Noam Chomsky: Why Consciousness Cannot Be Reduced to Brain Activity

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal interviews Noam Chomsky, diving into consciousness, free will, and the nature of God before tackling moral relativism, activism, and the challenges of modern education. The conversation also examines neoliberal influences, Black Lives Matter, and Chomsky’s personal reflections on religion and politics.

- 0:00 - Introduction
- 0:32 - Consciousness and free will
- 6:04 - Views on God
- 8:02 - Moral relativism vs objectivism
- 9:55 - Mythology and religious upbringing
- 13:30 - Childhood and religion comment
- 17:53 - Christianity as pacifism, liberation theology
- 22:12 - Liberation of the poor activism
- 24:02 - Neoliberalism origins
- 30:40 - Job as autocrat control
- 36:48 - Democratic education ideas
- 39:32 - Neoliberal crisis
- 42:20 - Schools vs learning instinct
- 49:00 - Illich de‑schooling critique
- 52:15 - Multiple school systems
- 54:52 - Charter schools problems
- 57:36 - Openness, diversity, BLM
- 1:00:28 - Imprisonment fear
- 1:01:38 - Trump war crimes

SPONSORS:

- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- 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
- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44

RESOURCES:

- Better Left Unsaid documentary: 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.

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2020-09-05 67 min

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