Rationally Speaking #133 - Sean Carroll on "The Many Worlds Interpretatioln Is Probably Correct"

Rationally Speaking Podcast

New York City Skeptics

Society & Culture, Skepticism, Science, Philosophy

4.6 • 787 Ratings

🗓️ 3 May 2015

⏱️ 48 minutes

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Summary

In this episode of Rationally Speaking, Caltech physicist Sean Carroll describes an "embarrassing" state of affairs in modern physics: that we still don't know how to interpret quantum mechanics, almost a century after its discovery. Sean explains why he thinks the "Many Worlds Interpretation" (MWI) is the most plausible one we've got, and Julia explores his thoughts on questions like: Can MWI be tested? Is it "simpler" than other interpretations, and why? And does MWI threaten to destroy our systems of ethics?

Sean Michael Carroll is a research professor in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology. He is a theoretical cosmologist specializing in dark energy and general relativity.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Want to read rationally speaking and not just listen to it?
0:04.3	Come to our website where we're posting complete transcripts of every episode.
0:08.2	That's rationally speakingpodcast.org.
0:10.5	Music Rationally speaking is a presentation of New York City Skeptics
0:28.4	dedicated to promoting critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and science education.
0:33.6	For more information, please visit us at n.ycptics.org.
0:37.1	Thank you. For more information, please visit us at NYCSceptics.org.
0:52.5	Welcome to Rationally Speaking, the podcast where we explore the borderlands between reason and nonsense.
0:58.1	I'm your host, Julia Galef. And as our long-time listeners may have already learned, my erstwhile co-host and co-founder of the podcast, Massimo
1:05.6	Pilucci, has recently amicably resigned in order to focus on other projects and he's now serving in the
1:13.0	role of trusted advisor so this is one of the first podcasts that I'll be recording on my own.
1:19.9	And here to join me for this exciting new era in the rationally speaking podcast is today's
1:27.4	guest, Sean Carroll.
1:29.7	Sean Carroll is a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology.
1:34.5	He's also the author of the popular books, from eternity to hear, and the particle at the end of
1:40.2	the universe.
1:41.2	And he also maintains the excellent blog, preposterous universe, where he writes
1:45.5	about cosmology, philosophy, and sometimes important topics like hot dog toppings. Sean, welcome
1:52.9	to the show. The hot dogs are very important. And Julia, thank you very much for having me on.
1:57.9	It's extremely flattering to not only be on for the second time, but to help the new era of rationally speaking with you taking the reins.
2:05.1	That's right. Help usher in the new era. That's right. In fact, I should have said to welcome you back to the show because you are now part of that rarefied group of guests who gets invited back to rationally speaking. So welcome back.
2:18.4	Thank you so much.
	...

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