Sean Carroll: Are we living in a clockwork universe?
In his thought-provoking video, “Sean Carroll: Are We Living in a Clockwork Universe?”, physicist Sean Carroll delves into the intriguing implications of classical mechanics, particularly the principles laid down by Newton and expanded by Laplace. At the heart of this discussion is the notion of determinism: if we had perfect knowledge of the position and velocity of every particle, could we predict every aspect of the universe’s future? Carroll likens this idea to a “clockwork universe,” where every moment is predetermined by the laws of physics.
However, this deterministic perspective raises profound questions about free will and human agency. Carroll explains that although classical mechanics suggests a predetermined universe, the complexity of human consciousness and the limitations in our knowledge—neither of which can be captured by Laplace’s mythical demon—complicate this picture. He emphasizes that while the microscopic laws may be deterministic, our understanding and interaction with the world are shaped by incomplete information.
The video informs viewers that while the universe may operate like a machine, we navigate our lives as agents of choice, driven by nuanced instincts rather than mere mechanics. Join Carroll as he invites us to contemplate the balance between determinism and free will in our own lives and the universe at large.
Watch the video by Big Think
Author Video Description
“The universe clicks along in perfect accord with the laws of physics forever.”
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Up next, Sean Carroll explains why physics is both simple and impossible | Full Interview ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBNJyztai0
What if the universe is a machine, and every moment in our past, present, and future is already encoded in the positions of its particles?
Physicist Sean Carroll explores the unsettling implications of classical mechanics, from Newton’s laws to Laplace’s thought experiment, showing how determinism challenges the very idea of free will.
0:00 Is reality a clockwork machine?
0:57 The determinism of classical mechanics
2:03 The spherical cow and simplified models
2:58 The universe as an equation
6:53 When the clockwork universe meets the human mind
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/sean-carroll-clockwork-universe/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
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About Sean Carroll:
Dr. Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy — in effect, a joint appointment between physics and philosophy — at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. Most of his career has been spent doing research on cosmology, field theory, and gravitation, looking at topics such as dark matter and dark energy, modified gravity, topological defects, extra dimensions, and violations of fundamental symmetries. These days, his focus has shifted to more foundational questions, both in quantum mechanics (origin of probability, emergence of space and time) and statistical mechanics (entropy and the arrow of time, emergence and causation, dynamics of complexity), bringing a more philosophical dimension to his work.
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Video “Sean Carroll: Are we living in a clockwork universe?” was uploaded on 10/16/2025 to Youtube Channel Big Think