Curt Jaimungal: Debunking the All Possible Paths Myth

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 17 April 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Curt Jaimungal debunks the popular “all possible paths” myth, explaining what Feynman’s path integral actually demonstrates and why the misconception endures. He also examines related misunderstandings about quantum mechanics and the nature of light.RESOURCES:- Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com- Original Substack article: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/particles-dont-take-all-possible- Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-interpretations-of-quantum-mechanics?utm_source=publication-search- Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrUvtqr4wOs- Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU1bs5o3nss- Sean Carroll on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AoRxtYZrZo- Eva Miranda on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XyMepn-AZo- Mithuna's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LookingGlassUniverse- Mithuna Yoganathan on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ct0zv_M-I- Defining light (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/well-technically- What is energy, actually? (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/what-is-energy-actually- TOE's String Theory Iceberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4PdPnQuwjY- Paper on Bell's Theorem: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2501.17521- Veritasium's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium- Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join- Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You've probably been seeing viral videos claiming that particles take all possible paths.
0:05.0	Everything is actually exploring all possible paths.
0:08.0	When we don't let all possible paths, we can describe all possible paths.
0:11.0	All possible paths.
0:12.0	Over the space of all possible paths.
0:14.0	Consider all possible paths.
0:15.0	This is based on a significant misunderstanding of path integrals.
0:19.0	Let's clarify what the path integral is about and why Feynman's
0:22.7	tool isn't a literal map of reality. Firstly, we need to stop saying that electrons go through
0:28.4	both slits. That's not what quantum mechanics like textbook quantum mechanics says. For more on this,
0:34.3	you can read this substack article or watch this interview with Jacob Barndes on the Dirac von Neumann axioms.
0:40.3	This whole particle goes through both slits is a hangover from misinterpreting wave functions in 3D space
0:47.3	when they actually exist in something else called configuration space.
0:50.3	This confuses a calculational trick with physical ontology. It's popular because it seems
0:57.2	many people want their quantum mechanics magical. But let's demystify some of this confusion with some rigor.
1:03.5	People love to say that particles explore every possible path simultaneously, even going back in time or to the moon or what have you.
1:11.9	Firstly, what does this word possible mean?
1:15.9	Possible isn't a physics word.
1:18.5	So do you mean to say every continuous path in R4?
1:22.1	Do you mean every once differentiable path in R3?
1:25.5	Like, what is it?
1:26.7	What's the domain here? Also, when someone says
	...

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