TheMoon
Registered Member
Review wanted for scientific article. I'm not a scientist. I will post two pieces that I am working on. Would love some feedback with regards to getting published.
A man steps from behind the door of a sun-dried hut. His clothes are white: two sheets of cloth, partly covering an out-thrust chest. In the distance, a group of tall figures stand in twos and threes. The man's eyes narrow. There are around fifteen to twenty, each wearing a white coat, their faces masked with clip-boards. Sunlight streams onto the barren landscape. The primitive fellow retreats, then re-emerges with an army of men, women and children. This is Greece. The year 345. The pen-wielding invaders make a few quick-steps as they eye parts of the settlement. One may be forgiven to think that these are some other-worldly beings. But no. These are humans. Time-travellers.
The above is an example of what may be achieved in a few short decades. With evolutions in computing and other technology, we can clone time, teleport particles and send men into space. Reality, it seems, has shifted from the cave and into the once-perceived realms of science-fiction. Back, for the moment, to the year 345. A lot of people have abandoned their huts, headed over the field with sacks, jugs and food. Those who remain think this is a spiritual encounter. 'A sign', they say. 'From God!' For almost three centuries, Isaac Newton dominated the world of physics. It seemed we had almost an explanation for everything. From gravity to thermodynamics. From the heavens, to the sea! But at the turn of the twentieth century something strange was happening. Not unlike our story of the early Greeks and time-travellers, this something had opened the eyes of each physicist into a new way of reality. Quantum theory. There's magic in the world of science. Particles can travel the universe in an instant. Empty space is not empty. In the words of Niels Bohr, 'Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum mechanics, cannot possibly have understood it.' It is the study of discrete energies and it's those energies that underpin all our knowledge of nature. I-pads, cell-phones and laptops. These are just a small range of technological advances made in recent times. However, there is an underlying force in these achievements. One that cannot so easily be observed. The human brain is the most advanced tool of all creations. We can do things today, that yesterday we could never have dreamt.
Physical Reality and the Mind
There is perhaps more than a little difficulty encountered by those wishing to relate workings of the mind to quantum processes. However, the first notion to discard is that the pursuit of scientific knowledge has been swallowed by a lot of mystic nonsense. What we will be attempting to address in this part, is how sense perception governs the whole of reality. Also, what reality must entail, in order we can assign such a status. There are many hypothesis concerning quantum theory that will claim: The problem with experimental data occurs as a problem with perception. However, I am of the belief that a problem with experimental data occurs as a problem with experimental boundaries. Of course, there is no difference between the two; the only difficulties are created when desired results do not conform to expectations.
In order to relate an observable in quantum mechanics to the inner working of the consciousness, first one must hold certain quantum mechanical concepts. Mainly, that an observation made in such a case is so closely tied to perception that the two are inseperable. This concept is not only true, but recommended. There are reasons for this. First, that one may get to observe first-hand, the true workings of nature; second, the realization that nature is dependent entirely upon experimental boundaries. It is fruitful to try to define whether quantum mechanics has more do with reality or mind. Each representation in quantum mechanics is used as a mnemonic. The whole thing is a mathematical system, used for the prediction of quantum behaviours - which at first glance, seems to have no bearing whatever upon the physical world. We want to explore the argument of reality versus perception. And, how the study of quantum mechanics may accurately define that reality. How may one express, for instance, the reality in which our ancestors lived? since their representation of physical systems was not so detailed as our own. What about the future? i.e., if we can imagine a time when quantum mechanics falls short of new representations for systems, then how can we put fourth the statement that the whole of reality is all to do with how we perceive it? In answer to the last question, the problem would be resolved if each new breakthrough in the representation for systems was done in the name of quantum mechanics. Actually, only if one changed the name would this create inconsistencies. In order that one know he/she is in the right business, he/she must be prepared for a change in representations, as a change in the evolution of perception. Quantum mechanics, in order to accurately describe systems - and as we shall learn, is not about packing up as the result of too many conflicting ideas, but on principle, contain an in-depth study of psychological evolution. Best evidence suggests that people with larger intellectual capacity will proceed us. Therefore, it would be nonsense to embark upon a study that did not embrace all forms of reality.
For someone picking up a book on quantum mechanics for the first time, it may be difficult to see how a quantum observation bears any relation to reality at all, let alone perception. Yet with a little persistence, a little knowledge of chemical bonding, one may distance oneself from the compelling desire to picture quantum processes as occuring in the same way as classical events; instead, learns more about the way in which matter is composed. One also learns how one may observe all of this; from nuclear fusion, to rays of light from the sun. But the means by which awareness of relations between micro and macrocosms is not merely to do with matter, nor of the fundamental properties of matter. These means also, are not merely to do with light rays. For how we perceive quantum phenomenae - and gain an awareness of relations from that phenomenae into classical realms, is all to do with experimental boundaries.
What do we mean when we say that perception and reality are the same? For one can easily imagine that a discovery in quantum realms does not entail an abrupt change in the physical environment. But why do we think this? As we learn more about the physical environment through the aid of such studies, we have a tendency to change surroundings as a result of compiled data. Nowadays, these surroundings are mainly what one would call man-made. For instance, we no longer make buildings from asbestos - because of health risk. We no longer use coal-powered trains as a form of travel, in order to reduce pollutants in the atmosphere. Of course there are more examples such as this. Examples where the concept of a physical environment has changed because of a deeper knowledge of micro and macro relations.
