Essay Abstract
The question is old and very interesting, because it is been around for more than two thousand years and it is still intriguing minds. However, the answer to that question is irrelevant because any answer is not verifiable. This does not mean that the question is going away. Also, this question is going to be around for a long time due to its nature and the tools to deal with it.
Author Bio
A frustrated philosopher still looking for answers, and a part time engineer
How can a philosopher not address the concept of substance and cause?
The P guys failed their own discipline at the beginning of the last century and continue to do so.
Marcel,
Hi Adolfo, you may just be amazed by a simple new idea of how to visualise the particle/wave duality of nature Archimedes screw model of a graviton. If this travelled around a wraparound universe it would emerge on the other side as an ANTI-GRAVITON, a force of repulsion i.e. DARK ENERGY. Do you begin to understand the philosophical point I'm trying to make Adolfo?
Kind regards,
Alan
Hi Marcel,
Thank you for the comment. Answering your comment, Philosophy is about knowing everything there is to know and not about specific concepts. Anyway, I tried to use as little concepts as possible in my argument. It does not matter what Reality is made of, it might me composed of matter (black and/or regular) energy (black and/or regular),strings, ghosts, monads, substances, causes, or any other concept we might think of. What it matters is that we won't be able to prove that Reality is Analog or Digital because we could always doubt the latest technological results. Just check what happened with classical physics, relativity, and quantum mechanics. We are always experimenting and finding cracks in the theories to test their limits. Even if we find a theory that unifies all forces (The Force?) Quantum Mechanics and Relativity, we will make experiments to find cracks in such theory. This constant process of constructing theories and making experiments to prove these theories right or wrong is what makes science fun.
Adolfo
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your comment.
I checked the screw and it looks neat. But I still don't get the concept. Sometimes I'm very slow and it takes me a long time to grasp new concepts. I'll think about it and maybe I'll get it.
Adolfo
No-one has understood it yet, so don't worry. It does take time to grasp something radically new. It took me 25 years or so! Laymen understand the concept, so it's only a matter of time before it percolates throught the over-intellectuallised minds of the professionals! Keep thinking about it. Imagine how a wood screw works: rotational energy in = attractive force towards screwdriver holder. Play with some wood screws or corkscrews. You'll get a EUREKA! moment all of your own I'm sure. Best of luck in the competition.
Alan
Adolfo, here's a thought experiment for you:
"I'd just like to re-iterate my point about a spinning helix which travels around a hypersphere being analogous to an electric circuit. Imagine you are on the inside of a battery which is connected to a simple loop of wire which makes an electric circuit. Imagine a handle rotates clockwise from the positive terminal as seen from your internal perspective. Now trace this turning handle as it travels along the wire and arrives at the negative terminal of the battery. Which way is the handle now turning from the viewpoint of the battery's interior? Is it clockwise or is it anti-clockwise?"
Kind regards, Alan
Dear Adolfo,
You are right that it is an intriguing question. I hope that it does eventually find resolution, but in the meanwhile it is interesting to discuss it.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Halpern, The Discreet Charm of the Discrete
Dear Adolfo,
Your interesting analysis of how we look for a reality device seems right on. It does seem like we may be looking at something outside our ability to define. I do, however, think we can define an accurate picture up to a point, and then might possibly have to say the deeper thing that explains that point is undefined in physics. The big questions left seem to be how do we get to that point and how will we agree when we get there. Maybe it is not possible, but it seems like a theory that predicts behavior accurately and has a clear definition of what is undefined would be a likely candidate. Thanks for an enjoyable essay analyzing these topics.
Kind regards, Russell Jurgensen
Dear Adolfo,
Energy quanta are a think of the past! We need "A World Without Quanta"! And you can make that critical difference to help bring it about. Cast your approval for a world that makes sense and bring this essay out of the cusp of 'being or not being'! The results are deeply significant and totally iconoclastic. But we need to bring this essay to the 'church' on time! You among others will be better for it!
all the best,
Constantinos
Adolfo
Just having a final trawl thorough essays I haven't got to. Really enjoyed your clear fresh view. You should certainly be higher than you are, and I shall wave my magic community vote..
Out of interest, I happen to have stumbled across your reality atom! It's a bit smaller than an atom, which may be why we didn't see it, but it's quite numerous, it's an ion. The basic 'condensed matter' particle, that actually does everything, and answers all your philosophical questions! I'm sorry I didn't realise it was yours. Do pop over to http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/803 to get it back.
It should be a real paradigm shifter. If you like the essay please do score it as I'd like to get into the final 'publication' positions to get it aired. (and by tonight!!) It's easy reading, but you WILL need your conceptual philosophical head on and visualisation turned up full! The string is fun too!
Very best wishes
Peter
Hi Paul,
thanks for your comment. It is really fun just to think and discuss this type of question. For me it is useless knowledge that I really enjoy. However, I still think the answer for this question is not going to be one or the other. but we never know what other arguments we could find because I'm still reading all the essays and it is going to take me a while.
adolfo
Hi Russell,
I agree with you in that we can define an accurate picture to a point, but we can not stop looking for answers by saying something is undefined in physics. We will always look for new points of view. I don't think we will ever agree whenever we are at the frontier of knowledge because that is the way science is. We speculate and test to see what fits our perceptions and discard those that don't fit.
eventually I'm going to read all the essays!
regards
Adolfo
Hi Constantinos,
Did you receive my telepathic message? I didn't get any answer. I'll keep trying for a while and then if I can't succeed I'll write an e-mail.
Adolfo
Hi Peter,
thank you for you kind comments and the community vote. I don't mind my score because I'm satisfied with my essay being posted with all the smart people in this community.
Adolfo
