Why Universal Skepticism Is Philosophy's Greatest Deception
Today we are joined by philosopher Jennifer Nagel for a take-no-prisoners look at universal skepticism—philosophy’s greatest deception. We unpack why doubt itself is the ultimate illusion, how knowledge is primitive instant recognition, and what this means for self, free will & consciousness.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:28 The Nature of Knowledge
10:58 Philosophers and the Skeptical Mindset
16:57 Types of Skepticism
22:27 Exploring Knowledge Attribution
29:51 The Illusion of Knowledge
34:16 Knowing Without Knowing
38:10 Writing About Knowledge
46:10 Analyzing Knowledge
55:08 The Gettier Problem and Its Challenges
1:01:10 The Functionality of Knowledge
1:11:23 Collaborative Understanding of Knowledge
2:10:00 Understanding and Consciousness
2:26:32 Truth and Its Nature
2:32:16 Superposition and Contradictions
2:32:19 Conclusion
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Links Mentioned:
- Knowledge: A Very Short Introduction (book): https://www.amazon.com/Knowledge-Very-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/019966126X
- Knowledge and its Limits (book): https://www.amazon.ca/Knowledge-its-Limits-Timothy-Williamson/dp/019925656X
- Very Short Introductions (series): https://www.google.com/search?q=a+very+short+introduction+to+series&sca_esv=3da4db664be6b3a1&ei=ypX6Z6flHsDniLMP2v2QkQk&ved=0ahUKEwin8oSB9tKMAxXAM2IAHdo-JJIQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=a+very+short+introduction+to+series&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiI2EgdmVyeSBzaG9ydCBpbnRyb2R1Y3Rpb24gdG8gc2VyaWVzMgUQABiABDILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTIIEAAYogQYiQUyCBAAGIAEGKIEMggQABiABBiiBDIFEAAY7wVIqBRQxAtYwBBwAXgAkAEAmAFZoAGtAqoBATS4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgSgAocCwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICDRAuGIAEGLADGEMYigXCAg0QABiABBiwAxhDGIoFwgIPEAAYgAQYQxiKBRhGGPsBwgIbEAAYgAQYQxiKBRhGGPsBGJcFGIwFGN0E2AEBwgIGEAAYBxgemAMAiAYBkAYKugYGCAEQARgTkgcBNKAHph6yBwEzuAf_AQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#wgvs=e
- Time: A Very Short Introduction (book): https://www.amazon.ca/Time-Short-Introduction-Jenann-Ismael/dp/0198832664
- Laplace meets Godel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB3tS7j7nNU
- Flexible Goals (paper): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cogs.13195
- The Legend of the Justified True Belief Analysis (paper): https://philpapers.org/archive/DUTTLO-3.pdf
- Lay Denial of Knowledge for Justified True Beliefs (paper): https://philpapers.org/archive/NAGLDO
- TOE’s Consciousness Iceberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDjnEiys98o
- Matt Segal on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeTm4fSXpbM
- Curt reads Plato’s Cave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PurNlwnxwfY
- David Bentley Hart on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEAgVvW9i10
- Donald Hoffman on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmieNQH7Q4w&t=1s
- Iain McGilchrist on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-SgOwc6Pe4&t=6326s&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal
- Geoffrey Hinton on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_DUft-BdIE
- John Vervaeke on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVj1KYGyesI&t=1s
- Wolfgang Smith on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp18_L_y_30
- Polymath’s Ai panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abzXzPBW4_s
- Donald Hoffman and Philip Goff on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmaIBxkqcT4
- Robert Sapolsky on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0IqA1hYKY8&pp=ygUUY3VydCByb2JlcnQgc2Fwb2xza3k%3D
- Curt debunks the “all possible paths” myth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcY3ZtgYis0&t=46s
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2:47:17
Debunking the “All Possible Paths” Myth: What Feynman Really Showed
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Links Mentioned:
- Original Substack article: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/particles-dont-take-all-possible
- Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-interpretations-of-quantum-mechanics?utm_source=publication-search
- Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrUvtqr4wOs
- Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU1bs5o3nss
- Sean Carroll on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AoRxtYZrZo
- Eva Miranda on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XyMepn-AZo
- Mithuna’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LookingGlassUniverse
- Mithuna Yoganathan on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ct0zv_M-I
- Defining light (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/well-technically
- What is energy, actually? (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/what-is-energy-actually
- TOE’s String Theory Iceberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4PdPnQuwjY
- Paper on Bell’s Theorem: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2501.17521
- Veritasium’s YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium
Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE
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#science
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15:09
The "All At Once" Universe Shatters Our View of Time
Today we are joined by physicist and philosopher Emily Adlam for her first appearance on Theories of Everything to challenge one of the deepest assumptions in science: that time flows. In this thought-provoking conversation, Adlam presents her “all-at-once” view of physics, where the universe is more like a completed Sudoku puzzle than a film playing forward. We explore the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, the role of the observer, the illusion of causality, and why these foundational questions demand both philosophical clarity and scientific precision.
