Andrew Strominger is Gwill E. York Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for the Fundamental Laws of Nature at Harvard University, where he works on some of the deepest questions in physics, including black holes and the unification of quantum field theory and general relativity in the form of string theory. In this episode, Robinson and Andy discuss the basics of string theory, including its unifying role in physics, its application to outstanding and once-intractable problems of black holes, and the conceptual difficulties of thinking about higher-dimensional spaces. OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:32 Introduction 05:03 Andy’s Entry into String Theory 20:49 The Irreconcilable Clash between General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory 47:02 String Theory, Fine-Tuning, and the Anthropic Principle 59:20 The Basics of String Theory 01:12:50 String Theory and the Reductionist Program of Physics 01:27:25 When Will We Observe the Strings of String Theory? 01:43:45 How Many Dimensions are There in String Theory? 02:12:50 Aesthetics in String Theory Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

Thomas Hertog is Professor and Head of Theoretical Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at KU Leuven in Belgium. He was a doctoral student and close collaborator of Stephen Hawking. In this episode, Robinson and Thomas discuss his recent book, On the Origin of Time: Stephen Hawking’s Final Theory. More particularly they discuss his collaboration with Stephen Hawking Hawking’s work on black holes, and the three stages of his cosmological research, which culminated in his final theory, which Thomas worked on with him, called Top-Down Cosmology.  On the Origin of Time: https://a.co/d/ihrMoCZ OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 00:53 Introduction 04:19 Thomas’s Entry into Physics 05:49 What Was It Like to Work with Stephen Hawking? 09:46 Stephen Hawking and the Death of Philosophy 16:42 What is Cosmological Inflation 23:28 The Big Bang, Fine-Tuning, and the Anthropic Principle 41:15 On Penrose, Hawking, Black Holes, and the Big Bang 01:01:27 Stephen Hawking’s Final Theory of Top-Down Cosmology Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

Christopher Capozzola is Professor of History and MacVicar Faculty Fellow at MIT, where he works on the history of citizenship, war, and the military in modern American history. In this episode, Robinson and Chris discuss his first book, Uncle Sam Wants You: World War I and the Making of the Modern American Citizen (Oxford, 2008). More particularly, they talk about the background of the famous Uncle Sam “I Want You!” image and its status as a piece of propaganda, how it functioned in the United States during World War I, the domestic reception and consequences of the draft, and how patriotism resulted in violent vigilante justice. Chris’s latest book is Bound by War: How the United States and the Philippines Built America’s First Pacific Century. Uncle Sam Wants You: https://a.co/d/gBodfCL OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 01:04 Introduction 03:50 History as Narrative 08:01 Teaching History at MIT 12:21 Chris’s Interest in American History 14:42 The Origin and Purpose of Uncle Sam 32:48 Political Obligation and the Draft in World War I 45:06 History and Unwritten Facts 50:07 Draft Dodgers, Conscientious Objectors, and Vigilantes in WWI 01:04:35 Historians, Philosophers, and Political Obligation 01:16:50 How World War I Was Caused by Bad Leaders 01:23:01 Free Speech During and After the War Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

Ian Hutchinson is Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering in he Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering and the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at MIT. He works in both plasma physics and nuclear physics and also writes on the philosophy of science and the compatibility of Christianity and science. In this episode, Ian and Robinson begin by discussing his work in plasma and nuclear physics, touching on space exploration, nuclear fusion, and the containment of superheated plasma. Then they turn to Ian’s religious beliefs and his understanding of how science and christianity are not only compatible, but complementary. Ian’s latest book is Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?: An MIT Professor Answers Questions on God and Science. Ian’s Website: https://www-internal.psfc.mit.edu/~hutch/ Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?: https://a.co/d/2Vi2wKk OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 01:03 Introduction 06:15 Is There a Crisis in Plasma Physics? 19:19 What Is the Fourth Phase of Matter? 33:24 Plasma, Astrophysics, and Space Exploration 45:49 What Are Nuclear Fission and Fusion? 55:25 How Does Nuclear Fusion Work? 01:02:34 How Viable is Nuclear Fusion as a Clean Power Source? 01:19:03 Why MIT Nuclear Physicist Ian Hutchinson Believes in God 01:34:08 How Can Science be Compatible with Christian Miracles? 01:43:22 How an MIT Physicist Reads the Book of Genesis 01:49:11 The Perils of Scientism 01:58:59 Do Science and Religion Complement Each Other? 02:04:02 How Religion Informs Ian’s Work as a Plasma Physicist Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.

Jonathan Shedler, Clinical Professor, and Robinson discuss the clinical side of psychoanalytic theory, its evolution, and misconceptions. They explore the distinction between psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, the role of free association and transference, and the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy. They also delve into different theories in psychoanalysis, the concept of two-person psychology, and the contrast between psychodynamic therapies and instruction manual therapies. A fascinating exploration of mental health treatment!

Tal Ben-Shahar, lecturer on positive psychology, discusses happiness studies, Aristotle's teachings on happiness, interdisciplinary approaches to happiness, and practical advice for improving one's quality of life.

Donald Hoffman, a Professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, discusses his book 'The Case Against Reality' on Robinson's Podcast. They explore the disconnect between perception and reality, theories of consciousness, the influence of beauty on perception, and the FBT theorem's implications for sensory systems and evolution.

Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is Professor of History in the Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Jeremi’s selection of topics in his work is sprawling, but he writes largely on modern and contemporary politics and foreign policy. In this episode, Robinson and Jeremi discuss the American presidency and how it has shifted over the past two hundred and fifty years to become an impossible position with impossible demands and expectations. Their conversation focuses on five presidents—George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy—though they also touch on Barrack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.  Jeremi’s Website: https://www.jeremisuri.net The Impossible Presidency: https://a.co/d/1mOgm7Q Civil War by Other Means: https://a.co/d/19i6Jq1 OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode 01:02 Introduction 05:17 What Are the Historian’s Skills? 15:54 Jeremi’s Background 18:58 Did Washington and Trump Have the Same Job? 25:23 How to Measure the Success of a President? 35:11 What Made Washington Great? 55:40 Was Andrew Jackson Actually a Great President? 01:07:29 How Abraham Lincoln Doomed the Presidency 01:17:20 Theodore Roosevelt and Military Imperialism 01:26:38 Was Franklin Roosevelt the Last Great President? 01:37:38 Why Did JFK Fail as President?  01:42:19 What is Obama’s Legacy? 01:48:08 Was Donald Trump the End of the Presidency? 01:55:06 Jeremi’s Advice for a Future President Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

Clara Sousa-Silva is a professor of physics at Bard College, where she is a quantum astrochemist and molecular astrophysicist. The focus of Clara’s work is on investigating the interaction of particular molecules with light so that they can be detected on exoplanets, where, in addition to giving us atmospheric information, these chemicals may indicate the existence of life. In this episode, Robinson and Clara discuss her research on a specific molecule—phosphine—which may play a key role in identifying planets that are home to aliens, including some that may be very close to earth. Clara’s Website: https://clarasousasilva.com Clara’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrPhosphine OUTLINE 00:00 In This Episode… 01:15 Introduction 03:46 Clara’s Interest in Astrophysics 14:08 What Is Phosphine? 27:15 A Stinky Gas and the Search for Aliens 38:37 Have We Encountered Aliens? 45:33 Aliens and Phosphine 50:46 The Daily Work of a Quantum Astrophysicist and Astrobiologist 01:00:36 Are There Aliens on Venus? 01:19:26 Finding Life Outside the Solar System Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. 

Richard Wolff, Marxist economist, discusses the dismissal of Marx by mainstream economists, the basics of economics, problems of capitalism, and social consequences of capitalism.