Lee Smolin: Quantum Gravity and Einstein's Unfinished Revolution | Lex Fridman Podcast #79

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

March 7, 2020

Duration

1h 9m

Channel

Lex Fridman Podcast

Watch on YouTube

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📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Lee Smolin is a theoretical physicist, co-inventor of loop quantum gravity, and a contributor of many interesting ideas to cosmology, quantum field theory, the foundations of quantum mechanics, theoretical biology, and the philosophy of science. He is the author of several books including one that critiques the state of physics and string theory called The Trouble with Physics, and his latest book, Einstein's Unfinished Revolution: The Search for What Lies Beyond the Quantum. This episode is presented by Cash App. Download it & use code "LexPodcast": Cash App (App Store): https://apple.co/2sPrUHe Cash App (Google Play): https://bit.ly/2MlvP5w PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 EPISODE LINKS: Books mentioned:

• Einstein's Unfinished Revolution by Lee Smolin: https://amzn.to/2TsF5c3
• The Trouble With Physics by Lee Smolin: https://amzn.to/2v1FMzy
• Against Method by Paul Feyerabend: https://amzn.to/2VOPXCD

OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 3:03 - What is real? 5:03 - Scientific method and scientific progress 24:57 - Eric Weinstein and radical ideas in science 29:32 - Quantum mechanics and general relativity 47:24 - Sean Carroll and many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics 55:33 - Principles in science 57:24 - String theory CONNECT:

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🎤 SPEAKERS

• Lex Fridman

  host

• Lee Smolin

  guest

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, featuring Lex Fridman and Lee Smolin, Lee Smolin: Quantum Gravity and Einstein's Unfinished Revolution | Lex Fridman Podcast #79 explores lee Smolin on Reality, Time, and Fixing Modern Theoretical Physics Lee Smolin and Lex Fridman explore deep questions about what is real, the limits of human perception, and whether an objective external world exists independent of us. Smolin defends a realist position, arguing that science as a community practice—rather than a strict ‘scientific method’—slowly refines our stories to better approximate that real world.

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