Seth Lloyd - Philosophy of Physics and Cosmology

The observable universe may contain two trillion galaxies and there may be innumerable universes. Is there ultimate unification of fundamental forces, a final theory of matter and energy, space and time? We seek deep harmony, search for deep meaning.



Seth Lloyd is a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He refers to himself as a "quantum mechanic".


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.

[theotormon]

We are lucky to live through this exciting time of heady questions.

[markberman]

We do not know nearly as much about the universe as we think we do. When my grandfather was 4 all the most brilliant minds in the world gathered in London and declared man will never fly, before he died he watched the Space Shuttle take off and land numerous times.

There is so much we do not know.

[jamesruscheinski]

are there infinitesimal values at center of black hole and start of universe?

[jamesruscheinski]

can physics and cosmology be expressed in terms of energy as well as in terms of matter (mass)?

[jamesruscheinski]

how can quantum mechanics beneath plank units and faster than speed of light be studied?

[-by-_Publishing_LLC]

(1:50) *SL: **_"I think that there's a basic human desire to make sense of our world."_* ... (Yah, I'm chiming in on this one) While science, physics, philosophy, and religion actively seek the answers to "why" the universe exists, they totally miss the bigger question: *_"Why is existence a 'mystery' in the first place?"_* The reason why the universe exists could have just as easily been obvious all along (like where sunlight comes from), but it's not! Instead, it's a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

*-* When you wake up in the morning, you know that your alarm clock was responsible.
*-* When you get a flat tire, you know that the nail stuck in it was the cause.
*-* When you find one of your shoes all chewed up, you know your pet was responsible.

... But nobody seems to know why the universe exists, do they?

The fact that the origin of the universe *IS* a mystery should be clueing us in as to _why_ the universe exists - and also why we exist. Mysteries are meant to be solved, and "Existence" evolved into +8, 000 humans in order to solve this mystery.

[FormsInSpace]

claiming "the big bang is true" is as absurd as claiming "god did it"

[thomasridley]

It seems that every god is quite real to its followers and a totally false prophet to everyone else.🤔
Wow ! I love how his god is presented as being the ultimate creator. But, isn't burdened by the ultimate responsibility that goes with it. Which is a very convenient dodge to explain the basic insanity that is our reality. 🙄

[matterasmachine]

Science is irrational. Just like religion. Knowledge is rational.