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Modern Wisdom

#521 - Sabine Hossenfelder - Life's Mysteries, Explained By Physics

Sep 3, 2022
In this insightful conversation, Sabine Hossenfelder, a theoretical physicist and author of 'Existential Physics', tackles profound questions about our existence. She challenges commonly held views on free will and determinism while exploring the tantalizing idea of Boltzmann brains—consciousness arising spontaneously in an eternal universe. Hossenfelder also discusses the complexities of the universe's origins, the nature of mathematical reality, and the evolving perspectives on artificial intelligence, inviting listeners to rethink the fabric of reality.
54:13

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Time is a mathematical construct challenging linearity, space-time existence, and the perception of the present moment.
  • Universe not fine-tuned for life, Boltzmann brains theory questions consciousness determinism, predictability of knowledge.

Deep dives

Theoretical physicist Sabina Hossenfelder questions existing big questions and physics theories

Sabina Hossenfelder, a theoretical physicist, challenges fundamental aspects of physics theories. She raises thought-provoking questions like why time only moves forward and whether time and space exist all at once. She explores the idea that time is a mathematical construct with no inherent present moment, challenging our perception of time's linearity.

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