Curt Jaimungal: Philosophers vs. Physicists

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 17 September 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Curt discusses how philosophy has directly contributed to physics through Bell's theorem, decoherence theory, the hole argument, and more. He also explores hidden philosophical assumptions in physics with John Norton that many scientists overlook.SPONSORS:- I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE- YouTube Member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto (Coinbase): https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9- PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqsRESOURCES:- Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- John Norton [TOE]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tghl6aS5A3M&pp=0gcJCR0AztywvtLA- Neil deGrasse Tyson [TOE]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye9OkJih3-U- How Not to Do Philosophy of Science [article]: https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/Goodies/How_not/How_not.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com- Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEK4-XtMwro- The Hole Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spacetime-holearg/- General covariance and general relativity [paper]: https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/decades.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com- Emily Adlam Λ Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw1ewLJUgOg- Eaters of the lotus [paper]: https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Eaters_final.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com- John Norton’s profile: https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/jdnorton.html- #science: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/science 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. 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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0:29.7	I recently had on Professor of Philosophy and Physics, John Norton, on the podcast.
0:35.4	John watched my interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson where I was on the side of defending philosophy.
0:41.3	Then, of what utility is that to the practicing scientist, even if it is of high interest to the philosopher?
0:48.4	Physicists are steeped in philosophy even if they don't know it.
0:51.8	Is that a problem? Is this a challenge?
0:54.3	To Professor Norton, most physicists are already engaging in, or assuming, a philosophy.
1:00.0	They just don't know it.
1:01.8	Now, you know that quip that some physicists love to brew it, philosophy is as useful to scientists
1:07.2	as orinthology is to birds. John's critique is keen. Ornithologists aren't trying to be
1:14.4	useful to birds. Now let's fosick out some philosophical suppositions. Take the physicist who claims
1:23.5	there's no measurement problem in quantum mechanics because all that matters is predictions.
	...

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