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Richard Dawkins: The Programmer of the Simulation Came About Through Evolution | AI Podcast Clips
5 segments available
Full episode with Richard Dawkins (Apr 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f-JlzBuUUU Clips channel (Lex Clips): https://www.youtube.com/lexclips Main channel (Lex Fridman): https://www.youtube.com/lexfridman (more links below) Podcast full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Podcasts clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/ai Podcast on Apple Podcasts (iTunes): https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 Podcast RSS: https://lexfridman.com/category/ai/feed/ Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist, and author of The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, The Magic of Reality, The Greatest Show on Earth, and his latest Outgrowing God. He is the originator and popularizer of a lot of fascinating ideas in evolutionary biology and science in general, including funny enough the introduction of the word meme in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, which in the context of a gene-centered view of evolution is an exceptionally powerful idea. He is outspoken, bold, and often fearless in his defense of science and reason, and in this way, is one of the most influential thinkers of our time. Subscribe to this YouTube channel or connect on: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
Segments Timeline
The Programmer's Evolution
Richard Dawkins explores the concept of a programmer in a simulated universe, emphasizing that even a programmer must have evolved through a gradual process. He discusses the implications of living in a simulation and the necessity of explaining the programmer's existence through evolutionary principles.
"there's still this desire to get answers to the why question that if if we're if the world is a simulation if we're living in a simulation that there's a programmer like creature that we can ask quest..."
Simulation as a Thought Experiment
Dawkins reflects on the intriguing thought experiment of living in a simulation, referencing Daniel Galouye's science fiction novel 'Counterfeit World.' He discusses Nick Bostrom's probabilistic argument that suggests we might be living in a simulation created by our future descendants, highlighting the evolutionary aspect of such a scenario.
"interesting I basically talked to boarded the heck out of everybody asking this question but whether you live in a simulation do you think first do you think we live in a simulation second do you thin..."
Gradual Creation of the Universe
In this segment, Dawkins argues that even if the universe is a simulation, its creation must follow a gradual process. He emphasizes that the programmer and the simulation itself cannot be created instantaneously, drawing parallels to the engineering perspective of developing complex systems over time.
"and he goes further not just treated as a science fiction speculation he actually thinks it's positively likely yeah I mean it's very likely actually well he's he makes like a probabilistic argument w..."
Consciousness and the Cloud
Dawkins discusses the nature of consciousness and its potential connection to external systems, likening it to the power of a smartphone that accesses information from the cloud. He introduces the idea that consciousness may not reside solely within the brain but could be part of a larger, interconnected system.
"that even though it's program I don't think there could be miracles otherwise we'll note I mean the the programmer the higher up the upper ones have to have evolved gradually however the simulation th..."
Perception vs. Reality
Dawkins delves into the distinction between perception and reality, referencing Donald Hoffman's ideas. He explains how biological organisms perceive the world for survival, yet this perception may not accurately reflect fundamental reality. He illustrates this with examples of visual illusions and the brain's construction of models based on sensory data.
"interface to something else yeah I mean that's what beautifully including roger penrose with pen psychism that consciousness is somehow a fundamental part of physics that it doesn't have to actually a..."