Making Sense with Sam Harris

#318 — Physics & Philosophy

48 snips
May 1, 2023
Tim Maudlin, a philosophy professor at NYU and director of the John Bell Institute, dives into the fascinating intersection of physics and metaphysics. He discusses the nature of time, comparing presentism and eternalism. Topics like scientific reductionism and the laws of nature are explored, along with riveting questions about free will and causation. Maudlin also introduces modal realism and David Lewis’s possible worlds, challenging listeners to rethink their understanding of reality and the notion of possibilities.
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ANECDOTE

Tucker Carlson's Disdain for Trump

  • Tucker Carlson's firing from Fox News revealed his private disdain for Trump.
  • Despite publicly supporting Trumpism, Carlson privately called Trump a "demonic force."
INSIGHT

Reductionism and Explanation

  • Physics underlies other sciences, but doesn't fully explain them.
  • Different levels of analysis provide unique insights.
ANECDOTE

Computer Display Prediction

  • A physicist predicts a computer's display will go blank based on physical calculations.
  • A computer scientist, using the program, correctly understands it will loop indefinitely.
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