try! Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Michael and Rick's Histories with Marx 16:50 A Marxless Education 29:42 Marxism and the West 35:18 Marx and the Emergence of Capitalism 43:59 Socialism Vs State Capitalism 49:21 The Culmination of Economics in Marx 57:16 The Crucial Features of Marxism 1:12:15 Marx, China, and the BRICS 1:25:57 The Laws of Motion of Finance Capitalism 1:28:58 Why Won't Mainstream Media Interview Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff? 1:42:16 Why is the American Empire Crumbling? 1:54:51 Is the Dollar Destroying the United States? 2:01:38 Marx as the Culmination of Classical Economics 2:10:19 Will Trump's China Tariff Policy Spell Disaster for America? 2:22:43 Is Trump's Policy on Russia Idiotic? 2:27:23 Does It Matter for America Who Wins the Election? 2:37:13 Michael's Rhetorical Abilities 2:43:54 How Can We Use Economics to Forecast the Future? 2:54:48 Does Paul Krugman Know Anything About Economics? 2:57:57 How Michael Got His PhD 3:04:59 What's Wrong With the Nobel Prize in Economics? 3:10:04 The Long and Short of Marx's Kapital 3:17:20 Capitalism and Labor 3:31:51 The Biggest Myth About Karl Marx --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

3h 37m
3 NOV

233 - Judith Butler: Trump & Harris | Israel & Palestine | Sex & Gender

Judith Butler is Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School and formerly the Maxine Elliot Chair in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Program of Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley. In this episode, Robinson and Judith discuss three broad topics. First, they talk about Judith’s latest book, Who’s Afraid of Gender? (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024). In particular, they touch on the dynamics of sex and gender, as well as their political dimensions. Second, the conversation turns to the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Finally, they broach the topic of Israel and Palestine, with particular attention to the questions of genocide and anti-semitism. Who’s Afraid of Gender?: https://a.co/d/beDcQ1S OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Judith’s Introduction to Philosophy and Gender Studies 11:00 Who’s Afraid of Gender? 22:11 On Trans and Intersex Olympics Controversies 26:09 Is the Man/Woman Binary a Fantasy? 35:17 Are Putin and Orban Transphobic? 41:49 How to Change One’s Gender 47:25 Language and Gender 52:16 On Psychoanalysis 58:49 On Gender Issues and the 2024 Election 1:04:30 On Trump 2024 1:06:14 On Harris 2024 1:10:39 Is Anti-Zionism Anti-Semitism? 1:18:51 Is Gaza a Concentration Camp? 1:20:49 How Will the War in Israel and Palestine End? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

1h 23m
31 OCT

232 - Niall Ferguson: Trump v. Harris | Israel v. Hamas | Russia v. Ukraine

Sir Niall Ferguson is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, where he served for twelve years as the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History. In this episode, Robinson and Niall discuss three of the biggest conflicts currently gripping the news—the election in the United States and the two wars between Israel and Hamas on the one hand, and Russia and Ukraine on the other. Undergirding the entire discussion is the question of whether the United States is an empire, whether it is failing, and what the world needs America to be. Niall's most recent book is Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe (Penguin, 2021). Niall's Website: https://www.niallferguson.com Doom: https://a.co/d/eWAx65C OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Niall's Take as a Scottish Historian 05:20 Is the United States an Empire? 12:49 What Does the World Need the United States to Be? 19:47 Is Trump or Harris Better for the Russia-Ukraine War? 26:35 Is Trump Too Dangerous to Have the Nuclear Launch Codes? 29:54 How Terrible Was Biden's Withdrawal from Afghanistan? 34:22 Is the United States on the Precipice of Self-Destruction? 41:08 Will Donald Trump Actually Help the Suffering Poor of America? 46:23 Will Niall Ferguson Vote For Donald Trump? 50:31 The Dangers of American Politics 54:55 The Right Versus the Left on the Wars in Ukraine and Israel 1:00:07 How Has the Media Fed the Israel-Hamas War in Palestine? 1:06:35 Is Benjamin Netanyahu a Satanic Figure? 1:11:19 Is Israel Committing a new Holocaust—Genocide—in Palestine? 1:17:21 Trump, Harris, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine: Do They Even Matter? Robinson's Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

