ToKCast Ep 62: "The Science of Can and Can't" episode 1.
May 5, 2021
Chiara Marletto, author of 'The Science of Can and Can't,' discusses Constructor Theory, a departure from traditional physics, focusing on counterfactuals and epistemology. The podcast explores genetic resilience in DNA, mutations' role in adaptation, and the evolution of knowledge. It delves into the significance of counterfactuals in science and the transition to constructor theory in physics.
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The Importance of Counterfactuals in Physics
- Physics, in its current form, cannot fully explain reality without counterfactuals.
- Counterfactuals consider what could have happened, not just what did happen.
No Design Laws and Impermanence
- Impermanence in the universe stems from the "no design laws" of physics.
- These laws govern elementary particles without preserving complex structures.
Prospero's Pessimism
- Shakespeare's Prospero's speech in The Tempest reflects a pessimistic view of impermanence.
- This view neglects the possibility of resilience achievable even under no-design laws.