Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Julian Barbour: The Physicist Who Says Time Doesn't Exist

Nov 16, 2024

Julian Barbour, a pioneering physicist, shares his groundbreaking ideas on time as an emergent property rather than a fundamental entity. He discusses how time can be perceived as a sequence of static states and the influence of thinkers like Mach and Leibniz on this view. The conversation delves into Mach's principle and its role in linking motion and mass, while also critiquing traditional cosmological models. Barbour emphasizes the intricate relationship between complexity, entropy, and the universe's evolving nature, challenging established physics and inviting listeners to rethink reality.

01:59:13

Episode guests

Julian Barbour

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Julian Barbour's theory proposes that time is an emergent property, fundamentally linked to the universe's evolution toward greater order rather than chaos.

Barbour critiques Newton's concepts of absolute space and time by introducing a relational perspective that emphasizes interconnectedness among all bodies in the universe.

The podcast discusses how Barbour's shape dynamics theory reinterprets motion and time as geometric relationships, fundamentally altering our understanding of physical laws.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

Rethinking Time: A New Perspective

13min

Understanding Mach's Principle: A Holistic Approach to Physics

4min

Understanding Inertia: Motion and Mass Explained

3min

Unraveling Mach's Principle

6min

Geometry and Quantum Dynamics

23min

The Complexity of Variety in the Universe

6min

Exploring Scale Invariance in Physics and Festive Feasts

2min

Reevaluating Cosmological Models

19min

10.

Exploring Complexity and Entropy in Quantum Mechanics

22min

11.

Exploring Consciousness and the Cosmos

12min

12.

Exploring Community Engagement and Support in Theoretical Discourses

3min

In today's episode of Theories of Everything, Curt Jaimungal and Julian Barbour challenge conventional physics by exploring Barbour's revolutionary ideas on time as an emergent property of change, the universe's increasing order contrary to entropy, and the foundational nature of shape dynamics.

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LINKED MENTIONED:

- The Janus Point (Julian Barbour’s book): https://www.amazon.com/Janus-Point-New-Theory-Time/dp/0465095461

- ‘Relational Concepts of Space and Time’ (Julian Barbour’s 1982 paper): https://www.jstor.org/stable/687224

- ‘The Theory of Gravitation’ (Paul Dirac’s 1958 paper): https://www.jstor.org/stable/100497

- Carlo Rovelli on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF4SAketEHY

- ‘On the Nature of Things’ (book): https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674992009

- Leibniz: Philosophical Writings (book): https://www.amazon.com/Leibniz-Philosophical-Writings-Everymans-University/dp/0460119052

- Elementary Principles of Statistical Mechanics (book): https://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Principles-Statistical-Mechanics-Physics/dp/0486789950

- The interpretations of quantum mechanics in 5 minutes (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-interpretations-of-quantum-mechanics

- Sean Carroll on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AoRxtYZrZo

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:12 - Working Outside of Academia

03:53 - Space, Time, Dimension

10:40 - Mach’s Principle

21:33 - Mach Confused Einstein

24:22 - Two Particle Universe

31:46 - Carlo Rovelli

35:02 - Julian’s Ontology

43:37 - Julian’s Theory ‘Shape Statistics’

51:11 - Leinbiz’s Philosophical Writings

56:14 - Expansion of the Universe (Scale Invariance)

01:05:02 - Cosmological Principle

01:15:34 - Thermodynamics

01:17:15 - Entropy and Complexity

01:30:40 - Wave Function / Double Slit Experiment

01:39:21 - God

01:44:48 - The Role of Instruments

01:47:44 - Etymology of Pattern and Matter

01:51:25 - Join My Substack!

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