The document discusses various perspectives on purpose and teleology from science, philosophy, and religion. It summarizes that modern physics has found no evidence of intrinsic purpose or design in nature, though higher-level phenomena can exhibit emergent teleology. While science only describes reality, humans are free to find purpose and meaning through creative and ethical frameworks, as long as they are compatible with scientific understanding. Purpose is not predetermined but comes from our own choices and stories.
Gifford Lecture One: Cosmos, Time, MemorySean Carroll
Based on my book The Big Picture, this is the first of five lectures exploring how different ways of talking about the world fit together. The other four lectures are on YouTube.
What We (Don't) Know About the Beginning of the UniverseSean Carroll
A plenary talk at the January 2017 meeting of the American Astronomical Society, on whether the universe truly had a beginning, and what might have come before.
Gifford Lecture One: Cosmos, Time, MemorySean Carroll
Based on my book The Big Picture, this is the first of five lectures exploring how different ways of talking about the world fit together. The other four lectures are on YouTube.
What We (Don't) Know About the Beginning of the UniverseSean Carroll
A plenary talk at the January 2017 meeting of the American Astronomical Society, on whether the universe truly had a beginning, and what might have come before.
This is a presentation on time travelling, here i mainly focused on main sub topics to understand the concept of time travelling, i.e.
1) Parallel Space
2) Paradox
3) How to travel through time
4) Evidence
Quantum Field Theory and the Limits of KnowledgeSean Carroll
A seminar, given to philosophers, on how quantum field theory allows us to delineate known from unknown in fundamental physics, and why the laws of physics underlying everyday phenomena are known.
a detail presentation on one of the most debated topics ever...The presentation features Einsteins,Stephen Hawkings views on time travel. possibilities and ways through travel through time are discussed in the presentation
Hi guys!!!
This is a presentation on the time travel.Many of us don't know about time travel, so here you can find the complete information regarding the time travel.
If you guys have any doubts then feel free to ask me in the comments section.
THANK YOU!!!!
General Theory of Relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the current description of gravitation in modern physics.
How the concept was introduced by the astrophycists and examples that provide the base for the existence of dark matter. Basic introduction to types of dark matter according to standard cosmological theory.
Space is not fundamental (although time might be). Talk at the 2010 Philosophy of Science Association Meeting, Montreal. By Sean Carroll, http://preposterousuniverse.com/
This is a presentation on time travelling, here i mainly focused on main sub topics to understand the concept of time travelling, i.e.
1) Parallel Space
2) Paradox
3) How to travel through time
4) Evidence
Quantum Field Theory and the Limits of KnowledgeSean Carroll
A seminar, given to philosophers, on how quantum field theory allows us to delineate known from unknown in fundamental physics, and why the laws of physics underlying everyday phenomena are known.
a detail presentation on one of the most debated topics ever...The presentation features Einsteins,Stephen Hawkings views on time travel. possibilities and ways through travel through time are discussed in the presentation
Hi guys!!!
This is a presentation on the time travel.Many of us don't know about time travel, so here you can find the complete information regarding the time travel.
If you guys have any doubts then feel free to ask me in the comments section.
THANK YOU!!!!
General Theory of Relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the current description of gravitation in modern physics.
How the concept was introduced by the astrophycists and examples that provide the base for the existence of dark matter. Basic introduction to types of dark matter according to standard cosmological theory.
Space is not fundamental (although time might be). Talk at the 2010 Philosophy of Science Association Meeting, Montreal. By Sean Carroll, http://preposterousuniverse.com/
The First Annual Robert Grosseteste Lecture on Astrophysics/Cosmology, a public talk given at the University of Lincoln.
The lecture focusses on the large-scale structure of the Universe and the ideas that physicists are weaving together to explain how it came to be the way it is. Over the last few decades, astronomers have revealed that our cosmos is not only vast in scale – at least 14 billion light years in radius – but also exceedingly complex, with galaxies and clusters of galaxies linked together in immense chains and sheets, surrounding giant voids of (apparently) empty space. Cosmologists have developed theoretical explanations for its origin that involve such exotic concepts as ‘dark matter’, ‘dark energy’ and ‘cosmic inflation’, producing a cosmic web of ideas that is, in some ways, as rich and fascinating as the Universe itself.
