David Albert: Einstein Was Right About Quantum Mechanics! [Ep. 433]

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Could physics serve as our best guide to metaphysics? What fundamental metaphysics is best motivated by quantum mechanics? And what’s the deal with the age-old feud between philosophers and physicists? 

Here to shed light on all these questions and more is none other than David Z. Albert, professor of philosophy and director of the MA program in The Philosophical Foundations of Physics at Columbia University in New York. David is a prominent American philosopher and physicist widely recognized for his contributions to the philosophy of quantum mechanics and the foundations of physics. He has published four popular books and numerous articles on quantum mechanics. 

In our stimulating conversation, we talked about his controversial PhD proposal, the truth about quantum mechanics, Einstein's affection for Ernst Mach, and who would win in a fight: a physicist or a philosopher? 

Tune in! 

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:59 Judging a book by its cover
• 00:10:25 Department's opposition to David's PhD
• 00:19:09 Physics and philosophy 
• 00:28:41 The experimental minimum 
• 00:36:11 The past hypothesis 
• 00:47:15 Other forms of logic in other universes
• 00:53:47 Popper’s falsification criteria 
• 01:03:59 Physics and narrative 
• 01:06:11 Audience questions
• 01:22:26 Existential questions
• 01:26:43 Outro

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Additional resources:

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➡️ Learn more about David Z. Albert:

💻 Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/contributor/david-albert/ 

📚 The Wave Function by David Z. Albert: https://a.co/d/hNiphE8

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