John Norton: The 300-Year-Old Physics Mistake No One Noticed
Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal · Theories of Everything
June 27, 20251h 53m
Show Notes
Professor John Norton dismantles long‑standing assumptions in physics, from Newtonian determinism to the myth of Landauer’s principle. He argues that causation may be illusory, explores the breakdown of classical physics, and shows why even Einstein got things wrong.
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 03:37 - Norton's Dome Explained
- 06:30 - The Misunderstanding of Determinism
- 09:31 - Thermodynamics and Infinite Systems
- 14:39 - Implications for Quantum Mechanics
- 16:20 - Revisiting Causation
- 18:15 - Critique of Causal Metaphysics
- 20:21 - The Utility of Causal Language
- 24:58 - Exploring Thought Experiments
- 33:05 - Landauer's Principle Discussion
- 49:48 - Critique of Experimental Validation
- 52:25 - Consequences for Maxwell's Demon
- 1:13:34 - Einstein's Critiques of Quantum Mechanics
- 1:28:16 - The Nature of Scientific Discovery
- 1:42:56 - Inductive Inferences in Science
SPONSORS:
- The Economist: 20% off discount. https://www.economist.com/toe
RESOURCES:
- Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- A Primer on Determinism (book): https://amzn.to/45Jn3b4
- John Norton’s papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UDteMFoAAAAJ
- Causation as Folk Science (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/003004.pdf
- Lipschitz continuity (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipschitz_continuity
- The Dome: An Unexpectedly Simple Failure of Determinism (paper): https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2943/1/Norton.pdf
- Norton’s Dome (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton%27s_dome
- Approximation and Idealization (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Ideal_Approx_final.pdf
- On the Quantum Theory of Radiation (paper): https://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/einstein/1917_Radiation.pdf
- Making Things Happen (book): https://ccc.inaoep.mx/~esucar/Clases-mgc/Making-Things-Happen-A-Theory-of-Causal-Explanation.pdf
- Causation in Physics (wiki): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-physics/
- Laboratory of the Mind (paper): https://www.academia.edu/2644953/REVIEW_James_R_Brown_Laboratory_of_the_Mind
- Roger Penrose on TOE: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU
- Ted Jacobson on TOE: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8
- The Thermodynamics of Computation (paper): https://sites.cc.gatech.edu/computing/nano/documents/Bennett%20-%20The%20Thermodynamics%20Of%20Computation.pdf
- What's Actually Possible? (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-unexamined-in-principle
- On a Decrease of Entropy in a Thermodynamic System (paper): https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/862.22/notes/computation/Szilard-1929.pdf
- Landauer's principle and thermodynamics (article): https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10872
- The Logical Inconsistency of Old Quantum Theory of Black Body Radiation (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Inconsistency_OQT.pdf
- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
- Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
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- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
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- 00:00 - Introduction
- 03:37 - Norton's Dome Explained
- 06:30 - The Misunderstanding of Determinism
- 09:31 - Thermodynamics and Infinite Systems
- 14:39 - Implications for Quantum Mechanics
- 16:20 - Revisiting Causation
- 18:15 - Critique of Causal Metaphysics
- 20:21 - The Utility of Causal Language
- 24:58 - Exploring Thought Experiments
- 33:05 - Landauer's Principle Discussion
- 49:48 - Critique of Experimental Validation
- 52:25 - Consequences for Maxwell's Demon
- 1:13:34 - Einstein's Critiques of Quantum Mechanics
- 1:28:16 - The Nature of Scientific Discovery
- 1:42:56 - Inductive Inferences in Science
SPONSORS:
- The Economist: 20% off discount. https://www.economist.com/toe
RESOURCES:
- Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- A Primer on Determinism (book): https://amzn.to/45Jn3b4
- John Norton’s papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UDteMFoAAAAJ
- Causation as Folk Science (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/003004.pdf
- Lipschitz continuity (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipschitz_continuity
- The Dome: An Unexpectedly Simple Failure of Determinism (paper): https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2943/1/Norton.pdf
- Norton’s Dome (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton%27s_dome
- Approximation and Idealization (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Ideal_Approx_final.pdf
- On the Quantum Theory of Radiation (paper): https://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/einstein/1917_Radiation.pdf
- Making Things Happen (book): https://ccc.inaoep.mx/~esucar/Clases-mgc/Making-Things-Happen-A-Theory-of-Causal-Explanation.pdf
- Causation in Physics (wiki): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-physics/
- Laboratory of the Mind (paper): https://www.academia.edu/2644953/REVIEW_James_R_Brown_Laboratory_of_the_Mind
- Roger Penrose on TOE: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU
- Ted Jacobson on TOE: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8
- The Thermodynamics of Computation (paper): https://sites.cc.gatech.edu/computing/nano/documents/Bennett%20-%20The%20Thermodynamics%20Of%20Computation.pdf
- What's Actually Possible? (article): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-unexamined-in-principle
- On a Decrease of Entropy in a Thermodynamic System (paper): https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/862.22/notes/computation/Szilard-1929.pdf
- Landauer's principle and thermodynamics (article): https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10872
- The Logical Inconsistency of Old Quantum Theory of Black Body Radiation (paper): https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/papers/Inconsistency_OQT.pdf
- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
- Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9
- Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.
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