What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum PhysicsChad Orzel
A public lecture on quantum physics and why it is important enough that even dogs should know about it. Based on my book, ow to Teach Physics to Your Dog. Given at the University of Alabama on 9/30/10.
This was discussed by Michael Ward at the Spring 2010 Seattle Area Business Objects User Group meeting. This is available for personal/professional use by those that attended the meeting. However, any use as training material by anyone other than Michael, without his express consent, is in violation of copyright laws.
Prezentace z přednášky na 6. ročníku setkání Mezi Světy 2012. Nejznámější z fiktivních Necronomiconů je Simonův Necronomicon. Ačkoliv se nejedná o ryzí Necronomiconskou praxi, ale jde spíše o praxi pohansko-magickou, považuji ho jako znalec Necronomiconu a magik za esenciální.
Krystalická hrůza H. P. Lovecrafta ve filmuBloxxterMagick
H. P. Lovecraft nebyl nikdy příliš dobrý spisovatel. Ale pokud byl v něčem excelentní, tak to bylo navození atmosféry kosmické hrůzy a děsu. Přednáška o něm samotném, mýtu Cthulhu i o jeho zfilmovaných dílech (včetně ukázek) a projekce fenomenálního celovečerního filmu, který vás uvede do světa Azthotha, Yog-Sothotha nebo Nyrlathotepa.
The semantic technology enhances big data advancements by allowing sophisticated analysis of texts. Through the Linked Data technology, tremendous amount of information can be connected. However, this inherits ambiguity when it needs to be manipulated for certain purpose like natural language interface, semantic search and question answering. There are limited works which address ambiguity in semantic search. This paper introduces a technique based on self-adaptive disambiguation which utilizes the possible concept annotations of terms in the natural language queries. This will allow users to compose query in natural language and receive accurate answers without having to master the formal syntax of the semantic query language.
Magické myšlení aneb jak magie ovlivňuje náš životBloxxterMagick
Celý náš život je prodchnut rituály, tradicemi našich prabáb a pradědů nás ovlivňují více než si myslíme. Bojíme se poznání za závojem a schováme se za vědu. Přitom právě ta nám dodává potvrzení magického pohledu na svět a jeho fungování.
Filosofie, matka všech věd je odsouzena do knihoven a myslí profesorů. Přitom je tou nejcennější pomocnicí v našem praktickém životě. Pojďte se podívat spolu se mnou, že magické myšlení není vzdálené od našeho běžného života, přijďte poznat, že iracionálno není děsivé a magie není jen ve filmech a knihách.
Pojďte se seznámit s čarodějnictvím a pohanstvím současnosti.
Lektor: Pavel Ungr (Cody), známý jako popularizátor magie a pohanství, více než 2 roky vedl PFI a je zakladatelem magické skupiny Blasphemion, autor množství textů o magii a pohanství, majitel blogu o pohanství a magii Bloxxter (http://bloxxter.info/), spoluzakladatel projektu Divinorum a jeden z pořadatelů komunitního setkání magiků, pohanů a mystiků Mezi Světy (http://mezisvety.divinorum.cz/).
Essay about Sci-fI Films
Science Essay
Scientific Theory Essay
Evolution of Science Essay
My Love For Science
Essay about Life Science
My Passion For Science
Environmental Science Essay
Essay on Forensic Science
What Is Earth Science? Essay
Neuro Quantology is an international, interdisciplinary, open-access, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research and review articles on the interface between quantum physics and neuroscience. The journal focuses on the exploration of the neural mechanisms underlying consciousness, cognition, perception, and behavior from a quantum perspective. Neuro Quantology is published monthly.
Spiritual truths are being affirmed with rapid advancement in Scientific knowledge. Sharing my reading and thoughts, that goes to establish that at long last Science has mellowed over the years, the animosity is no longer there, and Spirituality and Science are slowly but surely converging in the quest of TRUTH.
The month of Ramadan is also known as the month of reflection and retrospection, and I have spent a few hours in this month to put up a presentation.
