Jenann Ismael: Free Will as a Physical Reality in Thermodynamics
Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal · Theories of Everything
July 10, 20252h 18m
Show Notes
Physicist and philosopher Jenann Ismael argues that free will is a physical reality grounded in thermodynamics and relativity. She explains why no system, not even a perfect computer, can predict its own future, and how this unpredictability underpins genuine agency.
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 01:42 - Free Will
- 29:16 - The Limits of Predictability
- 41:45 - Defining Free Will
- 59:42 - Life and Cognition in the Universe
- 1:05:30 - The Choices We Make
- 1:08:01 - Dark Nights of the Soul
- 1:09:35 - Philosophical Responses to Free Will
- 1:11:03 - Personal Reflections on Life
- 1:11:54 - The Weight of Loss
- 1:13:40 - Patterns of Persistence
- 1:17:17 - Understanding the Self
- 1:18:41 - The Continuity of Existence
- 1:20:17 - The Nature of Mortality
- 1:22:27 - Time and Its Mysteries
- 1:51:42 - The Nature of Existence
- 2:04:23 - The Paradox of Newcomb's Dilemma
- 2:08:38 - Lessons Learned from Suffering
SPONSORS:
- The Economist: https://www.economist.com/toe
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Coinbase: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9
- PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
- YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
RESOURCES:
- How Physics Makes Us Free [Book]: https://amzn.to/44CcHr8
- Why Physics Should Care About The Mind [Paper]: https://www.jenanni.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-physics-should-care-about-the-mind-and-how-to-think-about-it-without-worrying-about-the-mind-body-problem.pdf
- Diana Pasulka [TOE]: https://youtu.be/E5MuTHUbMUs
- Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
- Sean Carroll [TOE]: https://youtu.be/9AoRxtYZrZo
- Matt Segall [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM
- Tim Maudlin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- David Lewis’s Metaphysics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lewis-metaphysics/#Bib
- Robert Sapolsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8
- David Lewis’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APAW62
- Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4
- Roy Baumeister [TOE]: https://youtu.be/aXoK-C2c2AQ
- Free Will Ontoprism [TOE]: https://youtu.be/SSbUCEleJhg
- Michael Levin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s
- Dark Night Of The Soul: https://basilica.ca/documents/2016/10/St.%20John%20of%20the%20Cross-Dark%20night%20of%20the%20soul.pdf
- George Musser [TOE]: https://youtu.be/KVy3NeXpMaI
- Tim Maudlin & Tim Palmer [TOE]: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 01:42 - Free Will
- 29:16 - The Limits of Predictability
- 41:45 - Defining Free Will
- 59:42 - Life and Cognition in the Universe
- 1:05:30 - The Choices We Make
- 1:08:01 - Dark Nights of the Soul
- 1:09:35 - Philosophical Responses to Free Will
- 1:11:03 - Personal Reflections on Life
- 1:11:54 - The Weight of Loss
- 1:13:40 - Patterns of Persistence
- 1:17:17 - Understanding the Self
- 1:18:41 - The Continuity of Existence
- 1:20:17 - The Nature of Mortality
- 1:22:27 - Time and Its Mysteries
- 1:51:42 - The Nature of Existence
- 2:04:23 - The Paradox of Newcomb's Dilemma
- 2:08:38 - Lessons Learned from Suffering
SPONSORS:
- The Economist: https://www.economist.com/toe
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Coinbase: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9
- PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
- YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
RESOURCES:
- How Physics Makes Us Free [Book]: https://amzn.to/44CcHr8
- Why Physics Should Care About The Mind [Paper]: https://www.jenanni.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-physics-should-care-about-the-mind-and-how-to-think-about-it-without-worrying-about-the-mind-body-problem.pdf
- Diana Pasulka [TOE]: https://youtu.be/E5MuTHUbMUs
- Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
- Sean Carroll [TOE]: https://youtu.be/9AoRxtYZrZo
- Matt Segall [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM
- Tim Maudlin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- David Lewis’s Metaphysics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lewis-metaphysics/#Bib
- Robert Sapolsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8
- David Lewis’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APAW62
- Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4
- Roy Baumeister [TOE]: https://youtu.be/aXoK-C2c2AQ
- Free Will Ontoprism [TOE]: https://youtu.be/SSbUCEleJhg
- Michael Levin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s
- Dark Night Of The Soul: https://basilica.ca/documents/2016/10/St.%20John%20of%20the%20Cross-Dark%20night%20of%20the%20soul.pdf
- George Musser [TOE]: https://youtu.be/KVy3NeXpMaI
- Tim Maudlin & Tim Palmer [TOE]: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE
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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