Ologies with Alie Ward

ENCORE Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) with Adam Becker

March 4, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Quantum Ontology is the study of what quantum physics tells us about the fundamental nature of being, which remains unclear despite the theory being nearly a century old. 
  • The standard use of quantum physics relies on two contradictory rules—the smooth evolution described by the Schrödinger equation and the instantaneous collapse described by the Born rule—with the definition of 'measurement' being the vague boundary between them. 
  • The Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) resolves the measurement problem by asserting that wave functions never collapse, causing the universe to split into multiple branches every time a quantum decision is made, leading to a multiverse. 
  • Quantum tunneling, while seemingly strange, is a necessary quantum phenomenon without which the sun would not shine. 
  • Quantum computers harness superposition and entanglement to perform specific computations faster than conventional computers, but they are not expected to replace all classical computers. 
  • The author, Dr. Adam Becker, wrote his book by focusing on narrative structure, wrapping abstract physics ideas in human stories, and adhering to a strict 'no math' rule, except for the commutative property: 'two times three equals three times two'. 

Segments

Guest Background and Episode Setup
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Adam Becker’s new book, “More Everything Forever,” critiques the ideology of technological salvation prevalent in Silicon Valley.
  • Summary: The episode is an encore featuring Dr. Adam Becker, who has recently released his new book, “More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity.” The book examines the religious belief in technological salvation being pushed under the guise of science. Alie Ward notes that Dr. Becker is hopeful that society can fight back against this ideology.
Defining Quantum Ontology
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Quantum ontology is the philosophical study of what quantum physics reveals about the nature of being and reality.
  • Summary: Quantum physics concerns matter and energy at the most fundamental level, derived from the Latin ‘how much.’ Ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being. Therefore, quantum ontology questions what matter is made of and what is truly real, promising a dense, information-rich discussion.
Relativity vs. Quantum Weirdness
Copied to clipboard!
(00:11:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Relativity can be understood with high school math, but quantum physics becomes increasingly confusing upon deeper study.
  • Summary: Einstein’s theory of relativity reveals that time and distance are not invariant between different frames of reference, but rather a combination of space-time. Conversely, when Dr. Becker studied quantum physics in college, it became more confusing, leading him to pursue philosophy alongside physics to grapple with its implications.
Wave Function vs. Classical Description
Copied to clipboard!
(00:17:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Classical mechanics describes objects with three numbers (x, y, z), whereas quantum mechanics requires an infinite set of numbers across all space to define a particle’s location via a wave function.
  • Summary: Classical physics allows for precise location description, but describing a subatomic particle requires an infinite set of numbers forming a wave function. This wave function evolves smoothly and deterministically according to the Schrödinger equation, which appears to be a fundamental law of physics.
The Measurement Problem and Born Rule
Copied to clipboard!
(00:18:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The fundamental contradiction in quantum physics is the suspension of the smooth Schrödinger equation in favor of the probabilistic Born rule when a measurement occurs.
  • Summary: The standard interpretation dictates that the wave function obeys the Schrödinger equation until an observation is made, at which point the Born rule takes over, causing the wave function to collapse to a single point. The vagueness of what constitutes a ‘measurement’ creates a logical gap, as this transition between rules is not clearly defined.
Schrödinger’s Cat and Many-Worlds Theory
Copied to clipboard!
(00:26:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Hugh Everett III’s Many-Worlds Interpretation resolves the measurement problem by eliminating wave function collapse, asserting that every quantum possibility is realized in a separate, branching universe.
  • Summary: Schrödinger devised his cat thought experiment to illustrate the absurdity of applying quantum superposition (both dead and alive) to macroscopic objects. Everett proposed that when an observer opens the box, they become entangled with the system, splitting into copies—one seeing the dead cat and one seeing the living cat—thus creating a multiverse.
The Value of Unknowns in Science
Copied to clipboard!