Earth and human survival on it is endangered. Drastic climatic changes, restlessness of various ecological systems speaks this. The knowledge we have acquired seems very much wanting to survive the disastrous end to which we are moving. We need to know Truth of Nature and its working in a simple manner and act quickly to survive on earth.
Financial Engineering and Its Discontents by Emanuel Derman at QuantCon 2016Quantopian
Neoclassical finance has been with us for over half a century, and its methods have become somewhat uncritically ingrained in the minds of quants. From mean-variance optimization to options theory to behavioral finance, Dr. Derman will discuss which of these ideas work better, and which don’t.
An analysis of the limitations of rational positivism and modern reductionism with solutions posed by Eastern philosophies and knowledge limits gauged by quantum theory and Godel’s Incompleteness Theorem.
This analysis is supported by contributions from OVium Solutions and International Innovative Institute.
We are reaching a critical state of time cycle-2012. Only thing that can save us is Truth or knowledge of Nature, understood in simple manner. There is a necessity awaken humanity to Truth. Some one with media skills should read this and cause a revolution as Wael Ghonim, to liberate humanity and take the world to new level of thinking.
"All life is biology. All biology is physiology. All physiology is chemistry. All chemistry is physics. All physics is math." Dr. Stephen Marquardt
Classical physics vs. quantum physic
Drug interactions vs. electromagnetic interactions
If there is science, it must be math
Phi, The Golden Number
God, Creation and Phi
Phi and the human body
Sound, vibration and form
Forms, patterns, geometries, ratios
Advancement leading quantum science, non–linear science, system thinking and the Gaia hypothesis is increasingly forcing us to view universe as living one that is conscious and intelligent and is capable of self organization. This evolution can lead to uniting the ancient spiritual knowledge with modern knowledge and bring humanity into new level of thinking that can bring life back to earth
The physical world as a virtual reality, Brian Whitwor.docxssusera34210
The physical world as a virtual reality, Brian Whitworth
2
The Physical World as a Virtual Reality
Brian Whitworth
Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
E-mail: [email protected]
Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine
Sir Arthur Eddington
Abstract
This paper explores the idea that the universe is a virtual reality created by information
processing, and relates this strange idea to the findings of modern physics about the physical
world. The virtual reality concept is familiar to us from online worlds, but our world as a virtual
reality is usually a subject for science fiction rather than science. Yet logically the world could be
an information simulation running on a multi-dimensional space-time screen. Indeed, if the
essence of the universe is information, matter, charge, energy and movement could be aspects of
information, and the many conservation laws could be a single law of information conservation.
If the universe were a virtual reality, its creation at the big bang would no longer be paradoxical,
as every virtual system must be booted up. It is suggested that whether the world is an objective
reality or a virtual reality is a matter for science to resolve. Modern information science can
suggest how core physical properties like space, time, light, matter and movement could derive
from information processing. Such an approach could reconcile relativity and quantum theories,
with the former being how information processing creates space-time, and the latter how it
creates energy and matter.
Key words: Digital physics, virtual reality, information theory
Modern online games show that information processing can create virtual “worlds”, with their
own time, space, entities and objects, e.g. “The Sims”. However that our physical world is a
virtual reality (VR) is normally considered a topic of science fiction, religion or philosophy, not a
theory of physics. Yet the reader is asked to keep an open mind, as one should at least consider a
theory before rejecting it. This paper asks if a world that behaves just like the world we live in
could arise from a VR simulation. It first defines what VR theory entails, asks if it is logically
possible, then considers if it explains known facts better than other theories.
Strange Physics
While virtual reality theory seems strange, so do other current theories of physics, e.g. the many-
worlds view of quantum physics proposes that each quantum choice divides the universe into
parallel universes [1], so everything that can happen does in fact happen somewhere, in an
inconceivable “multi-verse’ of parallel universes. This is a minority view but surprisingly
popular. Even relatively main-stream physics theories are quite strange. Guth’s inflationary model
suggests that our universe is just one of many “bubble universes” produced by the big bang [2].
String theory suggests the physical world could have 9 s ...