1h 22m
27 OCT

231 - Victor Davis Hanson: The Final Case for Donald J. Trump

Victor Davis Hanson is a renowned classicist, military historian, and political commentator. He is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Among numerous other awards, Victor was presented the National Humanities Medal in 2007. In this episode, Robinson and Victor discuss the 2024 presidential election. More particularly, they review some of the main arguments for and against electing Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. This includes their records, domestic and foreign policies, recent assassination attempts, and more. Victor also appeared as a guest on episode #112, in which he and Robinson talked about what was at the time Victor’s latest book, The Dying Citizen. He was also a guest on episode #191, which covered Victor’s views on the current crisis in Israel and Palestine. Most recently, on episode #208, they spoke about Victor’s most recent book, The End of Everything. Keep up with Victor on Twitter, through his website, and on his podcast, The Victor Davis Hanson Show. Victor’s Website: https://victorhanson.com Victor’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/VDHanson The Victor Davis Hanson Show: https://art19.com/shows/the-victor-davis-hanson-show The End of Everything: https://a.co/d/46O0mMB The Case for Trump: https://a.co/d/8Bf0OdC OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:56 Why Is The 2024 Election So Important? 10:18 Is Trump Innocent of All Charges? 20:19 Is Trump a Unique Election Denier? 27:30 On the Trump Assassination Attempts and Anti-Trump Conspiracy Theories 35:21 The Best Reasons to Have Voted for Joe Biden 44:44 Will Kamala Harris Bring a New Radical Agenda to the White House? 48:49 Why You Shouldn’t Vote for Kamala Harris 55:51 The Case for Trump 1:01:50 On Hillsdale College 1:07:52 On Hard Political Discussions in Hard Times Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

1h 14m
20 OCT

230 - Richard Wolff: The Final Case Against Donald J. Trump

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s fifth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In episode #127, he and Robinson discussed some of the most profound criticisms of capitalism; in #154, they focused on the myths surrounding Marxism and Marx himself; in #190 they covered the Israel-Palestine conflict from a Marxist perspective; and in #222 they assess the end of the American Empire. In this episode, Richard and Robinson talk about the 2024 election. More particularly, they discuss the irrelevance of Donald Trump, both candidates’ economic policies, the Biden administration’s track record, Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, the promise of Kamala Harris, immigration, and the future of the United States. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024). Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism Class Theory and History (Book): https://a.co/d/ht4trZN Understanding the 2024 Elections (Article): https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/capitalism-mass-anger-and-2024-elections/ Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Is it Possible to Predict the Future? 07:51 The Irrelevance of Donald Trump 12:15 The United States vs The Savages 15:41 Does the Government Even Matter? 18:26 On Young Frankenstein and the Declining American Empire 20:49 On Richard’s Astounding Rhetorical Abilities 29:40 What Makes Donald Trump Great? 37:38 Was Trump Good for the Economy? 40:52 Did Trump Win the Economic War Against China? 43:46 Were Trump’s Tax Cuts Disastrous for Americans? 50:00 Why Won’t Trump Just Go Away? 52:29 Is Ukraine Doomed to Lose the Russian War? 54:26 On Private Versus State Capitalism (Or, American vs Russia) 1:00:21 Who Will be Left When America Crumbles? 1:05:04 How Can We Sum Up Biden’s Presidency? 1:13:14 What on Earth Should We Make of Kamala Harris 1:23:24 Donald Trump Versus Marxism 1:29:30 The Republican and Democratic War on Immigrants 1:37:38 Trump Vs Harris on Economics | Who Wins? 1:43:44 Trump Vs Harris on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, & Palestine 1:50:37 Trump, Harris, and the War on Data 1:55:10 On Richard Wolff, the Man, and Donald Trump 1:57:43 Will Trump or Harris Win 2024? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

2h 1m
13 OCT

229 - Rashid Khalidi: October 7th Revisited | Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, & The Nakba

