The Limits of Logic: Simon Blackburn, Beatrix Campbell, and Iain McGilchrist

 

In this thought-provoking conversation (debate?) from iai.tv [Institute of Art and Ideas], Shahidha Bari asks Cambridge philosopher and author of Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy, Simon Blackburn, psychiatrist and author of The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, Iain McGilchrist [also author of The Divided Brain and the Search for Meaning, a $0.99 Kindle only essay companion to the book], and radical journalist Beatrix Campbell, whether we should embrace the irrational.

I'm not sure I agree with the premise, which would be that we are or we want to be rational beings. Mostly, we are irrational (emotional) beings who create elaborate rationalizations for our irrational beliefs and/or behaviors.

If that is the premise, I am not sure that we should so much embrace the irrational as we should seek to bring into the light of rational thought the non-rational/irrational beliefs that inform, influence, and motivate our behaviors.

Still, these are always interesting discussions.

The Limits of Logic

Simon Blackburn, Beatrix Campbell, Iain McGilchrist. Hosted by Shahidha Bari.

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Logicians don't rule the world or get the most done. Could it be that a consistent world view is neither desirable nor achievable? If we abandon the straightjacket of rationality might this lead to a more powerful and exciting future, or is it a heresy that leads to madness?

The Panel: Shahidha Bari asks Cambridge philosopher and author of Think, Simon Blackburn, psychiatrist and author of The Master and His Emissary, Iain McGilchrist, and radical journalist Beatrix Campbell, whether we should embrace the irrational.

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Exchanges: Ideas and Argument - BBC - 6 Episodes

A.C. Grayling is the author of about 30 books on philosophy, including  The Meaning of Things (2001), Against All Gods: Six Polemics on Religion and an Essay on Kindness (2007), The Good Book: A Humanist Bible (2011), Ideas That Matter: The Concepts That Shape the 21st Century (2012), and The God Argument (2013).

He is a director and contributor at Prospect Magazine. His main academic interests lie in epistemology, metaphysics and philosophical logic. He has described himself as "a man of the left" and is associated in Britain with the new atheism movement, and is sometimes described as the 'Fifth Horseman of New Atheism'. He frequently appears in the British media discussing philosophy, as in this series from BBC World Service.

In these six episodes, Grayling speaks with Kay Redfield Jamison, Iain Couzin, Henry Markram, Bonnie Bassler, Daniel Cohen, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Exchanges - Ideas and Argument

The world's leading figures in science, economics, politics and architecture join an audience to discuss their ideas.

Recent episodes

• Exchanges at the Frontier: 01 Mar 14 - Kay Redfield Jamison

  Sat, 1 Mar 14
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  The Psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison is a world leading specialist in bipolar disorder, and suffers from the condition herself. She shares her unique perspective with A.C.Grayling and an audience at Wellcome Collection, London.
  
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• Exchanges at the Frontier: 22 Feb 14 - Iain Couzin

  Sat, 22 Feb 14
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• Exchanges at the Frontier: 15 Feb 14 - Henry Markram

  Sat, 15 Feb 14
  Duration: 50 mins
  Henry Markram has received the biggest personal grant in the history of science. He has a billion euros to build a super computer which will replicate the human brain. He tells A.C.Grayling and an audience at Wellcome Collection how the virtual brain will reveal revolutionise the treatment of mental disorders.
  
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• Exchanges at the Frontier: 08 Feb 14 - Bonnie Bassler

  Fri, 7 Feb 14
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• Exchanges: The Global Economy 18 Jan 14: Daniel Cohen

  Sat, 18 Jan 14
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• Exchanges: The Global Economy 11 Jan 14: Nassim Nicholas Taleb

  Sat, 11 Jan 14
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The Limits of Science with Lawrence M. Krauss, Daniel Dennett, and Massimo Pigliucci

This is a long conversation, and I found myself shaking my head in disbelief many times, but it's not often we get to witness three great minds talking about BIG ideas. Pretty cool (and, of course, it's from Europe, Germany to be precise).

The Limits of Science

with Lawrence M. Krauss, Daniel Dennett, and Massimo Pigliucci



00:00 Introduction
07:07 Limits of Science
19:40 God & the Supernatural
31:20 Science & Morality
50:11 Something out of Nothing
1:03:42 The Value of Philosophy
1:20:59 Cognitive Limits
1:35:43 Questions:
- 1:35:56 Science & Politics
- 1:43:33 The Status of Economics
- 1:48:17 Does Consciousness Exist?
1:55:00 Credits