From Reductionism to Emergence: Transcending Death During COVID-19Paul H. Carr
How might we reduce the above-normal death rates from COVID-19? Our hope is for science to develop a vaccine. The reductive sequencing of the parts of the coronavirus could help. Francis Collins, who led the team that developed the science for sequencing the parts
of the human genome, entitled his book The Language of God, God being the holistic creator. Religion helps us transcend death. Science itself is moving from reductionism to emergent holism, which is closer to religion.
Scientists like Wigner, Deacon, and Dickerson are developing an emergent and non-materialist worldview. Theologians Clayton and Nurnberger are working on the emergence of spirit. Carol and John Albright envision a creative Interactive World, Interactive God. Cardiologist Van Lommel’s 20-year observations of near-death experiences give evidence for life after death.
Science for Change Agents, Innovators & Entrepreneurs. Day 1
A fast forward through history from Aristotle to Chaos Theory
The positivist dream
Relativity, Quantum Theory & Uncertainty
The Scientific Method (induction, deduction, repeatability, falsifiability)
Science becomes social science: Durkheim, Weber & Anthropology
Social Science: Explanation vs Understanding vs Liberation
Kuhn, paradigms and the sociology of science
Foucault and the Frankfurt School criticise science and its power
The Lenses and Methodologies of Social Science: Discourse analysis, semiotics, qualitative research, quantitative research, participant observation
MASTERCLASS FOR KAOS PILOTS, DENMARK
Accelerate your Kubernetes clusters with Varnish CachingThijs Feryn
A presentation about the usage and availability of Varnish on Kubernetes. This talk explores the capabilities of Varnish caching and shows how to use the Varnish Helm chart to deploy it to Kubernetes.
This presentation was delivered at K8SUG Singapore. See https://feryn.eu/presentations/accelerate-your-kubernetes-clusters-with-varnish-caching-k8sug-singapore-28-2024 for more details.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 3DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 3. In this session, we will cover desktop automation along with UI automation.
Topics covered:
UI automation Introduction,
UI automation Sample
Desktop automation flow
Pradeep Chinnala, Senior Consultant Automation Developer @WonderBotz and UiPath MVP
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal's Strategic Approach to Create an Innova...Ramesh Iyer
In today's fast-changing business world, Companies that adapt and embrace new ideas often need help to keep up with the competition. However, fostering a culture of innovation takes much work. It takes vision, leadership and willingness to take risks in the right proportion. Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder of Builder.ai, has perfected the art of this balance, creating a company culture where creativity and growth are nurtured at each stage.
Transcript: Selling digital books in 2024: Insights from industry leaders - T...BookNet Canada
The publishing industry has been selling digital audiobooks and ebooks for over a decade and has found its groove. What’s changed? What has stayed the same? Where do we go from here? Join a group of leading sales peers from across the industry for a conversation about the lessons learned since the popularization of digital books, best practices, digital book supply chain management, and more.
Link to video recording: https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/selling-digital-books-in-2024-insights-from-industry-leaders/
Presented by BookNet Canada on May 28, 2024, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
Elevating Tactical DDD Patterns Through Object CalisthenicsDorra BARTAGUIZ
After immersing yourself in the blue book and its red counterpart, attending DDD-focused conferences, and applying tactical patterns, you're left with a crucial question: How do I ensure my design is effective? Tactical patterns within Domain-Driven Design (DDD) serve as guiding principles for creating clear and manageable domain models. However, achieving success with these patterns requires additional guidance. Interestingly, we've observed that a set of constraints initially designed for training purposes remarkably aligns with effective pattern implementation, offering a more ‘mechanical’ approach. Let's explore together how Object Calisthenics can elevate the design of your tactical DDD patterns, offering concrete help for those venturing into DDD for the first time!
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
2. Lucia de Berk
Dutch nurse convicted in 2004 for
the murder of 7 infant children and
attempted murder of 3 more.
Sentenced to life in prison.
Expert witness: chance of one nurse
being on duty for all the incidents
is 1 in 342 million.
Re-analysis: actually it was 1 in 26.
Exonerated by re-trial in 2010.
3. Pat Robertson after Haiti earthquake:
“Many years ago, the island’s people
‘swore a pact to the devil.’ True story.
