Scientists on Reddit

Brian Greene

Theoretical physicist, author of The Elegant Universe

u/briangreeneauthor ↗AMA only

How we know it's theirs

The 2020 r/IAmA AMA, posted from this account

We retrieved 1 post and 36 comments from u/briangreeneauthor, all from 2020, most often in r/IAmA and r/askscience.

Best moment

A redditor wrote in r/IAmA

On “I am Brian Greene, Theoretical Physicist & author of "Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe" AMA!”

What do you think are the biggest questions about the universe right now? Are there any limitations to what humans are capable of knowing?

u/briangreeneauthor replied

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From my perspective, the biggest questions are (a) the nature of spacetime and (b) the nature of consciousness. Regarding limits to human knowledge--there could well be things we are unable to understand. Take dogs. They're smart creatures but they seemingly don't know much about quantum mechanics. They, seemingly, don't have the brain power. Perhaps, then, we humans too don't have the brain power to grasp certain deep truths about reality.

More moments

A redditor wrote in r/IAmA

On “I am Brian Greene, Theoretical Physicist & author of "Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe" AMA!”

Do you think that the question of "consciousness" is ever possible to be explained via physics in the same way we describe other phenomenon? What other kind of reasoning or understanding could there be?

u/briangreeneauthor replied

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I do. I hold to a so-called physicalist perspective that imagines consciousness/mind not requiring any "spark" or "force" or "substance" that stands outside the very same types of ingredients that make up my desk or coffee cup. Some recoil at this possibility, thinking it diminishes mind. I have a different view. I consider it WONDROUS that ordinary particles governed by the usual forces of nature, when configured appropriately, can think and feel and explore. To me, that is the point--matter and laws accomplish spectacular things.