Episode Details
Back to EpisodesNorman Wildberger on the Problem with Infinity, The Foundations of Mathematics, Finitism, and the Real Numbers
Episode 76
Published 4 years, 1 month ago
Description
In this episode mathematician Norman Wildberger critiques the traditional concept of infinity and defends a finitist foundation for mathematics, arguing that real numbers and infinite sets are unnecessary in both math and physics. He also explains his rational trigonometry approach and discusses how his views intersect with physics, set theory, and even UFOs.
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:03:29 - Banter
- 00:08:08 - Overview of Wildberger's philosophy
- 00:09:35 - Problem with infinity in mathematics
- 00:14:46 - Algorithmic reality & Wolfram model
- 00:16:03 - Physics and infinity (Riemann sphere, spinors)
- 00:19:14 - Infinity cannot be "done"
- 00:42:26 - Physics doesn't use infinities
- 00:45:03 - Wave function of half spin up/down
- 00:47:25 - Learning tip: ask what is really going on
- 00:48:32 - What is Rational Trigonometry?
- 00:53:23 - Why Wildberger rethinks foundations
- 01:01:49 - Beauty in constructive approach
- 01:04:52 - Simplicity of Wildberger's courses
- 01:08:31 - Non‑standard analysis
- 01:10:42 - Problems with set theory
- 01:13:57 - Penrose and Witten on real numbers
- 01:16:09 - Pure mathematicians vs physicists
- 01:17:17 - How would Wildberger rephrase IVT?
- 01:19:31 - Is math flawed but no inconsistencies?
- 01:21:21 - Constructionists' physics foundations
- 01:27:21 - Infinite index sets?
- 01:32:13 - Cranks and Platonism
- 01:34:30 - Dealing with calumny
- 01:36:33 - Wildberger interested in UFOs
SPONSORS:
- Brilliant: 20% off - https://brilliant.org/TOE
- Algo podcast channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ
- Algo website - https://www.algo.com/
- Patreon - https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto - https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE
- PayPal - https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord - https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
- iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora - https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Reddit - https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything
- Merch - https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch
RESOURCES:
- Prof. Norman Wildberger's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/njwildberger
- Rational Trigonometry (YouTube series): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3C58498718451C47
- Rational Trigonometry (book): https://amzn.to/3rEygVW
- https://youtu.be/l7LvgvunVCM
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:03:29 - Banter
- 00:08:08 - Overview of Wildberger's philosophy
- 00:09:35 - Problem with infinity in mathematics
- 00:14:46 - Algorithmic reality & Wolfram model
- 00:16:03 - Physics and infinity (Riemann sphere, spinors)
- 00:19:14 - Infinity cannot be "done"
- 00:42:26 - Physics doesn't use infinities
- 00:45:03 - Wave function of half spin up/down
- 00:47:25 - Learning tip: ask what is really going on
- 00:48:32 - What is Rational Trigonometry?
- 00:53:23 - Why Wildberger rethinks foundations
- 01:01:49 - Beauty in constructive approach
- 01:04:52 - Simplicity of Wildberger's courses
- 01:08:31 - Non‑standard analysis
- 01:10:42 - Problems with set theory
- 01:13:57 - Penrose and Witten on real numbers
- 01:16:09 - Pure mathematicians vs physicists
- 01:17:17 - How would Wildberger rephrase IVT?
- 01:19:31 - Is math flawed but no inconsistencies?
- 01:21:21 - Constructionists' physics foundations
- 01:27:21 - Infinite index sets?
- 01:32:13 - Cranks and Platonism
- 01:34:30 - Dealing with calumny
- 01:36:33 - Wildberger interested in UFOs
SPONSORS:
- Brilliant: 20% off - https://brilliant.org/TOE
- Algo podcast channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ
- Algo website - https://www.algo.com/
- Patreon - https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto - https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE
- PayPal - https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord - https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
- iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora - https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Reddit - https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything
- Merch - https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch
RESOURCES:
- Prof. Norman Wildberger's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/njwildberger
- Rational Trigonometry (YouTube series): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3C58498718451C47
- Rational Trigonometry (book): https://amzn.to/3rEygVW
- https://youtu.be/l7LvgvunVCM
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
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