And so the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’
They kicked the French out. The
Haitians revolted and got themselves free.
Ever since, they have been cursed by one
thing after the other.”
The urge to find reasons
Principle of Sufficient Reason
(Spinoza 1663, Leibniz 1686):
“Nothing is without a ground
or reason why it is.”
4. The Ethos of Science
We do not get to place demands on the universe.
We cannot discover how things work by pure thought.
What we want to be true doesn’t matter.
We gain understanding by considering every
possible way things could be, testing them against
observation and experiment, and deciding what
best accounts for the data.
5. Purpose from a Designer (God)
Why did God make us? God made us to show
forth His goodness and to share with us His
everlasting happiness in heaven.
- The Baltimore Catechism
It’s not about you… You were born by
[God’s] purpose and for his purpose.
- Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
That which has come into existence must
necessarily, as we say, have come into
existence by reason of some Cause.
- Plato, Timaeus
6. Aristotle: systematic understanding of
nature in terms of “final causes.”
Earth falls down, fire moves upward.
Teilhard de Chardin: the Omega Point.
Complexity grows with time,
along with universal consciousness.
Teleology: purpose without a planner
Herbert Spencer: evolution as a
mechanism of progress, both in
biology and in sociology.
7. Ancient anti-teleological approaches (atomism)
Democritus, however, neglecting the final cause,
reduces to necessity all the operations of nature.
Now they are necessary, it is true, but yet they
are for a final cause and for the sake of what is
best in each case.
- Aristotle, Generation of Animals
[Atoms] shuffled and jumbled in many
ways, and in the course of endless time they
are buffeted, driven along, chancing upon
all motions and combinations.
At last they fall into such an arrangement
as would create this universe…
- Lucretius, De Rerum Natura
9. We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect
of its past and the cause of its future.
An intellect which at a certain moment would know all forces
and all positions of all items of which nature is composed…
for such an intellect nothing would be uncertain and the future
just like the past would be present before its eyes.
- An Essay on Probabilities, 1814
Pierre-Simon Laplace:
the present state of the universe
determines its evolution.
Laplace’s Demon.
10. Varieties of predictive theories
Historical Teleological Laplacian
time
future
present
past
goal
the past and present
together determine
the future
from the present
we move toward
some future goal
conservation of information:
every moment determines
every other moment
13. Standard Model of particle physics + General Relativity
gives us a working theory of “fundamental” physics.
1. Internally complete and coherent.
2. Uncontradicted by any experiment ever conducted
here on Earth.
3. Settled, as far as the physics underlying everyday
experience is concerned.
14. gravity
other forces matter Higgs
quantum mechanics spacetime
The physics underlying everyday reality
No sign of teleology, purpose, design.
15. Amplitude = number of particles or strength of force.
Wavelength = mass of particle or range of force.
wavelength
amplitude
Quantum Field Theory:
the basis of modern physics
Quantum field are the fundamental ingredients of
reality; particles are what we see when we observe
the fields.
16. QFT lets us quantify the
scope of our understanding.
strongly
interacting
light/
long range/
low energy
heavy/
short range/
high energy
weakly
interacting
accessible
inaccessible
known
knowns
known
unknowns
Ken Wilson
Nobel 1982
17. Quantum field theory puts very tight
constraints on new phenomena.
time
new particle
new
interaction
If a new particle can
interact with ordinary
particles:
Then that particle
can be created in
high-energy collisions.
18. Could new particles hide from our view?
Sure, if either:
1. very weakly interacting,
2. too heavy to create, or
3. too short-lived to detect.
In any of those cases, the new particle would
be irrelevant to our everyday lives.
19. Could there be new forces of nature?
Sure, but they must interact with protons, neutrons,
and electrons.
Experiments are ongoing (torsion balances) to
search for new, weak, long-range forces.
Two ways to hide:
1. weak interactions, or
2. very short ranges.
20. Experimental constraints on new forces.
Strength(relativetogravity)
Range [Schlamminger et al. 2008]
Allowed
Ruled Out
21. Laws of physics underlying
the experiences of our everyday lives
are completely known.
22. We don’t understand all of fundamental physics
by any means!
