AlwaysAsking

This is Part 2 of the question: Why does anything exist? Why is there something rather than nothing? Wouldn’t nothing have been so much easier? Every society in every time has wrestled with this dilemma. It’s our most enduring question. For we all seek to know: why we are here? In this episode we will review the latest answers and use the best available evidence in an attempt to settle this ageless question. With an answer to this question we can orientate ourselves in reality, and understand the reason behind it all. An answer to this question would tell us not only why we exist, but also what else exists, both within the universe we see and beyond. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:26 The Foundational Crisis: 04:42 A Call to Action: 03:03 New Foundations: 03:49 Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems: 06:58 Undecidability: 10:17 Hilbert’s 10th Problem: 13:44 Universal Equations: 18:07 The Universal Dovetailer: 22:24 A Story of Creation: 26:28 Ancient Anticipations: 27:30 The Causeless Cause Found?: 33:06 Is it Causeless?: 33:17 Independent of Minds: 33:32 Independent of Matter: 35:06 Is it the Cause?: 36:22 The Cause of Minds: 37:33 The Cause of Matter: 43:58 Is This Testable?: 46:48 Algorithmic Information Theory: 48:12 Confirming Evidence: 50:30 Predictions of the Theory: 51:16 Why Laws?: 54:00 Why the Laws are Mathematical: 58:09 Why the Laws are Simple: 59:59 Why the Laws are Life-Friendly: 01:03:35 Why Quantum Mechanics?: 01:08:02 Irreducible Randomness: 01:12:16 Infinite Complexity: 01:17:37 Quantum Computers: 01:20:56 Why Time?: 01:24:15 A Beginning in Time: 01:26:33 Information as Fundamental: 01:30:06 Observation as Fundamental: 01:34:12 Reviewing the Evidence: 01:39:43 Conclusions: 01:40:47 The Journey Here: 01:43:14 A Strange Answer: 01:44:42 A Triumph of Human Reason: 01:46:25 Open Questions: 01:48:43 Room for God: 01:48:54 Deriving Physical Law: 01:50:13 Implications: 01:52:18 The Universe is a Dream: 01:52:29 We Live in a Simulation: 01:53:55 Our Place in Reality: 01:54:39 See Part 1: https://youtu.be/6hGH-roVl3w Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/why-does-anything-exist/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

Why does anything exist? Why is there something rather than nothing? Wouldn’t nothing have been so much easier? Every society in every time has wrestled with this dilemma. It’s our most enduring question. For we all seek to know: why we are here? In this episode we will review the latest answers and use the best available evidence in an attempt to settle this ageless question. With an answer to this question we can orientate ourselves in reality, and understand the reason behind it all. An answer to this question would tell us not only why we exist, but also what else exists, both within the universe we see and beyond. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 Two Paths to Existence: 04:42 Something From Nothing?: 06:04 Defining Nothing: 07:16 Kinds of Nothing: 09:30 Rules for Nothing: 11:02 The Trouble with Nothing: 12:30 Properties of Nothing: 13:20 Properties of Zero: 15:18 An Explosion of Entities: 17:55 A True Nothing: 21:18 Unsculpted Marble: 23:24 An Unsent E-mail: 24:51 The Library of Babel: 26:02 Everything From Nothing?: 32:59 Less Information, More Reality: 33:39 Necessary Existence: 39:50 A Self-Existent Thing?: 42:22 Existing without Cause: 44:18 First Cause: 45:51 Infinite Regression: 47:00 Causal Loop: 49:29 The Nature of Uncaused Things: 53:24 Candidates for Self-Existence: 55:53 Logic: 56:51 Truth: 1:00:53 Numbers: 1:05:08 Possibility: 1:10:38 The Universe: 1:16:24 A Higher Plane: 1:22:32 Consciousness: 1:25:32 Reviewing Answers: 1:30:58 Abstract Entities: 1:31:30 Possibility and Consistency: 1:32:40 The Physical: 1:33:46 Higher Planes: 1:34:43 The Mental: 1:36:04 A Causeless Cause: 1:36:44 Three Modes of Existence: 1:38:18 Math, Matter, Mind: 1:40:15 Materialism: 1:41:36 Idealism: 1:43:19 Platonism: 1:45:24 What Came First?: 1:47:14 Are They One?: 1:48:46 Mind and Matter as One?: 1:48:57 Math and Matter as One?: 1:50:24 All as One?: 1:52:19 A Path to Reality: 01:53:07 20th Century Mathematics: 114:35 See Part 2: https://youtu.be/lYCul43JSxo Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/why-does-anything-exist/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