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 Some speakers, like Norman (https://youtu.be/vhFm62msNGc), are whip-smart and all I can do is ask a question before letting them take me along for the ride. Others are just as sharp, but the interview is an entirely different experience. I feel silly being this dramatic, so forgive me; it just seems that what follows is the proper extended metaphor to describe our conversation. Rashid crackles with energy when he talks, just as if he were a fighter. Even if he’s not using his fists, his cadence is like a boxer’s and I had to roll with the punches. This was another great one, and as usual I bear very little responsibility beyond sticking it out in the ring. I’m going to resist the urge to make any more boxing comments and instead finish with this: Thanks for listening. - Robinson P.S. In a number of recent episodes I’ve mentioned Maui Nui Venison, which is a company operating out of Hawaii that manages the invasive deer population of Maui that is decimating the landscape. Instead of culling the animals and disposing of their bodies, the meat is butchered and sold. It is the only meat I eat, full-stop, and the ethical reasons are sufficient for this, but it is also the best meat that I have ever eaten. I reached out to Maui Nui and told them that I support what they are doing and would like to be of any help that I can. They gave me this coupon code—ROBINSON—which you can use for 20% off. I am not being paid for this in any way. I believe in what they are doing and I want this model to succeed. People are going to be eating meat for the foreseeable future and I would be happier if it was not factory-farmed meat. So please check Maui Nui out and give them a try! --- Rashid Khalidi is the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. He was editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies, President of the Middle East Studies Association, and an advisor to the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid and Washington Arab-Israeli peace negotiations from October 1992 until June 1993. In this episode, Rashid and Robinson discuss the history that culminated in October 7th, 2023, what has happened since then, and what might happen in the future. More particularly, they talk about Zionism, the Nakba, how Gaza was created, the war between Israel and Hamas, Egypt’s role in the crisis, the question of genocide, and the future of Palestine. Rashid’s most recent book is The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine (Metropolitan Books, 2021). The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: https://a.co/d/7Mrwuz9 The Neck and the Sword: https://shorturl.at/N7HRo A New Abyss (The Guardian Long Read): https://shorturl.at/oVn5j OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:07 On His Palestinian Ancestors’ Battle Against Zionism 04:04 Is the Israel-Hamas War an American War? 06:04 How Far Back Must We Go to Understand October 7th? 07:33 The Nakba Versus the Bible 12:42 The Zionist Propaganda War 15:40 Is the War Between Israel and Hamas Fought in the Media? 18:52 Is All Zionist History Propaganda? 22:12 How Did the Nakba Create Gaza? 27:16 How Rashid’s Family Was Scattered by the Nakba 28:45 Has Gaza Become a Concentration Camp? 33:10 Did Hamas Cause the Apocalyptic Blockade on Gaza? 38:04 Did the Election of Hamas Further Doom Gaza? 40:21 Is Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza? 45:17 Were the War Crimes of October 7th Justified? 46:52 Can Israel’s War Crimes Against Gaza Be Justified? 48:48 Can Israel Destroy Hamas? 51:30 Is Egypt Responsible for the Gaza Crisis? 53:30 Who Are the Biggest Players in the Israel-Hamas War? 54:30 Is the Israel-Hamas War Just Beginning? 01:00:07 How Soon Will Israel Conquer Gaza? 01:05:19 Rashid’s Hope for the Future of Israel and Palestine Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of math

1h 11m
6 OCT

228 - Norman Finkelstein: October 7th Revisited | Israel, Palestine, Hezbollah, & The End of Gaza

