Theoretical physicist on an Icelandic mountaintop

[Seze Mune]

One wouldn't expect a theoretical physicist to have a sense of humor, but the way Jim Gates tells this story, it makes me think I'd love to be one of his students listening to how he crafts his lectures.

A visiting professor at MIT, he tells of climbing over many mountains...

Jim Gates as heard on The Moth

OK, not strictly scientific, but outliers are interesting too!

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Please give more information. I am now quite curious where this may lead. 

[Seze Mune]

I think it was just a humorous story.  A theoretical physicist isn't usually concerned with the metaphysical.  In other words, s/he may want to know about the origin of the universe, but they aren't going to factor 'God' into their mathematical formulae.

So here we have a theoretical physicist who is personable, has a sense of humor, is good with words and communication (not as frequently seen with people whose brains are math oriented), and is *gasp* a black male besides!  Can we say 'highly unusual' and not be accused of understatement?

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

I can agree with the separation of religion and math. One wants realism and fact over theology.

[Seze Mune]

I can agree with the separation of religion and math. One wants realism and fact over theology.

Oh, don't start that!

What's more real than whatever got everything started in the first place?  That's theology.  Scientists approach life by leaving out whatever actually animates things, postulating that all things can be explained mechanistically via mathematics.  I think they will hit a wall where facts as humans know them are not operational.  That's partly why quantum theory developed.  And why the most current iteration of theoretical physics is revolving around M-theory.  It won't be the last.