Get a Reality Check with Professor Steven Gimbel

What is reality? Consider one of the most complicated and fundamental questions that scientists, philosophers, and curious minds have been probing for millennia. Explore this fascinating and mind-boggling topic with a foremost expert, Dr. Steven Gimbel, on April 6, at 6:00 ET. This is your chance to chat with a brilliant scholar about the nature of reality.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the live chat with Professor Steven Gimbel of Gettysburg College on April 6, 2016, at 6:00 ET. Professor Gimbel truly enjoyed the chance to connect with his fans and students. In case you didn’t get a chance to participate, we’ve posted the live chat for everyone to read. Thanks again!

3rd & 7 37yd

hi, professor!

by T@bith@ 4/6/2016 10:00:18 PM

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I have heard that, as the universe increases in complexity in the big bang theory, physics does a great job of providing a "description" of each individual change but not the "why" causing the change. For example, physicists know a lot about the four fundamental forces but, for example, why does the strong nuclear force exists? Saying that it exists to hold the nucleus together seems like a circular argument. To what extent does the big bang theory provide some sort of completeness? Doesn't the 2nd law of thermodynamics for open systems require boundary conditions for changes to occur? Does physics admit the possibility of a creator of the universe (as opposed to a personal god)? I have a B.S. of Physics and took graduate courses in nuclear physics at Ohio State U many years ago.

by Lee Hayden 4/6/2016 10:00:47 PM

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Hey everybody! Steve here (then again, are any of us REALLY here? -- this is virtual, after all). Ready for whatever questions you have -- auto mechanics to quantum mechanics.. What's on your mind?

by The Great Courses 4/6/2016 10:02:56 PM

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Redefining Reality | Professor Chat: Gimbel | The Great Courses

by Dave Sanders via YouTube 4/6/2016 10:05:11 PM

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Well, now that I look more closely, the subject of this chat will 'really' be about reality. I just bought your course 'Introduction to Formal Logic' and have not received it yet. My interest in the subject of logic comes from my profession, in which I use software based on logic relationships to model construction projects - Critical Path Method scheduling. So, in general I am just interested in studying how effectively logic can be used to model real world actions and probable outcomes, and I thought your courses would be interesting. I look forward to the chat on April 6.

by Sandy Evans 4/6/2016 10:06:12 PM

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Professor Gimbel on the set of "Introduction to Formal Logic"
Professor Gimbel on the set of "Introduction to Formal Logic"
Professor Gimbel on the set of "Introduction to Formal Logic"

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 10:06:56 PM

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by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 10:09:28 PM

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An Introduction to Formal Logic | Professor Chat: Gimbel | The Great Courses

by Dave Sanders via YouTube 4/6/2016 10:12:59 PM

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Is time static or more wibbly-wobbly? Learn more with Professor Gimbel
Learn more with Professor Gimbel
Is your reality my reality? Learn more with Professor Gimbel

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 10:15:56 PM

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Dr. Gimbel, let me first compliment you on the scope of your lectures (many diverse topics you had to manage), and on your jolly use of humor, which worked well. On topics on which I have some personal expertise, you were really right on. Well done.

My question involves your scheme: Individual->interaction->field. This scheme works *very* well for physics/calculus, and it generated some interesting thoughts on the psych/social psych/sociology axis. But, for the biology part, the metaphor felt a bit "forced", a little procrustean (don't get to use that word much). Could you elaborate a bit on how it works in the biosciences, in your view?

by Dean H. Judson 4/6/2016 10:19:34 PM

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We’ve received a number of great submissions! Thanks for your patience as Professor Gimbel answers your questions as quickly as possible.

by TheGreatCourses 4/6/2016 10:20:00 PM

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Just a friendly reminder, this chat is text only. We do not have a video or audio format enabled.

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 10:22:15 PM

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My partner Carole, also watching, adds another question: What, in your view, does "philosophy of science" add to science proper?

by Dean H. Judson 4/6/2016 10:22:40 PM

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Learn more with Professor Gimbel
Learn more with Professor Gimbel
Learn more with Professor Gimbel

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 10:30:02 PM

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How do knowledge and reality differ compared with a century ago, prior to special and general relativity? I'm thinking, for example, of Bertrand Russell's description in his book, The Problems With Philosophy.

by Mark Obukowicz 4/6/2016 10:34:06 PM

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Did you know this? Can you name a piece of art that uses pointillism? Learn more with Professor Gimbel
Community vs society. Learn more with Professor Gimbel
Learn more with Professor Gimbel

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 11:15:59 PM

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Very exciting chat! So happy to watch this with Prof Gimbel!

by Lisa M. 4/6/2016 11:23:57 PM

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Wow! What incredible questions. I hope the responses were thought-provoking. (I hesitate to use the word "answers" here because in philosophy it rarely clear that there is a final answer -- and if there was, once we found it philosophers would have to go out and get real jobs). If you have a question that I was not able to get to or that pops into mind after the fact (doesn't that always happen?), please feel free to contact me at sgimbel@gettysburg.edu and I'll try to send you my thoughts on the matter.

Thank you for your time today and the time you have spent with Redefining Reality or Introduction to Formal Logic. If you watched the lectures in a group and have questions or discussions that emerged which you wish to continue, feel free to contact me and we can see if we can arrange a visit to discuss them in person. I have had wonderful experiences spending time with church groups, retirement communities, and other organizations, so if there is interest, let me know and we'll see what we can arrange.

Please take care and keep on thinking.

Warmly,

Steve

by The Great Courses 4/6/2016 11:29:24 PM

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Thank you so much for joining us today. A special thank you goes out to Professor Gimbel for taking the time and providing us with such insightful answers to your questions. We would love your feedback on the chat this evening and hope you will join us for future chats with our Great Courses instructors.

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 11:29:44 PM

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Don't Miss This Chat!

Tune in on May 12th for our next chat with
Dr. Benaroch right here at live.thegreatcourses.com

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 4/6/2016 11:30:07 PM

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We apologize; we are currently experiencing technical difficulties. We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

by TheGreatCourses 4/5/2018 3:13:00 PM

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We've received an abundance of questions for Professor Gimbel, and he has graciously agreed to answer more of your questions within the next week! They will be added to the chat transcript. Check back here to see additional questions answered soon.

by TheGreatCourses 4/5/2018 3:13:00 PM

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We request that our participants please use appropriate language in this forum.

by TheGreatCourses 4/5/2018 3:13:00 PM

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If you are having difficulty seeing answers, please try refreshing your browser.

by TheGreatCourses 4/5/2018 3:13:00 PM

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