Talk of Today

Sam Barton

Explore developments in the world and what they could mean for our future with Sam Barton.

  1. 06/10/2021

    Patterns of Creation with Dr. Tyson Yunkaporta

    Tyson Yunkaporta is an Australian academic, arts critic, researcher, and member of the Apalech Clan in far north Queensland. He recently started the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, which is focused on applying Indigenous thinking to issues that complexity scientists and technologists are currently working on across domains including economics, governance, evolutionary dynamics, cognition, and the environment. Tyson is also the author of the world-view reconfiguring book 'Sand Talk' which served as the basis of our conversation. In the book, Tyson explores our global systems from an Aboriginal perspective and how this viewpoint could help us resolve some of the complex sustainability issues facing our world. In our conversation we cover: The indigenous notion of story and the problem with the narrative at the heart of Western civilisationThe value in true diversity, identity, and placeViolence and the need for its integration in societyWhy instead of pursuing growth we should seek 'increase'The need for humanity to retake our place as custodians of the land we're connected to. EPISODE LINKS Tyson's Deakin University pageBook: Sand Talk‍Tyson's Podcast: The Other OthersVideo: Why the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab matters SUPPORT: Contribute to coffee fundBack me on IdeamarketRate Talk of Today on Apple Podcasts PODCAST INFO Podcast WebsiteFollow Sam on Twitter Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/talk-of-today/donations

    1h33min
  2. 21/07/2021

    Complex Systems and Information with Prof. Karoline Wiesner

    This episode is another dive into what is one of the most fascinating and promising fields of our age: complexity science. It's a relatively new field that is transforming how we see and understand the world across multiple disciplines. Most importantly, it's can provide us with a deeper understanding of our collective interactions with the complex biophysical system we call, Earth and how we might avert the catastophes that loom. Joining me today is Professor Karoline Wiesner, Professor of Complexity Science at the University of Potsdam, Germany, and Associate editor for the journals Entropy and Advances in Complex Systems Her research focuses on the use of information theory in the study of formation, maintenance and stability of complex systems. She is also one of the authors of the recently released book What is a Complex System, which served as the basis of my interview with her. In our conversation, we cover: What is a complex system?What is complexity and what are some ways we can measure it?Why information theory and complexity science are such powerful tools for understanding the world?We also spend some time discussing entropy, order, and disorder, as well as a bit on how these things might be related to ethical value, which, if has been a pet interest of mine in recent times.Unfortunately we didn't get to cover all of the topics I wishes to explore as we were bedevilled by technical difficulties, so the conversation might not flow as normal. Regardless, I still had a great time speaking with Prof. Wiesner and I hope you enjoy it as well. Links Prof. Wiesner's Book: What is a Complex System? Prof. Wiesner's website Prof. Wiesner on Research Gate ‍Book mentioned: Origin of Wealth by Eric Beinhocker Support & Shownotes Podcast shownotesRate it on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on YouTubeBy me a coffeeFollow Sam on Twitter Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/talk-of-today/donations

    1h36min
  3. 24/05/2021

    The Free Energy Principle, Consciousness & Psychedelics with Dr. Adam Safron

    This episode is a bit of a wild one. It's a three hour discussion bringing together a unifying principle for life, the free energy principle (a topic I explored in greater detail in my conversation with Maxwell Ramstead), with several pernicious problems that have plagued us for years, like consciousness, free will, intelligence, and what the hell is going on when we take psychdelic substances.  Leading us on a tour of these awe-inspiring, interconnected, mind-bending topics is the scientist Dr. Adam Safron. Adam is has recently finished a postdoc the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and has moved on to the John's Hopkins Centre for Psychdelics and Consciousness Research. His work brings together neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy from a complex systems perspective and is truly fascinating. His ultimate aim is is providing a multi-level account of the factors that help people to be adaptive, creative, and free in all aspects of their lives. One of his more recent projects has been developing a theory of consciousness, Integrated World Modeling Theory, which in the context of the free energy principle and integrated information theory, proposes that conscious experiences are what it is like to model an embodied self and world with coherent organization by space, time, and cause. In our conversation we cover: The Free Energy PrincipleThe Big 5 Personality trait model, and it's recent cybernetifactionIntelligence and why the artificial intelligence of the future might have to be embodied in order to reach its purported potentialAdam then takes us through his theory of consciousness, Integrated World Modeling Theory,Free willPsychedelics and the brain Support & Shownotes Podcast shownotesRate it on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on YouTubeBy me a coffeeFollow Sam on Twitter LinksAdam on TwitterAdam on FacebookAdam on Google ScholarAdam on Research GateBook: Freedom Evolves by Dan DennettBook: The Big Picture by Sean Carroll Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/talk-of-today/donations

    3h23min

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Explore developments in the world and what they could mean for our future with Sam Barton.