Perfectly obvious but necessary caveats
“Fundamental” doesn’t mean “interesting.”
It certainly doesn’t mean “useful.” Lower-level
knowledge is often useless at higher level.
“Deriving” higher-level theories is often not a
worthwhile endeavor.
23. Implications of this equation:
Nevertheless, there can be definite higher-level
consequences of lower-level theories.
There is no life after death; no mechanism by
which the soul can survive the body.
Astrology is wrong.
Electric charge is conserved.
24. Multiple different levels of description
seem to usefully talk about reality
(theories/models/vocabularies/ontologies/stories)
Cartoon:
particle
physics
chemistry biology
social
sciences
What counts as “fundamental”? What is “emergent”?
Which theories entail, supervene on, or explain which
other theories?
25. A coarse-grained (“emergent”) theory may capture
part of an underlying theory in a more efficient form.
kinetic theory/
statistical mechanics
O(1030
) equations
fluid mechanics/
thermodynamics
O(1) equations
26. Higher level theories can have a fundamentally
different character than lower-level theories they
are purportedly entailed by.
Emergent features
E.g. the arrow of time.
Thermodynamics has an arrow
of time, while mechanics does not.
Ultimately because the universe
comes with a low-entropy past
boundary condition.
time
27. time
Indeed, there is no obstacle to higher-level theories
being teleological, even if the lower-level theory is not.
Teleology can be thought of
as a future boundary condition.
No more bizarre than the
past boundary condition we
think actually exists.
Should we speak teleologically?
Yes, if it’s the most efficient description for a level.
28. Higher-level vocabulary might be completely different
in character than underlying (“fundamental”) description.
“The cat is trying to catch the mouse” is enormously
more informative than a list of all the elementary particles
in the cat/mouse system, plus the laws of particle physics.
29. Natural selection and emergent teleology
Darwin explained the appearance
of design via natural, impersonal
processes. Evolution has no purpose.
But organisms (or traits) can have
purposes, if invoking them provides the
best explanation. No designer implied.
No contradiction between saying
“evolution has no purpose” and
“organisms have purposes”;
just different vocabularies for
different levels of description.
30. The job of science is to describe the world.
There are other things we might want to do.
Judgment, aesthetics. Ethics, morality.
The meaning of life.
An entirely different kind of story. Must be
compatible with science, but not reducible to it.
Resist the temptation to think science is all there is.
Science and values:
description vs. prescription
31. Where do judgments come from?
(Good without God.)
Lots of places. Human beings are not blank slates.
They come equipped with desires, aspirations,
preferences, emotional reactions. From biology
as well as from culture.
Moral philosophy isn’t about proving universal
truths. It’s about taking our existing moral feelings
and developing them into something logical,
systematic, and compatible with those of other
people.
32. Developing theories of value is a matter of telling the
stories that best encapsulate our existing desires etc.
Subjective, but not arbitrary!
“The universe is made of stories,
not of atoms.” - Muriel Rukeyser
Finding meaning in life is an essentially creative act.
We bring purpose into the world;
it is not out there to be found.
33. Consider chess.
The rules of chess don’t inhere in
the fundamental laws of physics.
We invented them; they could be
otherwise. They are subjective.
But they are not arbitrary. They are carefully adjusted
to serve a purpose: the most interesting game.
Likewise for (e.g.) morality. Invented, but not at all
arbitrary. Our notions of morality are carefully adjusted
to serve a purpose: our notions of justice and fairness.
[Alan Light/Wikipedia]
34. Two fundamentally
different views on
gay marriage.
2) How to live is a decision we human beings have
to make. No configuration is naturally correct.
We decide how to best guarantee happiness
and protect individual dignity.
1) There is a “natural” and correct way for humans
to live. There is a natural and correct form
of marriage. One man, one woman.
35. Rick Warren was wrong:
it actually is all about you.
Neither the universe, nor anything outside it,
provides you with a purpose in life.
But you can choose one for yourself.
(As long as your reasoning is compatible with how
the universe works.)
Editor's Notes
The universe is big, and there’s a lot we don’t understand.
Voyager 1, 4 billion miles away. We have turned the tables on the universe: we can understand it.