Haman Nature

On this crossover episode of Haman Nature, poker pro Adam Haman and economist Bob Murphy break down the pros and cons of Game Theory — including how the field relates to poker! Come on in and get schooled on this fascinating area of mathy goodness! 00:00 — Intro. Adam doesn’t trust Miss Scarlet or Colonel Mustard. Really, nobody should.01:38 — What is Game Theory, anyway? What fields is it useful for?09:21 — The history of Game Theory. Also, Game Theory is attractive because it’s rigorous. But those assumptions...23:03 — A brief discussion of Game Theory Optimal (GTO) play in poker. 28:45 — Bob teaches us some fascinating (and goofy) things about the famous Ultimatum Game.42:21 — Bob teaches us some fascinating (and goofy) things about the famous Prisoner’s Dilemma.1:05:00 — The map is not the territory. What are the obvious problems with Game Theory?1:14:24 — Closing thoughts. Blackjack, poker, chess, etc. Also, always be on the lookout for a Flatland scenario.1:22:35 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature! Sponsor mentioned: https://theswanbrothers.com/cross A fun browser game that plays with Game Theory: https://ncase.me/trust/Adam on X: @RerazerBob on X: @BobMurphyEcon The Bob Murphy Show: Adam’s other podcast: Natural Order Podcast

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of Haman Nature, libertarian poker pro (and amateur everything else) Adam Haman interviews two brilliant scientists (Jobst Landgrebe and Barry Smith) about their book Why Machines Will Never Rule the World: Artificial Intelligence Without Fear. Don’t fret, folks. Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming to destroy us. Don’t believe the hype.00:00 — Intro. Welcoming Jobst Landgrebe and Barry Smith! Who are they and why do they know what Artificial Intelligence is all about?06:06 — LLMs: What are they vs. what people think they are?13:24 — Are LLMs thinking? In any way? Do they “want” anything? And what are neural networks?15:55 — How “could” an AGI be created? Is it possible? Why is “active perception” such a mystery? Also, why is it always 10 minutes until 2 o’clock? How does thermodynamics impact AI limitations?33:10 — Certainty, greatness, and... poker? Are there limits to what can be modelled? 42:11 — How does AGI (and it’s limits) relate to the question of “hard determinism”? Also, why won’t intelligence “fit” into a digital box? And what are the limits of “implicit mathematics”?56:45 — What is the truth or falsehood of simulation theory? What about the Fermi paradox? Where are all the aliens?1:09:58 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature! Book mentioned — Why Machines Will Never Rule the World -- https://amzn.to/3KosxQ3Adam on X: https://x.com/Rerazer Adam’s other podcast: https://naturalorderpodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

On this special REACTION episode of Haman Nature, Adam Haman and Tyrone the Porcupine Hobo are joined by Charles Melchin to react to FOUR new Tom MacDonald videos. What’s good? What’s bad? What’s amazing? What’s baffling? Come find out! 00:00 — Intro. Adam and Tyrone welcome non-famous artistic critic and cultural commentator Charles Melchin! 05:11 — Video 1: “Charlie” -- Tom’s heartfelt response to the murder of Charlie Kirk. 16:06 — Video 2: “Woke World” -- Tom’s had enough. Screw everything woke! 36:15 — Video 3: “All My Haters” -- Tom loves to mock his haters in his huge mansion! 45:38 — Video 4: “Equality” -- Tom brings a unifying message. 53:42 — Closing thoughts on all four videos. 57:37 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature! Adam on X: https://x.com/Rerazer For daily articles and bonus content, join us at: https://hamannature.substack.com/ Adam’s other podcast: https://naturalorderpodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

On this crossover episode of Haman Nature, poker pro Adam Haman and economist Bob Murphy Dive into a fascinating ZeroHedge debate recently about WWII. Keith Knight of the Libertarian Institute faced off against British historian Jim Holland on whether the US should have entered this horrific war. Some unique arguments and a whole lot of wisdom were deployed. Enjoy!00:00 — Intro. Another clip show? And a debate? Yay!01:53 — Adam and Bob give their general remarks. Was this a good debate? Who won? 12:52 — Clip 1: Keith lays out the beginning of WWII from the perspective of Germany and Japan. Persuasive? Also, how awesome is cheese, right?21:24 — Clip 2: Keith says the claim that “you can’t negotiate with dictators” makes no sense in WWII. Persuasive?27:08 — Clip 3: Jim Holland says America had to enter the war because... we were rich? WTF? Also, did Smoot-Hawley cause WWII?34:53 — Clip 4: Keith lays out a great argument about how leaders should think about whether or not to go to war. 41:49 — Clip 5: Keith lays out how he would have tried to prevent the Holocaust. Would Hitler have “conquered North America” if the US didn’t enter WWII? Also, what atrocities should one be willing to commit in the name of some “greater good”? 1:04:37 — In closing, Keith Knight did a great job! 1:07:00 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature! Sponsor mentioned: https://theswanbrothers.com/cross Source for war production table mentioned: Adam on X: @Rerazer Bob on X: @BobMurphyEcon The Bob Murphy Show: Adam’s other podcast: Natural Order Podcast

The holidays are almost upon us. If you’re feeling festive and in a gift-giving mood, consider supporting Haman Nature financially. We are a plucky upstart and we need all the help we can get to keep going. Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of Haman Nature, libertarian poker pro Adam Haman interviews scientist, philosopher, and all-around smart person about his book, The Hype Cycle: Uppers and Downers in Our Bipolar Culture. Our hopes and fears are being manipulated by nefarious actors in government and media along a wide spectrum of “hypes”. Good news: We don’t have to suffer. All we need to do is open our eyes.

