Jacob Barandes is Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, where he works widely across the philosophy of physics, with focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the philosophy of spacetime, and the metaphysics of laws. In this episode, Robinson and Jacob focus on the foundations of quantum mechanics. They discuss the importance of history and philosophy in the same, its connections to mathematics, many of the biggest puzzles in quantum physics, and Jacob’s new approach to the foundations, which he refers to as the “Indivisibility” approach.

Jacob's Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com

OUTLINE

00:00 Mathematics, Nature, and Physics

07:55 The Deep Link Between Math and Physics CLIP

15:21 Scrutinizing the History and Philosophy of Physics

28:11 A Digression on Achille Varzi

36:53 The Etymology of “Matrix”

41:17 Learning from the History of Physics

52:38 Why Does Quantum Mechanics Need New Foundations?

59:04 Does Quantum Gravity Need New Quantum Foundations?

01;08:26 What Is a Constructive Physical Theory?

01:32:31 Markov Laws and Determinism

01:45:30 The Wave Function

02:06:53 Inconsistencies in Quantum Mechanics

02:12:20 What Is Quantum Decoherence?

02:23:10 The Biggest Problems in Quantum Foundations?

02:33:49 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics

02:38:57 Quantum Mechanics, Many Worlds, and the Problem of Induction

02:50:05 The Indivisibility Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

03:04:42 What Are the Fundamentalia of the Universe?

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

Lee Cronin is Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Among his many pursuits are the digitization of chemistry, the discovery of alien life, and the creation of artificial life. In this episode, Robinson and Lee focus on astrobiology, the chemistry of life as we know it, and the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence.

Lee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/

Lee’s Twitter: https://x.com/leecronin

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Lee’s Interests in the Origin of Life

10:29 Is Life Unique to Earth?

18:16 What Is the Self?

24:05 Is the Selfish Gene Hypothesis Wrong?

30:46 How Does Sand Turn into Cells?

44:02 What Is Chemputation?

45:41 What Is Assembly Theory?

01:11:33 Why Won’t We Find a Mine of Coffee Mugs on an Asteroid?

01:25:09 Has AI Become a Cult?

01:32:16 Will AI Use Biological Weapons to Wipe Out Humanity?

01:55:24 Why AI Can’t Be Agents

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

Sara Imari Walker is Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University, where she is Deputy Director of the Beyond Center. Sara is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist, with research interests in the origins of life, artificial life, life and detection on other worlds. In this episode, Robinson and Sara discuss the physics that makes life possible. More particularly, they discuss assembly theory, the growing field of astrobiology, the difficulties of defining life, and where we are most likely to find aliens. Sara’s latest book is Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life’s Emergence (Riverhead Books, 2024).

Life as No One Knows It: https://a.co/d/2fdKa2e

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

00:35 The Connection Between Physics and Biology

07:15 Philosophy and the Origin of Life

10:03 Is the Selfish Gene Theory Wrong?

22:17 On Her Work with Lee Cronin

38:47 Experiments To Discover the Origin of Life

48:52 What Is Assembly Theory?

01:00:42 Are Boltzmann Brains Possible?

01:05:53 The Paradox of Defining Life

01:31:10 Is Life a Vague Concept?

01:38:13 Where Are All the Aliens?

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

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Slavoj Žižek is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London, visiting professor at New York University, and a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Department of Philosophy. This is Slavoj’s fifth appearance on the show. On episode 109, he and Robinson discussed wokeness and psychoanalysis. On episode 118, he, Sean Carroll, and Robinson discussed quantum physics, the multiverse, and time travel. And on episode 206 he, Lee Smolin, and Robinson discussed quantum physics. In episode 212, Robinson and Slavoj talk about ancient philosophy, god, communism, quantum mechanics, and psychoanalysis. In this episode, they discuss current political events, marxism, quantum mechanics, and artificial intelligence. Slavoj’s upcoming book is Quantum History: A New Materialist Philosophy (Bloomsbury, 2025).
Quantum History: https://a.co/d/7WFcAGi

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OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Marxism and Quantum Mechanics

07:34 Why We Aren’t Pessimistic Enough

16:29 The Wisdom of the First Philosopher

29:27 The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

38:10 On Curtis Yarvin

49:23 The Naivety of Pete Hegseth

51:06 The Contradiction in American Fascism

57:43 Could a Coup Overthrow Trump?

01:04:17 The Utter Shamelessness of Today’s Society

01:14:15 The Danger of the Disappearing Left

01:18:06 AI Is a Tool of Authoritarian Suppression

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

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Tyler Cowen is the Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics at George Mason University and serves as chairman and faculty director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. A dedicated writer and communicator of economic ideas, Tyler is the author of several bestselling books and is widely published in academic journals and the popular media. In this episode, Robinson and Tyler discuss the economics of artificial intelligence. More particularly, they touch on whether AI will destroy humanity, how it will affect employment, whether there will no longer be a place for art in the marketplace, and more. Tyler’s latest book is Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World (St. Martin’s Press, 2022).

Marginal Revolution: https://marginalrevolution.com

Tyler’s X: https://x.com/tylercowen

Talent: https://a.co/d/ftqNWcn

OUTLINE

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:09 Why Won’t AI Destroy Humanity?

