Bayesianism, the doctrine that it's always rational to represent our beliefs in terms of probabilities, dominates the intellectual world, from decision theory to the philosophy of science. But does it make sense to quantify our beliefs about such ineffable things as scientific theories or the future? And what separates empty prophecy from legitimate prediction?

David Deutsch is a British physicist at the University of Oxford, and is widely regarded as the father of quantum computing. He is the author of The Fabric of Reality (1997) and The Beginning of Infinity (2011).

Full episode transcript available at: thejspod.com

Bayesianism, the doctrine that it's always rational to represent our beliefs in terms of probabilities, dominates the intellectual world, from decision theory to the philosophy of science. But does it make sense to quantify our beliefs about such ineffable things as scientific theories or the future? And what separates empty prophecy from legitimate prediction?
David Deutsch is a British physicist at the University of Oxford, and is widely regarded as the father of quantum computing. He is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Fabric-Reality-David-Deutsch/dp/0140146903/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">The Fabric of Reality</a> (1997) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Beginning-Infinity-Explanations-Transform-World/dp/0143121359/ref=pd_sbs_1_sccl_1/358-6863868-9439867?pd_rd_w=nNGOx&amp;pf_rd_p=2ea63d53-554c-4def-9e88-56ee4bd0fbe9&amp;pf_rd_r=SGFDHV04DTGH7YMW85C2&amp;pd_rd_r=9b0e7ef7-5baa-4daa-ab9b-4d9c7f68c1c5&amp;pd_rd_wg=4q9rC&amp;pd_rd_i=0143121359&amp;psc=1">The Beginning of Infinity</a> (2011).
Full episode transcript available at: thejspod.com

Joe Walker hosts refreshingly in-depth conversations with founders, scientists, scholars, economists, and public intellectuals.

(Formerly 'The Jolly Swagman Podcast'.)

Joe Walker hosts refreshingly in-depth conversations with founders, scientists, scholars, economists, and public intellectuals.
(Formerly 'The Jolly Swagman Podcast'.)

Joe Walker hosts refreshingly in-depth conversations with founders, scientists, scholars, economists, and public intellectuals.

The Joe Walker Podcast

The JSP is a weekly exploration of questions that are both important and overlooked. Joe Walker, a former political speechwriter helping to build a Y Combinator-backed startup, hosts refreshingly in-depth conversations. Topics cover capitalism, science, business, culture and politics. Guests include Nobel laureates, former prime ministers, authors, entrepreneurs, investors and thought-leaders. Australia's best long-form podcast. A space for curious contrarians.

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