00:00 — Intro. Welcoming Jobst Landgrebe, slayer of vicious hypes! Who is this guy and how did he become so learned?

07:40 — Why write The Hype Cycle? What’s gone wrong in our world? 10:35 -- What is Fear Hype? What is Hope Hype? What are Hype Cycles and who creates them and for what purpose? Is Covid a “hype”? What about Putin?

17:10 — Why do democracies (and republics) tend to fall into tyranny? Stupidity, foolishness, or both?

32:53 — Can’t one-world government and mass globalization solve all our problems?

38:01 — Join as a paid subscriber at HamanNature.com for PART TWO! 38:47 -- What are the perils of “scientism”?

48:31 — What is anti-democratic neo-feudalism? Is that where we are at right now in the West? How do our modern “oligarchs” differ from those of the past? Is it worse now? How do we “wake up”?

56:53 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature!

Book mentioned - The Hype Cycle by Jobst Landgrebe:

Adam on X: @Rerazer

Join as a paid subscriber for bonus material, including PART TWO of this interview with Jobst Landgrebe.

Adam’s other podcast: Natural Order Podcast

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome, paid subscribers to Haman Nature! Thank you so much for your support. You mean the world to Tyrone and me. Heck, if y’all multiply, maybe we can actually keep this thing as a going concern!

Today I offer you PART TWO of my excellent interview with the very wise and very European Jobst Landgrebe, author of The Hype Cycle. I like this guy a lot an…

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of Haman Nature, poker pro Adam Haman and economist Bob Murphy react to two recent and provocative video clips. The first is an odd moral framing made by Stefan Molyneux. The second is a powerful and controversial analysis of MAGA by Tucker Carlson. Enjoy!

00:00 — Intro. Another clip show? Yay!

01:53 — Clip 1: Stefan Molyneux says it’s “moral” to kill innocent children in certain situations, and he frames his argument in a peculiar way. Adam and Bob respond.

22:53 — Clip 2: Stefan Molyneux says you can’t have higher moral standards than your enemies. Is he right?

38:24 — Clip 3: Tucker Carlson lays out the meaning of “America First”. What’s up with this massively contentious term?

51:17 — Clip 4: Tucker Carlson emphasizes that MAGA is anti-war and anti-globalism. What’s the truth of free trade and globalization in this highly regulated and taxed economy. Also, is GDP meaningful?

1:16:31 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature!

Sponsor mentioned: https://theswanbrothers.com/cross

Stefan Molyneux clip mentioned: Is Christianity Losing?

Tucker Carlson clip mentioned: The MAGA movement’s future:

Adam on X: @Rerazer

Bob on X: @BobMurphyEcon

The Bob Murphy Show:

Adam’s other podcast: Natural Order Podcast

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the sixth episode of Adam and Tyrone’s exploration of the great book, Economic in Three Lessons by Hunter Lewis! Henry Hazlitt’s masterpiece has been upgraded, and here on Haman Nature we will guide you through the entirety of this great new book on economics! (links to earlier episodes below)

00:00 — Intro. Dude, 15% off at Denny’s!

01:42 — Let’s read Lesson Three: Enemies of the Free Price System, Chapter 13: The Crony Capitalist Conundrum! How do we disentangle “private” from “government” actions? What about GSEs? NGOs? “Non-profits”?

12:13 — Let’s read Lesson Three: Enemies of the Free Price System, Chapter 14: The Progressive Paradox! How to stop cronies from using government to abuse us? Make government... bigger?

19:49 — Time after time, observers see the problems of big government, but pretend that a little more of the evil thing will make it better.

44:00 — When it comes to the evils of monopoly government, why can’t we learn?

49:50 — Outro. Thank you for watching Haman Nature!

Book mentioned: Economics in Three Lessons by Hunter Lewis:

Economics in Three Lessons Haman Nature YouTube playlist:

Adam’s other show: Natural Order Podcast

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit hamannature.substack.com

Welcome, beloved paid subscribers to this bonus episode!

In this episode, Tyrone and I dive deeper into the bizarre (and possibly demonic) Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program of our northern neighbor, Canada. Socialized medicine ain’t good, folks. Beware doctors and bureaucrats who want to “help” you die.

00:00 — Intro. Introducing MAiD: “Good morn…

On this episode of Haman Nature, Adam has some questions for economist Bob Murphy about a former boss of his. Art Laffer is a famous economist who has advised Nixon, Reagan, and Trump. He has been a tireless promoter of free markets, invented (or popularized) the famous “Laffer Curve” understanding of income taxes, and has come to believe that money production should be an entirely free market / private sector phenomenon. We agree! Enjoy!

00:00 — Intro. Who is the Art Laffer fellow, and what is Bob’s “special relationship” with him?

02:58 — Clip 1: Laffer gives a little of his (and the US’s) history with money and says it should all be private. Bob breaks down the history of money prior to the Fed.

15:26 — Clip 2: Laffer describes debates with Milton Friedman and losing battles over sound money and fixed exchange rates. Who was right? Bob breaks down the economics of it all.

33:05 — Clip 3: How did Laffer “discover” Supply-Side Economics? What’s the Laffer Curve?

1:15:23 — Outro. Thanks for watching Haman Nature!

Sponsor mentioned: https://theswanbrothers.com/cross

Book mentioned: Bob Murphy’s Understanding Money Mechanics

Adam on X: @Rerazer

Bob on X: @BobMurphyEcon

The Bob Murphy Show:

Adam’s other podcast: Natural Order Podcast

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hamannature.substack.com/subscribe