Show notes
Steve Hsu is a professor of theoretical physics and professor of computational mathematics, science, and engineering at Michigan State University, as well as the former VP of Research. He was the founder of digital security companies Safeweb, acquired by Symantec, and Robot Genius, as well as genomics startups Othram and Genomic Prediction. He writes the blog Information Processing. In this podcast, we discuss the history and politics of academia, individual differences in intelligence and athleticism, our experiences with high level mathematics, statistics as an anti-meme, the tension between merit and ideology, math education, theory of mind, differences between the Midwestern and immigrant suburb schools where Steve and I grew up, respectively, and informal networks as alternative credentials.Steve Hsu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hsu_steveInformation Processing: https://infoproc.blogspot.com/On wordcels: https://infoproc.blogspot.com/2022/02/annals-of-psychometry-wordcels-and.htmlBounded cognition (statistics and innumeracy): https://infoproc.blogspot.com/2007/10/bounded-cognition.htmlCreators and Rulers: https://infoproc.blogspot.com/2009/08/creators-and-rulers.htmlQuantum GDP: https://infoproc.blogspot.com/2014/12/quantum-gdp.htmlTerman studies:Volume 1-3: https://www.amazon.com/Genetic-Studies-Genius-Vol-III/dp/B001LD3MKAVolume 4: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1947-15005-000Volume 5: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1959-07905-000Wordcels and Shape Rotators:https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/cultures/wordcel-shape-rotator-mathcelDeath’s End, by Liu Cixin:https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0765377101?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_thcv_2&storeType=ebooksTimestamps:3:24 Interview Starts15:49 Cactus' Experience with High Math People19:49 High School Sports21:26 Comparison to Intelligence26:29 Is Lack of Understanding due to Denial or Ignorance?29:29 The Past and Present of Selection in Academia 37:02 How Universities Look from the Inside44:19 Informal Networks Replacing Credentials48:37 Capture of Research Positions50:24 Progressivism as Demagoguery Against the Self-Made55:31 Innumeracy is Common1:06:53 Understanding Innumerate People1:13:53 Skill Alignment at Cactus' High School1:18:12 Free Speech in Academia1:21:00 You Shouldn't Fire Exceptional People1:23:03 The Anti-Excellence Progressives1:28:42 Rawls, Nozick, and Technology1:34:00 Freedom = Variance = Inequality1:37:58 Dating Apps1:41:27 Jumping Into Social Problems From a Technical Background1:41:50 Steve's High School Pranks1:46:43 996 and Cactus' High School1:50:26 The Vietnam War and Social Change1:53:07 Are Podcasts the Future?1:59:37 The Power of New Things2:02:56 The Birth of Twitter2:07:27 Selection Creates Quality2:10:21 Incentives of University Departments2:16:29 Woke Bureaucrats2:27:59 Building a New University2:30:42 What needs more order?2:31:56 What needs more chaos? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fromthenew.world/subscribe
