American Socrates
Think Deeper. Live Better.
Tired of shallow takes and surface-level answers? American Socrates helps you cut through the noise and see the world more clearly. This is a podcast for anyone who wants to think for themselves, challenge assumptions, and live a more intentional, meaningful life. Host Charles M. Rupert brings the power of critical thinking and timeless philosophical insight into everyday questions—like how to find purpose, make good decisions, grow as a person, and navigate a world full of misinformation and confusion.
From art to relationships, social justice to success at work, no topic is off-limits. This isn’t a lecture on famous philosophers. It’s a wake-up call for your mind.
New episodes every Wednesday. Ready to see what you've been missing?
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.
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American Socrates
Can Machines Think?
Can a machine really think—or just fake it well enough to fool us?
In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Alan Turing’s famous test for machine intelligence. The idea is simple: if a machine can carry on a conversation indistinguishable from a human, maybe it counts as “thinking.” But is that a good standard—or just clever imitation?
We explore why the Turing Test might be too generous, letting in machines that don’t really understand anything. And too strict—shutting out minds that don’t look like ours. Along the way, we meet Ada Lovelace, who saw these problems coming way back in the 1800s, and John Searle, whose “Chinese Room” challenges the whole idea of AI understanding.
If you've ever wondered whether machines can think—or what “thinking” even means—this one’s for you.
