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 natural philosophy • quantum metaphysics and many-worlds modal realism • emergent quantum spacetime, entanglement, gravity, AdS/CFT, string theory • black hole thermodynamics and information paradox • animal consciousness, cognition, evolutionThis podcast features long-form interviews with researchers working at the intersection of contemporary physics and philosophy, with a focus on conceptual and foundational questions. Conversations often begin from technical areas in modern physics—especially quantum mechanics and gravitation—and use them as entry points to examine broader metaphysical and methodological issues.
Across the episodes, a recurring theme is how to interpret the ontology suggested by successful physical theories. Topics include competing ways of understanding quantum theory and its implications for possibility, reality, and contingency, as well as proposals in which familiar spacetime may be emergent from underlying quantum structure. Related discussions bring in standard tools and ideas from current theoretical physics, such as entanglement, decoherence, holographic dualities (including AdS/CFT), string theory, and black hole physics.
Another major strand concerns black holes as a test bed for foundational questions: thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in extreme regimes, and puzzles like the black hole information paradox. These physics-centered discussions are paired with philosophical analysis of reduction and emergence, substantivalism versus relationalism about spacetime, and broader views about what sorts of things are fundamental.
The show also expands beyond physics into philosophy of mind and biology, using empirical and evolutionary considerations to frame debates about consciousness and cognition, including what evidence supports attributing consciousness to non-human animals. Overall, the content emphasizes careful explanation of scientific ideas alongside argument-driven philosophical exploration of what those ideas imply.
| 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 |