Sean Carroll

So strictly speaking, the holographic principle isn't relevant. Marie Roscu says... When there are different types of ways to look at things, values and perspectives, can or should there be different types of democracy? Maybe. In principle, yes. I think it depends on details there. It does remind us of a...

Really, really important fact about democracy, which is that it's hard to understand why democracy should work at all because it revolves around people with different interests, different values and perspectives coming together to work in a cooperative way and sometimes saying, I didn't get my way that time. That's OK. I will live to fight again next time.

Really, really important fact about democracy, which is that it's hard to understand why democracy should work at all because it revolves around people with different interests, different values and perspectives coming together to work in a cooperative way and sometimes saying, I didn't get my way that time. That's OK. I will live to fight again next time.

And so what it means is that you're allowed to disagree about some values and perspectives, but you must share some other values and perspectives. You need to share the value of supporting democracy, right, which I think is increasingly rare. A lot of people just would rather be governed by – a cabal, a small number of people, a strongman, an oligarchy, whatever you want to call it.

And so what it means is that you're allowed to disagree about some values and perspectives, but you must share some other values and perspectives. You need to share the value of supporting democracy, right, which I think is increasingly rare. A lot of people just would rather be governed by – a cabal, a small number of people, a strongman, an oligarchy, whatever you want to call it.

They think that putting ourselves in the hands of a small number of competent people is preferable to democratic rule. And they would be able to say that quite explicitly. And so not everybody thinks that democracy is a good idea. It's conceivable to me that different kinds of people would agree on slightly different conceptions about how democracy should work. And therefore, yes,

They think that putting ourselves in the hands of a small number of competent people is preferable to democratic rule. And they would be able to say that quite explicitly. And so not everybody thinks that democracy is a good idea. It's conceivable to me that different kinds of people would agree on slightly different conceptions about how democracy should work. And therefore, yes,

Possibly, in principle, there could be different types of democracy. Some might be more direct, some might be more representative, different numbers of people might be involved, different ways of choosing the representation, representation, representation, and so on. Like all of these could be very different and that might be appropriate for different circumstances.

Possibly, in principle, there could be different types of democracy. Some might be more direct, some might be more representative, different numbers of people might be involved, different ways of choosing the representation, representation, representation, and so on. Like all of these could be very different and that might be appropriate for different circumstances.

Hussein says, in your last AMA, you emphasized the importance of an objective mainstream media that aspires to provide factual recounting of world events, stating that it's important for a healthy society and informed public. However, over the last 16 months, my faith in the mainstream media has significantly eroded. This is largely due to the media's coverage of the genocide in Gaza.

Hussein says, in your last AMA, you emphasized the importance of an objective mainstream media that aspires to provide factual recounting of world events, stating that it's important for a healthy society and informed public. However, over the last 16 months, my faith in the mainstream media has significantly eroded. This is largely due to the media's coverage of the genocide in Gaza.

Do you see the same disconnect between the media's coverage of Gaza? And if so, how do you reconcile this glaring disconnect between the reality on the ground and what the media has portrayed? The past 16 months have left me feeling dejected at the notion of an objective American media.

Do you see the same disconnect between the media's coverage of Gaza? And if so, how do you reconcile this glaring disconnect between the reality on the ground and what the media has portrayed? The past 16 months have left me feeling dejected at the notion of an objective American media.

Well, I think we have to first distinguish at the abstract level between two things, the importance of an objective mainstream media and then the effectiveness of the actual media we have, right? Those are two different questions. Even if you are depressed by what you consider to be the performance of those media outlets that try to be objective, that's a perfectly legitimate feeling to have.

Well, I think we have to first distinguish at the abstract level between two things, the importance of an objective mainstream media and then the effectiveness of the actual media we have, right? Those are two different questions. Even if you are depressed by what you consider to be the performance of those media outlets that try to be objective, that's a perfectly legitimate feeling to have.

But that doesn't mean, therefore, we don't need an objective mainstream media. We need it more than ever. We need— both objectivity and competence and effectiveness, right?

But that doesn't mean, therefore, we don't need an objective mainstream media. We need it more than ever. We need— both objectivity and competence and effectiveness, right?

I completely agree that the Israel and Gaza conflict, it's not the only example, but is an example of something where there are certain sort of standards and guardrails and expectations within what we think of as the objective mainstream media that prevents a lot of stories from being told. That's a problem. That's something that you should work to try to fix. We should work to try to fix.

I completely agree that the Israel and Gaza conflict, it's not the only example, but is an example of something where there are certain sort of standards and guardrails and expectations within what we think of as the objective mainstream media that prevents a lot of stories from being told. That's a problem. That's something that you should work to try to fix. We should work to try to fix.

But it's not going to be solved by saying, forget about objectivity in media. Let's just have individual different media outlets that tell us what we want to hear, right? That is not actually going to solve anybody's problems. Those things should exist. That's fine. Can exist. But we also need something that is common to everybody.