As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe In this episode, I speak with Professor Felix Finster, a radical thinker reimagining the foundations of physics. We explore his theory of causal fermion systems, where reality emerges from quantum correlations—without assuming spacetime or geometry. From the Dirac sea to quantum gravity, this conversation challenges familiar concepts and offers a glimpse into where the next physics revolution might begin. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:12 The Origins of Causal Fermion Systems 06:55 Engaging with Alternative Theories in Physics 15:22 The Standard View of Causation 18:21 Classical, Quantum, and Pre-Quantum 23:06 How Spacetime Emerges from Disconnected Points 29:49 Recovering Lorentz Signature Without Assumptions 31:48 Recovering the Born Rule from First Principles 39:39 The Measurement Problem 46:20 Bounds on CSL Parameters 49:45 The Dynamics of Spacetime 57:47 Collaboration with Yao and Reflections on the Theory 1:03:13 A Quantum Gravity Theory Without Supersymmetry 1:05:28 The Dirac Sea 1:11:40 Addressing Infinite Energy in Semi-Classical Gravity 1:13:09 Octonions in the Vacuum Structure 1:17:32 Chirality and the Action Principle 1:20:33 Baryogenesis and Why Matter Exists 1:35:10 Rethinking the Strong CP and Hierarchy Problems 1:38:43 Recognition, Collaboration, and Growing Attention 1:54:00 Mathematical Criteria vs. Experimental Tests 2:01:02 Advice for Young Researchers Links Mentioned: - Felix's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F7ppNroAAAAJ - Felix's Bio: https://www.uni-regensburg.de/mathematik/mathematik-1/startseite/index.html - Causal Fermion Systems [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.19254 - Linear Dynamics of Wave Functions [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2101.08673 - The Principle of the Fermionic Projector [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Principle-Fermionic-Projector-Advanced-Mathematics/dp/0821839748 - Baryogensis for Causal Fermion Systems [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2111.05556 - Holographic Mixing [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.18045 - Standard Model Physics from an Algebra? [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1611.09182 - Barry Loewer & Eddy Chen [TOE]: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0 - Fay Dowker [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PgYHEPCLVas - String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY - David Kaiser [TOE]: https://youtu.be/_yebLXsIdwo - Ruth Kastner [TOE]: https://youtu.be/-BsHh3_vCMQ - Amanda Gefter [TOE]: https://youtu.be/yABPvDJ6Zgs - Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo - Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo - Emily Adlam [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs - Scott Aaronson & Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/5rbC3XZr9-c SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs Guests do not pay to appear. Theories of Everything receives revenue solely from viewer donations, platform ads, and clearly labelled sponsors; no guest or associated entity has ever given compensation, directly or through intermediaries. #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe What if your thoughts aren’t your own? Professors Elan Barenholtz and William Hahn propose that language is not a tool we use but a self-generating organism that uses us. In this mind-bending live discussion at the University of Toronto, they argue that language installs itself in our minds like software, runs autonomously, and shapes behavior at a deeper level than we realize. Drawing on LLMs, autoregression, and cognitive science, they suggest your brain may function like a predictive engine and that “memory,” “self,” and even “God” may just be tokens in an informational system. