Episode
#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
Description
Roger Penrose is physicist, mathematician, and philosopher at University of Oxford. He has made fundamental contributions in many disciplines from the mathematical physics of general relativity and cosmology to the limitations of a computational view of consciousness. Support this podcast by signing up with these sponsors: - ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/lexpod - Cash App - use code "LexPodcast" and download: - Cash App (App Store): https://apple.co/2sPrUHe - Cash App (Google Play): https://bit.ly/2MlvP5w EPISODE LINKS: Cycles of Time (book): https://amzn.to/39tXtpp The Emperor's New Mind (book): https://amzn.to/2yfeVkD This conversation is part of the Artificial Intelligence podcast. If you would like to get more information about this podcast go to https://lexfridman.com/ai or connect with @lexfridman on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, or YouTube where you can watch the video versions of these conversations. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify, or support it on Patreon. Here's the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. OUTLINE: 00:00 - Introduction 03:51 - 2001: A Space Odyssey 09:43 - Consciousness and computation 23:45 - What does it mean to "understand" 31:37 - What's missing in quantum mechanics? 40:09 - Whatever consciousness is, it's not a computation 44:13 - Source of consciousness in the human brain 1:02:57 - Infinite cycles of big bangs 1:22:05 - Most beautiful idea in mathematics
Chapters
The engineers at Cash App have created an easy-to-use platform that offers a level of abstraction over the stock market, making trading more accessible for new investors and diversification much easier.
00:00 - 05:46 (05:46)
Summary
The engineers at Cash App have created an easy-to-use platform that offers a level of abstraction over the stock market, making trading more accessible for new investors and diversification much easier.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The idea of AI consciousness is a complex and confusing topic.
05:46 - 14:52 (09:06)
Summary
The idea of AI consciousness is a complex and confusing topic. It is unclear whether consciousness could truly emerge from a complex computational system, and there are debates about the potentially negative implications of such a development in AI technology.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The brain may function like a universal Turing machine, with a large accessible storage of sub-programs and sub-routines, leading to the absolute notion of computability and solvability of mathematical problems.
14:52 - 20:40 (05:47)
Summary
The brain may function like a universal Turing machine, with a large accessible storage of sub-programs and sub-routines, leading to the absolute notion of computability and solvability of mathematical problems.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The idea of understanding, intelligence, or consciousness is outside the rules and enables us to transcend them.
20:40 - 24:28 (03:48)
Summary
The idea of understanding, intelligence, or consciousness is outside the rules and enables us to transcend them. It allows us to believe that there is more to truth than just following the rules.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reflects on the quality of understanding and how it influences different things in life, both personally and professionally.
24:28 - 31:36 (07:07)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the quality of understanding and how it influences different things in life, both personally and professionally. They discuss the advantages of possessing an understanding quality and how it's not limited to mathematicians doing their work.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The challenges, theories, and calculations of understanding quantum mechanics and black holes including black hole interactions, gravitational waves, and the Schrodinger equation.
31:36 - 37:17 (05:40)
Summary
The challenges, theories, and calculations of understanding quantum mechanics and black holes including black hole interactions, gravitational waves, and the Schrodinger equation.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Physicist discusses the conflict between the principle of superposition and general covariance and his ideas on the puzzles of computability and consciousness in physics and mathematics.
37:17 - 42:52 (05:34)
Summary
Physicist discusses the conflict between the principle of superposition and general covariance and his ideas on the puzzles of computability and consciousness in physics and mathematics.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses their excitement about the symmetrical structures found in cells and their potential to be better at preserving quantum coherence, without degrees of freedom leaking into the environment.
42:52 - 48:18 (05:26)
Summary
The speaker discusses their excitement about the symmetrical structures found in cells and their potential to be better at preserving quantum coherence, without degrees of freedom leaking into the environment.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The application of quantum mechanics to gravitational theory involves a careful consideration of how gravity impacts the structure of quantum mechanics, leading some to advocate for modifications.
48:18 - 56:52 (08:33)
Summary
The application of quantum mechanics to gravitational theory involves a careful consideration of how gravity impacts the structure of quantum mechanics, leading some to advocate for modifications.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Consciousness was initially thought to be involved in the state reduction process in quantum mechanics, but it is now believed that it operates in a non-computational way that is not fully understood.
56:52 - 1:05:35 (08:43)
Summary
Consciousness was initially thought to be involved in the state reduction process in quantum mechanics, but it is now believed that it operates in a non-computational way that is not fully understood.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The theory of the Big Bang suggests that the universe expanded exponentially in a fraction of a second, but the concept of inflation had to be added to make it work.
1:05:35 - 1:09:49 (04:13)
Summary
The theory of the Big Bang suggests that the universe expanded exponentially in a fraction of a second, but the concept of inflation had to be added to make it work. The theory goes against the second law of thermodynamics that things get more random over time, yet gravity remains ordered.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The universe will become increasingly colder and less interesting as black holes slowly evaporate, leading to a state of complete stillness.
1:09:49 - 1:12:47 (02:58)
Summary
The universe will become increasingly colder and less interesting as black holes slowly evaporate, leading to a state of complete stillness.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This episode explores how energy, mass, and frequency are equivalent according to scientific findings by Einstein and Max Planck.
1:12:47 - 1:17:25 (04:37)
Summary
This episode explores how energy, mass, and frequency are equivalent according to scientific findings by Einstein and Max Planck. The concept of infinity is also discussed within mathematical and physical limits.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This episode delves into the paradox of why we have yet to discover any signs of intelligent life beyond Earth, even though the probability suggests it should exist.
1:17:25 - 1:22:22 (04:57)
Summary
This episode delves into the paradox of why we have yet to discover any signs of intelligent life beyond Earth, even though the probability suggests it should exist. It explores possible explanations such as the great filter, and questions the fate of civilizations capable of harnessing and propagating signals across space and time.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The mystery of consciousness may be tied to the mystery of quantum mechanics and how it fits into the classical world.
1:22:22 - 1:26:03 (03:40)
Summary
The mystery of consciousness may be tied to the mystery of quantum mechanics and how it fits into the classical world. The addition of the square root of minus one to numbers gives rise to the concept of complex numbers, which allows for previously unimaginable advancements.
Episode#85 – Roger Penrose: Physics of Consciousness and the Infinite Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The fact that the conscious mind cannot work like a computer is not a controversial opinion; it is quite obvious to anyone, particularly to a curious child.
1:26:03 - 1:28:02 (01:59)
Summary
The fact that the conscious mind cannot work like a computer is not a controversial opinion; it is quite obvious to anyone, particularly to a curious child. However, as we grow, we tend to overlook this innate awareness and become engulfed in the complexities of the world around us.