Some questions arising from thinking about quantum physics and determinism
1. If physics is probabilistic does that mean that the universe itself is probabilistic? Could we say that our behavior, our next move, etc. is probabilistic? If we are all just quantum beings and nothing else.
2. But what does Frankel and those like him mean when they say there is another world besides this one? Does the notion of a grand unified theory mean the universe is deterministic? If we understood all the processes, nothing would be unpredictable? Or can a probabilistic world be part of a grand unified theory?
3. If ultimately, physics is only about describing relationships among objects, are those relationships predetermined or probabilistic?
4. If the universe is probabilistic and not predetermined does that mean we have any more or less control over life?
5. Should we only be describing observable phenomena (not what might be)? Is there some way to describe the future? If the world is deterministic, is there even a future? Is everything just right now
6. If Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (HUP) is correct, that we can only know the position OR the momentum of an electron at any given measurement, does that mean we can never know everything?
7. Does a grand unified theory depend on our ability to know everything? If so, does HUP agree with that? How are they reconciled. It seems like they both can't exist if Einstein's "spooky action at a distance" criticism is accurate because it implies that HUP gives us only an incomplete description of reality. And isn't a grand unified theory a complete description of reality (or something else?)
8. Does Einstein's resistance to HUP come from the belief that there is a grand unified theory?
9. Einstein says that the physicists job is to grasp reality as it is, independent of measurement (which suggests there is a reality "as it is" something separate from us then? Which I guess is the platonic idea that Frankel talks about). But, what if reality is only that which is measured and thus is never separate from us? It seems like it has to be because we can't "know" anything else . . .
Questions are partially inspired by "Einstein and the Quantum", by A Douglas Stone
2. But what does Frankel and those like him mean when they say there is another world besides this one? Does the notion of a grand unified theory mean the universe is deterministic? If we understood all the processes, nothing would be unpredictable? Or can a probabilistic world be part of a grand unified theory?
3. If ultimately, physics is only about describing relationships among objects, are those relationships predetermined or probabilistic?
4. If the universe is probabilistic and not predetermined does that mean we have any more or less control over life?
5. Should we only be describing observable phenomena (not what might be)? Is there some way to describe the future? If the world is deterministic, is there even a future? Is everything just right now
6. If Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (HUP) is correct, that we can only know the position OR the momentum of an electron at any given measurement, does that mean we can never know everything?
7. Does a grand unified theory depend on our ability to know everything? If so, does HUP agree with that? How are they reconciled. It seems like they both can't exist if Einstein's "spooky action at a distance" criticism is accurate because it implies that HUP gives us only an incomplete description of reality. And isn't a grand unified theory a complete description of reality (or something else?)
8. Does Einstein's resistance to HUP come from the belief that there is a grand unified theory?
9. Einstein says that the physicists job is to grasp reality as it is, independent of measurement (which suggests there is a reality "as it is" something separate from us then? Which I guess is the platonic idea that Frankel talks about). But, what if reality is only that which is measured and thus is never separate from us? It seems like it has to be because we can't "know" anything else . . .
Questions are partially inspired by "Einstein and the Quantum", by A Douglas Stone
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