David Albert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Z. Albert
David Albert
Born	1954 (age 71–72)
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Columbia University The Rockefeller University
Known for	Past hypothesis
Scientific career
Fields	Philosophy of physics
Institutions	Columbia University
Thesis	Determination of the critical exponents of the n-vector model by Borel resummation (1981)
Doctoral advisor	Nicola Khuri

David Z. Albert, born in 1954, is a well-known professor. He teaches philosophy at Columbia University in New York. He also leads a special program there. This program focuses on the philosophical ideas behind physics.

Education and Career

David Albert studied physics at Columbia College. He earned his first degree in 1976. Later, in 1981, he got his PhD in theoretical physics. This was from The Rockefeller University. He worked with Professor Nicola Khuri. After his PhD, he worked with Yakir Aharonov.

Professor Albert has spent most of his career at Columbia University. He teaches in the philosophy department. He has also been a visiting professor at Rutgers University. In 2015, he became a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. This is a group that honors smart people in arts and sciences.

His Books and Ideas

Albert has written four books. They are Quantum Mechanics and Experience (1992), Time and Chance (2000), After Physics (2015), and A Guess at the Riddle (2023). He has also written many articles. These writings are mostly about quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is a part of physics that studies very tiny particles. People have both praised and criticized his books. They often mention his easy-to-read, conversational style.

Public Discussions

Movie Appearance

David Albert appeared in a movie called What the Bleep Do We Know!? (2004). This movie was about quantum physics and consciousness. However, Albert was very upset with the final movie. He gave the filmmakers a long interview. He talked about how quantum mechanics is not linked to consciousness. But the movie edited his interview. It made it seem like he believed something different. Albert felt tricked by the filmmakers. He is also listed in a follow-up movie. This movie is a "director's cut" with extra scenes.

Debate with Lawrence Krauss

In 2012, David Albert wrote a strong review. It was about a book by Lawrence Krauss. The book was called A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing. Krauss claimed his book showed that science could explain everything. He said it countered religion and philosophy.

Albert disagreed with Krauss's main idea. He wrote that physics theories explain what the world is made of. But they do not explain why those things exist. Or why there is a world at all. He felt that trying to fight religion with science in this way was "silly."

Krauss reacted strongly to Albert's review. He called Albert "moronic" in an interview. He also said that the philosophy of science was not useful. Later, Albert was invited to speak at a debate. Krauss was also going to be there. But then Albert's invitation was taken back. Albert thought Krauss might have asked for him to be uninvited. But he had no proof.

See also

• Past hypothesis