John Norton: The 300-Year-Old Physics Mistake No One Noticed
John Norton: The 300-Year-Old Physics Mistake No One Noticed  
Podcast: Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
Published On: Fri Jun 27 2025
Description: John Norton dismantles long‑standing assumptions in physics, from Newtonian determinism to the myth of Landauer’s principle. He argues causation may be illusory and explores the breakdown of classical physics.0:00 Introduction3:37 Norton's Dome Explained6:30 The Misunderstanding of Determinism9:31 Thermodynamics and Infinite Systems14:39 Implications for Quantum Mechanics16:20 Revisiting Causation18:15 Critique of Causal Metaphysics20:21 The Utility of Causal Language24:58 Exploring Thought Experiments33:05 Landauer's Principle Discussion49:48 Critique of Experimental Validation52:25 Consequences for Maxwell's Demon1:13 34 Einstein's Critiques of Quantum Mechanics1:28 16 The Nature of Scientific Discovery1:42 56 Inductive Inferences in ScienceSPONSORS:- I personally subscribe to The Economist. FLASH SALE through Sep 23, 2026: 60% off the annual subscription! No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOEEvery episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribeRESOURCES:- Substack: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com- 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- 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- YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord: 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices