THUNK
Josh Pelton
A show about things that tickle your brain.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 3, 2018 • 10min
154. The Ethics of Placebo-Controlled Trials
“Good” medical trials are placebo-controlled, but when might it be immoral to even perform such an experiment?
Video: http://youtu.be/cpVxiGxs_yE Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/10/03/154.-The-Ethics-of-Placebo-Controlled-Trials.html
Sep 19, 2018 • 11min
153. 'The Culture' and Hedonism
Iain M. Banks’s “Culture” is a techno-utopia of hedonism, a concept much more philosophically complex than sex, drugs, and rock n roll.
Video: http://youtu.be/LD7wdKeMhus Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/09/19/153.-'The-Culture'-and-Hedonism.html
Sep 5, 2018 • 8min
152. Prediction Markets and Superforecasting
Prediction markets: put your money where your mouth is. (Just don’t bet against the superforecasters.)
Video: http://youtu.be/FVW0rqxX0CE Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/09/05/152.-Prediction-Markets-and-Superforecasting.html
Aug 22, 2018 • 12min
151. Systems, Law, Rules and Standards
Systems (e.g. checklists, plans, and laws) imbue us with positively superhuman capabilities, both for good and ill.
Video: http://youtu.be/Q_wxmZzXGAc Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/08/22/151.-Systems,-Law,-Rules-and-Standards.html
Aug 8, 2018 • 9min
150. Mutual and Common Knowledge
Mutual and common knowledge: because simulating someone else simulating you is confusing…perhaps usefully so….
Video: http://youtu.be/27GIGEygzyo Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/08/08/150.-Mutual-and-Common-Knowledge.html
Jul 25, 2018 • 8min
149. Solution Space and Tiling Trees
Challenge: Examine enough potential answers to a problem to be confident in one of them. Solution: Tiling trees!
Video: http://youtu.be/SydzpgrKYn4 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/07/25/149.-Solution-Space-and-Tiling-Trees.html
Jul 13, 2018 • 10min
148. Aristotle's Infinite Regress and Intuition
Aristotle found a problem at the foundations of epistemology: an infinite regress of justification.
Video: http://youtu.be/FEwbKkYMCuA Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/07/13/148.-Aristotle's-Infinite-Regress-and-Intuition.html
Jun 27, 2018 • 8min
147. Grice's Maxims of Conversation
How exactly does implication work? Philosopher Paul Grice might have had a couple decent ideas.
Video: http://youtu.be/eGzV8pHO9Vg Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/06/27/147.-Grice's-Maxims-of-Conversation.html
Jun 14, 2018 • 10min
146. Mental Illness and Creativity
Everyone knows you have to be a little bit crazy to be a great artist, right? …right?
Video: http://youtu.be/jq0bf16kiJM Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/06/14/146.-Mental-Illness-and-Creativity.html
May 31, 2018 • 11min
145. Tit for Tat and Zero Determinant Strategies
Tit for Tat: the king of Prisoner’s Dilemma strategies. Its simplicity masks its depth…but it can be beaten!
Video: http://youtu.be/HiRb_IJE2zg Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2018/05/31/145.-Tit-for-Tat-and-Zero-Determinant-Strategies.html
