Artificial Intelligence, Free Will, and Consciousness

Artificial Intelligence, Free Will, and Consciousness

Author: Gwendolyn Dolske, PhD & Rudy Salo | Philosophy & Education Podcast October 16, 2025 Duration: 43:54

Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo invite Physicist Samir Varma (The Science of Free Will) to discuss how AI reveals our understanding of the classical philosophical debate: Free Will vs Determinism.  What are the possibilities with AI and how can it be useful without disrupting our humanity?  Are we purely material beings interacting with an "alien" intelligence?  If all of our actions and thoughts are caused does that necessarily mean we are not free? Critical Thinking + Practical Philosophy + Science. 

Get Samir's book: The Science of Free Will.

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Pod music by Rich Balling.


Hosted by Gwendolyn Dolske, Ph.D., and Rudy Salo, Good Is In The Details operates on the belief that the most profound insights are often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be unpacked. This philosophy and education podcast doesn't just skim the surface of big topics; it lingers there, examining the nuances of how we think, learn, and ultimately live our lives. You'll hear thoughtful, meandering conversations with scholars, authors, and practitioners from diverse fields, all centered on how ideas from ethics, culture, and critical thinking intersect with our daily realities. The hosts have a knack for breaking down complex academic concepts without losing their depth, making each episode feel like an engaging seminar you can enjoy on a walk or during your commute. Rather than offering easy answers, this podcast provides the tools and perspectives to ask better questions, finding the substance in the subtleties that we often overlook. It’s for anyone who believes that understanding the framework of an argument or the history of a thought is just as important as the conclusion. Tune in for a consistently thoughtful exploration of the books, theories, and cultural forces that quietly shape our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 190

Good Is In The Details
Podcast Episodes
When Pandemic Life Imitates Art: Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:42
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo continue their conversation about life in the time of coronavirus with author/professor Dahlia Schweitzer.
When Pandemic Life Imitates Art: Part I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo talk with pop culture critic and author, Professor Dahlia Schweitzer, about parallels between outbreak films and the current state of the pandemic.
What is Existential Ethics? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
Gwendolyn Dolske is interviewed by Professor Layne (Gonzaga University) on the ethics of Simone de Beauvoir.
Podcast in the Time of Coronavirus: Part III [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:32
Gwendolyn Dolske talks with Professor Danielle Layne (Gonzaga University) about what we can learn from the Ancient Greeks on time in quarantine.
Podcast in the Time of Coronavirus: Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
How does the Coronavirus impact transportation? Rudy Salo shares his thoughts...via phone...because we're social distancing. Co-host, Konstantin Hatcher (California YIMBY).
Podcast in the time of Coronavirus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:39
Gwendolyn Dolske and Konstantin Hatcher discuss the politics and culture in the time of Coronavirus. Gwendolyn interviews an ER nurse to learn her perspective on the quarantine and precautions.
What Can Comedy Do? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:23
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo chat with comedian, producer, musician, Brendon Small about the essence of stand-up.
Love and the Graphic Memoir with Mari Naomi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
Gwendolyn Dolske interviews cartoonist, author, Mari Naomi about her graphic memoir Kiss & Tell, her creation of the database cartoonists of color, and her podcast Ask Bi Grlz.
Reflections on Blackness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:44
Gwendolyn Dolske talks with Konstantin Hatcher (of California YIMBY) about race in America. Special guest appearance by Zadie Hatcher.