What's up Zengineers? This episode continues our marathon of depth, diving into the pool of modern human understanding on our way to episode 50!!
How do we define an experiment and who is really running them? Here's a hint. It's all of us, but we might not think of it that way. At least not in day to day life. Why not? Well we think things should probably be reframed so more of us do, and we'll tell you why. Surprised? Probably not.
This episode starts off talking about the colloquial idea of “experimenting with an activity” like, trying out surfing, versus the idea of “running an experiment" ... the more traditional scientific peer reviewed kinda stuff. From here we uncover the depth of what it means to really experiment.
You'll enjoy a bit of a semantic dance as we spiral through one of Brian's more complex experiments (or series of tests) done during his industrial automation and mechanical engineering days. Then we change rhythm and pull back to discuss everyday human experience with "real" experiments, touching on the rigor and control required to fit the more classic scientific definition.
The world of big data obviously comes up where we touch on ongoing loops and testing, then more loops and then more testing. Modern software is tracking everything we do, our devices monitor more and more about us, and the complete human understanding is available at any moment in any location. Our entire society is now obsessed with optimization and modification. We're able to analyze our every movement and our every thought to alter our paths and move towards whatever goals we choose. Is this good? Do we know what good is? Do we have control? Should we have control?
Life is squishy and applying scientific methods and rigorous analysis to our goals has created magic beyond our wildest imagination, but is there a limit? Are the problems of fake news and massive political, economic, & ethnic polarity a result of leaning too heavily on principles that we just invented a few hundred years ago? We should be proud of what we've accomplished and of what we know as a species, but we might be pushing up against a philosophical or spiritual boundary that we're not expecting.
This one's a real doozie, and we hope you dig it. If you haven't listened to Episode 44, "On Experts, Algorithms, and Scientific Thinking," you may want to start there, first, or you may want to chase this episode with that one. Both are diving deeply into the same black hole with true reckless of spirit!!
As always, let us know what you think, like, or dislike on our website at https://www.zengineeringpodcast.com, rate and review Zengineering on iTunes, and support Zengineering on Patreon.
Cheers,
Adam & Brian
080 - On a Life of Video Games
077 - with Tim Foad - On Economics, Technology, and Productivity
079 - with Patrick Mellor - On Earth’s History of Climate Change
078 - On Surviving In The Woods
076 - On Dragon Capsules, Space Trash, and VR Experiences
075 - with Paul Gambill of Nori - On The True Cost of Carbon and Reversing Climate Change
074 - with Jen Harris - On Identity
073 - On Working Remotely
072 - with Colin Murphy - On Universal Basic Income
071 - On The Complexities and Beauty of The Scientific Method
070 - with Dave McCarty - On Engineering Buildings and Exploring Fantastic Caves
069 - On The Solar System - Part 3 - Asteroids, Giants -- and Pluto
068 - with Nat Wyeth - On Fundraising and The Practice of Giving
067 - with Scott MacMullan - On That Peninsula Life and Running for Office in Annapolis MD
066 - On Stuff - Bikes
065 - On Stuff - Corrugated Cardboard
064 - with Christophe Jospe of Nori - On Climate Change - Part 4 - Reversing It
063 - On Learning Guitar and Pretending to Be a Rock Star
062 - On Terminators and Terminating Things
061 - On Drones - Part 2 - The Complexity of Not Bumping Into Things
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Insight Story: Tech Trends Unpacked
Zero-Shot
Fast Forward by Tomorrow Unlocked: Tech past, tech future
The Unbelivable Truth - Series 1 - 26 including specials and pilot
Lex Fridman Podcast