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73 - Craig Callender: Pseudoscience, Conspiracy Theories, and Philosophy

73 - Craig Callender: Pseudoscience, Conspiracy Theories, and Philosophy

Robinson's Podcast vor 3 Jahren

0:00

1:39:14

Craig Callender is Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the
Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego. Craig works
across the philosophy of science, and has published research on
the philosophy of physics, applied ethics, the metaphysics of
time, and other related areas. In this episode, Craig and
Robinson discuss the content of a course he’s been teaching
called Science vs Pseudoscience. More particularly, they talk
about the boundary between science and pseudoscience, as well as
case studies of science, pseudoscience, and conspiracy theories,
including super-string theory, psychoanalysis, astrology, and
more. Craig’s most recent book, What Makes Time Special? (Oxford
University Press, 2017), won the prestigious Lakatos Award in
2018.

Craig’s Website: https://www.craigcallender.com

OUTLINE:

00:00 In This Episode…

00:26 Introduction

7:15 A Course on Science and Pseudoscience

14:43 Karl Popper’s Demarcation Problem

22:56 Superstring Theory

29:26 Psychoanalysis

32:29 Astrology

36:04 Pseudohistory and Expert Selection

47:02 Flat Earth Theory

51:28 Why Clever People Believe Silly Things

1:01:25 Personality Tests

1:14:12 Quantum Mumbo Jumbo

1:25:59 Replicability

1:29:15 Nutritionism

1:35:11 A Perpetual Motion Machine

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

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.