As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
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Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
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Links Mentioned:
• Emily’s profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emily-Adlam
• Spooky Action at a Temporal Distance (paper): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7512241/pdf/entropy-20-00041.pdf
• Quantum Field Theory and the Limits of Reductionism (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.20457
• Two Roads of Retrocausality (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2201.12934
• Taxonomy for Physics Beyond Quantum Mechanics (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2309.12293
• Strong Determinism (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2203.02886
• Carlo Rovelli on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF4SAketEHY
• Stephen Wolfram on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRlQQw0d-4
• Emily interviewed about Nonlocality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR7aPlZg7dE&ab_channel=GeorgeMusser
• Tim Palmer on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlklA6jsS8A
• Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU1bs5o3nss
• Algorithmic Randomness and Probabilistic Laws (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2303.01411
• Governing Without a Fundamental Direction of Time (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.09226
• Matt Segal on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeTm4fSXpbM
• Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oWip00iXbo&list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlN6E8KrxcYCWQIHg2tfkqvR&index=33
• Sabine Hossenfelder on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3y-Z0pgupg&t=1s
• Bernardo Kastrup and Sabine on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJmBmopxc1k&t=755s&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal
• Sean Carroll on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AoRxtYZrZo
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:56 Observers in Quantum Mechanics
02:15 The Measurement Problem
06:23 Dogmas in Quantum Foundations
08:24 Causation and Its Philosophical Implications
09:12 The Arrow of Time and Its Mysteries
10:28 Exploring Coarse Graining and Reductionism
13:21 Non-Locality: Temporal vs. Spatial
16:06 The Nature of Non-Locality
19:34 Temporal Non-Locality and Its Implications
21:51 Retrocausality: The All-at-Once Perspective
26:25 The Measurement Problem and All-at-Once Framework
28:24 Observer-Centric Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
31:29 Probabilities in Physics
32:51 The Process Matrix and Causal Structures
38:33 Foundations of Physics and Philosophy
1:05:16 The Emergence of Space-Time
1:08:11 Exploring Correlations in Physical Parameters
1:10:44 Epistemology of the Measurement Problem
1:13:26 Lessons in Patience and Persistence
Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
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1:26:25
The Theory of Gravity That Shouldn't Exist
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As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe
Today we are joined by theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham for her return appearance on Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal to discuss the possibility that gravity itself has mass. In this mind-bending conversation, she explores how this idea challenges long-held assumptions in general relativity and opens the door to a new understanding of dark energy and the structure of the universe. We also dive into the frontiers of cosmology, quantum gravity, and what it means to question the foundations of physics.