What is the meaning of life? It’s a question everyone has wondered about at some point in their life. Is there even an answer? Each of us has somehow found our way into this world. But for what purpose or reason are we here? What’s the point of it all? Is there inherent significance or value to life and existence? In this episode we will review the answers and use the best available evidence in an attempt to settle this timeless question. An answer to this question will enable us to better understand each other, to know the direction and aim of humanity and technology, and to know what is truly valuable so we can get the most out of life. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 Reviewing Answers: 01:27 Answers from Ancients: 01:45 Ancient Egyptians: 02:01 Ancient Sumerians: 03:00 Ancient Persians: 04:56 Answers from Religion: 05:53 Abrahamic Religions: 06:08 Judaism: 06:24 Christianity: 06:36 Islam: 07:02 Dharmic Religions: 07:34 Hinduism: 07:44 Buddhism: 08:50 Sikhism: 09:29 East Asian Religions: 10:30 Confucianism: 10:45 Taoism: 11:48 Shinto: 13:16 Answers from Philosophy: 14:44 Greek Philosophers: 14:56 Middle Ages: 16:52 Enlightenment: 18:48 Liberalism: 19:06 Utilitarianism: 20:02 Modern Times: 21:35 Nihilism: 22:02 Humanism: 23:55 Naturalistic Pantheism: 24:38 Summary of Answers: 25:24 A Unifying Principle: 29:28 The Origin of Good: 30:48 A Supreme Good: 31:24 Tracking Down the Supreme Good: 32:50 The Supreme Good Found?: 34:52 All Good Things: 37:46 Dimensions of Experience: 38:50 Quantity: 39:36 Quality: 40:12 Variety: 41:04 Knowing the Meaning of Life: 42:03 What Things are Valuable?: 43:10 Intrinsic Value: 43:54 Instrumental Value: 45:38 The Value of Life: 46:52 Common Values: 47:46 Different Assumptions: 48:30 The Nun and the Reveler: 48:44 Planetary Survival: 49:44 Different Priorities:52:00 Risk versus Reward: 52:33 No Pain, No Gain: 53:24 The Direction of Technology: 55:04 Mastering Experience: 56:03 Sharing Experiences: 01:00:48 Explorers of Consciousness: 01:03:25 Humanity’s Final Destiny: 01:06:50 The Omega Point: 01:07:30 The End of the Universe: 01:13:40 Making the Most of Life: 01:16:18 The Path to Happiness: 01:17:04 Love: 01:19:06 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-life/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

Artificial Intelligence has achieved extraordinary feats. Given the current state and trajectory of AI, for how much longer can humans remain the most intelligent creature on Earth? This episode explores that question. We review the areas where AI has already achieved superhuman abilities, and cover the dwindling areas where humans still hold an edge. It is a most-pressing question. Though we have held the title of “most intelligent species” for a hundred thousand years, we could be relieved of this title in a few decades. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 What is intelligence: 03:00 Narrow vs strong AI: 04:29 Human intelligence: 05:25 Power of the human brain: 05:40 Abilities of the human brain: 07:55 The present state of artificial intelligence: 10:12 Communication abilities of AI: 10:28 Transcription: 11:14 Translation: 12:15 Comprehension: 13:07 Putting it all together: 18:52 Learning abilities of AI: 20:44 Video games: 21:09 Board games: 22:59 Partial information games: 25:50 Real-time games: 29:00 Beyond games: 31:04 Movement abilities of AI: 33:03 Driving: 34:37 Flying: 36:20 Nimble robots: 38:08 Recognition abilities of AI: 38:55 Creative abilities of AI: 41:44 Art: 43:02 Music: 45:42 Imagination: 48:55 Invention: 51:22 Reasoning abilities of AI: 54:23 Artificial intelligence and jobs: 58:22 Jobs taken by AI and automation: 59:40 Jobs threatened by AI: 01:01:15 AI in law: 01:02:07 AI in medicine: 01:05:03 AI in science: 01:10:19 AI in finance: 01:12:45 AI in entertainment: 01:13:52 AI in transportation: 01:16:05 AI in writing: 01:18:24 What jobs are safe: 01:20:22 The future of artificial intelligence: 01:22:20 Algorithms of intelligence: 01:24:06 Neural networks: 01:25:48 Computing trends: 01:28:05 An intelligence explosion: 01:30:20 The doomsday equation: 01:32:10 A singularity in history: 01:34:55 Superpowers of superintelligence: 01:37:08 Limits of intelligence: 01:39:40 Conclusions: 01:43:52 Are intelligent machines possible: 01:44:04 What does our future hold: 01:45:14 When will AI take over: 01:46:12 Credits: 01:48:00 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/when-will-ai-take-over/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

