Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 76 | Ned Hall on Possible Worlds and the Laws of Nature
Dec 9, 2019
Ned Hall, a philosopher at Harvard specializing in metaphysics and the philosophy of science, dives into the fascinating interplay between laws of nature and causation. He discusses Humean vs. Anti-Humean views on laws and their implications for possible worlds. The conversation touches on the complexities of induction and how our expectations shape reality, while also exploring the philosophical dilemmas posed by quantum mechanics. Hall challenges listeners to rethink how we understand causation, the nature of reality, and the very fabric of existence itself.
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Philosophical Inquiry
- Philosophers analyze common-sense questions deeply, sometimes uncovering unexpected complexities.
- Causation discussions involve powers and capacities, leading to two views of reality: one with stuff happening and another with necessities.
Two Particles Example
- Imagine two Newtonian particles orbiting each other. One explanation involves gravity, the other a simple, independent law of motion.
- This illustrates differing views on necessary connections in the world.
Probabilistic Laws
- If fundamental laws are probabilistic, like in quantum mechanics, how do we interpret probability?
- Some see inherent probabilities, while others see frequencies of occurrences.
