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Trick or Truth Essay Contest (2015)
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Physics the Philosophy of Mathematics by Demond Adams
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Author Demond Adams wrote on Jan. 21, 2015 @ 21:13 GMT
Essay AbstractMathematics describes the logic of numbers while physics explicitly explains the laws of nature, yet somehow these separate disciplines appear eternally and intrinsically related. We can not describe nature without referencing physics and we cannot describe physics without introducing mathematics. Are these distinct constructs derived from a similar study “the logic of nature”, or is this a coincidental aspect of nature’s mystery? In this paper I will discuss the motivation of applying mathematics to physics and argue its cohesive interplay in guiding our investigations of nature.
Author BioTheoretical Physicists and author of "The New Standard Model"
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Sophia Magnusdottir wrote on Jan. 22, 2015 @ 08:14 GMT
Are you sure we cannot describe nature without using mathematics? In my essay, I argue that we can!
-- Sophia
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Author Demond Adams replied on Jan. 22, 2015 @ 18:52 GMT
I admit, I know nothing about flying planes, but somehow I find comfort in the pilots entrusted to land planes safely.
Inevitably our drifting galaxy will one day collide with another massive galaxy and this home planet will ricochet out of our known orbit and into a dark abyss. It is with the correct interpretation of mathematics entrusted to physicists that I find solace in determining what would eventually happen next against the various opinions of many that will undoubtedly offer speculative assumptions regarding these future events.
Sure we may describe nature without the rigors of mathematics, but it will only offer speculative assumptions regarding future events. Some events are insignificant, but I simply prefer the absolute confidence provided from the accumulated study of mathematics and physics.
Best regards,
-D.c.Adams
Sophia Magnusdottir replied on Jan. 23, 2015 @ 07:55 GMT
Hi Demond,
Predictions are always speculative as we can never rule out, strictly speaking, that the laws of nature change tomorrow. But the quality of speculation that is possible has nothing to do in principle with our use of mathematics, it has something to do with the laws of nature and our ability to make observations.
See, what we do when we use math is basically that we try to find a system that is a (usually greatly simplified) description of another system. We test it against observations, and the more tests it passes, the higher our confidence becomes. You can do the same thing for systems that are not math. Take the example with the black box in my essay. If you test it sufficiently often you become more confident that it is useful, and you will try to use it the next time. Do you really "know" that it will still be correct tomorrow? No, you don't, you are never entirely certain, you just become more confident. Math just turns out to be a particularly useful "box" for some cases.
-- Sophia
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Koorosh Shahdaei wrote on Jan. 23, 2015 @ 11:07 GMT
Hi Demond,
Would you explain further what you meant by: "Mathematics represents who we are and manipulates what we will become."
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Author Demond Adams replied on Jan. 23, 2015 @ 16:24 GMT
Koorosh,
Thank you for your question and reviewing my essay. The sentence means many things…but to offer one explanation without the philosophical conjecture-
The human body is undoubtedly a miraculous machine and it is only reliable because it depends on mathematics which is fundamentally reliable. It also is constructed to fails only because of mathematics.
Take for instance the blood pressure going through our veins. If it is maintained in equilibrium we live, if it is not -we die. This is a simple equation, but it holds life and death within the small parameters of an equation. We may do things to ourselves to offset this balance or maintain it. Otherwise, it is relatively consistent and we must depend on this equation to remain as reliable and predictable as possible to stay alive. We are at the mercy of a gauged equation every day.
Now consider the conception of a child. Its biology is the construct or "summation" of genes contributed by two separate individuals. A unique algorithm of their genes creates this new person. This algorithm iterated in the form of a DNA strand can represent who the child is physically. "Mathematics represents who we are"...
Let’s say we made copies of this algorithm and made clones of this child. The physiology of these cloned children are initially identical because the mathematical algorithm creating their genes is identical (equilibrium in mathematical equation). If we distributed these children to different locations on the earth and simply exposed them to different levels of UV radiation, their DNA molecules would change slightly and as cells repair/duplicate themselves during maturation, these variable DNA modifications or derivations within the algorithmic code is calculable and would ultimately change their physiology. Mathematics "...manipulates what we will become".
Once again thanks for the great question!