Are we alone? Might Earth be the sole exception to an otherwise dead universe? We shouldn’t be. The ingredients for life are everywhere — life should be common. But then, where is everyone? In this episode we explore the three possible answers to this question. By the time you finish listening, you will have a firm grasp of the relevant science, enough to form an opinion on which answer is probably right. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 Requirements of life: 00:55 Matter: 01:41 Energy: 03:38 Time: 05:45 Tenacity of life: 08:25 Extremophiles: 09:22 Panspermia: 11:12 The Fermi Paradox: 15:22 The Drake Equation: 17:23 Our search for ET: 20:46 Listening for signals: 21:11 Looking for planets: 24:26 Searching for artifacts: 28:49 Sending our Greetings: 31:55 The Arecibo message: 32:13 The Golden records: 34:00 Solutions to Fermi's Paradox: 36:18 We are alone: 38:00 They isolate: 46:39 They are here: 59:05 Conclusions: 01:02:35 Credits: 01:06:03 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/are-we-alone/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

How big is the universe? While it is generally known that the universe is very big, the latest science reveals that its true size defies all comprehension. In this episode we tackle the question of how big the universe is, whether or not it is infinite, and what the consequence are for us all if it is. If the universe is big enough, it guarantees the existence of aliens, mirror Earths, and even copies of you living in the distant past and far future. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 Historic views: 00:50 Copernican view: 2:24 Other star systems: 3:13 Many galaxies: 5:40 The modern view: 7:35 Ancient radiation: 8:48 Where the bang happened: 10:18 Size of the bang: 11:47 Cosmic inflation: 14:32 Eternal inflation: 19:01 String theory landscape: 21:21 Mathematical universe: 25:13 How big reality is: 28:05 Consequences of infinite space: 31:00 We're not alone: 31:40 You have doppelgängers: 32:43 You've lived before: 34:33 Does god exist? 35:24 Credits: 36:12 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/how-big-is-the-universe/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

What is time? Few things are so familiar and mysterious. Time is the most common noun in the English language. Our lives are governed by time, and yet we have so little understanding of it. In this episode, we consider what science has to tell us about time. We find that it is stranger than anyone could have imagined, at least, anyone before Einstein. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 The miracle year: 01:45 Special relativity: 03:37 Overturning tradition: 04:16 Strange predictions of special relativity: 05:30 Confirmations of special relativity: 07:36 Is the speed of light constant: 08:44 Ranging the moon: 10:05 Measuring time: 11:34 Atomic clocks: 12:53 Time dilation: 14:26 Testing time dilation: 15:53 Twin paradox: 17:32 Time dilation and GPS: 19:03 Significant time dilation: 20:25 Particle accelerators: 21:42 Length contraction: 23:27 Atmospheric muons: 23:44 Interstellar travel: 25:42 Length contraction on atomic scales: 27:30 Length contraction on astronomical scales: 28:39 Understanding special relativity: 29:33 Spacetime: 29:54 Spacetime and length contraction: 31:04 Spacetime and twins: 33:21 Clock desynchronization: 34:39 Relativity of simultaneity: 36:59 Events in spacetime: 40:41 Evidence of four-dimensional spacetime: 41:40 Interchangeability of time and space: 43:15 Messages from the future: 45:02 The future has already happened: 47:17 The Andromeda paradox: 48:44 Understanding the Andromeda paradox: 51:25 Conclusions: 53:34 Implications for reality: 54:25 Four-dimensionalism: 55:09 Is change an illusion: 57:04 Why is the future unknowable: 59:20 Time's arrow: 01:00:08 Implications for self: 01:00:08 Do we have freewill: 01:01:52 Religion and special relativity: 01:03:06 Relativity of viewpoints: 01:03:17 Existence of all times and events: 01:03:43 Eternal life: 01:04:50 Caesar still lives: 01:05:15 A tenacious illusion: 01:08:40 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/what-is-time/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

Can aging be cured? Eternal youth has long been a dream. Now, through modern science, humanity is on the verge of curing aging and achieving immortality. We’ve extended lifespans of organisms ten-fold, used drugs to shave years off people’s age, reprogrammed cells to become youthful, and we are developing tools that could one day enable digital immortality. Is it possible to live forever, should we even try? This episode explores those questions. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 A maximum lifespan: 03:34 The disease of aging: 04:45 The body as a machine: 05:50 Aging as wear and tear: 07:05 Immortality in nature: 11:55 Forever young: 12:34 Biological immortality: 13:30 Immortal organisms: 13:50 Immortal cells: 15:19 Immortal animals: 18:26 Immortal plants: 21:13 Immortal species: 22:45 Maintaining the machine: 25:14 Replacing the parts: 25:30 On-demand organs: 27:00 Repairing the damage: 30:16 Gene therapies for repair: 30:50 Yeast: 31:17 Worms: 31:50 Mice: 32:50 Drugs for repair: 33:55 Eliminating senescent cells: 34:12 Repairing DNA: 35:25 Restoring youth: 36:30 Human testing: 38:00 Future Strategies: 39:58 Near-term repair strategies: 40:22 Nanomedicine: 40:31 Swallowing the surgeon: 41:17 Digital Immortality: 42:33 Death is data loss: 43:30 Longevity escape velocity: 45:55 Living long enough to live forever: 46:30 Conclusions: 47:56 Can we do it: 48:35 Should we do it: 49:34 Life extension is unnatural: 49:50 Overpopulation: 50:36 Technological solutions: 52:15 What about overcrowding: 53:14 Will we do it: 54:28 People working on it: 54:38 Must we do it: 55:08 We will do it: 55:25 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/can-aging-be-cured/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

