What does it mean to investigate the "nature of reality"? In this episode, we break down the term across philosophy, physics, mathematics, cognitive science, and theology: exploring questions of metaphysics, fundamentality, reductionism, and grounding. We also touch on a conversation with Slavoj Žižek and why the question of why the universe follows laws at all may be the deepest question of all. Plus: why art belongs in this conversation, and why "fundamental" doesn't mean what most people think it means.I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOETIMESTAMPS:- - - - LINKS MENTIONED:- Quantum Healing [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/0553348698?tag=toe08-20- Realism [Paper]: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20115760- Mean, Means and Meaning [Article]: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/mean-means-and-meaning- Harvey Friedman [TOE]: https://youtu.be/gx3uKT1qJvY- The Reverse Elephant [TOE]: https://youtu.be/q2Zgp2EhSk8- Slavoj Žižek [TOE]: https://youtu.be/ZLVxfmfds38- John Norton [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Tghl6aS5A3M- Most Abused Theorem in Math [TOE]: https://youtu.be/OH-ybecvuEo- Münchhausen Trilemma: https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/M%C3%BCnchhausen+trilemma- Know Time Interviews Curt: https://youtu.be/K_jCtpQgqB0FOLLOW:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Substack: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE- PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4Guests do not pay to appear. #scienceLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices