Have you ever wondered if science could answer the deepest questions of human existence? Sabine Hossenfelder, an internationally renowned theoretical physicist, is convinced that it is. In her last book (released a while ago, in 2022), “Existential Physics“, the German scientist ventures into territory traditionally reserved for philosophers and theologians.
With accessible language and a sharp wit, Hossenfelder explores concepts such as immortality, the origin of the universe, and the nature of consciousness, armed not with metaphysical speculations, but with cutting-edge scientific equations and theories. The result? An intellectual journey that left me breathless. I share it with you, because I believe that the German scholar's approach will sooner or later become that of the physics of the future.
Existential Physics: A Bridge Between Science and Philosophy
Throughout history, humanity has sought answers to the great questions of existence. Traditionally, these questions were the domain of philosophy and religion. But Sabine Hossenfelder proposes a different approach: What if physics, the science that studies the fundamental laws of the universe, could offer us a new perspective on these questions?
La existential physics, as Hossenfelder defines it, is not an attempt to supplant philosophy or religion, but to enrich the dialogue with new insights based on our scientific understanding of the cosmos. It is an invitation to explore the profound implications of physical theories for our existence and our place in the universe.
Sabine Hossenfelder: If You Trust Math, We Are Immortal
One of Hossenfelder's boldest claims concerns the nature of death. According to physics, information cannot be destroyed. This principle, applied to human consciousness, leads to a surprising conclusion:
If you trust math, we are immortal.
But what does this mean exactly? Hossenfelder explains that after death, the information that defines us does not disappear, but is dispersed into the universe. In theory (in theory, I stress), a higher being could one day reassemble this information and bring us back to life. It is an immortality very different from that promised by traditional religions, but no less fascinating in its implications.
The Big Bang: Theory or Speculation?
When it comes to the origin of the universe, Hossenfelder takes a more cautious approach. While he acknowledges the Big Bang as the most widely accepted theory today, he stresses that all theories about the origin of the universe are ultimately “pure speculation.”
This does not mean, of course, to reject the Big Bang, but to recognize the limits of our current knowledge. Hossenfelder suggests that there may be more complex explanations, such as a cyclical universe. Ultimately, even the most established scientific theories must be constantly questioned and refined.
Entropy and the Mystery of Life
In Hossenfelder's view, life and death are intimately linked to the concept of entropy. Life itself can be seen as a struggle against increasing entropy, an attempt to maintain order in a universe that tends towards disorder.
This view offers a new perspective on the nature of life and the challenges we face as living beings. It suggests that our existence is deeply intertwined with the fundamental laws of the universe, in ways we are only beginning to understand.
The Future for Sabine Hossenfelder: Determined or Unpredictable?
The German scientist also addresses the question of free will and determinism. According to his interpretation of physics, in a nutshell, the future would be largely fixed, with the exception of occasional quantum events that we cannot influence anyway.
This vision raises profound questions about the nature of choice and responsibility. If the future is largely predetermined, what does this mean for our sense of self and the decisions we make every day?
Physics as an existential guide
The work of Sabine Hossenfelder invites us to consider the physics not just as a scientific discipline, but as a lens through which to explore the deepest questions of existence. It is an approach that challenges traditional divisions between the natural sciences and the humanities, suggesting that the laws of the universe also have much to tell us about the nature of life, death, and our place in the cosmos.
Sabine Hossenfelder's insights tell us that science is not only a tool for understanding the physical world, but also a means for addressing the existential questions that define us as human beings. It is an invitation to look beyond the traditional boundaries of knowledge and consider new possibilities that can redefine our understanding of reality itself.
