The undergraduate degree in physics that David Albert earned from Columbia College in 1976 served as the foundational step for a career spanning four decades in the philosophy of physics. Currently serving as a professor and director at Columbia University, Albert is recognized for his inquiries into quantum mechanics and the statistical foundations of thermodynamics.
Academic Trajectory
After graduating from Columbia College, Albert pursued advanced training in theoretical physics, completing his PhD at The Rockefeller University in 1981 under the supervision of Nicola Khuri. His subsequent research included a period working with Yakir Aharonov at Tel Aviv University. He later established a long-term academic base within the philosophy department at Columbia University while maintaining a recurring role as a visiting professor at Rutgers University. In 2015, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences elected him as a fellow.
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Take the IQ test →Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
Albert's 1992 book, Quantum Mechanics and Experience, shifted the academic discourse by establishing a research agenda centered on realist interpretations of quantum physics. This work directly contested the Copenhagen interpretation, which he argued failed to provide an account of observer-independent reality. Within this text, he examined the measurement problem through the lenses of the Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber theory, the De Broglie–Bohm theory, and the many-worlds interpretation. Albert further challenged the completeness of the Everett interpretation, arguing that it fails to adequately incorporate probability and the Born rule. He also advocates for wave function realism, positing that the wave function acts as a primary physical entity.
The Mentaculus and Statistical Mechanics
In his 2000 publication Time and Chance, Albert addressed why macroscopic time-asymmetry exists despite the time-symmetric nature of microscopic physical laws. He introduced the term 'past hypothesis' to describe the condition that the universe originated in a low-entropy state, combined with a statistical postulate to explain thermodynamic evolution. Collaborating with Barry Loewer, Albert expanded these concepts into the Mentaculus—a comprehensive framework concerning the origin of physical probabilities and the nature of causality. This theoretical model argues that probability is essential for mechanical predictions, such as planetary orbits.
Public Engagement and Criticism
Albert’s public presence has been marked by instances of professional friction. In 2004, he participated in the film What the Bleep Do We Know!?, later expressing public regret after the filmmakers edited his contributions to suggest connections between quantum physics and spirituality that he had explicitly rejected. In 2012, he authored a critical review for The New York Times of Lawrence Krauss’s book A Universe from Nothing. Albert rejected Krauss’s assertions regarding physical creation, arguing that standard relativistic quantum field theories offer a different understanding of the material world than the one Krauss presented.
Fast facts
- Born: 1954
- Citizenship: United States
- PhD Advisor: Nicola Khuri
- Notable Book: Quantum Mechanics and Experience (1992)
- Collaborator: Barry Loewer
- Professional Fellowship: American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2015)
Questions readers ask
What is the past hypothesis?
It is a term Albert coined to describe the claim that the universe began in a very low-entropy state, which is necessary to explain time-asymmetries in statistical mechanics.
Did David Albert support the film What the Bleep Do We Know!?
No. He stated he felt taken by the filmmakers, who edited his interview to misrepresent his views on quantum mechanics and consciousness.
Achievements
- Held posts at Columbia University
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