00:06:39 Will AI Be Good or Bad for Employment?

00:08:20 On Optimism

00:10:10 It Isn’t Inevitable that AI Will Wipe Out Human Life

00:19:03 How to Align AI with Human Interests

00:24:40 Reid’s Interest in Friendship

00:32:13 Why AI Can’t be Our Friends

00:36:33 Could AI Replace Therapists?

00:45:18 Using AI to Cure Cancer

00:52:04 Will AI Extinguish Humanity with a Virus?

01:00:02 How Will AI Make Us More Powerful Agents?

01:07:06 Will Academia Be Revolutionized by AI?

01:15:10 Are You an AI Native?

01:17:36 How to Invest in AI

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

Reid Hoffman is the co-founder of LinkedIn, Manas AI, and Inflection AI. As an investor at Greylock, he is one of the leading figures in the tech industry, working at the forefront of AI development. In this episode, Reid and Robinson talk all about the future of AI. They begin by covering the worst case scenario—doomsday—and why Reid is optimistic about our chances. From there, they turn to how AI could help us cure cancer, replace therapists, enable us to be more powerful agents, and make our lives better. Reid’s most recent book is Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future (2025).

Reid’s Website: https://www.reidhoffman.org

Superagency: https://a.co/d/hdSZeCY

OUTLINE

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:09 Why Won’t AI Destroy Humanity?

00:06:39 Will AI Be Good or Bad for Employment?

00:08:20 On Optimism

00:10:10 It Isn’t Inevitable that AI Will Wipe Out Human Life

00:19:03 How to Align AI with Human Interests

00:24:40 Reid’s Interest in Friendship

00:32:13 Why AI Can’t be Our Friends

00:36:33 Could AI Replace Therapists?

00:45:18 Using AI to Cure Cancer

00:52:04 Will AI Extinguish Humanity with a Virus?

01:00:02 How Will AI Make Us More Powerful Agents?

01:07:06 Will Academia Be Revolutionized by AI?

01:15:10 Are You an AI Native?

01:17:36 How to Invest in AI

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

Support our sponsor, FarmKind, to fix factory farming: https://www.farmkind.giving

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Kenneth Roth is the Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor at the Princeton School for Public and International Affairs. Until August 2022, he served for nearly three decades as the executive director of Human Rights Watch. In this episode, Robinson and Ken discuss his work with HRW and what he has been doing since. More particularly, they get into the details of how HRW operated, how shaming tactics can be deployed against figures like Putin, Trump, and Orban, Israel and Palestine, the relationship between genocide and ethnic cleansing, and more. For more, read Ken’s recent book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments (Knopf, 2025).

Righting Wrongs: https://a.co/d/gHkbmmw

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

00:00:53 Why Human Rights?

00:08:23 How Does Human Rights Watch Work?

00:14:04 Can Putin or Orban Be Shamed?

00:21:14 Can Trump Be Shamed into Standing Up to Putin?

00:26:53 Libya, Gaddafi, and Forcing the Release of Political Prisoners

00:29:14 Fighting the Dreaded M23 Rebel Group in Congo

00:31:56 Why Governments Always Violate Human Rights

00:33:57 Is Torture Ever Justified?

00:38:21 Facts and Investigations

00:46:27 Verifying Starvation and Famine in Gaza

00:51:29 Can Netanyahu Be Shamed?

00:58:24 Genocide vs. Ethnic Cleansing in Palestine

01:04:16 The United States’ Biggest Human Rights Violations

01:09:24 Sudan: The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis

Support our sponsor, FarmKind, to fix factory farming: https://www.farmkind.giving

The code “ROBINSON” will increase your donation by 50% with a bump from large donors.

Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s ninth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the tariffs that President Donald Trump would like to place on goods imported from around the world. More particularly, they cover the real problems America is facing that Trump has to solve, the connection to Russia, China, and the BRICS, Elon Musk and electric vehicles, and more. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024).

Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism

Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com

Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate

OUTLINE

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:07 Is Trump’s Tariff Plan Nuts?

00:06:31 Is the United States Unsustainable?

00:15:33 Can Tariffs Solve America’s Debt Problems?

00:19:17 Tesla’s Electric Vehicle Tariff War on China

00:25:19 The Declining American Empire

00:32:53 Exposing the Myths About Trump’s Tariffs

00:44:55 The Empty Promises of American Politics

00:53:54 Why DC Doesn’t Have Representation in Congress

01:00:22 The Bizarre Alliance Between Israel and the United States

01:04:48 Why Russia Is Exempt from Trump’s Tariffs

01:13:48 Are Israel and the United States “Winning” Against Gaza?

01:24:25 How Wealth Now Controls the United States

01:27:52 On The Impending Economic Downturn in the United States

01:31:47 How Trump is Turning Allies into Enemies

01:37:12 America’s Terrible Healthcare

01:42:25 Who Really Rules America?

01:57:04 How Should Trump Solve America’s Real Problems?

02:04:39 What America Can Learn from Britain’s Collapse

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where is also a JD candidate in the Law School.