#491 Chiara Marletto - The Science of Can and Can't; The Physics/Science of Counterfactuals
RECORDED ON MAY 31st 2021.
Dr. Chiara Marletto is Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Physics at Oxford University. Her research interests include Quantum Theory of Computation, Foundations of Physics, Condensed-Matter Physics and Quantum Biology. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the “Graduate Prize Scholarship” at Merton College, 2012; “Optime” Award for Academic Excellence, offered by Unione Industriale di Torino, 2011; and the “Ing. Vittorino Pollo e Dott.Ssa Zita Pollo” Award for Academic Excellence, offered by Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli, 2010. She is the author of The Science of Can and Can’t: A Physicist’s Journey through the Land of Counterfactuals.
In this episode, we focus on The Science of Can and Can’t. We start by defining “counterfactual”, and we ask what it means for something to be designed. We get into how to get a new explanation of work and heat through the science of counterfactuals. We talk about counterfactuals in quantum systems, and the quantum theory of information. We ask what knowledge is from this perspective. We discuss biology, and how concepts like “catalyst” and “resilience” can help us better understand it from a Physics perspective, and how knowledge applies in that domain. We talk about psychological phenomena, and reductionist explanations. We ask how we could unify quantum mechanics and general relativity. We talk about the implications for epistemology and science. Finally, we ask if the Universe is predetermined.
Time Links:
Intro
What is a “counterfactual”?
Design
Other Universes
Work, and heat
Counterfactuals in quantum systems
Knowledge
Catalysts, resilience, and biology
Psychological phenomena, and reductionist explanations
Unifying quantum mechanics and general relativity
Implications for epistemology and science
How can we know what is possible?
Is the Universe predetermined?
Follow Dr. Marletto’s work!
Follow Dr. Marletto’s work:
Our first interview: https://youtu.be/9y5q7i9E1vU
Oxford page: https://bit.ly/3iGLFWu
Constructor Theory website: https://bit.ly/3cjTm2B
Personal website: https://bit.ly/3c1y8Yf
ResearchGate profile: https://bit.ly/3iGzWXW
The Science of Can and Can’t: https://amzn.to/32JMngd