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 05:28 The Nature of Autoregression 10:14 Memory and Cognition Redefined 11:28 The Role of Language Models 14:23 Exploring Consciousness and Software 26:22 The Evolution of Language 38:08 Language: A Cultural Artifact 54:19 The Power and Danger of Language 1:02:52 Embracing Uncertainty in Knowledge 1:04:59 Courage to Believe in Ideas 1:09:30 Support and Engagement with Content Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Elan’s Substack: https://elanbarenholtz.substack.com/ •⁠ ⁠Elan’s Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2grAjZsAAAAJ&hl=en •⁠ ⁠William’s Blog: https://hahn.ai/blog/index.html •⁠ ⁠Ekkolapto’s Site: https://www.ekkolapto.org/ •⁠ ⁠Andrés Emilsson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/BBP8WZpYp0Y •⁠ ⁠Elan Barenholtz [TOE]: https://youtu.be/A36OumnSrWY •⁠ ⁠Anna Ciaunica & Michael Levin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2aLhkm6QUgA •⁠ ⁠William Hahn [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3fkg0uTA3qU •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin’s Presentation [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Exdz2HKP7u0 •⁠ ⁠Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4 •⁠ ⁠Geoffrey Hinton [TOE]: https://youtu.be/b_DUft-BdIE •⁠ ⁠Ai Panel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/abzXzPBW4_s •⁠ ⁠Joscha Bach & Ben Goertzel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/xw7omaQ8SgA •⁠ ⁠Noam Chomsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DQuiso493ro •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin Solo [TOE]: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s •⁠ ⁠Consciousness Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/65yjqIDghEk •⁠ ⁠Joscha Bach [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3MNBxfrmfmI •⁠ ⁠Scott Aaronson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/gGsh0_-q7LI •⁠ ⁠Iain McGilchrist [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Q9sBKCd2HD0 •⁠ ⁠The Master and His Emissary [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/0300188374 •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin & Karl Friston [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0yOV9Pzk2zw •⁠ ⁠Shape Rotators vs Wordcels [Article]: https://sasamilic.medium.com/some-thoughts-on-the-shape-rotator-vs-worcel-meme-f320261a21cd SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs Guests do not pay to appear. Theories of Everything receives revenue solely from viewer donations, platform ads, and clearly labelled sponsors; no guest or associated entity has ever given compensation, directly or through intermediaries. #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe In this episode, I speak with Professor Nikita Nekrasov, one of the most original minds in theoretical physics. We dive into why quantum field theory still isn’t fully understood, despite its experimental success and why a complete axiomatic foundation might not even be possible. Nikita walks us through his solution to the Cyberg-Witten puzzle, the birth of the Nekrasov partition function, and how exotic structures in four dimensions could underlie the chemistry of life. This conversation blends deep math, quantum weirdness, and personal stories from the front lines of discovery. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to understand reality, this one’s for you. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Understanding Quantum Field Theory 04:38 The Journey to Gauge Origami 06:53 The Story of the Microsoft Partition Function 19:12 Connecting Quantum Mechanics and Field Theory 36:43 The Nature of Instantons 45:05 Exotic R4 and Its Implications 49:01 Dealing with Non-Compactness 52:25 The Emergence of Non-Commutative Geometry 1:04:29 Lessons from Mentors 1:20:11 Language as a Dynamic System 1:22:35 The Concept of Gauge Origami 1:30:48 Insights from Collaboration with Peers 1:37:15 Aspirations for Future Work 1:38:15 Advice for Aspiring Researchers Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Nikita’s Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bKV59LwAAAAJ&hl=en •⁠ ⁠Nikita’s Lecture: https://scgp.stonybrook.edu/archives/44062 •⁠ ⁠Two Dimensional Gauge Theories [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/9204083 •⁠ ⁠Richard Borcherds [TOE]: https://youtu.be/U3pQWkE2KqM •⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/n_oPMcvHbAc •⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel’s Presentation [TOE]: https://youtu.be/RX1tZv_Nv4Y •⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel’s Presentation [Part 2]: https://youtu.be/0AC-Ol1z5vI •⁠ ⁠String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY •⁠ ⁠Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU •⁠ ⁠Cumrun Vafa [TOE]: https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw •⁠ ⁠Garrett Lisi [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z7ulJmfFvd8 •⁠ ⁠Chiara Marletto [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Uey_mUy1vN0 •⁠ ⁠Debunking “All Possible Paths” [TOE]: https://youtu.be/XcY3ZtgYis0 •⁠ ⁠Peter Woit [TOE]: https://youtu.be/TTSeqsCgxj8 •⁠ ⁠Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok •⁠ ⁠Seiberg-Witten Prepotential from Instanton Counting [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0206161 •⁠ ⁠Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo •⁠ ⁠Leptons and Quarks [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/LEPTONS-QUARKS-SPECIAL-COMMEMORATING-DISCOVERY/dp/9814603007 •⁠ ⁠Brian Greene [TOE]: https://youtu.be/O2EtTE9Czzo •⁠ ⁠David Wallace [TOE]: https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM •⁠ ⁠Jenann Ismael [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7kvXihDAOi0 •⁠ ⁠Claudia de Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/hNPMKy6RxCE •⁠ ⁠Yang-Mills [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.19097 SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Physicist and philosopher Jenann Ismael joins to unveil a radical idea: free will isn’t an illusion, it’s a physical reality grounded in thermodynamics and relativity. In this conversation, Jenann explains why no system, not even a perfect computer, can predict its own future, and how this inherent unpredictability opens the door to real agency. We explore the paradox of identity, the limits of determinism, the role of memory in selfhood, and why your choices truly come from you. This is the clearest, most rigorous defense of free will in the age of physics. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Free Will 29:16 The Limits of Predictability 41:45 Defining Free Will 59:42 Life and Cognition in the Universe 1:05:30 The Choices We Make 1:08:01 Dark Nights of the Soul 1:09:35 Philosophical Responses to Free Will 1:11:03 Personal Reflections on Life 1:11:54 The Weight of Loss 1:13:40 Patterns of Persistence 1:17:17 Understanding the Self 1:18:41 The Continuity of Existence 1:20:17 The Nature of Mortality 1:22:27 Time and Its Mysteries 1:51:42 The Nature of Existence 2:04:23 The Paradox of Newcomb's Dilemma 2:08:38 Lessons Learned from Suffering Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠How Physics Makes Us Free [Book]: https://amzn.to/44CcHr8 •⁠ ⁠Why Physics Should Care About The Mind [Paper]: https://www.jenanni.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-physics-should-care-about-the-mind-and-how-to-think-about-it-without-worrying-about-the-mind-body-problem.pdf •⁠ ⁠Diana Pasulka [TOE]: https://youtu.be/E5MuTHUbMUs •⁠ ⁠Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok •⁠ ⁠Sean Carroll [TOE]: https://youtu.be/9AoRxtYZrZo •⁠ ⁠Matt Segall [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM •⁠ ⁠Tim Maudlin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss •⁠ ⁠David Lewis’s Metaphysics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lewis-metaphysics/#Bib •⁠ ⁠Robert Sapolsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8 •⁠ ⁠David Lewis’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APAW62 •⁠ ⁠Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4 •⁠ ⁠Roy Baumeister [TOE]: https://youtu.be/aXoK-C2c2AQ •⁠ ⁠Free Will Ontoprism [TOE]: https://youtu.be/SSbUCEleJhg •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s •⁠ ⁠Dark Night Of The Soul: https://basilica.ca/documents/2016/10/St.%20John%20of%20the%20Cross-Dark%20night%20of%20the%20soul.pdf •⁠ ⁠George Musser [TOE]: https://youtu.be/KVy3NeXpMaI •⁠ ⁠Tim Maudlin & Tim Palmer [TOE]: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Mathematician Eva Miranda returns with a groundbreaking new result: a real physical system (fluid motion) has been proven to be Turing-complete. This means some fluid paths are logically undecidable. In this mind-bending episode, she walks us through the implications for chaos theory, the Navier-Stokes equations, and uncomputability in nature, confirming long-held suspicions of thinkers like Roger Penrose and Terence Tao. Featuring rubber ducks, Alan Turing, and the limits of knowledge itself. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Expect the Unexpected 02:52 Stories of Uncertainty 04:45 The Impact of Alan Turing 06:35 The Halting Problem Explained 09:29 Limits of Mathematical Knowledge 12:40 From Certainty to Uncertainty 16:19 The Rubber Duck Phenomenon 19:29 Unpredictability vs. Undecidability 20:18 Classical Chaos and the Butterfly Effect 27:12 Asteroids and Chaos Theory 34:32 The Navier-Stokes Riddle 41:18 The Cantor Set and Computation 46:18 Bridging Discrete and Continuous 49:21 Turing Completeness in Fluid Dynamics 1:02:39 The Quest for Navier-Stokes Solutions 1:06:53 The Role of Viscosity 1:12:09 Hybrid Computers and Fluid Dynamics 1:26:57 Unpredictability in Deterministic Systems 1:31:44 The Future of Computational Models Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Eva’s First Appearance [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo •⁠ ⁠Moby Duck [Book]: https://amzn.to/4ldoYsZ •⁠ ⁠Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU •⁠ ⁠The Emperor’s New Mind [Book]: https://amzn.to/44jHpGK •⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/RX1tZv_Nv4Y •⁠ ⁠Richard Borcherds [TOE]: https://youtu.be/U3pQWkE2KqM •⁠ ⁠Clay Mathematics Institute: https://www.claymath.org/ •⁠ ⁠Eva’s Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=werIoRQAAAAJ&hl=en •⁠ ⁠Topological Kleene Field Theories [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.16100 •⁠ ⁠Ted Jacobson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8 •⁠ ⁠Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4 SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special offer! Get 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Harvard physicist Jacob Barandes returns with a groundbreaking insight that could reshape quantum theory. By questioning a single hidden assumption, Jacob bridges the gap between classical probability and quantum mechanics. This ‘mathematical accident’ challenges the foundations of Bell’s Theorem, dissolves the measurement problem, and opens a path to a realist interpretation of quantum physics. This episode is a rigorous journey through stochastic processes, non-locality, and the future of theoretical physics. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 1:01:46 Teaching Black Holes to Graduate Students 1:04:59 Coordinate Systems in Space-Time 1:06:58 Teaching Black Hole Coordinates 1:10:11 Insights from Nima 1:13:41 Nima's Course on Quantum Mechanics 1:16:22 Quantum Foundations and Cosmology 1:18:48 Transitioning to Quantum Gravity 1:23:10 Philosophy's Role in Physics 1:26:10 Leaving String Theory 1:33:39 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 1:37:02 Challenges of String Theory 1:42:49 Quantum Field Theory Insights 1:50:30 Foundations of Quantum Field Theory 1:53:47 Particle Existence Between Measurements 1:59:44 Speculations on Quantum Gravity 2:01:41 Legacy and Contributions Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Press release of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics: https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2022/10/press-physicsprize2022-2.pdf •⁠ ⁠Eddy Chen & Barry Loewer on TOE: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0 •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE (part 1): https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo •⁠ ⁠Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss •⁠ ⁠What Is Real? (book): https://www.amazon.com/What-Real-Unfinished-Meaning-Quantum/dp/0465096050 •⁠ ⁠David Wallace on TOE: https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM •⁠ ⁠The Copenhagen Interpretation: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-copenhagen/ •⁠ ⁠Bohmian Mechanics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-bohm/ •⁠ ⁠Everettian Quantum Mechanics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-everett/ •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE (part 2): https://youtu.be/YaS1usLeXQM •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE (part 3): https://youtu.be/wrUvtqr4wOs •⁠ ⁠The sky is blue (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2205.00568 •⁠ ⁠The Emergent Universe (book): https://www.amazon.com/Emergent-Multiverse-Quantum-according-Interpretation/dp/0198707541 •⁠ ⁠Complex Coordinates and Quantum Mechanics (paper): https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.38.36 •⁠ ⁠Kurt Vonnegut’s lecture: https://youtu.be/4_RUgnC1lm8 •⁠ ⁠Max Born’s memoir: https://archive.org/details/myliferecollecti0000born/page/n5/mode/2up •⁠ ⁠Hugh Everett’s unpublished dissertation: https://ia801909.us.archive.org/20/items/TheTheoryOfTheUniversalWaveFunction/The%20Theory%20of%20the%20Universal%20Wave%20Function.pdf •⁠ ⁠La nouvelle cuisine (paper): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/speakable-and-unspeakable-in-quantum-mechanics/la-nouvelle-cuisine/6FFC85D84585D9C41AA4A1185BF5290E •⁠ ⁠The Great Rift in Physics (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.20067 •⁠ ⁠Quantum stochastic processes (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2012.01894 •⁠ ⁠Bell’s Theorem: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/bell-theorem/ •⁠ ⁠Neil Turok on TOE: https://youtu.be/zNZCa1pVE20 ***For full resources please visit https://curtjaimungal.org SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Professor John Norton has spent decades dismantling the hidden assumptions in physics from Newton’s determinism to the myth of Landauer’s Principle. In this episode, he explains why causation may not be real, how classical physics breaks down, and why even Einstein got some things wrong. If you’re ready to rethink the foundations of science, this one’s essential. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:37 Norton's Dome Explained 06:30 The Misunderstanding of Determinism 09:31 Thermodynamics and Infinite Systems 14:39 Implications for Quantum Mechanics 16:20 Revisiting Causation 18:15 Critique of Causal Metaphysics 20:21 The Utility of Causal Language 24:58 Exploring Thought Experiments 33:05 Landauer's Principle Discussion 49:48 Critique of Experimental Validation 52:25 Consequences for Maxwell's Demon 1:13:34 Einstein's Critiques of Quantum Mechanics 1:28:16 The Nature of Scientific Discovery 1:42:56 Inductive Inferences in Science Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠A Primer on Determinism (book): https://amzn.to/45Jn3b4 •⁠ ⁠John Norton’s papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UDteMFoAAAAJ •⁠ ⁠Causation as Folk Science (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/003004.pdf •⁠ ⁠Lipschitz continuity (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipschitz_continuity •⁠ ⁠The Dome: An Unexpectedly Simple Failure of Determinism (paper): https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2943/1/Norton.pdf •⁠ ⁠Norton’s Dome (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton%27s_dome •⁠ ⁠Approximation and Idealization (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Ideal_Approx_final.pdf •⁠ ⁠On the Quantum Theory of Radiation (paper): https://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/einstein/1917_Radiation.pdf •⁠ ⁠Making Things Happen (book): https://ccc.inaoep.mx/~esucar/Clases-mgc/Making-Things-Happen-A-Theory-of-Causal-Explanation.pdf •⁠ ⁠Causation in Physics (wiki): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-physics/ •⁠ ⁠Laboratory of the Mind (paper): https://www.academia.edu/2644953/REVIEW_James_R_Brown_Laboratory_of_the_Mind •⁠ ⁠Roger Penrose on TOE: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU •⁠ ⁠Ted Jacobson on TOE: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8 •⁠ ⁠The Thermodynamics of Computation (paper): https://sites.cc.gatech.edu/computing/nano/documents/Bennett%20-%20The%20Thermodynamics%20Of%20Computation.pdf •⁠ ⁠What’s Actually Possible? (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-unexamined-in-principle •⁠ ⁠On a Decrease of Entropy in a Thermodynamic System (paper): https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/862.22/notes/computation/Szilard-1929.pdf •⁠ ⁠Landauer’s principle and thermodynamics (article): https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10872 •⁠ ⁠The Logical Inconsistency of Old Quantum Theory of Black Body Radiation (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Inconsistency_OQT.pdf SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/THEORIES Top physicists Emily Adlam and Jacob Barandes deliver a powerful takedown of the Many Worlds Interpretation. In this episode, they expose why it’s more philosophical fantasy than scientific theory, revealing its lack of testability, predictive power, and real-world grounding. If you’ve ever questioned whether parallel universes are legitimate physics or just sci-fi masquerading as science, this conversation will challenge everything. As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Philosophical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics 3:22 The Nature of Self-Identity 10:59 Exploring Branching Universes 12:54 Collaboration Between