Best Regards,
D.C.Adams
Edwin Eugene Klingman wrote on Jan. 27, 2015 @ 20:52 GMT
Dear Demond,
I tend to agree with a number of your comments on others' threads. In your essay you refer several times to "physical laws", whether as "rules of the virtual game" or "web of mathematical laws prescribed as physics". There are different perspectives on this, two prominent ones being that the "laws" of nature are
outside of physics or that these laws
arise from physical existence. I tend to favor the second, and I'm not sure which one you favor. You several times refer to 'free will' as delusional which seems to favor physical reality subject to "outside laws". I view free will as basic, and compatible with physical reality, as I have indicated in earlier essays.
But I may have misinterpreted you, as you note that "it is only through the guide of human intuition that we possess the ability to confidently derive a mathematical interpretation." I agree with this, but I associate 'intuition' with consciousness, which I further associate with free will.
Your example of zero and infinity is interesting, but I tend to avoid infinities, not understanding their math and doubting their physical relevance.
You deal with complex ideas, such as "the laws of the universe are relative", but "relative to what?" Your development of perspective theory in terms of observers leads to a focus on density. I'm not sure I understand your statement that "an object's gauged field dimensions (volume) is represented by its density",' but I am convinced that density as the crucial variable is often overlooked today, most particularly particle densities.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my essay, and best wishes to you.
Edwin Eugene Klingman
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Author Demond Adams wrote on Jan. 27, 2015 @ 22:40 GMT
Edwin,
Thank you for your post. Forgive me, but for an analogy I will consider a computer application.
I tend to think of physical laws as a software application of which there are many. Fundamentally we are capable of reducing the hierarchy of an application into a lower Boolean logic of (1's and 0's) on or off. Somewhere in between we use a programming language and interpreter...
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Edwin,
Thank you for your post. Forgive me, but for an analogy I will consider a computer application.
I tend to think of physical laws as a software application of which there are many. Fundamentally we are capable of reducing the hierarchy of an application into a lower Boolean logic of (1's and 0's) on or off. Somewhere in between we use a programming language and interpreter that helps the computer initialize the application. This middle layer is the 'web of mathematics'/programming language used by nature. Nature represents the entire hierarchical structure. Our existence is, hypothetically speaking, on the upper application layer, a physicist may manipulate the program to build any application in an effort to render any specific event, the theorists binds the interpreter layer while the mathematician understands the basic code of logic at the physical layer. So yes, we may say 'the laws of nature are outside of physics', but that is only true because it is beyond our comprehension of a specified layer. Similarly we may observe strange phenomenon or failures that may arise within the upper application that have nothing to do with that programming layer (physics), but behind this programming layer, within the basic code, we find a conflict beyond our higher scope we must troubleshoot and investigate. Comprehensively the hierarchical system is structured on the dependency of other layers to facilitate reality as we observe it. This is almost similar to the concept of dimensional 'flat landers' if you will.
Nevertheless, we can not change the fundamental layer, we are only capable of modifying the upper layers of reality using our arrangement of physical laws/programming code. The programming hierarchy works bottom up. This means we are at some levels incapable of changing the basic fundamental laws upon which our reality operates.
Free will is limited. We must evoke a loop hole in the fundamental laws using the fundamental laws to create a desired outcome of free will. This is not free will, it is more an explicit negotiation of the physical laws at one layer constituted by a fundamental programming layer below. We are constantly compromising with these silly fundamental laws to exercise free will...so said the politician, banker, and attorney.
Every object occupies a particular spatial gauge. For ease of calculation, we shortcut this concept and assume every object observed as a point particle of mass which is very misleading. The mass and spatial ratios (volume) become important when we describe the bending of relative space-time in multiple trajectories. My definition of dimensions relates to a path in space or a direction in space relative to a designated superposition in space and it describes the object's shape (gauged volume without mass-think of a wire grid in animation). There are infinite dimensions in which an object may propagate (we may use only 3 and their relative relation to each other, but this method is a relative triangulation of dimensions in orthogonal perspectives -- it's also why I introduced infinities in relation to a hypothesized superposition zero- but both are abstracts and not absolute.)
Thank you for your inquiry and sorry for the long response, but you asked great questions...best wishes to you as well,
D.C.Adams
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Edwin Eugene Klingman replied on Jan. 28, 2015 @ 00:34 GMT
Dear Demond,
Thanks for your excellent analogy/answer to my questions. I am intimately familiar with the OSI Seven Layer scheme; the physical layer, the data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and application layers. I haven't worked there for over 10 years so I haven't thought about it much recently, but it does provide an interesting analogical perspective.
