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):
➤ philosophy–physics interviews • quantum metaphysics, many-worlds modal realism • emergent quantum spacetime, entanglement, decoherence, AdS/CFT, strings • black holes, 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. Guided by a host with training in theoretical physics and philosophy, the conversations explore how modern physical theories inform metaphysical and epistemological issues, and how philosophical frameworks can clarify what those theories imply about reality.
A recurring theme is the interpretation of quantum mechanics and its broader metaphysical consequences. Discussions examine ideas associated with many-worlds approaches, the status of possibility and contingency, and how to understand quantum phenomena in terms of worlds, modalities, and explanation. Closely related is the question of spacetime itself: whether familiar spacetime might be emergent from underlying quantum structure. In that setting, the podcast engages with topics such as entanglement and decoherence, and with major research programs and tools in high-energy and gravitational physics, including holographic dualities, string theory, black holes, and proposals connecting gravity with thermodynamic or informational principles.
Another major strand concerns black hole physics as a testing ground for foundational issues. Conversations cover black hole thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, along with the information paradox, using these problems to probe the relationships among quantum theory, gravity, and the nature of physical laws.
The podcast also broadens beyond fundamental physics into philosophy of mind and biology, addressing consciousness in humans and nonhuman animals. These episodes connect questions about subjective experience to cognition, learning, and evolutionary considerations, illustrating how philosophical analysis interfaces with empirical research when direct measurement or consensus definitions are difficult.
Across topics, the show commonly returns to big-picture philosophical disputes—reduction versus emergence, substantivalism versus relationalism about spacetime, and various forms of monism—while staying anchored in the details of current scientific theory and practice.
| 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 |