Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Here, I interview some of the leading thinkers in modern natural philosophy. I'm your host, Dr. Siddharth Muthukrishnan. I originally trained in theoretical physics, before deciding that my interests were more conceptual and foundational, and switched to philosophy. Conversations will span science and philosophy and perhaps other topics as well.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Interviews on philosophy of physics • Quantum metaphysics, Everett/many-worlds, modal realism • Quantum spacetime emergence, entanglement, decoherence • AdS/CFT, string theory, entropic gravity • Black hole thermodynamics, information paradox • Consciousness, animal cognition, evolutionThis podcast features long-form interviews with researchers working at the intersection of physics and philosophy, with an emphasis on conceptual and foundational questions in contemporary science. Conversations often begin from cutting-edge topics in theoretical physics—especially quantum mechanics, spacetime, and gravitation—and then widen into the metaphysical and philosophical issues they raise.
Across the episodes, listeners can expect discussion of how to interpret quantum theory and what its formalism might imply about reality, including debates about the status of “many worlds,” modality, and the relationship between physical theory and metaphysical possibility. Another recurring theme is the idea that familiar spacetime might be emergent from deeper quantum structures, bringing in technical notions such as entanglement, decoherence, holographic dualities (e.g., AdS/CFT), string-theoretic ideas, and black hole physics. These scientific topics are paired with philosophical lenses like reduction versus emergence, competing views about whether spacetime is fundamentally substance-like or relational, and broader questions about explanatory frameworks.
The show also reaches beyond fundamental physics into philosophy of mind and biology, examining what it would mean for nonhuman animals to be conscious and how consciousness might be studied using evidence from cognition, learning, and evolutionary theory. Overall, this podcast centers on clarifying what modern scientific theories say about the world and how best to interpret their deepest implications.
| Episodes: |
Alastair Wilson on Quantum Modal Realism2020-Sep-16 109 minutes |
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Sean Carroll on Quantum Spacetime 2020-Sep-02 113 minutes |
David Wallace on Black Holes2020-Sep-02 120 minutes |
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Colin Allen on Animal Consciousness 2020-Sep-02 119 minutes |