Can the Future Influence the Past? Retrocausality in Quantum Theory | Ruth Kastner

02/07/25 • 140 min

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

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Ruth Kastner joins Curt Jaimungal to discuss her transactional interpretation (TI) of quantum mechanics, addressing the measurement problem, retrocausality, and the integration of quantum mechanics and gravity. Kastner advocates for a paradigm shift in physics, urging researchers to embrace complexity and nuance in understanding quantum phenomena and reality.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:40 The Measurement Problem Unraveled

09:17 Understanding Measurement Interaction

11:27 Exploring Feynman Diagrams

16:25 Observers vs. Measurers

20:58 The Nature of Measurement

22:19 Probabilistic Outcomes Explained

28:52 Emission and Absorption Defined

34:40 Entities and Their Reality

38:03 The Emergence of Space-Time

41:14 Distinguishing Theories and Anomalies

42:56 The Challenges of Independent Scholarship

46:23 Defining the Conventional Approach

48:33 Formulating the Transactional Axioms

50:34 Kramer's Perspective on Transactional Theory

1:07:22 Retrocausality and Block World Dynamics

1:07:43 Science Fiction and Time Travel

1:14:04 Emergence of Space-Time Events

1:27:23 Weak and Strong Forces

1:36:10 Transition from Physics to Philosophy

1:39:53 The Nature of Free Will

1:45:36 Consciousness and Physicalism

1:54:51 Challenges to Materialism

2:05:47 Advice for Future Generations

2:07:41 Conclusion and Acknowledgments

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#science #time #quantumphysics

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As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe

Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com

Watch video on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE

Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:40 The Measurement Problem Unraveled

09:17 Understanding Measurement Interaction

11:27 Exploring Feynman Diagrams

16:25 Observers vs. Measurers

20:58 The Nature of Measurement

22:19 Probabilistic Outcomes Explained

28:52 Emission and Absorption Defined

34:40 Entities and Their Reality

38:03 The Emergence of Space-Time

41:14 Distinguishing Theories and Anomalies

42:56 The Challenges of Independent Scholarship

46:23 Defining the Conventional Approach

48:33 Formulating the Transactional Axioms

50:34 Kramer's Perspective on Transactional Theory

1:07:22 Retrocausality and Block World Dynamics

1:07:43 Science Fiction and Time Travel

1:14:04 Emergence of Space-Time Events

1:27:23 Weak and Strong Forces

1:36:10 Transition from Physics to Philosophy

1:39:53 The Nature of Free Will

1:45:36 Consciousness and Physicalism

1:54:51 Challenges to Materialism

2:05:47 Advice for Future Generations

2:07:41 Conclusion and Acknowledgments

Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt

Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs

#science #time #quantumphysics

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Previous Episode

What 100 Years of Quantum Physics Got Wrong | Jacob Barandes Λ Manolis Kellis

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe

In this episode, Jacob Barandes, a theoretical physicist and philosopher from Harvard, and computational biologist Manolis Kellis from MIT, explore the connections between quantum physics, biology, and consciousness. Enjoy.

Shout out to the authors of the following. Check out their books:

"The Mending of Broken Bones: A Modern Guide to Classical Algebra" by Paul Lockhart https://amzn.to/3EmfDP9

"Dreaming Reality: How Neuroscience and Mysticism Can Unlock the Secrets of Consciousness" by Vladimir Miskovic and Steven Jay Lynn https://amzn.to/42y1KYi

Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com

Enjoy on Spotify (with video!): https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE

Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

6:23 Metaphysics and Physics: Defining the Boundaries

8:53 Does Existence Matter?

15:35 Quantum Physics: The Nature of Reality

21:35 Understanding Life Through Physics

27:56 The Observer Effect in Quantum Theory

36:02 Gauge Potentials and Their Reality

46:11 The Birth of Quantum Mechanics

54:42 Interpreting Quantum Superposition and Action at a Distance

1:01:20 Decoherence Explained

1:02:18 The Observer's Role

1:03:43 Size and Decoherence

1:04:35 Quantum Computing and Investments

1:07:33 Practical Applications of Quantum Theory

1:10:14 Quantum Computers: What Are They Good For?

1:11:24 The Markov Process Debate

1:15:18 Causal Modeling in Medicine

1:16:56 Quantum Effects in Biology

1:21:15 Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics

1:27:03 Non-locality and Quantum Theory

1:31:46 The Historical Shift in Physics

1:35:15 Beables and Their Nature

1:47:17 The Hard Problem of Consciousness

1:51:41 The P-Zombie Concept

Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt

Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs

#science #philosophy #theoreticalphysics #physics #debate #lecture

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Next Episode

Top AI Scientist Unifies Wolfram, Leibniz, & Consciousness | William Hahn

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe

Rubin Gruber Sandbox (referenced by Will): https://www.fau.edu/sandbox

➡️Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com

➡️Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE

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Links Mentioned:

William Hahn’s first appearance on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr4R7eh5f_M

William Hahn’s Website: https://hahn.ai/

Jacob Barandes’s first appearance on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oWip00iXbo

Lilian Dindo on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_hI7JNsbt0

Stephen Wolfram on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRlQQw0d-4

Stephen Wolfram’s Mindfest presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHPQ_oSsJgg

Curt’s Substack article on Hahn: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-hahn-jaimungal-conjecture-the

Michael Levin and Anna Ciaunica on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aLhkm6QUgA&t=81s

What is it like to be a bat? (paper): https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Nagel_Bat.pdf

TOE’s Consciousness Iceberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDjnEiys98o&t=21s&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal

Karl Friston on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v7LBABwZKA&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal

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