12 episodes

Can a cat be both alive and dead? Can a computer think? How does a tortoise beat Achilles in a race? Voiced by comedian David Mitchell, these fast-paced animations explain six famous thought experiments, from the ancient Greeks to Albert Einstein, that have changed the way we see the world. Subjects as vast as time travel, infinity, quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence, are squeezed into 60-second clips that will tickle your funny bone and blow your mind.

60-Second Adventures in Thought - for iPod/iPhone The Open University

    • Education
    • 4.4 • 48 Ratings

Can a cat be both alive and dead? Can a computer think? How does a tortoise beat Achilles in a race? Voiced by comedian David Mitchell, these fast-paced animations explain six famous thought experiments, from the ancient Greeks to Albert Einstein, that have changed the way we see the world. Subjects as vast as time travel, infinity, quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence, are squeezed into 60-second clips that will tickle your funny bone and blow your mind.

    • video
    Achilles and the Tortoise

    Achilles and the Tortoise

    Ancient mathematical trickery proves that a mighty hero cannot overtake a tortoise.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- Achilles and the Tortoise

    Transcript -- Achilles and the Tortoise

    Ancient mathematical trickery proves that a mighty hero cannot overtake a tortoise.

    • video
    The Grandfather Paradox

    The Grandfather Paradox

    A well known story that questions the logic of time travel.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- The Grandfather Paradox

    Transcript -- The Grandfather Paradox

    A well known story that questions the logic of time travel.

    • video
    The Chinese Room

    The Chinese Room

    An argument against computers ever being truly intelligent.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- The Chinese Room

    Transcript -- The Chinese Room

    An argument against computers ever being truly intelligent.

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
48 Ratings

48 Ratings

Private123467890 ,

Too few!

Excellent short videos covering major thought experiments… If only there were more of them!

EdwardLee780 ,

well done

witty, funny and quick. thought provoking. must see.

Jack Harvey ,

awesome

love it. You need to make a LOT more

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