What determines whether a particular event is classified as part of an existing conflict or a random act of violence?

Niraj Kushwaha joins the podcast to talk about modeling instances of armed conflict using fine grained datasets to better understand the emergence of conflicts and how they might be related.

We discuss how conflicts can be categorized into three main types, and the primary variables that allow for their categorization. This takes us to the broader applications of this work, from modeling epidemics to climate change, and how statistical physics can be used to form hypotheses about the likelihood of future events of particular types.

Guest: Niraj Kushwaha

Niraj's latest paper on Data-driven conflict classification

The database Niraj mentioned: Armed Conflict & Event Data Project

Can any interaction between two people ever really be fair?

In this episode from February 2024, we sit down with Angarika Deb to chat about how to understand fairness, and what it means in relation to equality, equity, and justice. We end up covering a wide range of topics that fairness implicates, from gendered divisions of labor and resource distribution, to political movements and social justice.

Guest: Angarika Deb

Visit the Monkey Dance Website for show notes

What happens when gangs step in to provide services for communities that governments aren't able or willing to provide?

David Cerero Guerra joins the podcast to talk about his ethnographic work chronicling the equilibrium local gangs have reached with the government of Colombia in the city of Medellin.

While the primary activity of the gangs is selling illicit drugs which harm the community, they also have managed to ensure the reduction of physical violence and facilitate government services like water and electricity to under served communities.

We chat about the historical and political contexts which allowed for the emergence of such a unique unspoken agreement, and how the government communicates with the gangs without any official channels.

Guest: David Cerero Guerra

You can also watch the episode on youtube

We refer to morality a lot when judging behavior, but what exactly are we referring to?

Emese Havadtői joins us to talk about the structure and emergence of moral frameworks. We chat about whether morality can be understood in terms of behavior, without a universalist understanding of morality, and how evolution plays a role in our drive to behave morally. The debate also brushes up against what it means to be "good" and whether it is understood by looking at individual behavior or if it exists as a truth in the universe.

Guest: Emese Havadtői

Cohost: Maria Federova

You can also watch the conversation on youtube

What is the brain's relationship to information?

Francesco Poli joins to talk about the brain, the mind, and the individual differences that amount to human curiosity.

We talk about adaptivity, how our experiences shape our relationship to information, and what this means for our behavior. We also cover the value of information, dealing with uncertainty as a concept, and the importance of a good learning environment.

Guest: Francesco Poli

You can also watch the conversation on youtube

How do we choose which norms to follow? And how do we change them for a more equitable society?

Camilo Martinez joins to talk about how we learn, communicate, and enforce social norms. We also chat about the historical trajectory of norms, how norms have evolved as society has, and when we can overthrow prejudiced norms which seek to marginalize groups.

Guest: Camilo Martinez

Cohost: Pelin Kasar

To catch more of Pelin, check out Episode 6, Episode 28, Episode 32.

You can also watch the podcast on youtube.

How can we make sense of the variety of beliefs that are prevalent in society?

Peter Steiglechner joins the podcast to talk about the role of identity and group belonging in understanding why people believe what they believe. We chat about modeling belief networks and understanding the role of bias in our engagement with information. We also cover how disagreements emerge and when consensus is possible, and more generally about existing in a group and dealing with a diversity of opinion.

Guest: Peter Steiglechner

Co-host: Ákos Szegőfi