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In this episode, I speak with Professor Felix Finster, a radical thinker reimagining the foundations of physics. We explore his theory of causal fermion systems, where reality emerges from quantum correlations—without assuming spacetime or geometry. From the Dirac sea to quantum gravity, this conversation challenges familiar concepts and offers a glimpse into where the next physics revolution might begin.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:12 The Origins of Causal Fermion Systems
06:55 Engaging with Alternative Theories in Physics
15:22 The Standard View of Causation
18:21 Classical, Quantum, and Pre-Quantum
23:06 How Spacetime Emerges from Disconnected Points
29:49 Recovering Lorentz Signature Without Assumptions
31:48 Recovering the Born Rule from First Principles
39:39 The Measurement Problem
46:20 Bounds on CSL Parameters
49:45 The Dynamics of Spacetime
57:47 Collaboration with Yao and Reflections on the Theory
1:03:13 A Quantum Gravity Theory Without Supersymmetry
1:05:28 The Dirac Sea
1:11:40 Addressing Infinite Energy in Semi-Classical Gravity
1:13:09 Octonions in the Vacuum Structure
1:17:32 Chirality and the Action Principle
1:20:33 Baryogenesis and Why Matter Exists
1:35:10 Rethinking the Strong CP and Hierarchy Problems
1:38:43 Recognition, Collaboration, and Growing Attention
1:54:00 Mathematical Criteria vs. Experimental Tests
2:01:02 Advice for Young Researchers
Links Mentioned:
- Felix's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F7ppNroAAAAJ
- Felix's Bio: https://www.uni-regensburg.de/mathematik/mathematik-1/startseite/index.html
- Causal Fermion Systems [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.19254
- Linear Dynamics of Wave Functions [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2101.08673
- The Principle of the Fermionic Projector [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Principle-Fermionic-Projector-Advanced-Mathematics/dp/0821839748
- Baryogensis for Causal Fermion Systems [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2111.05556
- Holographic Mixing [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.18045
- Standard Model Physics from an Algebra? [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1611.09182
- Barry Loewer & Eddy Chen [TOE]: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0
- Fay Dowker [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PgYHEPCLVas
- String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
- David Kaiser [TOE]: https://youtu.be/_yebLXsIdwo
- Ruth Kastner [TOE]: https://youtu.be/-BsHh3_vCMQ
- Amanda Gefter [TOE]: https://youtu.be/yABPvDJ6Zgs
- Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
- Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo
- Emily Adlam [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs
- Scott Aaronson & Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/5rbC3XZr9-c
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