meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Noam Chomsky: Why the Mind-Body Problem May Never Be Solved

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6606 Ratings

🗓️ 12 April 2022

⏱️ 72 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Noam Chomsky (MIT) challenges mathematical realism while exploring consciousness and the mind-body connection They debate whether numbers are real, explore dualism, and question the limits of certainty.- 00:00:00 - Introduction- 00:03:41 - Putnam and Mathematical Realism- 00:09:06 - Are numbers "real"?- 00:10:01 - Text vs. Meaning / Content vs. Meaning- 00:13:28 - Are all words "contrast words"? (only making sense in terms of their negation)- 00:16:01 - How can the word "meaningless" ever be "meaningful"?- 00:17:38 - Reference vs. Referent- 00:28:32 - Daniel Dennett's "Quining Qualia"- 00:30:44 - Consciousness explained?- 00:34:27 - Mind Body dualism ("body" is no more fundamental than "mind")- 00:44:32 - Is Chomsky an idealist?- 00:46:29 - We can't answer anything with certainty- 00:50:53 - Articulating what's ambiguous (what the heck is going on!?)- 00:58:24 - Studying consciousness from the 1st person vs 3rd person perspective- 00:59:34 - How do we generate "definitions"- 01:04:59 - Curt's question to the audience (for linguists)SPONSORS:- Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off- Algo: https://youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and https://algo.comRESOURCES:- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xNXqAaF_cxU- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch- April Fools / Ranking every TOE: https://youtu.be/QOV1pcSOoZ4- April Fools / Announcements for TOE: https://youtu.be/a5hp-7sGo0A- Chomsky TOE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlORiRfcaQe8ZdxKxF-e2BCY- Dennett's Quining Qualia: https://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/dennett/papers/quinqual.htm- Michael Levin TOE podcast: https://youtu.be/Z0TNfysTazc- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought you by Shopify. With Shopify, 2026 is the year you make it happen. It gives you the tools to build your dream store, online and in person. Plus with marketing built in, it'll help you reach exactly who you need to. Join the millions who've already made the leap, like Jim Shark and all birds, and ring in the new year with Shopify.

0:23.4

Sign up for your £1 per month trial at shopify.com.uk.

0:29.8

Just a note, if you haven't seen the April Fool's video, the ranking of the toes,

0:33.8

then click on the link in the description,

0:35.6

as I placed quite a significant amount of effort into it,

0:38.3

and people seem to enjoy it, which is always a delightful match.

0:41.3

Noam Chomsky is known as the father of modern linguistics and the field of analytical philosophy and cognitive science

0:48.3

are replete with references to the work of Chomsky. In my opinion, this is Chomsky at his pinnacle,

0:53.3

stellar and the most philosophically pointed I've seen Chomsky. In my opinion, this is Chomsky at his pinnacle, stellar and the most philosophically

0:56.0

pointed I've seen Chomsky, the most insightful I've seen him, and that's saying plenty,

1:00.0

given the substantial amount of podcasts he's been on.

1:02.9

This is the seventh time that I've been blessed enough to speak with Professor Chomsky,

1:07.1

and given the vein of this channel, the Toe Channel, we stick with philosophy, consciousness, and meaning, rather than, say, politics.

1:14.8

There's a playlist with each of Chomsky's theories of everything appearances catalogued below.

1:19.9

Click on the timestamp in the description if you'd like to skip this intro.

1:23.2

My name is Kirchai Mungle.

1:24.7

I'm a Torontoian filmmaker with a background in mathematical physics

1:28.5

dedicated to the explication of the variegated terrain of theories of everything.

1:33.6

From a theoretical physics perspective, but as well as analyzing consciousness and seeing

1:38.2

its potential connection to fundamental reality, whatever that is. Essentially, this channel

1:42.9

is dedicated to exploring the underived nature of reality, the constitutional laws that govern it, provided those laws exist at all, and are even knowable to us.

1:51.0

If you enjoy witnessing and engaging with others on the topics of psychology, consciousness, physics, etc., the channel's themes, then do consider going to the Discord and the subreddit, which are

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Curt Jaimungal, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Curt Jaimungal and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.