323 | Jacob Barandes on Indivisible Stochastic Quantum Mechanics

In this episode of the Mindscape podcast, host Sean Carroll interviews Jacob Barandes, a physicist and philosopher at Harvard University, about his new proposal for thinking about quantum mechanics, known as indivisible stochastic quantum mechanics. The conversation begins with an overview of the history and foundations of quantum mechanics, including the challenges and different interpretations, such as Bohmian mechanics and Everett's Many-Worlds interpretation. Barandes explains his theory, which posits that there is no wave function, only point particles moving stochastically, with the crucial feature that the rules governing their movement depend on their past history, contrasting this with the Laplacian paradigm. The discussion covers the implications of this approach, its relation to Bell's theorem, and its potential to open new avenues for understanding the world, despite Carroll's initial skepticism. Barandes also addresses the role of division events and the stability of matter within his framework, ultimately advocating for the exploration of new alternatives in quantum mechanics.