Robinson's Podcast 58 - Huw Price: Philosophy of Time, Boltzmann Brains, and Retrocausality
Mar 4, 2023
Huw Price, former Bertrand Russell Professor and esteemed philosopher, dives deep into the philosophy of time. He explores the A- and B-Series of time, intertwining past, present, and future. The discussion on Boltzmann Brains raises fascinating questions about reality and consciousness. Price also examines the flow of time and its connection to thermodynamics, while challenging traditional causation through the lens of retrocausality in quantum mechanics. His insights bridge philosophy and science, inviting us to rethink our understanding of existence.
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McTaggart's A- and B-Series of Time
- McTaggart's A-series view of time distinguishes past, present, and future objectively.
- This contrasts with the B-series, where these are relative to the observer, like "here" and "there".
Incoherence of Presentism
- Presentism, an A-series view, asserts only the present moment exists.
- Huw Price argues this becomes incoherent if every moment is considered ontologically unique.
Mermin and Solipsism
- Huw Price recounts challenging David Mermin's view that the past is a story we tell ourselves.
- Price jokingly pointed out this leads to solipsism, questioning the listener's existence.