Is science, on its own, enough to understand the universe? And if not, what is its true scope?
Sean Carroll is a physicist and professor of natural philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. A well-known science communicator, he is also interested in philosophy, and joins me today to talk about the intersection of those two disciplines.
Carroll is also a physicalist — believing that nothing exists except physical matter — and helps me to investigate how consciousness is understood on this worldview. I have spoken to a lot of people recently who believe consciousness is foundational, or non-material, or otherwise inexplicable, and thought it was time to hear a materialist account.
We also discuss the nature of scientific laws, the multiverse, and the fine-tuning argument for God’s existence.
Looking forward to your feedback!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Can Science Alone Explain the Universe?
5:36 – The Principle of Sufficient Reason
9:35 – What Are the Laws of Physics?
16:41 – The Fine-Tuning Argument
30:58 – Does the Multiverse Undermine Morality?
34:48 – Free Will and the Multiverse
40:43 – What Is Emergence?
54:40 – What “Stuff” do Materialists Believe In?
1:01:00 – How Does Consciousness Work on Materialism?
1:15:50 – What Could Move Sean Away from Materialism?
