Exploring parallel worlds
Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP)
In physics, scientists encounter not only fundamental, but often also philosophical problems. To study questions of the latter category, ETH physicist Jens Jäger completes a Master's degree in Philosophy of Physics at the University of Oxford. Owing to an Annual Scholarship from the Swiss Study Foundation, he can focus fully on the one-year course.
The focus of Jäger's work will be on the problem of reconciling theories explaining the behaviour of physical systems at the microscopic level with physical phenomena on the human scale. Quantum mechanics very precisely describes physical systems at the microscopic level, but is difficult to interpret. The theory predicts phenomena — such as superpositions of states — that we do not perceive in the macroscopic world. There are different interpretations of quantum mechanics that have the goal of solving this problem. According to one of them, the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, our reality is merely one of possibly infinitely many others, which are continually moving away from our world and thus realize almost all conceivable eventualities. This interpretation, as well as the so-called thermodynamic arrow of time, will be the focus of Jäger's work in Oxford.
Theoretical Physics and Ethics
Based on his interest in theoretical physics and ethics, Jäger has long been committed to "Effective Altruism". This is a moral-philosophical movement that uses scientific methods to seek the most effective ways to do good. The ultimate goal is to translate the paths thus found into reality.
Effective altruism works with quantitative models. For some of these models, fundamental knowledge of natural sciences is relevant. For example, cosmology and information theory can help to think about strategies that will enable the well-being of generations in the distant future. The "Future of Humanity Institute" in Oxford, for example, is conducting research in this area.
Jens Jäger was born in 1993 in Münster, where he completed his Abitur with honors in mathematics and physics. In 2012, he started his physics studies at ETH Zurich, where he also worked as a teaching assistant for several semesters. In addition to physics, philosophy has long been his interest, in particular ontological questions of natural science philosophy, but also problems in ethics.