Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal The 300-Year-Old Physics Mistake No One Noticed
25 snips
Jun 27, 2025 
Professor John Norton, a leading voice in indeterminism and the history of science at the University of Pittsburgh, joins the discussion to challenge long-held physics assumptions. He reveals why causation may be an illusion and critiques the myths surrounding determinism and Landauer’s Principle. Norton dives into the implications for quantum mechanics, Einstein’s mistakes, and the role of thought experiments. His insights push us to rethink the foundations of scientific understanding and explore the intricate dance between classical physics and contemporary theories.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Norton's Dome Origin Story
- John Norton created Norton's Dome to challenge the belief that Newtonian physics is always deterministic.
- He discovered a simple physical system violating uniqueness of solutions, revealing indeterminism within classical mechanics.
Determinism Isn't Guaranteed
- Determinism in Newtonian physics must be discovered, not assumed by conditions like Lipschitz continuity.
- Exotic systems like Norton's Dome show classical physics can fail to guarantee unique outcomes.
Redefining Causality After Quantum
- The early 20th century conflated causation with determinism, causing anxiety when quantum mechanics showed indeterminism.
- Losing determinism doesn't mean causality is lost; it's simply a sign of new understanding.
