Will we ever know what came before the universe? Tim Maudlin interview

-- Tim Maudlin, Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics, and Professor of Philosophy at New York University, joins David to discuss the origins and foundations of metaphysics
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Broadcast on May 18, 2023

#davidpakmanshow #metaphysics #timmaudlin

[DeKKH]

Ahhh how great to have Tim on!!! I love physics, math, space and all these super smart people!!!

[charlenemack]

Question: What came before the universe? Answer: George Santos!

[Useruflkju]

What an interesting interview. The guest clearly didn’t have an agenda and just provided insights that didn’t require an advanced degree to understand. And there was a lesson for all of us…it’s ok not to be the smartest in every conversation!

[TitenSxull]

Very interesting guest. For many these sorts of existential discussions might cause some slight anxiety but I find they have the opposite effect on me. Fascinating stuff, David.

[MikeWiest]

Appreciate his smack down of solipsism and “simulation theory.”

[benhubert]

David asks great questions and probes deeper when he feels more info would benefit the audience. Well done, Sir.

[nicholasschoonbeck]

Another interesting point is how often people prefer a concrete, solid answer, & how uncomfortable they can be with no "true" answer, & I recently heard about the data that suggests conservatives are especially uncomfortable with a spectrum of possibilities, & that's one big reason that they can't handle modern concepts of gender, etc.

[vintagex]

I have watched hundreds of Pakman interviews over the years and I really feel like this is one of the few where the interviewee pushes back/challenges David's questions in a really meaningful way. Very enjoyable to watch!

[Pbrady]

I thought it was interesting what he said about the arguments he has heard regarding the formation of clay being studied to explain life arising in the first place. The Islamic tradition actually teaches that God created man from clay.

Also I like what he said about not being able to demand absolute proof and that reasonable people instead shape their acceptance to the theories that have the heaviest evidence and explanations.

[TheSoulcraft]

I love when you do these science, metaphysical & philosophical segments on the implications of say consciousness & our effect ON the universe & our perception of & relationship to 'reality'! As they say 'quantum physics isnt only as strange as you think. Its stranger than you CAN think!"

[huizhechen]

The answer to the headline question is NO, WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT CAME BEFORE THE (THIS) UNIVERSE. The only reasonable answer to that ontological question is "It's turtles all the way down", which is another way of saying "Please don't ask absurd questions. The human mind is incapable of comprehending the present universe much less the origins of the present universe or prior universes, if there were (are) any. We're only naked apes."

[valkillmore]

I know politics was touched upon lightly in this discussion but it was wonderful to stray outside of raw politics a little bit and hear a bit about such an interesting topic with such an interesting person. Thank you DP!

[jl]

All possibilities exist in unique presentation simultaneously. No piece is expendable, all existence is inextricably bound.

Existence is an idea in endless self-creation.

Possibly.

[mxr]

who/ what put the space that our universe exists and created the physics that govern it? no! not god. are we the only universe? does space go on forever or fold in with a boundary at the end? etc., etc.. in my opinion, we will never find out.

[larrysherk]

The concept of "coming before" implies a uni-dimensional, naive idea of time. I think the universe does not "line up" that way.

[CDogg-knwt]

This is so beyond human understanding all we can do is guess.

[Zatzzo]

Like most people he doesn't take into account consciousness. There's no evidence that anything exists outside of consciousness. That would also be "made up".

[theodorejay]

The problem is humans need an explanation of everything where as the universe doesn't work that way 😁

[huizhechen]

Another answer might be: "As soon as the WGA strike ends, Hollywood will do its best to answer that pressing question."

[TimSpangler-vi]

How did the universe get here? (1) It was always here (2) It put itself here (3) Someone or something put it here (4) Some other reason....be