What Breathes Fire Into the Equations? - Understanding Laws of Nature in Physics

Explore a thought-provoking lecture on the philosophy of science and the nature of physical laws. Delve into the historical development of the concept of laws of nature, tracing its origins from 17th and 18th-century thinkers to contemporary philosophical debates. Examine the contrasting perspectives of anti-Humean and Humean approaches to understanding scientific laws. Discover the speaker's contribution to Lewis' Best Systems account, extending it to incorporate objective probabilities in quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. Learn about "The Mentaculus" framework and its implications for understanding time's arrows, causation, and the compatibility of free will with physics. Gain insights into the fundamental questions surrounding the nature of reality and the role of scientific laws in explaining the manifest world.