Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Is the Universe Random or Deterministic, or Neither? (ft. Andrew Jaffe)

34 snips
Jan 12, 2026
Guest
Andrew Jaffe
Andrew Jaffe, a theoretical cosmologist and author of *The Random Universe*, joins the discussion on the randomness versus determinism debate in cosmology. He explains how models shape our understanding of the universe and argues that all observations are theory-laden. Jaffe highlights that while current cosmological models are stressed by phenomena like the Hubble tension, they are not broken. He delves into how induction, rather than pure proof, is essential in science and that intrinsic randomness often reveals our limits of knowledge.
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All Observation Uses Models

  • Observations are theory-laden and always interpreted through models we carry in our heads.
  • Andrew Jaffe emphasizes that perception converts raw sensory input into calibrated, model-based representations of the world.

Test Models, Replace Them When Broken

  • Don't try to escape models; instead, test and replace them when they break.
  • Jaffe says good science updates models when data conflict with prior expectations.

Induction Gives Probable, Not Absolute, Certainty

  • Science relies on induction, not pure deduction, so we gain probabilistic rather than absolute certainty.
  • David Hume highlighted this worry, and Jaffe argues probability lets us become increasingly confident in models.
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