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Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
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Links Mentioned:
• The Beauty of Falling (Claudia’s book): https://amzn.to/4i4Z9cx
• Claudia’s published papers: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/c.de-rham/publications
• Claudia’s first appearance on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve_Mpd6dGv8&t=83s&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal
• Carlo Rovelli on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF4SAketEHY
• Curt’s Substack article on energy: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/what-is-energy-actually
• Neil Turok on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUp9x44N3uE
• Tim Palmer on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlklA6jsS8A
• DESI article on The Economist: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/06/19/the-dominant-model-of-the-universe-is-creaking
• String Theory Iceberg on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4PdPnQuwjY
• Leonard Susskind on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p_Hlm6aCok
• Chiara Marletto and Vlatko Vedral on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uey_mUy1vN0
• TOE’s telling of “The Dark History of Anti-Gravity”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBA3RUxkZdc
• Positive Signs in Massive Gravity (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/1601.04068
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:20 - Claudia's Approach
09:11 - Claudia's Motivation
14:45 - Dark Energy
23:35 - Causality
27:19 - Other Approaches
45:10 - New Physics
50:47 - Dark Energy (continued)
57:36 - Quantum Gravity / String Theory
01:14:10 - Gravitons & Photons
01:21:44 - Symmetry
01:30:25 - Double Slit Experiment
01:50:15 - Cosmology
01:54:45 - Massive Graviton
02:00:10 - Conclusion
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2:10:32
How AI Healthcare Will Change the World
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What if you had a thousand doctors working for you 24/7, at virtually no cost? In this episode of Theories of Everything, a panel of leading AI and medical experts explores how “medical swarms” of intelligent agents could revolutionize healthcare, making personalized, concierge-level treatment accessible to all. This isn’t science fiction, it’s the near future and it will change everyone’s life.
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE
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Links Mentioned:
• Ekkolapto: https://www.ekkolapto.org/polymath
• Ekkolapto’s Longevity Hackathon: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy5dPSW_KkniuHpoLwlzkYcxhxn50Mn0T
• William Hahn’s lab: https://mpcrlab.com/
• Michael Levin’s presentation at ekkolapto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exdz2HKP7u0
• Gil Blander’s InsideTracker (website): https://blog.insidetracker.com/
• Dan Elton’s website: https://www.moreisdifferent.com/
• FAU’s Sandbox: https://www.fau.edu/sandbox/
• Will Hahn on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr4R7eh5f_M&t=1s
• Will Hahn’s in-person interview on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fkg0uTA3qU
• Michael Levin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iFtaltX-s
• Stephen Wolfram on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRlQQw0d-4
• Neil Turok’s lecture on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gwhqmPqRl4&list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOYgTu7P4nfjYkv3mkikyBa&index=13
• Robin Hanson on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEomfUU4PDs
• Tyler Goldstein (YouTube): http://www.youtube.com/@theoryofeveryone GO TO THIS MAN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. HE HELPED WITH THE CAMERA WORK IMPROMPTU AND ALSO HAS A FANTASTIC CHANNEL ANALYZING THEORIES. THANK YOU, TYLER!
• Joscha Bach on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MNBxfrmfmI
• Manolis Kellis on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g56lxZwnaqg
• Geoffrey Hinton on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_DUft-BdIE
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
4:43 A New Approach to Healthcare
5:33 AI in Medical Imaging
7:40 Cognitive Models
11:09 Education in Medicine
23:02 Exploring the Boundaries of AI
32:04 The Future of AI in Medicine
37:20 Swarming Agents
41:49 The Ethics of AI in Healthcare
45:17 AI into Clinical Practice
55:58 Preparing for an AI-Driven Future
1:15:03 The Human Element in Medicine
1:17:19 Emotional Intelligence in AI
1:20:11 Unified Theory in Medicine
1:21:31 Conclusion
Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
#science
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Exploring theoretical physics, consciousness, Ai, and God in a technically rigorous manner. If you'd like to support this endeavor, then please visit the Patreon ( https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal ). Thank you for your charitable and kindhearted support. My name's Curt Jaimungal, a Torontonian with a degree in mathematical physics from the University of Toronto and I analyze various Theories of Everything from this analytic perspective, though more and more opening up to alternative approaches. The separating factor of TOE from other podcasts is its focus on depth even at the risk of limiting the audience due to how much detail we delve into subjects. Paralleling the intensity found in academic discourse, we're increasingly embracing a spectrum of unconventional ideas to conduct research during this podcast, rather than merely conveying existing information. Contact toe [at] indiefilmTO [dot] com for business inquiries / sponsorship.