Tim Maudlin: Philosophy of Science and Quantum Physics

Tim Maudlin is a philosopher of science who has done influential work on the foundations of physics and logic.

Today’s topics include:

• Philosophy of science and its relationship to science in practice

• Paradigms in philosophy, science, and mathematics

• The foundations of quantum mechanics

• ‘Interpretations’ of the quantum wave function

• ‘Many worlds’ and other hypotheses for the nature of our universe

Watch on YouTube. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other podcast platform. Read the full transcript here. Follow me on LinkedIn or Twitter/X for episodes and infrequent social commentary.

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Episode links

• John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org/

• Tim’s website: http://www.tim-maudlin.site/

• Book: https://amzn.to/3WZEizK

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Timestamps

For video episode:

0:00 Intro

0:18 Richard Feynman's views on philosophy of science

5:22 What is philosophy of science?

9:00 Why are physicists skeptical about philosophy?

13:02 Why is quantum mechanics 'strange'?

15:45 Imaginary numbers in physics and engineering

20:37 What is quantum mechanics and the wave function?

29:40 Interpretations of the wave function

36:56 Many worlds and David Deutsche

39:40 Pilot wave vs many worlds theories of quantum mechanics

52:09 Why is the pilot wave theory not taught at university?

58:35 Occam's razor and wave function collapse

1:08:15 Are humans capable of understanding quantum mechanics?

1:23:30 John Bell Institute and beautiful Croatia!

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