Robinson's Podcast

Robinson Erhardt

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.

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286 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes286

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Yesterday · 2 hr 2 min
284 - Steve Keen: The Economics of Global Warfare
Steve Keen is an economist and was most recently Head of the School of Economics, History and Politics at Kingston University in London. He has done research on a wide variety of topics, including Marxist economics, debt, complexity theory, and systems dynamics. In this episode, Steve and Robinson discuss his economic framework in relation to wars around the globe. More particularly, the discuss the importance of oil in the Iran War, the cold war with China, the war in Ukraine, and more. OUTLINE 00:00 The Crucial Importance of Oil in the Iran War 08:54 Systems Dynamics and Economics 14:22 How Much Inflation Will the Iran War Cause? 18:17 Will the Iran War Cause Famine? 28:56 Conspiracy and the Iran War 30:48 Tariffs and Trade Deficits 46:03 Will Trump’s Tariffs Bring Manufacturing Back to the United States 52:49 Steve’s Motivation 59:25 The Crucial Flaw in Marxism 01:12:43 Understanding the War in Ukraine’s Impact on Europe 01:16:38 On Putin’s Motivations in Ukraine 01:26:32 Understanding Trump through Narcissistic Personality Disorder 01:32:52 Trump and the Takeover of Venezuela 01:38:11 Economists Misunderstand Everything About China 01:53:01 Why Will China Survive Global Warming? 01:57:18 AI and the Future Economics of the World Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
July 19 · 1 hr 5 min
283 - Timothy Snyder: Donald Trump and the End of America
Timothy Snyder holds the inaugural Temerty Chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Snyder’s work has appeared in forty languages and has received a number of prizes, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities. Snyder was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, has received the Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships, and holds state orders from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. He is researching a family history of nationalism and finishing a philosophical book about freedom. In this episode, Robinson and Timothy discuss the future of the United States. More particularly, they delve into AI, rebellion, conspiracy theory, our relationship with Russia and Ukraine, Donald Trump, and more. Timothy’s most recent book is On Freedom (Crown, 2024). Timothy’s Website: https://timothysnyder.org On Freedom: https://timothysnyder.org/books/ OUTLINE 00:00 Will the United States Cease to Exist? 13:47 Is Trump Breaking the United States Apart? 21:09 Will AI Prevent Armed Rebellion Against the Government? 30:20 Trump, Conspiracy Theories, and the Politics of Small Numbers 39:46 Putin Does Not Think Ukraine Is Real 45:57 What Are Trump’s Soft Spots? 50:26 How Tim Organizes His Thought 57:59 Donald Trump and the Superloser Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
July 12 · 2 hr 3 min
282 - Richard Wolff: China, Russia, Iran, and World War III
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 eleventh appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the ongoing war in Iran, as well as the war in Russia and Ukraine, our cold war with China, and the future possibilities of World War III. 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 China, Iran, and the Implosion of the West 13:00 The Irreconcilable Gulf Between Russia and the West 16:01 Europe’s Hard World War II Lesson 21:20 Europe’s Final Collapse Is Coming 28:42 How China Is Methodically Conquering the World 35:44 Russia’s Siberian Advantage 39:15 Marx, War, and Economic Decline 52:39 Why Iran Will Always Control the Strait of Hormuz 01:02:02 How the United States Already Failed in Iran 01:06:37 What the United States Can Learn from the Collapse of the British Empire 01:12:19 Why the War in Iran Will Not Lead to Nuclear War 01:14:44 John Mearsheimer’s Escalation Ladder and the Threat of Nuclear War in Russia 01:29:53 What Would World War Look Like in the 21st Century? 01:36:17 Donald Trump, The Isolator 01:41:40 The Sad Legacy of the League of Nations 01:51:04 Is World War III Inevitable?
July 6 · 1 hr 49 min
281 - Michael Hudson: How Debt Destroys Empires
Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s Seventh appearance on the show. On past episodes, including with Richard Wolff, he and Robinson have neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, the rentier economy, Marxism, and the role of economics in political history. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about debt and the destruction of empires. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm OUTLINE 00:00 Keeping Governments Under Control 07:01 Understanding the Church 17:27 Why Debts Grow Too Fast to Be Paid 22:57 Understanding the BRICS 26:50 How Can Countries Get Rich? 32:47 Where Is the United States’ Debt Dragging Us? 46:26 Why Michael Hudson Is Not a Mainstream Economist 48:59 The Historical Approach to Economics 01:06:01 Controlling Governments Through Tax Policy 01:23:55 How Michael Researches 01:33:31 The Myth of Economic Rent 01:38:47 The United States’ Hereditary Oligarchy 01:41:04 Why the United States Can’t Go Bankrupt 01:44:42 Closing Thoughts Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
