Exploring Cognitive Instability in Scientific Theories and the Concept of Boltzmann Brains

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The chapter explores cognitive instability in scientific theories, focusing on Boltzmann brains and how belief in them can lead to contradictions. Emphasis is placed on the importance of physical theories being not only empirically adequate but also stable and coherent for observers to believe in the laws of physics.

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Could physics serve as our best guide to metaphysics? What fundamental metaphysics is best motivated by quantum mechanics? And what’s the deal with the age-old feud between philosophers and physicists?

Here to shed light on all these questions and more is none other than David Z. Albert, professor of philosophy and director of the MA program in The Philosophical Foundations of Physics at Columbia University in New York. David is a prominent American philosopher and physicist widely recognized for his contributions to the philosophy of quantum mechanics and the foundations of physics. He has published four popular books and numerous articles on quantum mechanics.

In our stimulating conversation, we talked about his controversial PhD proposal, the truth about quantum mechanics, Einstein's affection for Ernst Mach, and who would win in a fight: a physicist or a philosopher?

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:59 Judging a book by its cover
00:10:25 Department's opposition to David's PhD
00:19:09 Physics and philosophy
00:28:41 The experimental minimum
00:36:11 The past hypothesis
00:47:15 Other forms of logic in other universes
00:53:47 Popper’s falsification criteria
01:03:59 Physics and narrative
01:06:11 Audience questions
01:22:26 Existential questions
01:26:43 Outro

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Additional resources:

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➡️ Learn more about David Z. Albert:

💻 Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/contributor/david-albert/

📚 The Wave Function by David Z. Albert: https://a.co/d/hNiphE8

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