21. Chaos and Reductionism

(May 19, 2010) Professor Robert Sapolsky gives what he calls "one of the most difficult lectures of the course" about chaos and reductionism. He references a book that he assigned to his students. This lecture focuses on reduction science and breaking things down to their component parts in order to understand them best.

Stanford University:
http://www.stanford.edu/

Stanford Department of Biology:
http://biology.stanford.edu/

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

Category:

Education

Tags:

• biology
• human
• reduction
• chaos
• history
• thought
• body
• science
• logic
• comparison
• components
• breaking down
• piece
• part
• starting state
• complex system

[psychiaTree]

This is the most amazing thing on YouTube.

[lordennis01]

I am activating my empathy pathway (the anterior cingulate cortex, right?) for that undergrad that spent 3 years on that testosterone paper.

[skarrkillianskarr]

But aside from the coughing this is an absolutely brilliant introduction to chaos theory.

[skarrkillianskarr]

Who the fuck is coughing?! Jesus fucking christ are they smoking a fucking bowl during this whole fucking lecture!? I have, enthusiastically, watched each one of these lectures in the course and plan to finish it, but god damn it the constant fucking coughing is inordinately distracting. I mean if I was there in the classroom I would be worried about contracting some lung infection...

[TheLaydibug]

i love your vids i think your awesome thank you so much for sharing

[chromosome24]

I actually took the 5 minute break

[cochisewolf]

This is an outstanding lecture. The professor is animated, engaging and has an obvious passion for his subject. Definitely worth watching all the way through. He reminds me of James Gleick in his accessible approach to a very difficult topic and infusing it with the simple awe and wonder that such subjects should inspire. Outstanding lecturer.

[mackenzie2881]

@oceanside1322 It could also be that they simply like the lectures.

[rowdyriemer]

Thanks, rdxm!



[rowdyriemer]

Did anybody catch what book he was talking about in the beginning?

[oceanside1322]

haha all the people writing comments on these video think there fuckin goodwill hunting lol

[hypermorphism]

@MsLAB24 I didn't notice any megalomaniac behaviorisms. Almost all of the statements he made were originally initiated by observing physical systems and looking for things they have in common.