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his research on Israel and Palestine. In this episode, Norman and Robinson sit down for a discussion centered around the anniversary of October 7th, and they speak about the immensity of what has happened in the Israel-Palestine region in the time before and since. Norman also appeared on episode 192, where he and Robinson discussed allegations of genocide and apartheid, Hamas and Hezbollah, and connections between the war and the Holocaust. Norman was also featured on episode 218, where he addressed the facts and fictions generated by the Israel-Hamas War. Norman’s most recent book is I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom (Sublation Media, 2023). Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:44 Why Norman Couldn’t Have Predicted October 7th 00:04:45 Gaza’s Last Victim 00:07:55 Is the Palestine Question Dead? 00:11:13 What Hamas in Gaza and American Slave Rebellions Have in Common 00:17:22 How the Nakba Created Gaza in 1948 00:21:21 Is Gaza a Concentration Camp? 00:25:20 High-Tech Israeli Killing Sprees in Gaza 00:29:23 The Butcher of Beirut & The Sabra and Shatila Massacre 00:31:20 On the First Intifada and the Silencing of Gaza 00:37:11 On Hassan Nasrallah, Leader of Hezbollah 00:41:59 How Israel Will Destroy Hezbollah 00:42:35 Israel Vs The Party of God 00:45:32 On the Courage of Dying for a Cause 00:48:24 On His Time with Hezbollah and Nasrallah 00:52:41 Noam Chomsky on Hezbollah’s Threat to Israel 00:56:30 On Nasrallah’s Prophetic Speech Before His Assassination 01:02:10 On Martin Luther King Jr’s Final Words 01:04:35 On Nasrallah and the Assassination of Pro-Palestine Leaders 01:07:08 The Parallel Between American Slaves and Gazan Palestinians 01:12:37 Will the Gazans Be Emancipated like American Blacks from Slavery? 01:19:16 Norman’s Big Question for Noam Chomsky 01:21:26 The Question of Gaza as a Concentration Camp 01:23:03 The Crushing Toll of the Holocaust on Norman 01:32:08 On His Mother, Piers Morgan, and Gaza as a Holocaust 01:34:14 On the Rise of Hamas 01:38:49 On Hamas, Nasrallah, and the Sealed Fate of Gaza 01:41:36 Does Israel Have the Right to Commit Genocide? 01:45:48 Does Israel Intentionally Murder Innocent Civilians? 01:50:10 Just How Brutal Are Israel’s High Tech Military Operations? 01:54:09 On Gandhi’s Meditations in Jail 01:56:07 Does Israel Go on Killing Sprees in Palestine? 01:58:43 Are the Leaders of Hamas Rich Billionaires? 02:04:43 Comparing Gaza and the Warsaw Ghetto 02:09:33 The Absurdity of Gaza’s Economy 02:15:11 What Was Hamas’s Intentions on October 7th? 02:18:14 Did Hamas Commit Sexual Violence Against Israelis on October 7th? 02:24:07 On Israel’s Violent Revenge Against Hamas 02:26:50 Has Israel Restored Its Fearsome Reputation in the Middle East? 02:30:34 Has Israel Exterminated Gaza? 02:36:31 The Bottom Line on Israel and the Desolation of Gaza 02:39:39 Will There Be a Ceasefire in Gaza? 02:43:58 Why Does Israel Always Win? 02:52:40 On Philosophy, Chattel Slavery, and Justice in Palestine 02:58:02 On Justice and Norman Finkelstein’s Purpose in Life Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

3h 4m
29 SEPT

227 - David Eagleman: Synesthesia, Brain Plasticity, AI, and Conspiracy Theories

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7 Robinson’s Fashion Empire: http://bit.ly/3XBKqO2 David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University who works on synesthesia, brain plasticity, and sensory substitution, among other topics. He is also a bestselling author, the host of the Inner Cosmos podcast, and writer and presenter of the international PBS series The Brain with David Eagleman. In this episode, Robinson and David discuss brain plasticity and its optimization, the neuroscience of language-learning, consciousness and animal minds, synesthesia, sensory substitution, artificial intelligence, conspiracy theories, and more. David’s most recent book is Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain (Vintage, 2021). David’s Website: https://eagleman.com Livewired: https://a.co/d/67w3TQ3 Inner Cosmos: https://eagleman.com/podcast/ OUTLINE 00:00:53 David’s Interest in the Mind 00:02:52 Solving A Problem of Kant with Modern Neuroscience 00:06:08 On Brain Plasticity and How to Maximize It 00:15:23 Do Children Really Learn Languages Faster than Adults? 00:19:46 Using Neuroscience to Maximize Weight Loss and Improve Diet Outcomes 00:22:09 Was Helen Keller Conscious? 00:24:14 Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Figured Out Consciousness 00:28:32 What Really Is Synesthesia? 00:36:44 On Animal Consciousness and Eating Meat 00:42:56 What Is Intelligence? 00:45:52 What Is the Intelligence Echo Illusion? 00:52:02 Will ChatGPT Surpass Our Greatest Thinkers? 00:55:50 Do We Need to Replace the Turing Test? 01:05:57 Inner Cosmos 01:09:16 Why Does the Brain Love Conspiracy Theories? 01:11:33 Why Does the Brain Fall for Magic Tricks? 01:13:14 Why Can’t We Tickle Ourselves? Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, historians, economists, and everyone in-between. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

1h 15m

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. https://linktr.ee/robinsonerhardt Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robinson-erhardt/support

Creator

Robinson Erhardt
Years Active

2022 - 2024
Episodes

236
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Robinson Erhardt
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