Fellow Interintellect Étienne Fortier-Dubois leads a series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang “Ted Chiang ranks among the best living authors of science fiction. Though he cannot be described as prolific — his entire published oeuvre since 1990 fits into just two books — he manages the rare feat…
Étienne Fortier-Dubois explores the diversity of the world's languages — where it comes from, where it's going, and how it influences us This Interintellect Salon will be conducted in English. Why English? Because it is the indisputably dominant language of the internet and, to a large extent, of the world. A lingua franca that facilitates…
Étienne Fortier-Dubois leads a series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang. In part 2, we discuss stories that imagine the world as if God were a observable scientific fact. Ted Chiang ranks among the best living authors of science fiction. Though he cannot be described as prolific — his…
Étienne Fortier-Dubois leads a series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang. In Part 3, we discuss non-human beings and how their psychology and biology may differ from ours. Ted Chiang ranks among the best living authors of science fiction. Though he cannot be described as prolific — his entire…
Étienne Fortier-Dubois leads a series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang. In Part 4, we discuss free will — is it a thing? How would the world change if free will were proven to exist, or not? Ted Chiang ranks among the best living authors of science fiction. Though he…
Étienne Fortier-Dubois leads a series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang. In Part 5, we discuss deliberate modifications to human psychology. What if we could affect the way we perceive attractiveness, or the way we remember things? Ted Chiang ranks among the best living authors of science fiction. Though…
Fellow Interintellect Étienne Fortier-Dubois dives into the evolutionary origins of beauty. Why are some things beautiful? Why are some works of art (e.g. the Mona Lisa) more beautiful than others (e.g. a crappy drawing I just made today)? What makes people attractive? What gives people different taste? Clearly, the proverb “beauty is in the eye of the…
Étienne Fortier-Dubois leads a series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang. In Part 6 — which you can join even if you haven't attended the previous parts — we discuss intelligence enhancement and superintelligence. Ted Chiang ranks among the best living authors of science fiction. Though he cannot be…
This is the seventh and last session in Étienne Fortier-Dubois's series of thematic discussions on the work of science fiction author Ted Chiang. We'll discuss artificial intelligence, our relationship to machines, and the possibility of humanoid beings that aren't quite human. Feel free to join even if you haven’t attended the previous parts! Ted Chiang…
At this informal in-person Salon in Austin, Texas, Étienne Fortier-Dubois (currently in the area thanks to Creator Cabins) and Alaka Halder invite you to hang out — and, to the extent that a having a…
If you're attending Vibecamp, join Étienne Fortier-Dubois and Alex Grin at this special Interintellect gathering to discuss the beauty and perils of manifesting online communities “in real life.” In the…
