Mind Over Matter by Gary Valentine Hansen

Gary Hansen

Essay Abstract

A trick, when disclosed, has the surprise characteristic of changing one's opinion with respect to original assumptions. There is widespread confusion as to what constitutes "truth". 0 and 1 are assumed mathematical "facts"; however, their infinite variety in combination can never be known. Thus, by inference, the absolute truth is absolutely inaccessible. Facts serve to connect experience with existence and so found truth in reason. Human knowledge is comprised of concepts, none of which are absolute or eternal but rather are subject to repeated testing and revision to reconcile them with logic and experience. It follows that truth, like knowledge, is elusive and ephemeral, the desire for truth being the motivation behind the pursuit of knowledge while knowledge is evidence in support of a theory of truth. The test of truth was to become whether a concept was repeatedly confirmed by experience to be so, while always remaining open to further clarification. Absolutism as a common assumption of incontrovertibility is the securest of states and therefore the most naturally attractive. This flawed thinking is attributable to a misunderstanding as to what truth and knowledge do. They are not absolutely secure handles upon which one can rely for support at all times. They are best supporting actors, mental aids available to sustain one in particular situations at particular places and times. The science of physics investigates the properties of physical entities and is dependent upon evidence for its veracity. It is concerned with distinguishing the qualities inherent in things, and their inter-relations, while mathematics accounts for their quantities. Mathematics has assumed the function of uniting otherwise irreconcilable ideas through their reduction to numbers. If there is a "mysterious connection" implicit in the relation between physics and mathematics, it is because we do not have the perspicacity to identify their correct relationship.

Author Bio

Drafted into boarding school at the age of four; representing England in an international children's camp at fifteen; attending the rigorous Outward Bound Sea School at sixteen; studying in three institutions of higher learning, and travelling to remote corners of the world in the interest of opening the mind, all contributed to understanding relations that may otherwise have been attributed to "Mysterious Connections". In a 212-essay, 803 page book titled It: The Architecture of Existence the author reconciles the essential natures of time, space, energy, matter, relations, the intellect, volition and the affections to reveal how they impact human mentality.

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Ted Erikson

Lots of words, Gary, but as one Nobel Prize winner implies, "So What?". I think you wil be impressed with my essay, "Duality: The War for Existence" which aims toward, "*Roger Penrose, one of the greatest thinkers in physics says the human brain--and the universe itself--must function according to some theory we haven't yet discovered."

My essay attempts to introduce basics of a new approach. Good luck on your essay..

Edwin Klingman

Dear Gary Valentine Hansen,

You have much wisdom in your essay; let me focus on one statement:

"Arguments can be no better than their premises allow."

In my essay I discuss Bell's premise of precession in a constant field, which, since constant fields produce no [Stern-Gerlach] results, leads to a contradiction. From this contradiction he proceeds to conclude that there is no local causality, and that no local model can reproduce the quantum mechanical correlations.

I investigate the physics of the non-constant field which does not lead to an inherent contradiction, and I construct a local model that does produce the quantum correlation, unless it is prevented doing so by imposition of Bell's constraints.

This causes me to analyze the reasons why Bell imposes constraints, and this leads to new conclusions.

You discuss 'social truth', and Bell's idea has for 50 years been social truth. But, as you also say, "unlike belief, truth requires a modicum of verifiability; it must be demonstrably so." I propose experiment to demonstrate the physics that occurs in an inhomogeneous field it contradicts Bell.

You also state "the search for truth requires a certain independence of outlook without reference to the observations and conclusions of others." And you note that "originality is the hallmark of independence..."

And I very much like your distinction between 'truth' and 'belief'.

In short I found your essay chock full of wisdom, backed up by extremely convincing arguments, and I hope you do very well in this contest. I invite you to read my essay and welcome any comments you might have.

My very best regards,

Edwin Eugene Klingman

Sophia Magnusdottir

Dear Gary,

You are very courageous for taking on the question what is truth, or what we perceive as truth. I think you are right that it's a question which we often overlook. Personally, I would argue that the only existing truth is mathematical truth and everything else are just statements that can be made with high confidence. But it is certainly the case that many scientists speak of their theories as being 'true' and I think it's sloppy. I quite like this essay of yours and wish you good luck :)

-- Sophia

Ted Erikson

Gary: The point of a mysterious connection may be, rightly or wrongly, the connection of a dimensionless surface to content parameters of tetrahedrons and inscribed spheres. It remains to be studied further..

Joe Fisher

Dear Gary,

I think Newton was wrong about abstract gravity; Einstein was wrong about abstract space/time, and Hawking was wrong about the explosive capability of NOTHING.

All I ask is that you give my essay WHY THE REAL UNIVERSE IS NOT MATHEMATICAL a fair reading and that you allow me to answer any objections you may leave in my comment box about it.

Joe Fisher