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, many-worlds/modal realism • emergent quantum spacetime, entanglement, string theory, AdS/CFT • black hole thermodynamics, information paradox • consciousness, animal cognition, evolutionThis podcast features in-depth interviews with researchers working at the intersection of physics and philosophy, with an emphasis on conceptual and foundational questions. Guided by a host with training in theoretical physics and philosophy, the conversations use contemporary scientific ideas as a springboard for metaphysical and methodological analysis, often moving between technical details and broader interpretive issues.
Across the episodes, a recurring focus is the philosophical interpretation of modern physics, especially quantum theory and its implications for modality, reality, and explanation. Topics include how to understand quantum mechanics in terms of multiple worlds and metaphysical possibility, and whether familiar spacetime might be emergent from underlying quantum structures. Along the way, discussions touch on entanglement and decoherence, links between gravity and information, and frameworks from high-energy theory and quantum gravity such as AdS/CFT, string theory, and black-hole physics.
Another major theme is black holes as a testing ground for foundational ideas, including thermodynamic and statistical-mechanical descriptions and puzzles like the information paradox. The show also broadens beyond physics to philosophy of mind and biology, examining questions about animal consciousness, cognition, learning, and how evolutionary considerations bear on what kinds of minds nonhuman animals might have.
Overall, this podcast is oriented toward listeners interested in how leading thinkers connect cutting-edge science to debates about emergence and reduction, substantivalism versus relationalism, monism, and the nature of consciousness.
| 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 |