Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
My name is Tedy Nenu and I am the host of the 'Philosophical Trials' podcast. This is a place where philosophers, mathematicians, linguists and other bright individuals share with us fascinating aspects of their work. Whether you are interested in the nature of mathematical reality or how language works, there will be an episode here that caters to your interests.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ philosophy, logic, epistemology, metaphysics • philosophy of language: semantics, possible worlds, language evolution • mind, consciousness, AI, free will neuroscience • mathematics, infinity, Gödel, set theory • computation: algorithms, P vs NP, complexity, quantum computing • religion debates: atheism, ChristianityThis podcast features long-form conversations with philosophers, mathematicians, linguists, and computer scientists about foundational questions in their fields and how those questions connect across disciplines. A recurring focus is the relationship between formal systems and human thought: topics include mathematical infinity, Gödel-style limits on proof, and what these results suggest about the scope of computation and the prospects for mechanizing the mind. Alongside this are discussions of core ideas in theoretical computer science, such as algorithm design, complexity theory, and questions like P vs NP, as well as the philosophical implications of quantum computing.
Another prominent theme is language and meaning. The show explores how linguistic structure and semantics might have evolved, what it means for meaning to be “internal,” and how tools like possible-worlds semantics are used to analyze interpretation. Episodes also return to central issues in philosophical logic and epistemology, including theories of truth, relativism, vagueness, and the nature of logical reasoning across historical traditions.
The podcast also engages with philosophy of mind and cognitive science through conversations about consciousness, attention, memory, and artificial intelligence, often asking what biology and neuroscience imply about agency and decision-making. Questions in philosophy of religion and broader worldviews appear as well, with discussions spanning atheism, Christianity, and the limits and frontiers of human knowledge. Overall, the content is oriented toward explaining expert research and clarifying major debates at the intersection of philosophy, mathematics, language, and computation.
| Episodes: |
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Robert Sapolsky vs Kevin Mitchell: The Biology of Free Will | Episode 15 2023-Nov-18 73 minutes |
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Noam Chomsky on Language Evolution and Semantic Internalism | Episode 14 2023-May-09 52 minutes |
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A.C. Grayling on Atheism and The Frontiers of Knowledge | Episode 13 2022-Jul-02 66 minutes |
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William Lane Craig on Christianity and Philosophy of Religion | Episode 12 2022-May-28 53 minutes |
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Vicky Neale on 'Why Study Mathematics?' and the Twin Prime Conjecture | Episode 11 2021-Jun-08 42 minutes |
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Peter Koellner on Penrose's New Argument concerning Minds and Machines | Episode 10 2021-Feb-03 47 minutes |
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Sara L. Uckelman on Medieval Logic, Onomastics and Teaching | Episode 9 2020-Oct-12 48 minutes |
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Timothy Williamson on Relativism and Vagueness | Episode 8 2020-Jul-29 70 minutes |
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Thomas Cormen on The CLRS Textbook, P=NP and Computer Algorithms | Episode 7 2020-Jun-24 43 minutes |
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Scott Aaronson on Computational Complexity, Philosophy & Quantum Computing | Episode 6 2020-Jun-19 85 minutes |
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Kai von Fintel on Language, Semantics and Possible Worlds | Episode 5 2020-Jun-16 74 minutes |
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Ed Cooke on Memory Competitions, The Art of Remembering and Attention | Episode 4 2020-May-29 35 minutes |
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Tim Crane on Minds, Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness | Episode 3 2020-May-16 63 minutes |
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Simon Blackburn on Philosophy, Truth and Morality | Episode 2 2020-May-16 52 minutes |
Joel David Hamkins on Infinity, Gödel's Theorems and Set Theory | Episode 12020-May-16 76 minutes |