Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Nicolas Gisin on Free Will, Quantum Gravity, Superdeterminism, and Time NOT Being an Illusion

Feb 13, 2022

Nicolas Gisin, a Professor of Physics at the University of Geneva and author of "Quantum Chance," dives into the fascinating interplay between free will and quantum mechanics. He argues that indeterminacy is crucial for free will, asserting its primacy in rational thought. The discussion also touches on the philosophical implications of consciousness, the nature of time, and how various mathematical frameworks influence our understanding of these concepts. Gisin challenges traditional determinism while exploring multiple interpretations of quantum realities.

01:22:47

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Nicolas Gisin

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Exploring Quantum Concepts and Free Will

21min

The Time and Truth of Mathematics

18min

Exploring Time, Logic, and Free Will in Physics

21min

Debating Quantum Realities

4min

Exploring Indeterminacy Through Norton's Dome

2min

Exploring Continuity and Quantum Gravity in Physics

2min

Exploring the Nature of Free Will in Physics and Cognition

4min

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/jcHzgy0I6gk

Nicolas Gisin is Professor of Physics, specializing in the foundations of quantum mechanics, at the University of Geneva. Sponsors: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off. For Algo's podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ and website https://www.algo.com/.

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LINKS MENTIONED:

-Quantum Chance by Nicholas Gisin (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3KPHG8x

-Sabine Hossenfelder's Superdeterminism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytyjgIyegDI

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:38 Gisin's "Quantum Chance" book is a friendly introduction to QM

00:06:36 Consciousness is outside today's physics and may always be

00:07:48 Indeterminacy is necessary but not sufficient for free will

00:09:37 Free will is necessary for "rationality" to exist

00:10:40 Free will comes FIRST in the "logical order"

00:21:39 What does mathematics have to say about free will and consciousness?

00:27:18 Intuitionism vs Constructionism

00:28:22 Classical physics is NOT deterministic

00:34:27 Does he agree with Stephen Wolfram that it's computation underlying physics?

00:36:06 Time is "thick" like molasses

00:40:21 Intuitionist mathematics and law of excluded middle

00:42:57 Graham Priest's paraconsistent logic and other forms of logic

00:49:32 A new understanding of time is needed for Quantum Gravity

00:52:55 Discrete spacetime? Perhaps not

00:53:21 Philosophy of Jules Lequier

00:55:15 On Sabine Hossenfelder's views on free will

00:58:33 Superdeterminism

01:01:52 Is indeterminacy truly necessary for free will?

01:03:39 Many Worlds is nonsense

01:05:37 Should logic be the basis of mathematics?

01:10:00 Which approach to quantum gravity does Gisin favor?

01:10:17 [Stephen Robbins] Bergson?

01:11:23 [Complex Plane @kekule6] Chomsky and denial of free will by physicists is an attempt to make evidence fit a model

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Just wrapped (April 2021) a documentary called Better Left Unsaid http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com on the topic of "when does the left go too far?" Visit that site if you'd like to watch it.

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