Time, Time direction, Memory and Agency

Carlo Rovelli (Aix-Marseille University, University of Western Ontario, Perimeter Institute)

We are happy to announce that Carlo Rovelli will give two online lectures on 13th October and 30th September, organized by CASIP and Fudan PSI. Rovelli, one of the founders of loop quantum gravity, will talk about his theory, focusing on the latest accounts of the nature of time and space, as well as the direction of time. The concepts of time and space are essential to our understanding of the world. Throughout history, philosophers and physicists, such as Aristotle, Newton and Einstein, have devoted themselves to the understanding of time and space. So what is the nature of time and space? Does time really exist or is it an illusion? Does time have a direction? Rovelli's lectures will provide us with the latest insights into these puzzling questions from the perspective of loop quantum gravity.

The lectures are jointly organized by the Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASIP), and the Philosophy and Science of Intelligence Center (PSI), Fudan University. Everyone is welcome to attend. More information can be found below.

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Fudan PSI Lecture Title: Time, Time Direction, Memory and Agency

Organizer: The Philosophy and Science of Intelligence Center (PSI), Fudan University

Abstract

This is more philosophy oriented (but based on physics). I can articulate how I view the different problems associated to the philosophy of time. The distinct notions of time and the confusion generated by mixing them. Then I can focus on the specific issue of the direction of time (the reason the past is different from the future) and present my recent work that derives the arrow of traces and the arrow of agency from the thermodynamic arrow.

Speaker: Carlo Rovelli (Aix-Marseille University)

Chair: Malcolm Forster (Fudan University)

Commentators:

Jitang Li (Soochow University)

Zhiheng Tang (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Dong Luo (South China University of Technology)

Nihel Jhou (National Taiwan University)

Time: Thursday, 30th September, 2021, 7:30 PM—9:30 PM (UTC+8)

Online Platform: Zoom

Meeting ID: 489 550 5875

Passcode: 6666

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4895505875?pwd=TktkSktBZXg0Yldja0xTZGNKK0pBQT09

Language: English

Biography

Founder of the quantum gravity group of the Centre de Physique Théorique (CPT) of the Aix-Marseille University. Professeur de classe exceptionnelle, Department of Physics in Aix-Marseille University. Adjunct Professor, Department of Philosophy in University of Western Ontario. Distinguished Visiting Research Chair in Perimeter Institute. Laurea Honoris Causa in Universidad de San Martin. Honorary Professor in Beijing Normal University. Senior Member in Institut Universitaire de France. Author of several important works in natural philosophy, including The Order of Time and Reality Is Not What It Seems.

Contact:

Tung-Ying Wu: [email protected]

Mingjun Zhang: [email protected]