The uses of infinity: a philosopher looks at emergent phenomena in physics
3,400 views · Published 10 December 2013 · 1:00:40 · Indexed 8 November 2026
Channel: The Royal Society · 2013 · Science & Technology
Emergence', and its contrary reduction, are buzz-words in both physics and philosophy. Both physicists and philosophers disagree about the extent to which we can understand large-scale or complex phenomena in terms of their microscopic parts. Examples include both everyday phenomena like the freezing and boiling of liquids, and fancy ideas like fractals. In his Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Prize Lecture Dr Jeremy Butterfield (University of Cambridge) describes how we understand emergent phenomena by appealing to various kinds of infinity. Filmed at The Royal Society, London on Wed 07 Nov 2007 6.30pm - 7.30pm For more information visit http://royalsociety.org/events/2007/infinity
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