Lee Smolin: Why Time Is Real and Quantum Mechanics Needs Rewriting

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 14 February 2024

⏱️ 100 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Lee Smolin joins Theories of Everything to explore his ideas on the dynamic nature of physical laws, the role of time, and connections between string theory, loop quantum gravity, and other fields. The conversation spans topics from doubly special relativity to the Bomes interpretation of quantum mechanics and even touches on biology and philosophy.0:00 Intro4:13 Doubly Special Relativity and Violation of Lorentz Invariance9:15 The Concept of Thick Time19:11 Duality Between String Theory and Loop Quantum Gravity23:50 Condensed Matter Theory28:35 Approximating by a Continuum and Discrete Sets34:11 Misapprehensions about Loop Quantum Gravity38:43 Defining Complexity and the View of the Universe by One Observer43:52 Causal Energetic: The Relationship Between Varieties and Kinetic Energy48:38 Varying Parameters in the Universe53:35 The Bomes Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics58:30 Causality and Relativity1:03:15 Different Styles in Mathematics and Chess1:07:55 The Fundamental Questions in Biology1:12:49 Marrying Outside Your Field1:18:04 Discussion on Authors and Novels1:23:35 Conversations with Fire Robin1:28:39 Being Sincere and Ambitious1:33:39 A Visit from BJ1:38:34 OutroSPONSORS:- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE- TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerchRESOURCES:- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriesofeverythingpod- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoriesofeverything_- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything- Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join- Sabine Hossenfelder's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SabineHossenfelder- Sean Carrol's Mindscape episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTM-8memDHs- Against Method (Paul Feyerabend): https://www.amazon.com/Against-Method-Paul-Feyerabend/dp/1844674428- Science in a Free Society (Paul Feyerabend): https://www.amazon.com/Science-Free-Society-Paul-Feyerabend/dp/0860917533- Lee Smolin's paper w/ Clelia Verde: https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.09945- Podcast w/ Carlo Rovelli on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_fUPbBNmBw- Podcast w/ Abhay Ashtekar on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ReIvXKrrU 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 FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter 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	One says that relative time position, so I talk about your yesterday or my future.
0:06.4	This is one view and the other view is the view that really there is no time.
0:13.5	Today we have something special, the man, the myth, the legend, Professor Lee Smolin.
0:21.4	Professor Smollin's work in theoretical physics spans several decades, focusing on quantum
0:26.9	gravity, the foundations of quantum mechanics and cosmology.
0:30.7	He was also instrumental, along with Ashtakar and Roveli, in the development of something
0:35.9	called loop quantum gravity, which is a competing
0:38.6	theory to string theory, one that attempts to make consonant general relativity and quantum theory.
0:44.5	I've spoken to both Ashtiqar and Roveli on the podcast before, and the links to those in-depth
0:49.8	three-hour discussions are in the description.
0:52.4	Lee Smolin is exalted not only for his contributions
0:55.3	to theoretical physics, but to his contributions to the philosophy of physics. His research in
1:00.6	quantum cosmology and the role of time in physics led to the proposal that the laws of physics
1:05.1	aren't fixed over time, but rather that they evolve. One variation of this is that whenever there's a black hole,
1:11.9	there's a new universe that's birthed, and the physics of this embryonic universe has slightly
1:16.7	varied laws. Lee is also a time realist. Now this sounds like a strange proposition, because
1:22.5	colloquially, we think, hey, well, time is obviously real, but the difficulty is, well, what do we mean by real?
1:29.2	And then secondly, how do we explain that mathematical equations are timeless?
1:33.2	This latter view is also known as Platonism, and Lee is not a Platonist, at least not anymore.
1:39.2	Lee has also been diagnosed with Parkinson's.
1:41.8	This is a neurological disorder that he once hid from others during the
1:45.1	early stages, but he's now decidedly open about it. In fact, Lee valiantly wanted it on display
	...

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