TED: Science and democracy | Lee Smolin

The video discusses the founding of the Perimeter Institute and explores the evolution of scientific thought from Aristotelian to Newtonian and finally to a relational universe. It highlights the ethical principles in science, the relationship between science and democracy, and the importance of self-organization and Darwinism. The video concludes with a discussion on the future of science and democracy in the 21st century, emphasizing the integration of relational and Darwinian ideas.

What was the main goal of the group represented by Howard Burton?

• To establish a new university

• To start an institute in theoretical physics

• To create a new scientific method

• To fund a space exploration program

According to the speaker, what is a common misconception about the scientific method?

• It is a strict set of rules

• It is a flexible guideline

• It is a community-driven process

• It is based on complete evidence

What was the central idea of Aristotelian cosmology?

• The universe is a network of relationships

• The sun is the center of the universe

• The earth is at the center

• The universe is infinite

How did Newtonian physics view space and time?

• As flexible and evolving

• As non-existent

• As fixed and absolute

• As relative concepts

What is a key feature of the relational universe described in the 20th-century physics revolution?

• Absolute space and time

• A network of relationships

• An omniscient observer

• Fixed centers of the universe

In a relational universe, how is order and structure explained?

• By fixed laws

• Through self-organization

• Through divine intervention

• By external creators

What does the integration of relational and Darwinian ideas suggest about 21st-century science?

• It will return to Newtonian principles

• It will combine relational and self-organizing concepts

• It will ignore biological systems

• It will focus solely on physics

How does the relational view of the universe impact our understanding of democracy?

• It negates the need for democratic processes

• It emphasizes the importance of multiple perspectives

• It supports a hierarchical society

• It suggests a single viewpoint is sufficient

What role does gravity play in the relational universe according to Einstein?

• It is a fixed force

• It is a result of the universe being relational

• It is irrelevant to life

• It prevents the formation of stars

What is the expected outcome of the evolving concepts of space, time, and society in the 21st century?

• A return to Aristotelian views

• A static understanding of the universe

• A union of Darwinism and relationalism

• A focus on individualism