Is there an afterlife or is this the only life we get? Most believe science says there is no afterlife. But this view, while common, is wrong. In today's episode, we will consider the question of what we experience after death. Is there an afterlife? Do we resurrect to heaven, reincarnate as another being, unite with god, or might we experience nothing at all? Modern scientific theories have shed mew light on this age-old question. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 Testable and untestable predictions: 01:45 Theories predicting life after death: 03:50 Theories and predictions: 04:30 1. Cosmic Inflation and the Afterlife: 06:18 Cosmic inflation’s predictions for the afterlife: 08:12 2. Mechanism and the Afterlife: 11:27 Mechanism’s predictions for the afterlife: 14:25 3. The Concordance Model and the Afterlife: 21:52 The concordance model’s predictions for the afterlife: 24:53 4. Quantum Mechanics and the Afterlife: 30:20 Quantum mechanics’s predictions for the afterlife: 35:32 5. Special Relativity and the Afterlife: 41:02 Special relativity’s predictions for the afterlife: 44:27 6. Biological Immortality and the Afterlife: 49:25 Biological immortality’s predictions for the afterlife: 52:22 7. The Simulation Hypothesis and the Afterlife: 55:40 Simulation hypothesis’s predictions for the afterlife: 01:01:14 8. The Technological Singularity and the Afterlife: 01:08:38 Technological singularity’s predictions for the afterlife: 01:13:14 9. The Transcension Hypothesis and the Afterlife: 01:17:50 The transcension hypothesis’s predictions for the afterlife: 01:22:16 10. Open Individualism and the Afterlife: 01:29:45 Open individualism’s predictions for the afterlife: 01:34:20 Conclusions: 01:41:58 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/is-there-life-after-death/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/

Was the universe made for life? In other words, were physical laws and constants of nature somehow chosen to allow for complex life? Over the last century, physicists and cosmologists made a series of disturbing discoveries: cosmic coincidences. They found that parameters of nature and physical law seen specially crafted to make life possible. What are the implications? Are we just very lucky? Was the universe designed for us. Or, might it imply the existence of other unseen universes. In this episode we review the latest data and theories to find answers to these questions. Beginning: 00:00 Episode start: 00:25 First Clues: 01:56 A Perfect Balance: 04:03 Monkeying with Physics: 09:15 Cosmic Coincidences: 17:30 Chemistry and Life: 19:09 The King of the Elements: 20:26 A Desert Universe: 21:38 Particle Physics and Life: 24:39 A World of Electrons: 25:30 A Starless Universe: 27:39 A Universe without Atoms: 30:50 Ghosts to the Rescue: 32:14 Fundamental Forces and Life: 37:37 Electromagnetism and the "Greatest Damn Mystery in Physics": 38:10 Gravity and the Lives and Deaths of Stars: 40:30 The Weak Nuclear Force and the Biggest Explosions: 44:46 The Strong Nuclear Force and Sticky Nucleons: 49:06 Cosmology and Life: 52:26 Infinitely Intelligent Babies and Spacetime Dimensionality: 53:05 Dark Matter and the Cosmic Web: 56:09 Universal Homogeneity and Unwelcome Stars: 59:42 The Cosmological Constant and Einstein’s Greatest Blunder: 01:03:05 How Lucky were We?: 01:11:59 The Right Particles: 01:13:00 Balanced Forces: 01:15:00 Precise Initial Conditions: 01:17:14 Between Order and Chaos: 01:19:32 Counting our Luck: 01:21:24 The Finest Tuning: 01:25:30 Why the Universe is Made for Life: 01:29:29 Coincidence: 01:30:37 Providence: 01:35:00 Multiverse: 01:40:00 The Anthropic Principle: 01:45:10 Solving the Fine-Tuning Mystery: 01:47:06 Is there one Universe, not Designed for Life?: 01:48:35 Is there one Universe, Designed for Life?: 01:51:45 Is there not one Universe?: 01:52:52 Final Thoughts: 01:55:16 Other formats: Podcast: https://podcast.alwaysasking.com/ Article: https://alwaysasking.com/was-the-universe-made-for-life/ eBook: https://alwaysasking.com/member-content/