You say it works bottom-up, so we are at some level incapable of changing the fundamental laws upon which are reality operates. You then note that free will is limited. That seems to imply that it exists. I believe it exists and agree it is limited. But I tend to see it as an operation at the lowest level. To stick with the analogy, in ISDN the physical layer is a simple state machine with a simple protocol interface to the data link, but
below this, the physical layer performs adaptive echo cancellation to optimize signaling. This
adaptive behavior, (like free will) is completely invisible to all seven layers above it, yet it performs one of the most crucial operations! This is only an analogy, but, I think, a surprisingly appropriate one.
Anyway thanks for your analogy, which I found both apt and interesting.
Best,
Edwin Eugene Klingman
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Akinbo Ojo wrote on Feb. 12, 2015 @ 13:54 GMT
Dear Demond, I like the approach taken in your essay.
When you say, "Philosophy was developed to discern verifiable facts from fiction using the logic of deductive reasoning...."
May I ask you to use such reasoning to educate me on what an extended line in space consist of and how can you cut a line? Bear in mind that in continuous space, between any two points there is a third and a point is uncuttable. Yet you can swing the blade of your sword in the air without hindrance. Even, in finite geometry, the case is not better as I point out in my essay.
Then you ask: "How can something derive from nothing? If everything is derived from nothing, then something is ultimately nothing when deduced". That is the Parmenidean curse at work, which in my opinion has kept our physics imprisoned for millennia. I suggest we break the curse.
All the best in the competition.
Regards,
Akinbo
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Author Demond Adams replied on Feb. 12, 2015 @ 17:21 GMT
Akinbo,
Absolutely an awesome question! Based on my theoretical work, I found nature offers a continuous connection between all objects of mass inclusive of the vacuum of space. I proposed this as my answer to the mass-gap theory proposed by Yang-Mills. This suggests there is no separation to speak of outside of a gauged limit defined by arbitrary locations in space set by the...
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Akinbo,
Absolutely an awesome question! Based on my theoretical work, I found nature offers a continuous connection between all objects of mass inclusive of the vacuum of space. I proposed this as my answer to the mass-gap theory proposed by Yang-Mills. This suggests there is no separation to speak of outside of a gauged limit defined by arbitrary locations in space set by the parameterized notion of our preferred or detectable observation. This is why my equations describe spatial densities (as a parameterized gauge density regarding an object limited by the surface area as the object) that is transformed into a field matrix or a “hyper-field density” (a gauged density field greater than the limited surface area of the object) which is then displaced and dispersed in our collective universe (a global field density). Because we exist within the collective universe these densities, we believe as separate entities, are in fact ultimately connected with the gauge field of the universe. Therefore fragmentation is an illusion due to a preferred gauged limitation by its detection or declared observation. We may place over this reality, an abstraction of a detached geometric grid (Hilbert-Space) to describe a narrative of events in time.
That’s a mouthful of jargon, but let me explain in an example. Imagine a long fabric extended to infinity in every dimension. This is our uniformed global field. We may crumple a section of this fabric and declare, because the density of this region far exceeds the density of the fabric at relative locations, this section is an isolated object. We may crumple another section, perhaps not as large, but at another location on the sheet and assume there are two separate isolated objects separated by nothing only because we have omitted the observation of the fundamental fabric when we compare a limit of what we choose to observe (the crumpling of a location at a particular density limit “quantization”). The fundamental fabric appears as a negligible constituent when we describe the interactions and depictions of either object. We may add the distinct densities of the two objects to describe a conjoined gauged density/object or we may separate/subtract these two objects from the conjoined state to describe fragmentation. Nevertheless these two objects exist as constituents of the fundamental fabric no matter how many times we fragment/divide these objects. Also these objects remain conjoined to the fundamental fabric, so regardless of where they are located on the sheet, they remain “entangled” or part of the collective density of the fundamental sheet. The density of the fundamental sheet is extremely low relative the density of tangible objects, but it is not zero and because its density depends on the location of crumpled sections its density is not uniformed throughout! This suggests we may only discuss fragmentation in terms of the localization of a “quantized” measurement within a conjoined unit or object that is not uniformed nor constant–the universe. Through mathematics and geometry, our imaginary detached/separated grid points helps us identify locations within the field, but this is only a tool used to help visualize and represent the locality of densities within the confined field that remains objectively unbiased and constant.
