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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 foundations of physics and philosophy • quantum metaphysics/Many-Worlds modal realism • emergent quantum spacetime, entanglement, decoherence, AdS/CFT, black holes • reduction vs emergence debates • animal consciousness, 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. Conversations often start from live debates in modern physics—especially quantum theory and gravitation—and use them to motivate broader metaphysical and methodological issues about what exists, what is fundamental, and how scientific theories explain.
A recurring theme is the interpretation of quantum mechanics and its implications for modality and reality, including approaches that treat the “many worlds” framework as connected to the space of metaphysical possibilities. The show also explores the idea that familiar spacetime might not be fundamental, discussing proposals in which spacetime emerges from underlying quantum structure. These discussions bring in technical topics such as entanglement, decoherence, holographic dualities (e.g., AdS/CFT), string-theoretic ideas, and black hole physics.
Black holes provide another major focus, especially questions around thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in gravitational settings and puzzles like the information paradox. Across these physics-centered topics, the interviews repeatedly connect to philosophical themes such as reduction versus emergence, substantivalism versus relationalism about spacetime, and different forms of monism.
Alongside physics, the podcast also addresses philosophy of mind and biology, including how to think about consciousness in non-human animals and what kinds of evidence, cognitive capacities, and evolutionary considerations bear on debates about conscious experience. Overall, the series presents natural philosophy as a dialogue between contemporary science and foundational philosophical analysis.
| 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 |