StarTalk Radio The Limits of Knowing with Elise Crull
Elise Crull, a philosopher of physics and associate professor at CUNY, dives into fascinating discussions about the history and philosophy of quantum mechanics. She explains how philosophy has evolved from natural philosophy to modern physics. Crull highlights the challenges of objectivity in quantum mechanics, discussing entanglement and non-locality. They explore the significance of collaboration between scientists and philosophers, and how questioning fundamental assumptions can reshape our understanding of the universe. This enlightening conversation blurs the lines of knowledge and perception.
59:17
Philosophy Reasks Questions Anew
- Philosophy and science ask similar questions but context and the asker change the answers.
- Bas van Fraassen: each philosophical question is new in a new scientific and cultural context.
Foundations Guide Scientific Laws
- Newton framed physics on philosophical foundations like absolute space and time before deriving laws.
- Early physics mixed metaphysics and mechanics, so epistemology shaped scientific practice.
Du Châtelet Filled Newton's Gaps
- Émilie du Châtelet translated and annotated Newton's Principia into French and added missing explanations.
- Her work trained many readers to see gaps in Newton and inspired further developments.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right 17 chevron_right 18 chevron_right 19 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 5min
What is philosophy and how has it changed?
04:56 • 3min
How did natural philosophy evolve into modern physics?
07:59 • 3min
How did the 18th–19th century shape scientific specialization?
10:56 • 9min
When did physics become hyper‑specialized and pragmatic?
20:25 • 4min
Why should philosophers and scientists collaborate more?
24:38 • 2min
What guiding principles shape scientific theorizing?
26:37 • 3min
How do we judge theories beyond current empirical tests?
29:33 • 2min
What are the main approaches to quantum gravity?
31:29 • 2min
How does quantum mechanics challenge objectivity?
33:21 • 3min
What is entanglement and how does it break separability?
36:36 • 9min
Can we recover objectivity in quantum experiments?
45:19 • 42sec
What does non‑locality tell us about quantum correlations?
46:02 • 5min
Does measurement create, destroy, or alter entanglement?
50:45 • 54sec
Will quantum theory ever become intuitive like classical physics?
51:40 • 4min
How can training better integrate philosophy into physics?
55:29 • 3min
Why does Neil care about philosophy of science?
58:17 • 6min
What did Einstein say about physics and metaphysics?
01:04:07 • 2min
Outro
01:05:59 • 2min
#63021
The Physicists
The History of a Scientific Community in Modern America
Daniel J. Kevles
Daniel J. Kevles’s 'The Physicists' is widely regarded as the definitive introduction to the history of physics in the United States, tracing the discipline’s evolution from a marginal academic pursuit to a central force in national life.
The book examines how American physicists became influential through their contributions to both civilian technology (like transistors and chips) and military projects (such as radar and the atomic bomb), while also addressing the tensions between scientific elitism and democratic values.
Kevles links these scientific developments to broader social, cultural, and political changes, offering a nuanced portrait of how physics both shaped and was shaped by American society.
The narrative extends into the late 20th century, including the controversial rise and fall of projects like the Superconducting Super Collider.
#24431
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Einstein Paradox
the debate on non-locality and incompleteness, oh, in 1935
Elise Crull
#8618
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Principles of philosophy
Rene Descartes
#8618
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Principles of philosophy
Rene Descartes
#81126
Philosophical Papers and Letters: A Selection
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
This volume contains selected papers and letters of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz arranged chronologically to offer a balanced view of the full range of his intellectual powers.
It aims to provide students with a clearer understanding of the development of Leibniz's ideas, highlighting the internal tensions in his thinking.
The introduction offers cultural orientation and explains the structure and assumptions of his philosophical system, supported by notes and an index to aid comprehension of his scientific, ethical, and metaphysical contributions.
#33070
The Foundations of Physics
Emily Duch
There is limited information available about the book 'The Foundations of Physics' by Emily Duch from the search results.