June 29 · 2 hr 32 min
280 - David Albert & Jacob Barandes: Debating the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics
David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. 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, Jacob, and David discuss Jacob’s novel Indivisibility Approach to quantum mechanics. After beginning with an introduction from David, the conversation touches on the measurement problem, completeness, scientific realism, the purpose of physics, and more. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Jacob’s Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 The Problem with the Wave Function 05:30 The Indivisibility Approach 17:28 What Is Indivisibility? 25:13 The Measurement Problem 32:18 The Incompleteness of Jacob’s Theory 42:20 Completing the Theory 47:12 Realism in Quantum Mechanics 01:03:13 The Fundamental Task of Physics 01:10:57 The Structure of the Indivisibility Theory 01;22:26 Summarizing and Calculating 01:40:01 The Game of Fundamental Physics 01:46:31 Can Bohmian Mechanics Work? 01:56:26 A Version Including David’s Theory 02:04:49 What Is the Wave Function? 02:15:33 Where We’ve Ended Up Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
June 14 · 1 hr 20 min
279 - Paul Davies: The Second Quantum Mechanics Revolution
Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist and Regents’ Professor at Arizona State University. Paul works on quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology, with emphasis on the origin and early stages of the universe, the quantum properties of black holes and the nature of time. He is interested in the nature and origin of life – including extraterrestrial life – beyond Earth, and in complex systems. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Paul and Robinson discuss the second revolution in quantum mechanics. Among other things, they dig into the origin of quantum theory, how we should interpret it, various quarks of quantum physics, such as teleportation and entanglement, quantum computing, and more. Paul’s recent book is Quantum 2.0 (Pelican, 2025). Quantum 2.0: https://a.co/d/0ckzsWav OUTLINE 00:00 Why Quantum Mechanics? 11:59 How Should We Interpret Quantum Mechanics? 22:22 Complexity and Quantum Theory 30:59 What Will Be the Next Quantum Revolution? 39:59 The Next Generation of Quantum Technology? 49:47 Can Quantum Teleportation Move Macroscopic Objects? 52:47 Supercomputers vs Quantum Computers 01:04:16 The Fine-Tuning Problem? 01:12:37 Do We Have a Scientific Theory of Life? Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
May 31 · 1 hr 30 min
278 - Priyamvada Natarajan: The Mystery of Dark Matter
Priyamvada Natarajan is the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics at Yale University, where she is also the Chair of Astronomy. Priya researches broadly across astrophysics and cosmology; some topics she has worked on include gravitational lensing, black hole physics, the philosophy of science, and dark matter. In this conversation, Priya and Robinson largely stick to the latter. They discuss her interest in cosmology writ large, as well as how the scientific community tackles the unknown. Priya’s most recent book is Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos (Yale, 2016). Mapping the Heavens: https://a.co/d/02HPcMB1 OUTLINE 00:00 A Paradox of Cosmology 06:16 Investigating Invisibilia 11:25 The Sociology of Astrophysics 16:52 Phenomenology in Physics 19:47 What Is the Mystery of Dark Matter? 29:07 The Problem of Dark Energy 36:38 Models and Simulations 46:17 Modifying the Standard Model to Explain Dark Matter 58:20 The Crisis in Dark Matter 01:12:22 Alternative Explanations of Dark Matter 01:19:51 Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse 01:25:24 Black Holes Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
May 17 · 2 hr
277 - Tim Maudlin: What Is Philosophy?
Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. In this episode, Robinson and Tim discuss the nature of philosophy. More particularly, they discuss philosophy’s origin, its connections to physics, what characterizes some of its well-known sub disciplines, and some of its biggest problems. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org OUTLINE 00:00 The Beginning of Philosophy 06:53 Where Physics and Philosophy Diverged 14:07 Quantum Gravity 18:30 Physicists and Philosophers on Space and Time 23:10 Is Metaphysics Different From Physics? 34:54 Why Don’t Universities Have Departments of Metaphysics? 49:27 Are Numbers Real? 01:07:50 What Are Continental and Analytic Philosophy? 01:14:58 The Age-Old Puzzle of the Statue and the Clay 01:28:05 What Is Epistemology? 01:38:57 Is the World Around Us an Illusion? 01:49:13 What Are the Biggest Open Problems in Philosophy? 01:57:00 A John Bell Institute Update Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