I agree whole heartedly about breaking a curse of our own ignorance. However, one good thing about contemplating hard questions everyone avoids, it leads those pioneers into a path of discoveries others have not seen!
Thanks and Best Regards,
-D.C. Adams
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Sujatha Jagannathan wrote on Feb. 16, 2015 @ 09:41 GMT
Speaking truly as a true physicist, indeed!
Hands-On!
Sincerely,
Miss. Sujatha Jagannathan
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Richard Lewis wrote on Feb. 18, 2015 @ 11:54 GMT
Hi Desmond,
I did like reading your essay which was very clearly expressed. I also share your view about the lack of a realistic interpretation of quantum theory.
I did not fully understand perspective theory and how this helps with the interpretation of reality.
In your essay you say: Quantum mechanics appears probabilistic because it attempts to identify the fixed trajectory of a gauged particle density within the perspective of an infinite field gradient.
My comment now is from the viewpoint of the Spacetime Wave theory (see my essay: solving the mystery). My version would be: Quantum mechanics appears probabilistic because the photon is a dispersed wave disturbance of spacetime and the electron is a looped wave disturbance of spacetime. When an interaction occurs (for example between a photon and an electron in an interference experiment) the probabilistic effects only come into play at the point of interaction (observastion, detection). Prior to this everything progressed as real physical waves with a well defined but dispersed nature.
Regards
Richard
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Author Demond Adams replied on Feb. 18, 2015 @ 17:54 GMT
Richard,
Thank you for commenting. Perspective Theory offers an infinite degree of dimensional propagation (freedom) relative the perspective (super-position) of the object or observer . It is this displacement in a field gradient (space-time) in a particular direction (possible trajectories) using a parameter gauged object (defined space-time manifold or 'loop') that creates a probabilistic outcome (reality) in quantum mechanics.
In other words, the ratio of the defined gauged propagation of the object (factored displacement of the real object in space-time -- value in a numerator) by a gauged perspective field gradient (a field of possible dimensional trajectories -- value in a denominator) creates a probable divergence which is the real outcome of the interaction. By inverting these factors we describe fragmentation (Quantum Chromo-Dynamics/fragmentation and the scattering of 'parton' particles/debris).
You don't give yourself enough credit... the main concept of your comment is very accurate and correlates with the main principles offered in Perspective Theory - we simply selected different words to describe the same effect. (Having different defined perspectives on the same reality is relative! Reality describes the accuracy of these possible perspectives.) Great comment.
Best Regards,
-D.C. Adams
basudeba mishra wrote on Feb. 19, 2015 @ 04:19 GMT
Dear Sir,
We thoroughly enjoyed your excellent essay.
Mathematics describes the quantitative aspect of Nature, whereas physics describes the other aspects – qualia. Thus, they are interrelated. Language is the transposition of information to another system’s CPU or mind by signals or sounds using energy (self communication is perception). The transposition may relate to a fixed...
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Dear Sir,
We thoroughly enjoyed your excellent essay.
Mathematics describes the quantitative aspect of Nature, whereas physics describes the other aspects – qualia. Thus, they are interrelated. Language is the transposition of information to another system’s CPU or mind by signals or sounds using energy (self communication is perception). The transposition may relate to a fixed object/information. It can be used in different domains and different contexts or require modifications in prescribed manner depending upon the context. Since mathematics follows these rules, it is also a language. Mathematics explains only how much one quantity, whether scalar or vector; accumulate or reduce linearly or non-linearly in interactions involving similar or partly similar quantities and not what, why, when, where, or with whom about the objects. These are subject matters of physics. The interactions are chemistry.
All our measuring instruments have limited capacity to measure: one aspect over time. Thus, we take readings in phases. The same is true for perception. Thus, we cannot have all knowledge. For this reason, we take readings over limited time and generalize it sometimes linking it with other aspects (which may not be complete and sometimes go against natural principles). This “pattern of presumptive logical sequences controlled by a probabilistic array of options derived from a shared algorithm” explains our interpretation of events. Love is just like charge interaction and intoxicates one individual to be attracted towards someone or something else. When we come across our object of love, consciously or unconsciously we recall some past event, the memory of which is pleasant. This intoxicates us and we equate the whole object or persona with our sweet memory to pursue that “happiness” or “preferred state”, though it is not true – it may have other unpleasant aspects, which would be revealed later. It does not follow logic.
