Episode Details

Bas van Fraassen argues science doesn't deliver literal truth, so unobservable physics is a model. The self isn't a thing, logic permits free will, and he keeps faith in God without metaphysics.

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TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00 - Reality vs. Appearance
- 08:40 - Scientific Realism vs. Anti-Realism
- 16:30 - The "No Miracles" Argument
- 22:26 - Common Sense Realism
- 27:54 - Trusting Instruments vs. Theories
- 34:22 - Kierkegaard's Call to Decision
- 41:50 - Determinism is a Model
- 48:50 - Sartre on Free Will
- 56:47 - Causation Doesn't Exist in Physics
- 01:05:47 - Language of Human Action
- 01:15:54 - Tarski's Limitative Theorems
- 01:23:50 - "I Am Not a Thing"
- 01:34:20 - Rejecting Analytic Metaphysics
- 01:40:17 - Does God Exist?
- 01:50:50 - Disagreement on Monty Hall
- 01:56:15 - Conversion to Catholicism

LINKS MENTIONED:
- The Scientific Image: https://amzn.to/499SA72
- Bas's Blog: https://basvanfraassensblog.home.blog/about-me-2/
- The Empirical Stance: https://amzn.to/3MWbKEK
- Bas's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EBj6wCAAAAAJ
- Bas's Books: https://amzn.to/3L0njdw
- Reality Is Not What It Seems: https://amzn.to/3YseMDe
- Matthew Segall [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM
- "No Miracles" Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-realism/#MiraArgu
- Bas On Closer To Truth: https://youtu.be/nQnQ9ndlYi4
- The Most Terrifying Philosopher [TOE]: https://youtu.be/BWYxRM__TBU
- Curt Reads Plato's Cave [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PurNlwnxwfY
- Avshalom Elitzur [TOE]: https://youtu.be/pWRAaimQT1E
- Formal Philosophy: https://archive.org/details/formalphilosophy00mont/page/n5/mode/2up
- Robert Sapolsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8
- Time And Chance: https://amzn.to/4qb6tru
- Nancy Cartwright: https://www.profnancycartwright.com/publications/books/
- Einstein, Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies: https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/teaching/Einstein_graduate/pdfs/Einstein_STR_1905_English.pdf
- Putnam's 'Twin Earth': https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hilary-Putnam#ref1204773
- The Nonexistent Knight: https://amzn.to/3XWxfrs
- Tyson Doesn't Understand "Belief": https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/i-dont-use-the-word-belief-and-scientific
- Monty Hall Problem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem
- Michael Dummett: https://iep.utm.edu/michael-dummett/
- How To Define Theoretical Terms: https://www.princeton.edu/~hhalvors/teaching/phi520_f2012/lewis-theoretical-terms.pdf
- Model-Theoretic Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/realism-sem-challenge/model-theory-completeness.html
- Remembering Hilary Putnam: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/remembering-hilary-putnam-harvard-philosopher-and-religious-jew
- Hilary Lawson: https://www.hilarylawson.com/biography/
- Language Isn't Just Low Resolution: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/language-isnt-just-low-resolution

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.

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