Neil deGrasse Tyson: UFOs, Philosophy of Physics, Chaitin's Theorem

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Curt talk about the recent UFO whistleblower (David Grusch) news and the philosophy of physics. Sponsors:

LINKS MENTIONED:

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:52 What Neil is working on
00:04:57 What fundamental aspect of our universe will change?
00:06:27 Nobel Prize, Bell's Inequality, and Locality
00:09:27 Chaitin's Incompleteness Theorem
00:13:59 The role of philosophy in physics
00:17:32 Norton's Dome
00:29:24 Carlo Rovelli, Lee Smolin, and John Baez on Philosophy
00:39:50 The limitations of the scientific method
00:45:48 Whistleblower David Grusch and UFO "testimony"
00:49:15 The government is not as incompetent as people say
00:56:09 Increscent evidence and extraordinary claims
00:57:44 If Neil encountered an alien but didn't film it, what would he do?
01:06:18 Analyses by Kevin Knuth, et al.'s on UAP radar
01:07:54 Why not apply "where's the evidence" to String Theory and the social "sciences"?
01:13:32 How Neil prepares for interviews and speeches
01:25:10 Straw man vs. the Strongest man (Neil disparagers the UFO topic)
01:31:05 Curt suggests Neil may have a biased set...
01:37:35 Debunking that Aristotle thought heavier bodies fall faster
01:41:19 Neil doesn't have "beliefs"
01:46:09 Impending asteroids colliding with Earth
01:48:42 Curt proposes a bet on the UAP topic to Neil...
01:57:03 Closing thoughts

[TheoriesofEverything]

LINKS MENTIONED:

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:52 What Neil is working on
00:04:57 What fundamental aspect of our universe will change?
00:06:27 Nobel Prize, Bell's Inequality, and Locality
00:09:27 Chaitin's Incompleteness Theorem
00:13:59 The role of philosophy in physics
00:17:32 Norton's Dome
00:29:24 Carlo Rovelli, Lee Smolin, and John Baez on Philosophy
00:39:50 The limitations of the scientific method
00:45:48 Whistleblower David Grusch and UFO "testimony"
00:49:15 The government is not as incompetent as people say
00:56:09 Increscent evidence and extraordinary claims
00:57:44 If Neil encountered an alien but didn't film it, what would he do?
01:06:18 Analyses by Kevin Knuth, et al.'s on UAP radar
01:07:54 Why not apply "where's the evidence" to String Theory and the social "sciences"?
01:13:32 How Neil prepares for interviews and speeches
01:25:10 Straw man vs. the Strongest man (Neil disparagers the UFO topic)
01:31:05 Curt suggests Neil may have a biased set...
01:37:35 Debunking that Aristotle thought heavier bodies fall faster
01:41:19 Neil doesn't have "beliefs"
01:46:09 Impending asteroids colliding with Earth
01:48:42 Curt proposes a bet on the UAP topic to Neil...
01:57:03 Closing thoughts

[fisheromen]

99.999% of the people who interview or talk to NDT just fawn over his ramblings. it's VERY refreshing to see someone push back on him and engage in meaningful debate. great job, Curt!

[danielmarkleblanc]

I found that you really made Neil work hard in this interview. That's something he isn't use too. This is one of the best interviews with Neil that I have ever seen. You challenged him and forced him off script and yet you did this with respect and with lots of class. Simply BRILLIANT!

[cloudstclass]

The fact that Curt got Neil to correct himself/rephrase his assertion literally fifty times should be taken as a *massive* victory for Curt. It is so, so, so refreshing to see an actual intellectual clap back and not fawn over Tyson’s cult of celebrity.

[raphmaster]

I paused the video to get a drink, Neil unpaused the video to keep talking.

[Vulcansrulelol]

Neil is used to going on late night shows and talking to people who are wowed about things we've known for 50 years. This was spectacular.

[estudios_espectrales]

1:08:38 Curt: "I don´t think that skepticism is motivated by rationality. I think skepticism is motivated by the fear of seeming foolish". What a glorious statement. The look on NDT face is priceless... Bravo, Curt!

[ColinChristie]

So funny reading the comments fawning over Curt. In the first 45 minutes he did a rather poor job actually listening to Neil’s responses as he was more interested in pushing his views.

For example, Neil clearly stated his issue is with people trained in philosophy (such as PhD in philosophy) in the modern era of Physics not being able to make meaningful contributions to physics. He said he has no problem with PhD physicists engaging in philosophical thought. He also said philosophers played an important role before the modern era.

It took almost half an hour for Curt to understand this (and maybe not even then), and Neil had to repeat the point a few times.

I’m neither a “fan” of Neil, nor Curt. Hold people accountable for what they actually say, instead of rooting for one person over another.

[theduppykillah]

Neil’s like one of those quaint 19th century scientists arguing against the notion of plate tectonics or radio transmission.

[taipalerm]

Curt’s patience with this guy’s temper tantrums is remarkable 😂😂

[brib.]

Whew. Listened to the audio version via Patreon and Y I K E S. NDT comes across as borderline hysterical and extremely evasive when discussing The Phenomenon. Hurling circular logic dead ends and Strawman arguments as tho his house was on fire. Curt did an amazing job holding his own against an insufferable steam roller. NDT REALLY did not want to dip a TOE into the waters. Fascinating

[mrbluesummers]

NGT stood his ground and pretty much proved his argument. I am definitely someone who believes philosophy is an important aspect of being a human being, but his argument was centered on 'The utility of philosophy in the realm of hard, scientific physics and its ability to produce results in a laboratory' and the opppsition couldn’t fire back.

[andreweasombentley]

This was really excellent. A masterclass in how to assertively and constructively push back from Curt. You’ve really grown as an interviewer 👏. Neil sure could sure use a shot of humility though.

[MitchelHumpherys]

Neil's blatant dismissal of the utility of philosophy in modern physics is especially ironic given the utter lack of progress since quantum mechanics.

[Spengleman]

"Pick a different subject that I could be biased on... not this one" - A perfect example of what bias really is, it's always the subjects that you think you can never be wrong about, that you end up being the most biased about, and ultimately the most wrong about.

Neil d'GT showed his cards for us today, thanks Curt.

[ddp]

Neil: I didnt know porcupines climbed trees, i dont think porcupines climb trees..but go on 😌

While porcupines spend most of the time on the ground, they are good climbers and regularly climb trees in search of food (and occasionally are found to build nests in trees.)

This encapsulated this whole podcast for me lol

[liamenright]

How nice of Neil to have you on his show Curt, you were such a great guest.

[Self-Duality]

Curt, your comment to the effect that (forgive my paraphrasing) “skepticism isn’t motivated by rationality but by not wanting to appear foolish when proven wrong” was stated with beautiful lucidity! I also admire how carefully yet concisely you addressed Neil’s rather rapid barrage of fragmented objections regarding the topic of UFO’s! Many other moments are marked by your uniquely nuanced (a) philosophical contextualization of science and (b) conversational versatility. Bless you!

[nickb]

Listening to Neil talk about UFO's and aliens made me want to throw my phone. Kurt you're a very patient man

[thevagabondtree]

This is not the same man that inspired so many to get into science. He knows something and honestly it’s like he is saying unless you can put telescope in space you have no business participating in science or that attempting to understand something about the nature of the universe is a waste of our time …bro what a tragic perspective😢

Still the interview was gold 🙏🏽