We have discussed measurement, relativity, zero and infinity in detail from fundamental perspective in our essay.
Reality is whatever exists (has a limited structure that evolves in time and is perceptible), is intelligible (knowable) and communicable (describable using a language). Perception is the processing of the result of measurements of different but related fields of something with some stored data to convey a combined form “it is like that”, where “it” refers to an object (constituted of bits) and “that” refers to a concept signified by the object (self-contained representation). Measurement returns restricted information related to only one field at a time. To understand all aspects, we have to take multiple readings of all aspects. Hence in addition to encryption (language phrased in terms of algorithms executed on certain computing machines - sequence of symbols), compression (quantification and reduction of complexity - grammar) and data transmission (sound, signals), there is a necessity of mixing information (mass of text, volume of intermediate data, time over which such process will be executed) related to different aspects (readings generated from different fields), with a common code (data structure - strings) to bring it to a format “it is like that”.
Look at the structure of any equation. The initial condition or parameters are represented by the left hand side. The equality (or inequality) sign describes the special conditions to be met to start any interaction: be it the mathematics for dynamical systems to navigate through the Inter Planetary Super-highways (IPS) at macro level or the transition states in chemical reactions at micro level. Given the initial conditions, the right hand side describes the theorized outcome of the interaction. We may vary the parameters of the left hand side. That is our freewill (though our choices or degrees of freedom may be limited). Once the initial parameters are set, the right hand side - final outcome - will vary correspondingly as long as the equality sign holds. It is predetermined; otherwise there will be no theory. The equality sign - the special conditions – like temperature threshold to start a chemical reaction, are also predetermined.
Regards,
basudeba
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Alex Newman wrote on Mar. 1, 2015 @ 18:25 GMT
Mathematics is used to make up things we think they are laws of nature. But the essay claims that we use math to find laws of nature. Only nature knows its laws.
Do I miss something? Infinity minus infinity does not equal zero.
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Author Demond Adams wrote on Mar. 2, 2015 @ 15:23 GMT
Alex,
Mathematics is simply a model (tool) used to illustrate occurrences found in nature. This is no different than a painter painting an observed image or a musician scoring sheet music in an attempt to illustrate sound. Through the theory of music we are able to manipulate random notes (frequencies) to depict and communicate reality or imagination. Physics is similar but in...
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Alex,
Mathematics is simply a model (tool) used to illustrate occurrences found in nature. This is no different than a painter painting an observed image or a musician scoring sheet music in an attempt to illustrate sound. Through the theory of music we are able to manipulate random notes (frequencies) to depict and communicate reality or imagination. Physics is similar but in this discipline, the theory attempts to isolate the depicted truthful realities regarding nature. We are currently maturing these ideas to form a conclusive model. Until we satisfy our understandings of their individual incompleteness - all of our theories should be considered a speculative philosophy regarding the application of mathematics in its depiction of nature. Which is why I titled the essay “Physics the Philosophy of Mathematics”.
I used the infinity equation deliberately as a method to stir debates regarding how we see abstract numbers in mathematics (the proof of ‘interpreted’ axioms) which may differ from how we describe them in physics (constant numerical values). Until we resolve a better understanding of both we are left to philosophizing the truths about nature and its cohesive bond to mathematics and physics.
(Hint: Infinity and Zero are not numbers they are functions so they do not obey certain mathematical assumptions. What about the other numbers in between? Should we regard them as numbers or functions? It depends on our definition and context of the numbers used which require interpretation, definition, and perspective.).
Kudos - Very keen observation!
Best Regards,
D.C. Adams
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Marcel-Marie LeBel wrote on Mar. 27, 2015 @ 18:55 GMT
Demond,
Are these distinct constructs derived from a similar study “the logic of nature”, or is this a coincidental aspect of nature’s mystery?
To me, this is the most important statement of your essay. To recognize the logic of nature.
Good luck,
Marcel,
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Joe Fisher wrote on Mar. 31, 2015 @ 15:22 GMT
Dear Dr. Adams,
I thought that your engrossing essay was exceptionally well written and I do hope that it fares well in the competition.
I think Newton was wrong about abstract gravity; Einstein was wrong about abstract space/time, and Hawking was wrong about the explosive capability of NOTHING.
All I ask is that you give my essay WHY THE REAL UNIVERSE IS NOT MATHEMATICAL a fair reading and that you allow me to answer any objections you may leave in my comment box about it.
Joe Fisher
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