May 3 · 1 hr 31 min
276 - Craig Callender: Lab-Grown Meat, De-Extinction, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect
Craig Callender is Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego, where he is a leading philosopher of science and physics. Craig also appeared on episode 73, in which he and Robinson discussed pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, and epidote 114, where he, Robinson, and Tim Maudlin discussed the philosophy of time, including the reality of the past, present, and future, the direction of time, its relationship to relativity and quantum mechanics, and time travel. In this episode, Robinson and Craig turn to a different assortment of topics. They talk about disinformation, lab-grown meat, de-extinction, scientific communication, quantum mechanics, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect. Craig’s Website: https://www.craigcallender.com OUTLINE 00:00 Craig’s Interest in Lab-Grown Meat 04:25 Disinformation and the Philosophy of Science 18:18 The Root of the Error 23:43 The Importance of Science Communication 31:12 What Is De-Extinction? 47:28 What Is the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect? 1:00:00 Tolman-Ehrenfest, Continued 01:15:07 A Philosopher’s Perspective 01:23:05 What Is The Problem with Quantum Mechanics? 01:24:56 What’s the Best Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics? 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.
April 19 · 2 hr 3 min
275 - Nate Soares: AI Will Kill Us All If We Don’t Change Course
Nate Soares is the President of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, and plays a central role in setting MIRI’s vision and strategy. Soares has been working in the field for over a decade, and is the author of a large body of technical and semi-technical writing on AI alignment, including foundational work on value learning, decision theory, and power-seeking incentives in smarter-than-human AIs. Prior to MIRI, Soares worked as an engineer at Google and Microsoft, as a research associate at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and as a contractor for the US Department of Defense. In this episode, Nate and Robinson discuss the problems of AI from the ground up. They touch on how AI is trained, why it will surpass human intelligence, why this is dangerous, how it could wipe out humankind, and more. Nate’s recent book, co-written with Eliezer Yudkowsky, is If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies (Little, Brown and Company, 2025). If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies Nate’s X: https://x.com/So8res MIRI: https://intelligence.org OUTLINE 00:00 Nate’s Existential Dread 07:11 What’s the REAL Problem with Artificial Intelligence? 11:39 How Is AI Trained? 17:15 The Vital Importance of Interpreting AI 20:53 Why AI Will Soon Surpass Human Intelligence 32:58 Why Solving the AI Alignment Problem is Crucial to Human Survival 38:40 Will AI Render Human Software Engineers Obsolete? 48:03 Does It Make Sense to Say AI Has Goals? 01:00:02 Why AI Consciousness Is Unimportant 01:11:33 How, Realistically, Could AI Wipe Out Humanity? 01:35:27 A Sci-Fi (But Realistic) AI Doomsday Scenario 01:44:34 Is There Hope that Humans Will Survive AI?
March 29 · 1 hr 35 min
274 - Norman Finkelstein: Trump, Netanyahu, Putin, and the War in Iran
Norman's Upcoming Book, Gaza's Gravediggers: https://orbooks.com/catalog/gazas-gravediggers/ Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his research on Israel and Palestine. Norman also appeared on episodes 192, 218, 228, 244, and 250, where he addressed the facts and fictions generated by the Israel-Hamas War, October 6th, allegations of genocide and apartheid, Hezbollah, the Holocaust, and more. In this episode, Robinson and Norman discuss Trump, Netanyahu, Putin, the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and more. Norman’s new book is Gaza’s Gravediggers: An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places (OR Books, 2026). Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com OUTLINE 00:00 No Investigation, No Right to Speak 02:15 Why the War with Iran is Unjustified 09:07 Israel Violated Article II of the UN Charter 13:44 Will the Iran War the End the World in Nuclear War? 21:03 Why Trump Is Underestimating Iran 30:55 How Israel and the United States Tried to Deceive the World About Iran 38:27 Is Israel’s Mentality “Homicidal”? 44:43 What’s Less Justified: Putin’s War on Ukraine or Netanyahu’s on Iran? 01:00:00 More on Ukraine 01:12:31 What Should We Make of Joe Kent? 01:21:00 More on Kent 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.
March 22 · 2 hr 4 min
273 - Richard Wolff: Iran, Israel, and the End of the American Empire
