270 - Tim Maudlin & Jacob Barandes: The Indivisible Approach to Quantum Theory

Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Jacob Barandes is Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, where he works widely across the philosophy of physics, with focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the philosophy of spacetime, and the metaphysics of laws. In this episode, Robinson, Tim, and Jacob discuss Jacob’s novel approach to quantum mechanics, which he calls the “Indivisible Approach”. More particularly, they discuss the problems at the core of quantum mechanics, the ontology of the theory, causality and quantum phenomena, probability, and more. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.

Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site

The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org

Jacob’s Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com

The Stochastic-Quantum Correspondence: https://philosophyofphysics.lse.ac.uk/articles/10.31389/pop.186

Historical Debates over the Physical Reality of the Wave Function: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.09397

Pilot-Wave Theories as Hidden Markov Models: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.10569

OUTLINE

00:21 The Problems at the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

13:00 More on the Problems

26:09 Is the Wave Function a Real Thing?

32:48 Causation, Correlation, and Quantum Mechanics

42:03 Terminological Issues

44:34 Causal Models and the Markov Condition

01:00:57 Can Time Exist Without Change?

01:15:00 On Time and Change

01:30:38 Newtonian Mechanics and the Markov Condition

1:45:00 More on Newtonian Mechanics

2:00:00 More on the Markov Condition

02:17:49 Tim’s Response

02:28:18 Philosophy and Physics

02:32:38 More on Probability

02:42:13 Probability and the Double Slit Experiment

02:59:42 Why Tim Remains Puzzled

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.