A man steps from behind the door of a sun-dried hut. His clothes are white: two sheets of cloth, partly covering an out-thrust chest. In the distance, a group of tall figures stand in twos and threes. The man's eyes narrow. There are around fifteen to twenty, each wearing a white coat, their faces masked with clip-boards. Sunlight streams onto the barren landscape. The primitive fellow retreats, then re-emerges with an army of men, women and children. This is Greece. The year 345. The pen-wielding invaders make a few quick-steps as they eye parts of the settlement. One may be forgiven to think that these are some other-worldly beings. But no. These are humans. Time-travellers.
The above is an example of what may be achieved in a few short decades. With evolutions in computing and other technology, we can clone time, teleport particles and send men into space. Reality, it seems, has shifted from the cave and into the once-perceived realms of science-fiction. Back, for the moment, to the year 345. A lot of people have abandoned their huts, headed over the field with sacks, jugs and food. Those who remain think this is a spiritual encounter. 'A sign', they say. 'From God!' For almost three centuries, Isaac Newton dominated the world of physics. It seemed we had almost an explanation for everything. From gravity to thermodynamics. From the heavens, to the sea! But at the turn of the twentieth century something strange was happening. Not unlike our story of the early Greeks and time-travellers, this something had opened the eyes of each physicist into a new way of reality. Quantum theory. There's magic in the world of science. Particles can travel the universe in an instant. Empty space is not empty. In the words of Niels Bohr, 'Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum mechanics, cannot possibly have understood it.' It is the study of discrete energies and it's those energies that underpin all our knowledge of nature. I-pads, cell-phones and laptops. These are just a small range of technological advances made in recent times. However, there is an underlying force in these achievements. One that cannot so easily be observed. The human brain is the most advanced tool of all creations. We can do things today, that yesterday we could never have dreamt.
Physical Reality and the Mind
There is perhaps more than a little difficulty encountered by those wishing to relate workings of the mind to quantum processes. However, the first notion to discard is that the pursuit of scientific knowledge has been swallowed by a lot of mystic nonsense. What we will be attempting to address in this part, is how sense perception governs the whole of reality. Also, what reality must entail, in order we can assign such a status. There are many hypothesis concerning quantum theory that will claim: The problem with experimental data occurs as a problem with perception. However, I am of the belief that a problem with experimental data occurs as a problem with experimental boundaries. Of course, there is no difference between the two; the only difficulties are created when desired results do not conform to expectations.
In order to relate an observable in quantum mechanics to the inner working of the consciousness, first one must hold certain quantum mechanical concepts. Mainly, that an observation made in such a case is so closely tied to perception that the two are inseperable. This concept is not only true, but recommended. There are reasons for this. First, that one may get to observe first-hand, the true workings of nature; second, the realization that nature is dependent entirely upon experimental boundaries. It is fruitful to try to define whether quantum mechanics has more do with reality or mind. Each representation in quantum mechanics is used as a mnemonic. The whole thing is a mathematical system, used for the prediction of quantum behaviours - which at first glance, seems to have no bearing whatever upon the physical world. We want to explore the argument of reality versus perception. And, how the study of quantum mechanics may accurately define that reality. How may one express, for instance, the reality in which our ancestors lived? since their representation of physical systems was not so detailed as our own. What about the future? i.e., if we can imagine a time when quantum mechanics falls short of new representations for systems, then how can we put fourth the statement that the whole of reality is all to do with how we perceive it? In answer to the last question, the problem would be resolved if each new breakthrough in the representation for systems was done in the name of quantum mechanics. Actually, only if one changed the name would this create inconsistencies. In order that one know he/she is in the right business, he/she must be prepared for a change in representations, as a change in the evolution of perception. Quantum mechanics, in order to accurately describe systems - and as we shall learn, is not about packing up as the result of too many conflicting ideas, but on principle, contain an in-depth study of psychological evolution. Best evidence suggests that people with larger intellectual capacity will proceed us. Therefore, it would be nonsense to embark upon a study that did not embrace all forms of reality.
For someone picking up a book on quantum mechanics for the first time, it may be difficult to see how a quantum observation bears any relation to reality at all, let alone perception. Yet with a little persistence, a little knowledge of chemical bonding, one may distance oneself from the compelling desire to picture quantum processes as occuring in the same way as classical events; instead, learns more about the way in which matter is composed. One also learns how one may observe all of this; from nuclear fusion, to rays of light from the sun. But the means by which awareness of relations between micro and macrocosms is not merely to do with matter, nor of the fundamental properties of matter. These means also, are not merely to do with light rays. For how we perceive quantum phenomenae - and gain an awareness of relations from that phenomenae into classical realms, is all to do with experimental boundaries.
What do we mean when we say that perception and reality are the same? For one can easily imagine that a discovery in quantum realms does not entail an abrupt change in the physical environment. But why do we think this? As we learn more about the physical environment through the aid of such studies, we have a tendency to change surroundings as a result of compiled data. Nowadays, these surroundings are mainly what one would call man-made. For instance, we no longer make buildings from asbestos - because of health risk. We no longer use coal-powered trains as a form of travel, in order to reduce pollutants in the atmosphere. Of course there are more examples such as this. Examples where the concept of a physical environment has changed because of a deeper knowledge of micro and macro relations.