Sabine Hossenfelder - What's the Deep Meaning of Probability?

Is probability a deep probe of how the world works at fundamental levels? Or is probability merely a tool of human perception in trying to discern what is true and what is not true by assigning degrees of uncertainty? What is the difference between probability as an objectivist “relative frequency of occurrence” and as a subjectivist “degree of belief”? We explore the power and ubiquitous presence of probability.



Sabine Hossenfelder is an author and theoretical physicist who researches quantum gravity. She is a Research Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies where she leads the Analog Systems for Gravity Duals group.


Closer to Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[frankperez]

I deeply admire this physicist. I'm an amateur or layman who is fascinated with classical and quantum mechanical physics. She helps me understand the big ideas of physics. What a great teacher/ philosopher.

[tonyscalise]

These discussions are just incredible. Thank you so much for taking us on this journey in pursuit of the truth. I laugh inside a little when I think that the father of probability, Gerolamo Cardano, developed probability motivated mainly by his gambler friends. Now it’s central to our understanding of the universe and our own existence. Absolutely amazing!

[allenazar]

Sabine made Michio Kaku look like a professor of bad physics for dummies.

[grolmidri]

Sabine is great. And Robert Laurence Kuhn too. It’s like having a mental sauna - refreshing and challenging and you feel like it’s done you good.

[antoniusnies-komponistpian]

I appreciate that Sabine differentiates between something being wrong and the arguments for something being bad. That's a kind of spirit we'd need in the political discourse.

[meesalikeu]

as usual dr sabine lays it out clearly and concisely. thanks for the collab!

[xpkareem]

I love Sabine. She brings a no nonsense attitude to the physics community, which currently is lacking. Dreamers are great too, but we have enough of those.

[d.r.tweedstweeddale]

Finally, a real scientist! Wonders never cease.

[fletcherward]

Great contribution to the conversation! Thank you. Good reminder that we’re at a “nope, not that” point in our physics. Not to be confused with a “thus that” point.

[Bassotronics]

I watch both channels and I got confused when I saw the notification of Closer To Truth but also Sabine in the same place. Lol

[tuckermoses-hanson]

6:54 In religious studies, it’s called a teleological argument, and it dates as far back as Socrates’ famous speech in favor of installing a particle collider beneath Athens.

[nickgibson]

I am so happy Sabine is getting the media cred she deserves! The way she dives into subjects and isn't afraid to lose her audience going neck deep into nuanced truths behind conceptual models and theories that other popular scientists would rather talk about in flowery language to promote their next book is better for shaping honest communication between scientists and the public.

[davidmoroz]

So interested in this area. I remember when I was 13 and being taught about Probability by our maths teacher. Most amazing in opening my mind to our world.

[georgecarr]

Sabine Hossenfelder... The queen of lucidity, in the realm of physics.

[vishalmishra]

At 1:45 - Sabine is always so accurate and corrects inaccuracies quickly before any confusion can arise.
There is a big difference between similar and identical (e.g. probability distribution vs. wave function).
We can only observe probability distribution but reality is based on the wave function.

[Lopfff]

Kuhn’s job: chatting with the smartest people alive. How do I get a job like this? Can I get a job reference please?

[mikkel]

Sabine is in the top of all physics youtubers. Clear, interesting and understandable are Sabine.
Eugene and Sabine are the best.

[kf]

What is amazing to me is how I can listen to this and get a feeling of profound insight, even though I haven't really understood a thing.

[jianchiwei]

Love your smiles when you are thinking, you are pretty Sabine!

[goedelite]

Part of what I find wonderful about Sabine is that her disagreements with the way physics has been pursued since the Standard Model are never personal. She does not place blame on individual physicists as does another theoretician who posts on youtube.