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The Thinking Abyss: Philosophy and Science

The Thinking Abyss: Philosophy and Science

By: Synthetic Universe
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 The Thinking Abyss explores profound questions at the intersection of philosophy, science, and human experience. From consciousness to quantum mechanics, free will to artificial intelligence, we dive deep into ideas that challenge our assumptions about reality and what it means to be human. Thoughtful conversations for curious minds. AI SoundSynthetic Universe Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • What Is Art? From Beauty to Conceptual Revolutions

    What Is Art? From Beauty to Conceptual Revolutions
    Oct 9 2025

    This episode dives into the age-old question of what defines art. From traditional ideas of beauty and skill to Duchamp’s radical challenges, we explore major theories—Institutional, Intentionalist, Aesthetic, and Formalist—and how art ultimately emerges as an evolving, contested social practice shaped by context, intention, and audience.
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    34 mins
  • AGI: The Future of Human-Level Machines

    AGI: The Future of Human-Level Machines
    Oct 4 2025

    What happens when AI matches human intelligence? This episode unpacks the quest for Artificial General Intelligence, from scaling today’s systems to brain-inspired designs, the hurdles of common sense, and the urgent challenge of alignment.


    We explore the promises, risks, and the governance needed to guide AGI safely.
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    38 mins
  • The Proust Effect: How Smell Unlocks Hidden Memories

    The Proust Effect: How Smell Unlocks Hidden Memories
    Oct 2 2025

    Why can a single scent suddenly bring back a memory from decades ago with striking clarity? In this episode, we explore the Proust effect—the unique power of smell to evoke vivid, emotional memories.


    We’ll uncover the neuroscience of the olfactory system, its direct link to the brain’s emotional and memory centers, and the evolutionary roots of this connection.


    Finally, we look at how olfactory memory shapes culture and is being harnessed today in marketing, therapy, and design.
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    54 mins
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