Michael Levin and Joscha Bach: The Shape of Collective Thought

Michael Levin and Joscha Bach explore the idea of a global mind, collective intelligence, agency, and how morphogenesis might shape cognition. They debate the boundaries between biology and computation, and consider what competence means for cells and societies.

0:00 Introduction
1:55 Bach and Levin discuss each other's work
3:34 Cells as neuron-like units
7:15 Software as control pattern
10:55 Academic disciplinary boundaries
14:38 Perceptron as brain toy model
18:44 Researcher identity
20:10 Podcast vs academia benefits
30:04 Drastic belief changes
38:54 Memory beyond brain
45:06 Engrams and storage
47:30 Transferring memory across species
55:25 Weissman's barrier
59:25 Notion of competence
1:12:10 Virtualization for unreliable hardware
1:16:02 Defining competence
1:22:35 Goals and teleology issues
1:27:34 Planarian goals and encoded instructions
1:34:55 Navigation in morphic space
1:36:11 One species' defect as benefit
1:37:42 Intelligence trap and bias
1:39:05 Applying each other's work
1:52:25 General intelligence necessities in cells

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- Michael Levin Theolocution With Chris Fields & Karl Friston: https://youtu.be/J6eJ44Jq_pw
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- Joscha Bach (Solo TOE podcast): https://youtu.be/3MNBxfrmfmI

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.

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