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 tenth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the ongoing war in Iran. More particularly, they discuss whether it was predictable, how it will affect the United States, Israel, and Europe, what really motivated the war, 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 Was the Iran War Predictable? 05:43 How History Made Trump’s War with Iran Inevitable 15:00 The Historical Perspective 24:45 The War in Iran Is a Catastrophic Mistake for Israel 32:03 Will Europe Survive the War in Iran? 46:32 Is the Iran War the Last Straw for Donald Trump? 53:48 Why China Is Obliterating American Companies 01:03:17 How Trump and Israel Are Ending the American Empire 01:08:35 Is the United States Turning on Donald Trump? 01:13:54 Why Mamdani Is Winning Over New Yorkers 01:17:20 The Iran War Is Really About Oil 01:28:20 What Happens When The People of Iran Say “No More”? 01:39:13 Does AI Mean the End of Capitalism? 01:50:55 Will the United States Lose the War in Iran? 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.
March 15 · 1 hr 56 min
272 - Michael Hudson: Iran, Israel, and World War III
Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s sixth appearance on the show. On past episodes, including with Richard Wolff, he and Robinson have neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, the rentier economy, Marxism, and the role of economics in political history. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about Donald Trump, the war in Iran, Russia and Ukraine, Israel, China, and the possibility of World War III. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm OUTLINE 00:10 How Oil Controls US Foreign Policy 10:44 How American Foreign Policy Is Leading to World War III 31:03 Trump’s Neocon War Strategy 34:56 Why Does the United States Need Israel for its Iran War? 41:26 Does the US Finance Terrorism in Ukraine and Israel? 44:16 How the West Provoked Russia’s War in Ukraine 52:53 Why Does the US Support Ukraine? 56:10 How China Became an Economic Superpower 59:49 AI and the Economic War for Global Dominance 01:10:21 Oil, Renewable Energy, and the Shifting Global Power Structure 01:12:25 The US Economy After WWI 01:24:21 Why Europe Fell from WWII to the Present 01:36:45 How Trump Ignores the First Amendment 01:40:20 The Apex of American Power after WWII 01:43:12 Who Will Win the Economic World War? 01:49:25 Why Iran Is Crucial to the World’s Future 01:53:38 The Dismal Future of the American Empire 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.
March 1 · 1 hr 58 min
271 - Sara Imari Walker & Lee Cronin: Quantum Physics, Time, and the Origin of Life
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. 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, Sara, and Lee discuss the relationship between philosophy and science, quantum physics, time, determinism, AI, and the origin of Life. Life as No One Knows It: https://a.co/d/2fdKa2e Lee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/ Lee’s Twitter: https://x.com/leecronin OUTLINE 00:00 Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Philosophy 07:57 Philosophy and Science 20:58 Is Time an Object? 30:00 More on Time 44:38 On Time and Entropy 51:13 Is the Universe Deterministic? 01:08:54 What’s Wrong with Quantum Physics? 01:17:08 Contingency, Selection, and Evolution 01:29:05 Scientific Temperament 01:44:18 Do We Experience ChatGPT as Human? 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.
February 15 · 3 hr 9 min
270 - Tim Maudlin & Jacob Barandes: The Indivisible Approach to Quantum Theory
Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. 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, Tim, and Jacob discuss Jacob’s novel approach to quantum mechanics, which he calls the “Indivisible Approach”. More particularly, they discuss the problems at the core of quantum mechanics, the ontology of the theory, causality and quantum phenomena, probability, and more. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life. Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org Jacob’s Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com The Stochastic-Quantum Correspondence: https://philosophyofphysics.lse.ac.uk/articles/10.31389/pop.186 Historical Debates over the Physical Reality of the Wave Function: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.09397 Pilot-Wave Theories as Hidden Markov Models: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.10569 OUTLINE 00:21 The Problems at the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics 13:00 More on the Problems 26:09 Is the Wave Function a Real Thing? 32:48 Causation, Correlation, and Quantum Mechanics 42:03 Terminological Issues 44:34 Causal Models and the Markov Condition 01:00:57 Can Time Exist Without Change? 01:15:00 On Time and Change 01:30:38 Newtonian Mechanics and the Markov Condition 1:45:00 More on Newtonian Mechanics 2:00:00 More on the Markov Condition 02:17:49 Tim’s Response 02:28:18 Philosophy and Physics 02:32:38 More on Probability 02:42:13 Probability and the Double Slit Experiment 02:59:42 Why Tim Remains Puzzled 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.
February 1 · 1 hr 25 min
269 - Scott Aaronson: What Is Quantum Computing?
