Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. In this episode, Robinson and Tim discuss the nature of philosophy. More particularly, they discuss philosophy’s origin, its connections to physics, what characterizes some of its well-known sub disciplines, and some of its biggest problems. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.
Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site
The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org
OUTLINE
00:00 The Beginning of Philosophy
06:53 Where Physics and Philosophy Diverged
14:07 Quantum Gravity
18:30 Physicists and Philosophers on Space and Time
23:10 Is Metaphysics Different From Physics?
34:54 Why Don’t Universities Have Departments of Metaphysics?
49:27 Are Numbers Real?
01:07:50 What Are Continental and Analytic Philosophy?
01:14:58 The Age-Old Puzzle of the Statue and the Clay
01:28:05 What Is Epistemology?
01:38:57 Is the World Around Us an Illusion?
01:49:13 What Are the Biggest Open Problems in Philosophy?
01:57:00 A John Bell Institute Update
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
