Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 241 | Tim Maudlin on Locality, Hidden Variables, and Quantum Foundations
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Jun 26, 2023 Tim Maudlin, a philosophy professor at NYU and an expert on quantum foundations, dives into the complexities of quantum mechanics. He critiques hidden-variable theories and dissects the implications of Bell's theorem on locality. The conversation touches on thought experiments like Schrödinger's cat, wrestling with profound philosophical dilemmas. Maudlin also advocates for the importance of foundational studies in physics, emphasizing the need for a bridge between philosophy and scientific inquiry to enhance our understanding of reality.
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Foundations of Physics
- Foundations of Physics studies the most fundamental components of reality, unlike other physics branches that build upon micro-foundations.
- Physicists, unlike philosophers, often need convincing of its importance.
Quantum Mechanics' Unclear Beginnings
- Physicists developed successful predictive math in quantum mechanics without fully grasping the underlying physics.
- This led to discouraging foundational questions, exemplified by the "shut up and calculate" attitude.
Focus Shift in Physics
- Sean Carroll finds that many physicists prioritize predicting experimental outcomes over understanding reality.
- Maudlin believes this focus on calculation gets ingrained through physics education, not initial curiosity.