Monday, January 5, 2015

New 2015 FQXi essay contest

FQXi has announced a new essay contest"






One question seems to be influenced by one of my essays:
My 2012 essay said:


1 comment:

  1. Roger,
    I like the train of thought you are following concerning the separation between mathematics and physics. I would posit that neither Physics nor Mathematics can ever fully describe reality, because in the end, as with any language, you are modeling/representing one thing with another thing. When we use the word 'dog', it refers to the actual class of creature, but the word isn't the creature, will never become the creature, and can only represent as much as the listener knows about what a dog is, which may be more or less correct or incorrect. When you describe something, with language or math, or physics, you are using the conventions and rules of one thing to create a model/representation of some kind of something else entirely. The understanding underlying the model is and always has been that is isn't what is actually being modeled, or else, why do it at all? The moment representation of another thing comes into play, you are admitting it isn't the thing itself, to do otherwise is self deception and folly.

    The question that is not being asked that should be is, Can any system of description, no matter how complex, whether physical or abstract, be deceived? This is THE philosophical can of worms the mathematicians do not want to open because they are fully aware that any system can be employed to any effect you desire given enough knowledge and skill. A mathematician is just as technically capable as any magician at engineering deception, history is replete with examples of this. Both are more than readily adept at the willful manipulation of the observer...and unfortunately themselves.

    Once upon a time, people discovered that the priest of any god can lie as well as anyone else. Should we not be equally skeptical of each newly minted school of mouthpieces professing to only speak the truth?