CATEGORY:
Trick or Truth Essay Contest (2015)
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TOPIC:
Observer as the mathematician’s “constant” and the physicist’s “quantum”. by Chidi Idika
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Author Chidi Idika wrote on Mar. 10, 2015 @ 15:38 GMT
Essay AbstractI argue here that a great deal can be explained about the tango between physics and mathematics just by comparing and contrasting the foundational issues in both. Issues captured by the Peano axioms in mathematics versus quantum theory in physics. Both these “foundations” are concerned with developing, in my view, a generic notion of the reference frame/initial condition and by extension describing the dynamics of its evolution/devolution. I claim precisely that while the Peano axioms represent this state as the “constant” (number bases) quantum theory represents it as the “wave function” (quantum of observables). Crucially, both foundations agree that this state is the threshold of events. Indeed both foundations insist that one thing a threshold is not is the event proper i.e. an observable. Strangely this picture is in line with Pythagoras’ assertion that: all that exist is sound (think, “spins” or wave packets as signifying the natural numbers; observables) vis-à-vis the “fundamental”/number bases (if wave function) as signifying the observer proper. It is my conclusion that this collective picture can indeed go one notch up to become our theory of quantum gravity in that it supplies the basic testable postulate that: we being the observer in question our sensory threshold (mind) is then our proper quantum of observables/natural unit. Meaning, quantum gravity likely will be man’s best instance ever of the indistinguishableness of mathematics and physics.
Author BioI hold a B.A. Honours in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I also hold the personal conviction that a question well put is to all minds a call to duty.
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Author Chidi Idika wrote on Mar. 13, 2015 @ 22:55 GMT
Hello good people,
Permit me to apologize here for the typos and other glaring short comings in this essay. Submission deadline, hardly a good excuse, yet is the excuse. Asking that you can get past them to the essential arguments.
Chidi
Author Chidi Idika wrote on Mar. 13, 2015 @ 23:28 GMT
And, just in case you missed it, I make the deceptively simple argument that mathematics is exactly physics only by the extent the mathematician's
number bases ("constant") is interpreted to mean strictly the physicist's
quantum of observables such that the observables proper are the "natural numbers".
The term
observer means simply then the "natural unit". Therefore, conversely, to miss the
natural unit is to set the physics and the mathematics worlds apart.
Your frank comments are invited.
Joe Fisher wrote on Mar. 16, 2015 @ 19:23 GMT
Dear Mr. Idika,
I thought that your piquant English essay was exceptionally well written and I do hope that it fares well in the competition.
Warm Regards,
Joe Fisher
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Author Chidi Idika replied on Mar. 16, 2015 @ 23:00 GMT
Thank you, Mr Fisher, for reading this essay. Its been rather quite in here. And I expect questions.
All the best in the contest.
Chidi
Joe Fisher wrote on Apr. 8, 2015 @ 15:49 GMT
Dear Chidi,
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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Branko L Zivlak wrote on Apr. 14, 2015 @ 09:01 GMT
Dear Chidi,
I think the ultimate solution for Physics, is the theory of numbers. We must be realistic; it will not be long reached.
You are on the right track. Thus, I am going to give you the high score. I'd like you to comment on simple math in my essay (only 7 mathematical operations).
Regards,
Branko
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