What happens when a world-renowned theoretical physicist accepts an invitation to co-teach a philosophy graduate seminar? According to Professor Hans Halvorson, “Something quite extraordinary!”
The seminar was last semester’s “The Philosophy of Physics: Philosophical Issues about Space and Time” (PHI 538), a course that Halvorson has previously taught. The physicist was Carlo Rovelli, one of the founders of the loop quantum gravity theory and an international best-selling author of several popular science books, including “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics” and “The Order of Time.” Rovelli led a total of five seminar sessions during his visit, which was co-sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, the Humanities Council and the John Templeton Foundation.
“I think anyone who went to those sessions will say we were treated to something quite extraordinary because Carlo is clearly an incredibly talented science expositor, but he does that while actually bringing up provocative philosophical issues” Halvorson explained. “And that led to a real dynamic back and forth where, I think, the parties were actually learning from each other.”
Halvorson was surprised by the amount of moral philosophy that was discussed – and so was Rovelli, who compared his time here to being invited onto a playground or into a candy shop. "I came here thinking I would talk mostly about what is a physical law,” he acknowledged, "and, to my surprise, I found myself talking mostly about what is a moral law. This dialogue has been extremely enriching for me.”
Rovelli's interest in philosophy began in childhood with what he describes as an infinite curiosity and a burning desire to understand the world better. Despite his decision to study physics, that interest remained. He sees the dialogue between physics and philosophy as crucial historically for both disciplines. “When you do theoretical physics, you’re not just measuring and writing,” he explains. “You’re re-conceptualizing the world; you’re thinking about reality differently. And that’s exactly what philosophers do.”
According to Halvorson, the seminar drew a number of faculty and undergraduate students from both inside and outside the department and sparked new interest in physics-oriented areas of philosophy among graduate students.
“It’s rare to witness experts from different disciplines in dialogue with each other, especially across the STEM/humanities line,” first-year graduate student Madelaine Roberts said. “It’s rarer still to be able to participate in these dialogues as a student,” she added. “But that’s exactly the opportunity those philosophy of physics seminars gave me – in my first semester no less.”
Something quite extraordinary, indeed.