Edward Frenkel is a mathematician at UC Berkeley working on the interface of mathematics and quantum physics. He is the author of Love and Math: The Heart of Hidden Reality. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – House of Macadamias: https://houseofmacadamias.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order – Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get free trial – ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free EPISODE LINKS: Edward’s Website: https://edwardfrenkel.com Edward’s Book – Love and Math: https://amzn.to/40Bgxh0 Edward’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/edfrenkel Edward’s YouTube: https://youtube.com/edfrenkel Edward’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/edfrenkel PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (05:54) – Mathematics in the Soviet Union (16:05) – Nature of reality (27:23) – Scientific discoveries (40:45) – Observing reality (56:57) – Complex numbers (1:05:42) – Imagination (1:13:33) – Pythagoreanism (1:21:28) – AI and love (1:34:07) – Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems (1:54:32) – Beauty in mathematics (1:59:02) – Eric Weinstein (2:20:57) – Langlands Program (2:27:36) – Edward Witten (2:30:41) – String theory (2:36:10) – Theory of everything (2:45:03) – Mathematics in academia (2:50:30) – How to think (2:56:16) – Fermat’s Last Theorem (3:11:07) – Eric Weinstein and Harvard (3:18:32) – Antisemitism (3:38:45) – Mortality (3:46:42) – Love

Edward Frenkel, a renowned mathematician and professor at UC Berkeley, discusses a groundbreaking proof in the Langlands program. He unravels the historical significance of Robert Langlands' ideas and their transformative impact on number theory and harmonic analysis. The conversation highlights the relationships between modular forms, elliptic curves, and the influential contributions of mathematicians like Gelfand and Manin. Frenkel also explores the complexities of Langlands duality, emphasizing its profound implications for future mathematical advancements.

Join mathematician Edward Frenkel as he explores the fallacy of computationalism and determinism. Discussing the nature of reality, consciousness, and the limits of knowledge, Frenkel challenges the misconceptions of 19th-century science and advocates for updating our worldview with 21st-century paradigms. Dive into the fascination with mathematics, the illusion of free will, and the relationship between AI and human consciousness. This mind-expanding dialogue delves into quantum theory, linear time, and the celebration of AI's usefulness while embracing its challenges.