[Unedited] Margaret Wertheim with Krista Tippett

Physics & Religion

Margaret Wertheim explores the historical intersection of physics and religion, emphasizing how physicists have long engaged with the concept of God. She notes that Pythagoreanism, which views numbers as divine, laid the groundwork for modern physics 1. This perspective suggests that mathematical relationships reveal a deeper reality beyond the material world. However, the deterministic view in science challenges the notion of free will, raising questions about moral responsibility 2. Wertheim argues that if everything is predetermined, then moral choice becomes meaningless, a concept she believes most people cannot accept.

   

Math Mysticism

Wertheim reflects on the mystical qualities of mathematics and its role in shaping our understanding of reality. She recalls her childhood fascination with mathematical concepts like Pi and their presence in nature, which led her to question the reality of these numbers 3. This curiosity extends to the broader question of what reality truly is and how we describe it. While mathematics offers a powerful language for describing the universe, Wertheim emphasizes the importance of embodied experience over abstract mathematical forms 4. She believes that our lived experiences are the primary reality, challenging the Platonist view that ideal mathematical forms are the true reality.

   

Platonism Debate

The Platonist perspective, rooted in Greek philosophy, suggests a dualistic view of reality, dividing the material and spiritual realms. Wertheim critiques this view, noting its historical gender biases and the irony of labeling mathematics as a "hard" science despite its abstract nature 5. She questions the notion of unchanging mathematical truths, comparing them to the idea of an unchanging God, which was integral to the acceptance of mathematical science in Western culture 6. Wertheim aligns with the Heraclitian view that change is real, challenging the idea of an eternal, unchanging core of reality.