217 - Leonard Susskind: String Theory, Fine-Tuning, and the Physics of the Multiverse

Patreon: bit.ly/3v8OhY7

Leonard Susskind is Felix Bloch Professor of Physics at Stanford University. Among other accomplishments, he is among the fathers of such revolutionary concepts in physics as string theory, black hole complementarity, the holographic principle, and the string-theoretic landscape. It is this last concept that Robinson and Leonard discuss in this episode. More particularly, they address the fine-tuning problem—that so many of the constants in physics, such as the cosmological constant—appear to have been selected precisely to allow for human life, as if they were substantially different we would not exist. In answering this question they talk about string theory, dark energy, the Higgs boson, god and supernatural explanations, eternal inflation, the multiverse, the interpretations of quantum mechanics, the anthropic principle, alternative answers to the problem, and the future of research in the area. For more detail, read Leonard’s book on the topic, The Cosmic Landscape.

The Cosmic Landscape: a.co/d/j2njH7h

The Theoretical Minimum: theoreticalminimum.com

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

04:03 A Parable About the Fine-Tuning Problem

09:58 String Theory and the Fine-Tuning Problem

18:04 The Problem of Dark Energy

25:05 Could Dark Energy Rip the Universe Apart?

33:11 God, String Theory, and the Illusion of Intelligent Design

42:51 On the String-Theoretic Landscape

48:54 The Eternal Inflation of the Universe

55:07 What Determines the Physics of the Multiverse?

01:02:09 On the Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics

01:05:50 On the Future of String Theory and Fine-Tuning

Robinson’s Website: robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, and everyone in-between.