(00:33:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The existence of fundamental, unresolved scientific mysteries is amazing because it signifies that science continues to uncover deeper, more interesting questions about our strange universe.
  • Summary: While it is frustrating that fundamental questions remain unanswered, the fact that science continually reveals profound unknowns is a testament to its success. Scientific discoveries filter into wider culture, influencing art and politics, as seen by the shift from geocentrism to evolution.
Pilot Wave Theory Explained
Copied to clipboard!
(00:36:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Pilot Wave Theory posits that particles always have a definite position, guided by an associated wave (the pilot wave), which resolves the particle/wave duality.
  • Summary: This theory suggests particles surf a wave that determines their motion, meaning particles are never in multiple places at once before observation. A major issue is that this model implies instantaneous, faster-than-light influence between entangled particles, which conflicts with Einstein’s relativity, though it cannot be used for signaling.
Simulation Hypothesis Critique
Copied to clipboard!
(00:44:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The argument that we almost certainly live in a simulation is flawed because it relies on narrow, Western-centric assumptions about the inevitable progression of technology and intelligence.
  • Summary: Even if we are in a simulation, the rules governing it must still possess internal logical coherence, meaning contradictions like the measurement problem would still need resolution. Furthermore, dismissing real-world suffering as merely a ‘video game gone wrong’ is irresponsible because the suffering experienced within the simulation is real to the entities experiencing it.
Reality as an Emergent Property
Copied to clipboard!
(00:49:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Existence and properties like temperature are real emergent phenomena arising from the collective behavior of fundamental, lower-level components, even if those components are not fundamentally structured as we perceive them.
  • Summary: Temperature is a real property that emerges from the statistical motion of many individual molecules, even though a single molecule does not possess temperature. Similarly, our reality, including space and time, can be considered real even if it emerges from a more fundamental, currently unknown level of reality.
Charity and Sponsor Acknowledgement
Copied to clipboard!
(00:51:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Adam Becker selected TechBridge Girls, an Oakland-based organization empowering girls from low-income communities through STEM programming, as the episode’s supported charity.
  • Summary: The podcast supports TechBridge Girls, which focuses on providing high-quality STEM education to girls to foster economic mobility. This segment also included acknowledgments for sponsors like Spectrum Business and Squarespace, whose support enables the show’s production and charitable donations.
Quantum Tunneling Explained
Copied to clipboard!
(01:00:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Quantum tunneling is the small chance an object passes through a barrier, a phenomenon common for tiny objects and essential for the sun to shine.
  • Summary: In classical physics, an object remains where placed, but quantum physics allows for tunneling, where an object passes through a barrier. This probability is inversely related to the object’s size, making it phenomenally unlikely for large objects like a hand on a table. Tunneling is not an anomaly but an inherent feature of quantum physics, necessary for stellar fusion.
Quantum Computing Clarification
Copied to clipboard!
(01:01:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Quantum computers use superposition and entanglement to perform specific computations faster than conventional machines, but they will not replace all existing computers.
  • Summary: A quantum computer harnesses specific quantum properties like superposition and entanglement to execute certain computations that conventional computers cannot perform as quickly. All computers rely on quantum physics (e.g., semiconductors), but quantum computers utilize these properties differently than classical binary systems. Experts do not anticipate quantum computers replacing all supercomputers or everyday devices.
Sycamore Quantum Supremacy
Copied to clipboard!
(01:03:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Google’s Sycamore quantum processor solved a specific math problem in 200 seconds that would take a supercomputer 10,000 years.
  • Summary: Google announced quantum supremacy in late 2019 using its Sycamore processor, which required a cryo chamber colder than outer space. The processor solved a complex math problem in 200 seconds. This demonstration showed a massive speed advantage over existing supercomputers for that specific calculation.
Physicist and God Beliefs
Copied to clipboard!
(01:05:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Elite scientists are atheists at a higher rate than the general public, though some scientists identify as ‘spiritual atheists,’ describing spirituality as awe at the totality of existence.
