In this engaging discussion, Barry Loewer, a Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University, and Eddy Chen from UC San Diego, debate the nature of physical laws. Loewer advocates for the idea that laws are mere summaries of observations, while Chen argues they are fundamental constraints of reality. They delve into topics like causation, metaphysical necessity, and the nature of free will. Their witty banter brings light to heavy concepts, examining how these philosophical views impact our understanding of the universe and questioning whether we are truly governed by anything at all.
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insights INSIGHT
Two Views on Laws of Nature
Laws of nature may either be primitive facts that govern possibilities or summaries unifying observed patterns.
This deep metaphysical debate affects how we conceive causation, reality, and scientific laws.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Descartes and The Super Law Analogy
Descartes pioneered the modern concept of laws describing God's orchestration of matter, not primitive facts.
The analogy of a super law governing natural laws aligns with Descartes' view of God as the ultimate enforcer.
insights INSIGHT
Laws Unify, Not Govern Literally
Laws unify various unrelated phenomena by capturing fundamental connections through simple principles.
The unifying aspect suffices to explain observation without invoking literal governing or constraining agents.
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In 'Laws of Nature and Chances', Barry Loewer offers a new perspective on the metaphysics of laws and chances, addressing Stephen Hawking's question about what gives life to the equations that describe the universe. The book builds on David Lewis's Humean Best Systems Account but rejects its ontology, instead using criteria from physics to determine the universe's fundamental structure. It discusses historical and current philosophical accounts, overcoming objections and accommodating recent developments in physics.
Realism with a human face
Hilary Putnam
In 'Realism with a Human Face', Hilary Putnam explores the intersection of metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics, advocating for a form of realism that acknowledges human values and context. The book critiques traditional metaphysical realism and discusses the contributions of American philosophers like William James and C.S. Peirce. It argues that philosophy should not dismiss ethical facts and should engage with the broader human context.
On the Plurality of Worlds
David Lewis
Laws of Physics
Eddy Keming Chen
In 'Laws of Physics', Eddy Keming Chen offers a concise and insightful philosophical introduction to the fundamental laws of nature. The book explores how these laws are connected to key philosophical concepts such as ontology, possibility, explanation, and determinism. Chen discusses the hallmarks of laws—simplicity, exactness, and objectivity—and their association with the laws of physics.
How Physics Makes Us Free
Jenann Ismael
In 'How Physics Makes Us Free,' Jenann Ismael delves into the problem of free will, examining what it means to make decisions and how our actions are determined by physical laws. She argues that human beings are not simply responding to external stimuli but are making decisions based on a set of beliefs, memories, and goals built up over a lifetime. Ismael's work suggests that the complexity of human behavior, even in a deterministic universe, affirms most of what we believe about our own freedom. The book is written in a jargon-free style, making it accessible to a broad audience.
As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe
Are the laws of physics governing forces or elegant summaries? In this deep and often humorous debate, Barry Loewer of Rutgers and Eddy Chen of UC San Diego clash over the very nature of physical reality. Are the laws of nature real, mind independent constraints that shape what’s possible or are they human made descriptions of observed patterns? Together they explore metaphysics, causation, probability, and whether the universe is truly ruled by anything at all. A must watch for anyone questioning the foundations of science itself.
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Timestamps:
00:00 The Nature of Physical Reality
42:28 The Circularity of Scientific Understanding
1:05:44 Reality Explored
1:08:28 Describing Human Experience
1:10:10 The Role of Science
1:10:58 Understanding Motion and Laws
1:12:19 The Nature of Laws
1:14:55 Possible Worlds in Philosophy
1:18:05 Configuration Space Debate
1:21:10 Quantum Mechanics and Reality
1:22:50 Metaphysical Necessity
1:27:13 The Nature of Free Will
1:30:14 Bridging Philosophy and Science
1:32:05 Constraints and Freedom
1:34:57 Philosophical Disputes
1:39:08 The Journey of Learning
2:05:16 Teaching and Learning Dynamics
2:07:23 Closing Reflections
Links Mentioned:
• Barry’s published papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=n_RTOwO00oEC&hl=en
• Eddy’s published papers: https://arxiv.org/a/chen_e_1.html
• Neil Turok on TOE: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE
• Greg Chaitin on TOE: https://youtu.be/zMPnrNL3zsE
• Leonard Susskind on TOE: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
• Emily Adlam on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs
• Laws of Nature and Chances (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Nature-Chances-Breathes-Equations/dp/0198907699
• Laws of Physics (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Physics-Elements-Philosophy/dp/100901272X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CHA72RYFUOI8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OjkhTXRzZw_SWTMFZp8dUtREsTxacKuwg03AsLUUp6qLCuygS74CtEgujWl7wMvVEt-ErFEz-CfFLiiXTmuUCwKq0TW4WLFIA3DIhDNVaV4.gRuqaZldjUa8Kv_j1ew-CfZGQqtdt00X55fyMZ9NGD4&dib_tag=se&keywords=eddy+chen&qid=1749667626&s=books&sprefix=eddy+chen%2Cstripbooks%2C128&sr=1-1
• On the Plurality of Worlds (book): https://www.amazon.com/Plurality-Worlds-David-K-Lewis/dp/0631224262
• Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
• Tim Maudlin and Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE
• How Physics Makes Us Free (book): https://www.amazon.com/How-Physics-Makes-Us-Free/dp/0190269448
• From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.05029
• Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
• Realism with a Human Face (book): https://www.amazon.com/Realism-Human-Face-Hilary-Putnam/dp/0674749456
• Causation and Laws of Nature in Early Modern Philosophy (book): https://www.amazon.com/Causation-Nature-Early-Modern-Philosophy/dp/0199664684/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
• The Maniac (book): https://www.amazon.com/MANIAC-Benjamin-Labatut/dp/0593654471
• When We Cease to Understand the World (book): https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Cease-Understand-World/dp/1681375664
• Eddy’s paper on time and nature: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.09226
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