The human bias hidden within scientific practises | Neil Turok, Lisa Randall, Martin Cohen

Neil Turok, Lisa Randall, Martin Cohen discuss the centre of the universe and topics from philosophy of science.

Is our approach to studying the universe inherently biased?

Watch the full debate at https://iai.tv/video/the-centre-of-th...

We see Copernicus as a providing a key moment in history where we moved on from seeing ourselves at the centre of the universe. But our scientific accounts of the universe are inevitably constructed from our own human perspective. In so doing do we not still inadvertently place ourselves at the centre? For example, our account of the universe describes human consciousness and intelligence to be uniquely special, the universe to be strangely fine-tuned for our existence, and human size and scale to be midway between the smallest things and the largest expanses.

Should we accept that the science carries an inherent anthropomorphic bias? Is this a fundamental distortion and can we seek to overcome it? Might new forms of understanding such as AI provide a new way for the universe to understand itself? Or is the way we see the universe in fact the correct and ultimate account of how it really is?

#philosophyofscience #humanbiases #universe

Lisa Randall is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics and Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science on the physics faculty of Harvard University. She has been named one of the most promising theoretical physicists of her generation. Neil Turok is a preeminent mathematical physicist. He is the inaugural Higgs Chair of Theoretical Physics at the University of Edinburgh and director emeritus of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Martin Cohen is a multitalented philosopher, author and journalist who has become a household name in popular philosophy. His books include the bestseller ‘101 Philosophy Problems’, now published in a dozen languages.

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