Lawrence Krauss: God, String Theory, and the State of Physics | Robinson's Podcast #199

Lawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist who has taught at Yale, Arizona State University, and Case Western, and is the founder of ASU’s Origins Project. He is a prominent public intellectual and best-selling author, and has written about the origins of the universe, atheism, and many other topics. He is also the host of the Origins Podcast. In this episode, Robinson and Lawrence have a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of physics—and whether or not there is a crisis—the potential shortcomings of string theory, whether or not the world is a hologram, arguments for the existence of god, and the role of science in ethics. Lawrence’s most recent book is The Edge of Knowledge (Post Hill Press, 2023).

OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
04:04 Theory versus Experiment
10:13 Is There a Crisis in Physics? 
22:43 On the State of Quantum Gravity
25:40 What’s Wrong with String Theory?
40:58 Cormac McCarthy
50:22 Is the World a Hologram?
1:02:14 God and the Fine-Tuned Universe
1:19:33 Does Science Help Us with Morality?

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.

[terranbiped]

It’s one thing to have the top rated and popular brains in various scientific disciplines but to have the erudition to understand and to intelligently query these folks is impressive. I am very impressed, Robinson. Thank the holy algorithms of YouTube for dropping you in my lap.

[bernardofitzpatrick]

Lawrence Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian reader dissonance no punctuation string theory math god indifference Branes ads/CFT theory empiricism black holes ver linde Pins clicks multiverse and usurping Mishka extra dimensions sans calabi yauwithout exclamations all juxtaposed and expertly coordinated by my man Robinson (sans exclamations or emojis but parenthesis)period maybe Feynman and Hitch need something maybe a. …! Fine tuning…0? Obliquely understood …..Wilczek, ethics …..I’m not confused, there is a gestalt, Robinson won’t hit Mishka in a gory bloody way

[blingpup]

I second. Highly underrated channel. The quality of this channel is top notch. People will catch on. Keep going Robinson!!

[rajeevgangal]

He's mellowed quite a bit but we need theorists like him

[Bazarasnevagzalas]

A movie can do what a book can't and vice versa. Those two forms do not compete with each other. We live in a world of Difference.

[appidydafoo]

I was recommended your channel when you had 4k subs and now you're almost at 20!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful discussion, as always.

[neilmacdonald]

Let's get a Krauss vs Albert debate going for one episode! You're the man to get this done, Robinson; the people need to see it.

[CurtOntheRadio]

The cat has changed a bit! Crikey. He's turned brown.

[leedb]

Probably my favourite channel on youtube at the moment.

[appidydafoo]

I watched this a few weeks back and noticed Krauss used an analogy I'd never heard before. Last night I was reading Szasz and the exact analogy came up again. Had to page through my memory for attribution, then come back here to check the transcript, sure enough:

25:42 - "…so, it's not either or, I think. It's just - you're flailing around, and you look at anything you can find - you look under where the lamp post is; I've used that analogy many times, right? if you're drunk, and you come out of a bar, and you've lost your keys - where do you look? You look under the lamp post - not, not because they're there, necessarily, but because the only place you'll find them, if they're, they're there…"

Thomas Szasz - The Second Sin - 1972:
"People with personal problems often behave like the proverbial drunk who looks for his house key under the streetlight, not because that's where he dropped it, but because that's where the light is. Should such a person consult an autonomous psychotherapist, the therapist's job is not to try to find the key, but to suggest to the "patient" that he light a match or borrow a flashlight from a neighbor and go look for his key where he dropped it."

[Drunkbobnopantss]

subbed!
dont give up rob, channels can grow out of nowhere - like a big bang
your time may be coming soon

[ludviglidstrom]

His ideas about physics are very interesting, but I think he would be more interesting if he took philosophy seriously instead of being so hostile towards it.

[stenergut]

christopher hitchens would had hated douglas murray.

[oliverjamito]

Specially Angels who persevere and heard the WORD looking at all these principalities who deceiveth, murderers, rapist, leading astray to a place of no return nor extinction in front of WHO? Very TIP of Time thy feet resting upon in front! Up for grabs. Resting upon will be DETERMINED! Aims can be kept nor spit out set UNDERFOOT! Knows belongs!

[oliverjamito]

Offsprings preserve from all my Heirs Hosts and our Beautiful shared "i" AM will say, who said who? Even who has to share...who remember thy shared "i" AM! Come forth! Pop how else? Nor without being offended come remind and comes with comfort...if any will say differ? Correcting one another and to bring to remembrance together! Offsprings preserve will say! Heirs Hosts and our Beautiful shared "i" AM. What are true meaning of Offsprings preserve? While the SON OF MAN sitting in a Seat all over!

[inamortz]

Thankful for the term apetheism. And very interesting conversation otherwise too.

[ardalla]

I wish Physicists would stop talking about God. It's embarrassing. You might as well discuss Superman. It's not worth taking religion seriously. What if there was a vid of Einstein pointing out flaws in Porky Pig? Who cares what Einstein (or anyone else) thinks about PP?

[oliverjamito]

New Seat to seats knows belongs? Likewise seat will follow all His Heirs Hosts shared "i" AM. Knows the NEW Table. Even if to rest from? Be at good cheer! Remember complete! Rest FILLED will rest right Here.

[peskypesky]

I have never understood how someone could think the fine-tuning argument holds any water. It's pure idiocy.

[oliverjamito]

Who love with patience likewise can visit with delight comes with adventure!