Philosophy For Our Times Metaphysics and science: do we need both? PART 2 | Eric Weinstein, Becky Parker, Hilary Lawson
Aug 31, 2024
Join provocative mathematician Eric Weinstein, award-winning physicist Becky Parker, and post-post-realist philosopher Hilary Lawson as they tackle the relevance of metaphysics in today's scientific landscape. They debate whether science has eclipsed metaphysical inquiries and discuss the importance of creativity in scientific education. The conversation highlights the allure of hands-on discovery and the need for epistemic humility while exploring contentious topics like string theory. Their insights offer a fresh take on the intersection of belief and empirical truth.
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The Rules Of Scientific Games
- Theories that feel like 'the rules of chess' define which problems close and which remain open.
- Eric Weinstein argues the search for a theory of everything is about mapping productive problem-spaces, not guaranteeing final truth.
Students Launch Real Science Projects
- Becky Parker brings students into real experiments, like using a CERN chip in space, to make science exciting and contributive.
- Her students produced new data and portraits, showing hands-on projects beat textbook repetition.
Closure Means Ever‑Refining Models
- Hilary Lawson's closure theory says science rigorously refines models without ever accessing a final reality.
- She illustrates with Newton: refinements add forces or terms, producing better models rather than revealing an ultimate truth.