No detailed description, publisher information, or additional context about the book's content or focus was found in the provided data.
#23532
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Physics
Aristotle
Aristotle's "Physics" is a comprehensive treatise on natural philosophy, covering a wide range of topics related to motion, change, and the nature of reality.
It explores concepts such as motion, time, space, and the elements.
The book presents Aristotle's views on the universe and its workings, including his ideas on the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and the concept of a prime mover.
"Physics" significantly influenced scientific thought for centuries, although many of its ideas have since been superseded by modern physics.
It remains a valuable historical document that reveals the intellectual landscape of ancient Greece.
#4572
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
The elegant universe
Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
Brian Greene
In 'The Elegant Universe', Brian Greene delves into the world of string theory, a theoretical framework that aims to unify the principles of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics.
The book explores the historical context of physics, from classical physics to the modern theories of superstrings and hidden dimensions.
Greene uses analogies and thought experiments to explain complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner, making the subject accessible to a broad audience.
The book discusses the evolution of special and general relativity, the basics of quantum mechanics, and the conflicts between these theories, ultimately presenting string theory as a potential solution for a unified theory of everything.
#6648
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The Principia
Isaac Newton
Published in 1687, 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' is a comprehensive treatise that establishes the principles of modern physics.
The book is divided into three main sections and includes preliminary chapters on definitions and axioms.
It introduces Newton's three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, explaining phenomena such as the motion of bodies, fluid dynamics, and the behavior of celestial bodies like planets and comets.
The work also includes discussions on hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, and acoustics, and it systematizes a method for studying nature through mathematical means.
Newton revised and expanded the work in subsequent editions published in 1713 and 1726.
#3
• Mentioned in 913 episodes
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature.
Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
How do you know what you know? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore issues with quantum mechanics and objectivity, the history of physics, and how scientists ask questions on the edge of our understanding with philosopher of physics Elise Crull.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:
https://startalkmedia.com/show/the-limits-of-knowing-with-elise-crull/
Thanks to our Patrons Erik Nunez, Jim Zehr, Paulo Santos, Ken Cho, Dean Starbuck, Dan, Spacious, Bryce Larson, Robert Neal, Dawn C. Coles, Brent Williams, Mitchell Ransom, Kyle Kwartel, Salvatore Mammana, Benjamin Hunzeker, Peter O Halloran, Kristopher, Sean Josiah, Harry Summlar, Jeffrey Walker, Matt Coda, Beth Gallagher, Sherene Levert, Gabriel Castro, Paul Elliott, Robert watry, Nathan Baker, Eric Pozzobon, Adam Weldon, George Xenakis, Troy Kemp, Manjushree Tea, Juan Villegas, John Hart Project, Trygve Peterson, driven13, Malkoon Malkoonian, Dasha, Sam Hardy, miriam walter, Adam Goodspeed, Cindy Buccellato, Brandon Christian, Robert Loper, Liam, Viper, Kroij, Kevin Casey, Waverous, TJM8991, Timothy Jeffirs, Riley Thompson, Kushal Lal, Vivak Singh, K. Stalker Art, Jerel, Sophia Bogard, Len Smith, Kenneth, Daniel Coleman, Sharjeel Sahibzada, Christopher Tillman, Chuck Bell, Mal, Zakharius, Agata Tomaszewska, Mike Strauss, Jessica Baker, Robert Palmer, Mary Loyche, Jaime R Topp, Dan Macken, yazan al hajari, Johsua Skelly, Jamie, Tammi, Elizabeth White, Martin Assirati, Christine Peterson, Sooraj Poonawala, Rachel, Bryan Gaines, Guy Gore, Kelly Bragg, Surya Bakshi, J.J., Kevin Abeln, Doug Hemphill, Thomas Hogg, Greg Brunelle, CHO, Francis, and Bryan Olay for supporting us this week.
Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.