Quantum Leaps
I've been pondering "discontinuities" observable in our understanding of reality/the cosmos. These represent, I think, hard problems for our science, though I think they tend to get glossed over or treated as meaningless/inconsequential in one way or another.
Some are characterized as "emergent" properties. Some as "epiphenomena". Some as "impossible barriers". All of which seems like hand waving non-explanation.
In no particular order, and I'll elaborate on them further as I go along:
1. The actual "leap" from quantum reality/mechanics to macroscopic reality/behavior (some quantum-like behavior in the macro world notwithstanding).
2. The energy to matter/matter to energy transition (E=mc2). We think we know what that's about. We apparently know enough about the matter to energy side of the equation to make weapons and power plants; but we have no concept really of going the other way except for very small amounts.
3. Complex chemistry to life. Where along the line of amino acids and protein synthesis does life actually enter the equation? How did RNA/DNA really arise? Does it carry information beyond the base instructions for building organisms? Is it some kind of technology? Is it itself intelligent?
4. The Hard Problem of Consciousness. Where does subjective experience arise? Neuroscience cannot locate consciousness in the brain, or even the entire body. Physics needs "consciousness" to collapse the quantum state to create reality. There must be an observer for photons to "chose" their path in order for the visible universe to manifest.
5. The intransigence of the Speed of Light (c).
6. The strange sort of inter-relationships among light, information, time, and distance.
Note that there are subtle interconnections among these. Maybe these aren't separate issues/problems/questions at all.
From the perspective of a photon, its entire journey from creation to perception occurs in a single eternal instant regardless whether it's a matter of inches from my computer screen, or billions of light years from the edge of the universe, to my eye.
What does that have to say about light and information, distance and time?
Some are characterized as "emergent" properties. Some as "epiphenomena". Some as "impossible barriers". All of which seems like hand waving non-explanation.
In no particular order, and I'll elaborate on them further as I go along:
1. The actual "leap" from quantum reality/mechanics to macroscopic reality/behavior (some quantum-like behavior in the macro world notwithstanding).
2. The energy to matter/matter to energy transition (E=mc2). We think we know what that's about. We apparently know enough about the matter to energy side of the equation to make weapons and power plants; but we have no concept really of going the other way except for very small amounts.
3. Complex chemistry to life. Where along the line of amino acids and protein synthesis does life actually enter the equation? How did RNA/DNA really arise? Does it carry information beyond the base instructions for building organisms? Is it some kind of technology? Is it itself intelligent?
4. The Hard Problem of Consciousness. Where does subjective experience arise? Neuroscience cannot locate consciousness in the brain, or even the entire body. Physics needs "consciousness" to collapse the quantum state to create reality. There must be an observer for photons to "chose" their path in order for the visible universe to manifest.
5. The intransigence of the Speed of Light (c).
6. The strange sort of inter-relationships among light, information, time, and distance.
Note that there are subtle interconnections among these. Maybe these aren't separate issues/problems/questions at all.
From the perspective of a photon, its entire journey from creation to perception occurs in a single eternal instant regardless whether it's a matter of inches from my computer screen, or billions of light years from the edge of the universe, to my eye.
What does that have to say about light and information, distance and time?
Comments
Post a Comment