  • Summary: Sociologist Dr. Elaine Howard Uckland’s research shows that over a third of elite scientists identify as atheists, compared to only 2% of the general U.S. population. Some scientists who are atheists still describe themselves as spiritual, defining spirituality as an awe felt when contemplating the vastness of the seashore or the age of all things. The narrative of what controls existence—be it a sentient figure or chaos and logic—remains a personal source of inspiration and respect.
Heisenberg Uncertainty Joke
Copied to clipboard!
(01:07:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Werner Heisenberg, whose name inspired Walter White’s alter ego, formulated the uncertainty principle stating a particle’s momentum and location cannot be known simultaneously.
  • Summary: The uncertainty principle theorizes that one cannot simultaneously know both the momentum and location of a particle. Werner Heisenberg, the German physicist who drafted this principle, was the head of Germany’s World War II nuclear program. A classic joke illustrates this: a cop pulls Heisenberg over, and he replies, ‘No, but I know exactly where I am’ when asked his speed.
Quantum Media Portrayals
Copied to clipboard!
(01:08:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The TV show Quantum Leap has almost nothing to do with quantum physics, and the film What the Bleep Do We Know is considered malicious and cult-like by the guest.
  • Summary: The show Quantum Leap, about time travel within one’s lifetime, is not related to quantum physics despite its title. The film What the Bleep Do We Know is strongly refuted, with the guest claiming its creators are malicious and misled participants to support ‘crazy stuff.’ The film incorrectly suggests that people affect the world of reality they see through observation.
String Theory and Dimensions
Copied to clipboard!
(01:10:15)
  • Key Takeaway: String theory posits that particles are tiny strings, suggesting the existence of many more dimensions and potentially unifying gravity with quantum physics.
  • Summary: String theory suggests that fundamental particles are actually tiny strings, which implies the existence of many more dimensions than the four commonly perceived. This theory aims to unify Einstein’s theory of relativity (gravity) with quantum physics, which currently do not comply with each other. String theory describes a ‘string landscape’ encompassing a vast number of possible universes, potentially $10^{500}$ or more.
Quantum Physics and Consciousness
Copied to clipboard!
(01:11:23)
  • Key Takeaway: While neurons are governed by quantum physics, there is no compelling reason to invoke consciousness as a special measurement factor in quantum mechanics over other physical alternatives.
  • Summary: Consciousness arises from the behavior of neurons, which are made of subatomic particles governed by quantum physics, meaning quantum physics is involved in one sense. Some propose consciousness acts as a ‘measurement’ that collapses the wave function (like in Schrödinger’s cat), but this view is human-centric and raises questions about what counts as conscious. The guest sees no compelling reason to link consciousness uniquely to quantum physics over other areas of physics.
Book Writing Process Revealed
Copied to clipboard!
(01:13:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Becker overcame writing terror by committing to a daily word count (600 words) using a 50-minute work/10-minute novel-reading break structure.
  • Summary: To write his 90,000-word book, Dr. Becker planned by outlining chapters and focusing only on writing 600 words per day to manage the overwhelming task. His work structure involved 50 minutes of writing followed by a 10-minute break dedicated exclusively to reading novels, as he found reading essential for writing output. He emphasized writing a ‘shitty first draft’ and wrapping abstract ideas in compelling human stories and narrative arcs.
Best and Worst of Ontology
Copied to clipboard!
(01:19:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The worst aspect of quantum ontology is dealing with physicists who dismiss foundational questions as resolved, while the best aspect is the ability to ask the biggest questions about reality.
  • Summary: The most frustrating part of quantum ontology is encountering physicists who believe the foundational questions were settled decades ago and insist on only calculation. The most rewarding aspect is the opportunity to ask the deepest questions about the world, such as ‘What is real?’ Physics, unlike chemistry or biology, offers pervasive foundational questions applicable to any object, like why a chair is solid or why a ring is yellow.