Barry Loewer and Eddy Chen: Do the Laws of Physics Actually Exist?
2 tim 16 min•16 juni 2025
Barry Loewer and Eddy Chen debate whether the laws of physics are mind-independent or human-made, spanning metaphysics, causation, free will, and quantum mechanics.
0:00 The Nature of Physical Reality
42:28 The Circularity of Scientific Understanding
1:05:44 Reality Explored
1:08:28 Describing Human Experience
1:10:10 The Role of Science
1:10:58 Understanding Motion and Laws
1:12:19 The Nature of Laws
1:14:55 Possible Worlds in Philosophy
1:18:05 Configuration Space Debate
1:21:10 Quantum Mechanics and Reality
1:22:50 Metaphysical Necessity
1:27:13 The Nature of Free Will
1:30:14 Bridging Philosophy and Science
1:32:05 Constraints and Freedom
1:34:57 Philosophical Disputes
1:39:08 The Journey of Learning
2:05:16 Teaching and Learning Dynamics
2:07:23 Closing Reflections
SPONSORS:
- I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE
RESOURCES:
- Barry’s published papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=n_RTOwO00oEC&hl=en
- Eddy’s published papers: https://arxiv.org/a/chen_e_1.html
- Neil Turok on TOE: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE
- Greg Chaitin on TOE: https://youtu.be/zMPnrNL3zsE
- Leonard Susskind on TOE: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
- Emily Adlam on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs
- Laws of Nature and Chances (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Nature-Chances-Breathes-Equations/dp/0198907699
- Laws of Physics (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Physics-Elements-Philosophy/dp/100901272X
- On the Plurality of Worlds (book): https://www.amazon.com/Plurality-Worlds-David-K-Lewis/dp/0631224262
- Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- Tim Maudlin and Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE
- How Physics Makes Us Free (book): https://www.amazon.com/How-Physics-Makes-Us-Free/dp/0190269448
- From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.05029
- Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
- Realism with a Human Face (book): https://www.amazon.com/Realism-Human-Face-Hilary-Putnam/dp/0674749456
- Causation and Laws of Nature in Early Modern Philosophy (book): https://www.amazon.com/Causation-Nature-Early-Modern-Philosophy/dp/0199664684/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
- The Maniac (book): https://www.amazon.com/MANIAC-Benjamin-Labatut/dp/0593654471
- When We Cease to Understand the World (book): https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Cease-Understand-World/dp/1681375664
- Eddy’s paper on time and nature: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.09226
- Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
- Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9
- Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
0:00 The Nature of Physical Reality
42:28 The Circularity of Scientific Understanding
1:05:44 Reality Explored
1:08:28 Describing Human Experience
1:10:10 The Role of Science
1:10:58 Understanding Motion and Laws
1:12:19 The Nature of Laws
1:14:55 Possible Worlds in Philosophy
1:18:05 Configuration Space Debate
1:21:10 Quantum Mechanics and Reality
1:22:50 Metaphysical Necessity
1:27:13 The Nature of Free Will
1:30:14 Bridging Philosophy and Science
1:32:05 Constraints and Freedom
1:34:57 Philosophical Disputes
1:39:08 The Journey of Learning
2:05:16 Teaching and Learning Dynamics
2:07:23 Closing Reflections
SPONSORS:
- I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE
RESOURCES:
- Barry’s published papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=n_RTOwO00oEC&hl=en
- Eddy’s published papers: https://arxiv.org/a/chen_e_1.html
- Neil Turok on TOE: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE
- Greg Chaitin on TOE: https://youtu.be/zMPnrNL3zsE
- Leonard Susskind on TOE: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
- Emily Adlam on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs
- Laws of Nature and Chances (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Nature-Chances-Breathes-Equations/dp/0198907699
- Laws of Physics (book): https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Physics-Elements-Philosophy/dp/100901272X
- On the Plurality of Worlds (book): https://www.amazon.com/Plurality-Worlds-David-K-Lewis/dp/0631224262
- Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- Tim Maudlin and Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE
- How Physics Makes Us Free (book): https://www.amazon.com/How-Physics-Makes-Us-Free/dp/0190269448
- From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.05029
- Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
- Realism with a Human Face (book): https://www.amazon.com/Realism-Human-Face-Hilary-Putnam/dp/0674749456
- Causation and Laws of Nature in Early Modern Philosophy (book): https://www.amazon.com/Causation-Nature-Early-Modern-Philosophy/dp/0199664684/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
- The Maniac (book): https://www.amazon.com/MANIAC-Benjamin-Labatut/dp/0593654471
- When We Cease to Understand the World (book): https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Cease-Understand-World/dp/1681375664
- Eddy’s paper on time and nature: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.09226
- Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
- Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9
- Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
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.
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