Scott Aaronson is the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin, and director of its Quantum Information Center. He researches the capabilities and limits of quantum computers, and computational complexity theory more generally. For the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, he was on leave to work at OpenAI on the theoretical foundations of AI safety. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Scott answers a host of questions about the basics of quantum computing. He and Robinson discuss the physics- and computer science elements of the field, how it connects to the foundations of quantum mechanics, the biggest myths about quantum computing, and whether quantum computers will every actually be built. Scott’s Blog: https://scottaaronson.blog OUTLINE 00:00 Scott’s Interest in Quantum Computing 07:10 Distinguishing the Physics from the Computer Science 14:43 What Is Quantum Computation? 39:41 The Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 53:31 Quantum Information 55:54 Prime Factorization 01:03:19 The Biggest Myths About Quantum Computing 01:14:06 Can Quantum Computers Actually Be Built? 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.
January 18 · 1 hr
268 - Jeffrey Pfeffer: Power, Influence, and the Psychology of Institutions
Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University where he has taught since 1979. He is the author or co-author of 16 books. Dr. Pfeffer received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University and his Ph.D. from Stanford. In this episode, Robinson and Jeffrey discuss the field of organizational behavior. More particularly, they talk about the aims and methods of the field, some of its subjects—such as power and influence—and case studies. Jeffrey’s latest book is the 7 Rules of Power (Holt, 2022). 7 Rules of Power: https://a.co/d/58WWhiC OUTLINE OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 05:46 Understanding Vs Implementation 11:42 The Seven Principles of Influence 19:33 Evolutionary Biology 20:49 How Self-Interest Rules Organizations 29:37 Power and the Prevalence of Conspiracies 33:53 Jeffrey Epstein and the Laws of Power 42:55 The Administration of Health Benefits 49:16 How Jeffrey’s Research Has Influenced His Behavior 59:06 The Price of Power 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.
January 3 · 1 hr 22 min
267 - Lee Cronin: Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, and the Origin of Life
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. Lee was most recently on the show for episode 264, in which he and Robinson and Lee discussed astrobiology, the chemistry of life as we know it, and the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence. In this follow-up conversation, they focused primarily on artificial intelligence, aliens, and assembly theory. Lee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/ Lee’s Twitter: https://x.com/leecronin OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:01 AI or Aliens? 02:46 What Is Intelligence? 13:57 Are Autonomous Vehicles Intelligent? 21:39 Assembly Theory and the Origin of Life 28:23 Is ChatGPT Intelligent? 34:12 What Would Genuine Artificial Intelligence Really Look Like? 41:13 Are “AI Skills” Just Product Placement? 49:45 Are AI Actually Intelligent “Agents”? 56:21 Concluding Thoughts 59:16 Will Aliens Be Biological? 01:00:01 How Common Are Aliens in the Universe? 01:05:51 How Will Aliens Search for Life on Earth? 01:12:58 The Chemistry of Minds 01:17:10 The Biggest Myths About 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.
Dec 21, 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
266 - Annaka Harris: The Fundamentality of Consciousness
Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and writer and producer of the audio documentary series, LIGHTS ON. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and IAI Magazine. She is also an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. In this episode, Robinson and Annaka discuss panpsychism and the case that consciousness is fundamental. More particularly, they talk about complexity and emergence, the relationship between consciousness and physics, and artificial intelligence. Lights On: https://a.co/d/cy8YTpd Conscious: https://a.co/d/3uFZ2Jq Annaka’s Website: https://annakaharris.com OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Annaka’s Obsession with Consciousness 06:09 How Should We Define Consciousness? 13:06 Why the Complexity Might Not Explain Consciousness 25:30 Is Consciousness Emergent or Fundamental? 29:45 Are Fundamentalia Conscious? 45:18 How Can Consciousness Solve Deep Problems of Physics? 52:14 Consciousness and Quantum Entanglement 01:00:11 Consciousness and the Many Worlds Theory of Quantum Mechanics 01:10:50 What Does an Electron Feel? 01:13:41 AI and Consciousness 01:22:42 Science and the Fundamentality of Consciousness 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.
Dec 7, 2025 · 3 hr 14 min
265 - Jacob Barandes: A New Foundation for Quantum Mechanics
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.

