The Anti Metaphysical Spirit

I recently read two books on quantum physics by Carlo Rovelli: The Order of Time and Helgoland. While this isn't a quantum physics podcast, I think they're actually useful to think about in our context in three ways.

1. Understanding the current state of the science. It’s at least interesting, if not practically useful to most of our day jobs, to understand where the cutting edge of physics is today.
2. Web of Relations as a useful model. Quantum theory’s main insight – that everything exists as a web of relations – is a helpful framework for many of the ideas that we discuss here.
3. Getting comfortable with the weird. I don’t remember a lot of the specifics from the essays I write; I can’t expect you to. Instead, I want you to walk away with an informed open-mindedness and comfort with new technologies and ideas. I’m successful here if you see something new and crazy and think, “Woah, fascinating” instead of “Yeah right 🙄.”

You can read the full piece at not boring.

Thanks to our presenting audio sponsor, Masterworks.