148 - Lee Smolin: Presentism, Foundations of Mathematics, and Realism in Quantum Mechanics

Oct 1, 2023

Lee Smolin, a founding member of the Perimeter Institute, discusses the philosophical underpinnings of realism in quantum mechanics, contrasting it with various interpretations like the Copenhagen model. He introduces his radical presentism, where only the immediate present truly exists. The conversation also delves into the connections between mathematics and physics, revealing how theoretical frameworks shape our understanding of reality. Smolin further shares personal insights on living with Parkinson’s disease, enriching the discourse with reflections on life and challenge.

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Intro

00:00 • 5min

From High School Dropout to Physicist: An Unconventional Journey

05:10 • 6min

Realism in Quantum Mechanics

10:55 • 13min

Quantum Mechanics: Rules and Realities

23:40 • 23min

Energetic Causal Sets and Collaborative Journeys

46:15 • 26min

Exploring the Nature of Life and Living with a Rare Disease

01:12:26 • 2min

Navigating Challenges and Maintaining Positivity in Work

01:14:25 • 2min

Lee Smolin is a founding and senior faculty member at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is best known for contributions to quantum gravity as a co-inventor of loop quantum gravity and deformed special relativity. Beyond his work in other areas of physics, Lee has written a number of best-selling books, the most recent of which is Einstein’s Unfinished Revolution: The Search for What Lies Beyond the Quantum (Penguin, 2019). In this episode, Robinson and Lee discuss one of the main tenets that has characterized his work over the past decades: Realism. They first talk about realism in quantum mechanics before moving on to Lee’s version of radical presentism, in which only what is occurring in the immediate present can be said to exist, before finishing the main body of their conversation with mathematics and its relation to both physics and cosmology. The episode ends with brief digressions on biology and living with Parkinson’s disease. Lee is also an Honorary Fellow of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics—which you absolutely should be—then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.

Einstein’s Unfinished Revolution: https://a.co/d/7GHcebp

The Singular Universe and the Unreality of Time: https://a.co/d/hZqLT59

Lee’s Website: https://leesmolin.com

The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org/home

00:00 In This Episode…

00:47 Introduction

05:03 From Dropping Out of High School to Physics

10:42 Many-Worlds, Bohmian Mechanics, and Realism in Quantum Theory

29:18 Realism and the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

33:00 Uniting Quantum Mechanics and Cosmology

45:43 Working with Roberto Mangabeira Unger

55:10 The Singular Existence of the Universe

01:05:29 Lee’s Interest in Biology

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.