THUNK

Many of those who are 100% convinced by Nick Bostrom’s arguments about the potential for a runaway superintelligence tend to share certain beliefs about the world - is it possible that his case hits much differently depending on one’s starting assumptions? Video: http://youtu.be/ZWPsmQxrGY8 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2022/05/15/224.-Superintelligence-Assumptions.html

What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs at noon, & 3 legs at night? A very peculiar dog! …wait, was that not the answer? Why is it that puzzles are so different from real-life problems? Video: http://youtu.be/Ky0Ji7AryZs Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2022/04/18/223.-Puzzles-vs.-Problems.html

Could certain FORMS of media, the details of how their textual CONTENT is instantiated, reliably affect the MEANING of the messages they convey? Put another way: is PowerPoint making us stupid? Video: http://youtu.be/_e6BS7wSLpg Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2022/03/28/222.-Powerpoint-Form-and-Content.html

Sometimes, it feels like the best way forward on a project is to throw everything out and start over from scratch, but Joel Spolsky is adamant that this is a terrible idea, and theres decent evidence that hes right. Video: http://youtu.be/3iUySuDkly8 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2022/03/14/221.-Spolsky's-Maxim-and-Starting-from-Scratch.html

Charles Peirce’s ideas were revolutionary, kicking off an entire philosophical movement now called “pragmatism,” but one might argue that his ideas bear little resemblance to the path pragmatism ultimately took…he certainly thought as much. Video: http://youtu.be/aWrEPmoox_I Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2022/02/21/220.-Peirce's-Pragmatism.html

YouTubers HATE him! This ONE WEIRD TRICK has sensationalist media creators ~THINKING DEEPLY~ about the systemic pressures of a RACE TO THE BOTTOM FOR ATTENTION!!! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!!!!!11!! Video: http://youtu.be/nwOVZgClUs8 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2022/01/24/219.-Clickbait-and-Sensationalism.html

Research suggests that authentic dissent frequently leads a group to better decisions than a contrarian simply playing Devils Advocate. The question is: why should it matter if someone really disagrees, or is just faking it? Video: http://youtu.be/lP_2ZaolKxU Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2021/12/22/218.-Playing-Devil's-Advocate.html

CAD is hard, but bad modeling habits make it even harder. A theory of what makes for good CAD might make things a little easier for you. Video: http://youtu.be/wR72zjh39qI Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2021/12/06/217.-A-Theory-of-Good-CAD.html

Are descriptors like “good” and “evil” pointing at real, objective features of the world? Surprisingly, despite the weirdness of moral facts, most philosophers would say “yes.” Why? Well…morality might not be the only thing in those crosshairs…😬 Video: http://youtu.be/lOKw7BceAck Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2021/11/16/216.-Companions-in-Guilt.html

Futurists often suggest that technology grows exponentially more powerful over time, but there may be good reasons to doubt this notion, & very good reasons not to wait around for the future tech they promise is imminent. Video: http://youtu.be/cvzgehavGy0 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2021/10/15/215.-The-Theory-of-Accelerating-Change.html