28 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Do Not Extrapolate Macro-Philosophy from Quantum Phenomena

Many scientists have tried to make determinism and complementarity the basis of conclusions that seem to me weak and dangerous; for instance, they have used Heisenberg's uncertainty principle to bolster up human free will, though his principle, which applies exclusively to the behavior of electrons and is the direct result of microphysical measurement techniques, has nothing to do with human freedom of choice. It is far safer and wiser that the physicist remain on the solid ground of theoreti...
Folksonomies: philosophy micro macro quantum
Folksonomies: philosophy micro macro quantum
  1  notes

People try to infer that the uncertainty principle means we have free will, but the principle only applies to the behavior of electrons.

24 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Theoretical Physics is Philosophy

I have tried to read philosophers of all ages and have found many illuminating ideas but no steady progress toward deeper knowledge and understanding. Science, however, gives me the feeling of steady progress: I am convinced that theoretical physics is actual philosophy. It has revolutionized fundamental concepts, e.g., about space and time (relativity), about causality (quantum theory), and about substance and matter (atomistics), and it has taught us new methods of thinking (complementarity...
Folksonomies: physics philosophy
Folksonomies: physics philosophy
  1  notes

It has made more progress and provided more illumination that traditional philosophy.