Robinson's Podcast

284 - Steve Keen: The Economics of Global Warfare

283 - Timothy Snyder: Donald Trump and the End of America

282 - Richard Wolff: China, Russia, Iran, and World War III

281 - Michael Hudson: How Debt Destroys Empires

280 - David Albert & Jacob Barandes: Debating the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

279 - Paul Davies: The Second Quantum Mechanics Revolution

278 - Priyamvada Natarajan: The Mystery of Dark Matter

277 - Tim Maudlin: What Is Philosophy?

276 - Craig Callender: Lab-Grown Meat, De-Extinction, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect

275 - Nate Soares: AI Will Kill Us All If We Don’t Change Course

274 - Norman Finkelstein: Trump, Netanyahu, Putin, and the War in Iran

273 - Richard Wolff: Iran, Israel, and the End of the American Empire

272 - Michael Hudson: Iran, Israel, and World War III

271 - Sara Imari Walker & Lee Cronin: Quantum Physics, Time, and the Origin of Life

270 - Tim Maudlin & Jacob Barandes: The Indivisible Approach to Quantum Theory

269 - Scott Aaronson: What Is Quantum Computing?

268 - Jeffrey Pfeffer: Power, Influence, and the Psychology of Institutions

267 - Lee Cronin: Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, and the Origin of Life

266 - Annaka Harris: The Fundamentality of Consciousness

265 - Jacob Barandes: A New Foundation for Quantum Mechanics