Author Archives: fbenedictus

About fbenedictus

Philosopher of physics at Amsterdam University College and Utrecht University, managing editor for Foundations of Physics and international paraclimbing athlete

Einstein’s light postulate saves Galileo

Posted on March 30, 2023 by fbenedictus

Good evening (local time)! I’d like to share with you the answer I gave to one of my students earlier today. He asked how Einstein’s postulate of a constant light speed (independent from an observer’s own state of motion) can … Continue reading →

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De tweeling/postbode paradox

Posted on March 11, 2023 by fbenedictus

[Click here to read the English version of this blog post] De tweeling paradox van Einstein staat minder ver van ons af dan we denken. Waarom is hij dan zo duizelingwekkend? Ik heb mijn studenten enige extra begeleiding beloofd, vandaar … Continue reading →

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The twin/postmen paradox

Posted on March 10, 2023 by fbenedictus

Einstein’s twin paradox is more familiar to us than we think. Then why does it feel so strange? I promised my students some extra guidance, so I wrote this post. [For a course I am currently teaching at a university … Continue reading →

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Understanding the Quantum

Posted on February 28, 2023 by fbenedictus

My propoposal, “Quantum Theory Is Not As Strange As We Think (or is classical physics stranger than we think?)”, has been accepted by the organisers of the annual conference of the German Physics Society. I am proud of that! I … Continue reading →

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Lecture: Newton & Einstein – physics meets philosophy

Posted on January 23, 2023 by fbenedictus

This Wednesday I’m giving a “pub lecture”: the lecture is both public and in a pub. Drop by if you’re interested! Location: “proeflokaal Faas (Zwaanshals 248, Rotterdam)” (google maps) Attendance is free; no reservation required. Time: 20.00 It is a … Continue reading →

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Quantum theory, free will and justice

Posted on October 20, 2022 by fbenedictus

A student of mine is writing his bachelor thesis on “free will, quantum mechanics and the system of justice”. I’m very happy about that, because it gives me an excuse to dive into matters I’ve been interested in since childhood. … Continue reading →

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Alice in Numberland, to be continued…

Posted on August 21, 2022 by fbenedictus

I am very happy to (re-)start teaching mathematics (calculus) at Amsterdam university in September, while teaching philosophy (the history of epistemology) at Utrecht University from November onwards. In November and December these courses overlap, so the end of the year … Continue reading →

Posted in Numbers in Wonderland | 1 Comment

Zeno the Zebra and the Truth in the Middle

Posted on August 16, 2022 by fbenedictus

Alice in Wonderland discovers that when the truth is in the middle, everyone is wrong. Continue reading →

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Zeno the Zebra

Posted on August 8, 2022 by fbenedictus

Alice in Wonderland meets Zeno the Zebra for the first time. Short story by philosopher of mathematics. Continue reading →

Posted in Numbers in Wonderland, Philosophy of Mathematics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Believing Words

Posted on August 1, 2022 by fbenedictus

Short story about Alice in Wonderland, written by a philosopher of mathematics – is it possible to believe words? …words don’t lie, people do! Continue reading →

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