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From a SAND conversation with Edward Frenkel, mathematician, Berkeley professor and author of the international bestseller “Love and Math,” hosted by Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo.

In this conversation, we explore the nature of reality and the fallacy of the naive ideas of determinism and computationalism. Drawing on the landmark achievements of modern mathematics and quantum physics, Frenkel makes the case that consciousness is not computational, that intuition and imagination cannot be captured by algorithms.

A regular presenter at the SAND conferences, Frenkel has long argued that the debate about the capabilities and dangers of artificial intelligence can be traced to the question “Who am I?” Hence it creates an opportunity for us to go deeper on the path of self-inquiry. To facilitate this process, it is essential to let go of the misconceptions of the science of the 19th century and to update our worldview with the paradigms of the science of the 21st century. A mind-expanding dialogue about the Infinite nature of consciousness, limits of knowledge, and the alchemy of transformation.

Edward Frenkel's website: https://edwardfrenkel.com

Edward's SAND 2014 talk:
   • Mathematics as Hidden Reality - Edwar...  

Edward's SAND 2015 talk:
   • Cartesianism as the Effect of our Col...  

Brian Grene's interview quoted in this conversation:
   • Brian Greene: The search for meaning ...  

Robert Sapolsky's interview:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/sc...

Jerome Feldman's article about the incompleteness of current theories of neural computation:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.08612.pdf

Edward's article "AI Safety: A First-Person Perspective":
https://www.edwardfrenkel.com/ai-safe...

Topics:
00:00:00 - A Journey into Mathematics
00:13:08 - Rediscovering the Joy of Mathematical Problems
00:24:44 - Determinism and the misnomer of particles
00:36:04 - The Incompleteness of the Standard Model of Neuroscience
00:47:43 - The Confusion of Determinism and the Importance of Free Will
01:00:17 - The Importance of Imagination and Common Sense
01:11:53 - The Limits of Understanding Infinity
01:23:09 - Self-imposed limitations
01:35:00 - The Illusion of AI

Science and Nonduality (SAND) contemplates and reveres the beauty, complexity, pain, and great mystery that weave the infinite cycles of existence. We explore beyond ultimate truths, binary thinking, and individual awakening while acknowledging humanity as a mere part of the intricate web of life.