Physicists and Philosophers 16:51 Understanding Probability and Credence 29:12 The Role of Indexicals in Consciousness 36:36 Causation and Its Implications 45:45 Disagreement on Personal Identity 51:03 The Hard Problem of Consciousness 1:00:35 Reflections on Conscious Experience 1:08:05 Concluding Thoughts on Mind and Identity 1:08:48 Time and Mind 1:09:09 The Concept of the World Line 1:14:43 Active Consciousness and Agency 1:19:12 The Hard Problem of Consciousness 1:36:15 Emergence in Physics 1:55:46 Speculation vs. Rigorous Argument 2:06:13 Philosophy's Contribution to Physics 2:12:43 Bridging Philosophy and Physics Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Emily’s first appearance on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs •⁠ ⁠Emily’s profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emily-Adlam •⁠ ⁠Jacob’s first appearance on TOE: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo •⁠ ⁠Jacob’s website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com/ •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/YaS1usLeXQM •⁠ ⁠Against Self-Location (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.05259 •⁠ ⁠Eddy Chen & Barry Loewer on TOE: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0 •⁠ ⁠Julian Barbour on TOE: https://youtu.be/bprxrGaf0Os •⁠ ⁠Robert Sapolsky on TOE: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8 •⁠ ⁠Curt’s Consciousness Iceberg: https://youtu.be/65yjqIDghEk •⁠ ⁠Iain McGilchrist on TOE: https://youtu.be/Q9sBKCd2HD0 •⁠ ⁠Stories of Your Life and Others (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1101972122 •⁠ ⁠Matt Segall on TOE: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM •⁠ ⁠TOE’s Free Will compilation: https://youtu.be/SSbUCEleJhg •⁠ ⁠Manolis Kellis & Jacob Barandes debate: https://youtu.be/MTD8xkbiGis •⁠ ⁠“The Incompatibility of Free Will and Determinism” (paper): https://iweb.langara.ca/rjohns/files/2013/01/van_inwagen.pdf •⁠ ⁠After Physics (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/067497087X •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin on TOE: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Are the laws of physics governing forces or elegant summaries? In this deep and often humorous debate, Barry Loewer of Rutgers and Eddy Chen of UC San Diego clash over the very nature of physical reality. Are the laws of nature real, mind independent constraints that shape what’s possible or are they human made descriptions of observed patterns? Together they explore metaphysics, causation, probability, and whether the universe is truly ruled by anything at all. A must watch for anyone questioning the foundations of science itself. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 The Nature of Physical Reality 42:28 The Circularity of Scientific Understanding 1:05:44 Reality Explored 1:08:28 Describing Human Experience 1:10:10 The Role of Science 1:10:58 Understanding Motion and Laws 1:12:19 The Nature of Laws 1:14:55 Possible Worlds in Philosophy 1:18:05 Configuration Space Debate 1:21:10 Quantum Mechanics and Reality 1:22:50 Metaphysical Necessity 1:27:13 The Nature of Free Will 1:30:14 Bridging Philosophy and Science 1:32:05 Constraints and Freedom 1:34:57 Philosophical Disputes 1:39:08 The Journey of Learning 2:05:16 Teaching and Learning Dynamics 2:07:23 Closing Reflections Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Barry’s published papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=n_RTOwO00oEC&hl=en •⁠ ⁠Eddy’s published papers: https://arxiv.org/a/chen_e_1.html •⁠ ⁠Neil Turok on TOE: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE •⁠ ⁠Greg Chaitin on TOE: https://youtu.be/zMPnrNL3zsE •⁠ ⁠Leonard Susskind on TOE: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok •⁠ ⁠Emily Adlam on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs •⁠ ⁠Laws of Nature and Chances (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Nature-Chances-Breathes-Equations/dp/0198907699 •⁠ ⁠Laws of Physics (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Physics-Elements-Philosophy/dp/100901272X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CHA72RYFUOI8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OjkhTXRzZw_SWTMFZp8dUtREsTxacKuwg03AsLUUp6qLCuygS74CtEgujWl7wMvVEt-ErFEz-CfFLiiXTmuUCwKq0TW4WLFIA3DIhDNVaV4.gRuqaZldjUa8Kv_j1ew-CfZGQqtdt00X55fyMZ9NGD4&dib_tag=se&keywords=eddy+chen&qid=1749667626&s=books&sprefix=eddy+chen%2Cstripbooks%2C128&sr=1-1 •⁠ ⁠On the Plurality of Worlds (book): https://www.amazon.com/Plurality-Worlds-David-K-Lewis/dp/0631224262 •⁠ ⁠Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss •⁠ ⁠Tim Maudlin and Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE •⁠ ⁠How Physics Makes Us Free (book): https://www.amazon.com/How-Physics-Makes-Us-Free/dp/0190269448 •⁠ ⁠From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.05029 •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo •⁠ ⁠Realism with a Human Face (book): https://www.amazon.com/Realism-Human-Face-Hilary-Putnam/dp/0674749456 •⁠ ⁠Causation and Laws of Nature in Early Modern Philosophy (book): https://www.amazon.com/Causation-Nature-Early-Modern-Philosophy/dp/0199664684/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 •⁠ ⁠The Maniac (book): https://www.amazon.com/MANIAC-Benjamin-Labatut/dp/0593654471 •⁠ ⁠When We Cease to Understand the World (book): https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Cease-Understand-World/dp/1681375664 •⁠ ⁠Eddy’s paper on time and nature: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.09226 SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Professor Elan Barenholtz, cognitive scientist at Florida Atlantic University, joins TOE to discuss one of the most unsettling ideas in cognitive science: that language is a self-contained, autoregressive system with no inherent connection to the external world. In this mind-altering episode, he explains why AI’s mastery of language without meaning forces us to rethink the nature of mind, perception, and reality itself... Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 The Mind and Language Connection 02:09 The Grounded Thesis of Language 09:29 The Epiphany of Language 13:06 The Dichotomy of Language and Perception 16:24 Language as an Autonomous System 19:48 The Problem of Qualia and Language 23:35 Bridging Language and Action 31:32 Exploring Embeddings in Language 38:21 The Platonic Space of Language 44:17 The Challenges of Meaning and Action 51:05 Understanding the Complexity of Color 52:53 The Paradox of Language Describing Itself 58:19 The Map of Language and Action 1:07:48 Continuous Learning in Language Models 1:11:46 The Nature of Memory 1:22:46 The Role of Context 1:32:18 Exploring Language Dynamics 1:39:44 The Shift from Oral to Written Language 2:11:34 Language and the Cosmic Whole 2:21:35 Reflections on Existence Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Elan’s Substack: https://elanbarenholtz.substack.com •⁠ Elan's X / Twitter: https://x.com/ebarenholtz •⁠ ⁠Geoffrey Hinton on TOE: https://youtu.be/b_DUft-BdIE •⁠ ⁠Joscha Bach and Ben Goertzel on TOE: https://youtu.be/xw7omaQ8SgA •⁠ ⁠Elan’s published papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2grAjZsAAAAJ •⁠ ⁠Ai medical panel on TOE: https://youtu.be/abzXzPBW4_s •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes and Manolis Kellis on TOE: https://youtu.be/MTD8xkbiGis •⁠ ⁠Will Hahn on TOE: https://youtu.be/3fkg0uTA3qU •⁠ ⁠Noam Chomsky on TOE: https://youtu.be/DQuiso493ro •⁠ ⁠Greg Kondrak on TOE: https://youtu.be/FFW14zSYiFY •⁠ ⁠Andres Emilsson on TOE: https://youtu.be/BBP8WZpYp0Y •⁠ ⁠Harnessing the Universal Geometry of Embeddings (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2505.12540 •⁠ ⁠Yang-Hui He on TOE: https://youtu.be/spIquD_mBFk •⁠ ⁠Iain McGilchrist on TOE: https://youtu.be/Q9sBKCd2HD0 •⁠ ⁠Curt interviews ChatGPT: https://youtu.be/mSfChbMRJwY •⁠ ⁠Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0674251555 •⁠ ⁠Karl Friston on TOE: https://youtu.be/uk4NZorRjCo •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin and Anna Ciaunica on TOE: https://youtu.be/2aLhkm6QUgA •⁠ ⁠The Biology of LLMs (paper): https://transformer-circuits.pub/2025/attribution-graphs/biology.html •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/YaS1usLeXQM •⁠ ⁠Emily Adlam on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs •⁠ ⁠Julian Barbour on TOE: https://youtu.be/bprxrGaf0Os •⁠ ⁠Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/vlklA6jsS8A •⁠ ⁠Neil Turok on TOE: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE •⁠ ⁠Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/jayaraasi/ •⁠ ⁠On the Origin of Time (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593128443 SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices