All Questions
Tagged with reality philosophy-of-physics
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Does physical reality exist without an observer?
This question also considers principles of quantum physics.
When electrons or any other subatomic particles are "observed" or "measured", their wavefunction collapses to a certain ...
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Metaphysical theories for why physics has the structure it has
The laws of physics have an extremely rich structure. The more fundamental you go, the more complex it becomes (e.g. Quantum Mechanics is more complex (no pun) than Newtonian mechanics). This ...
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Examples of theories that assume the existence of an “External Reality”?
In this paper written by physicist Max Tegmark (https://arxiv.org/pdf/0704.0646.pdf) it talks about "External Reality Hypothesis". Specifically, he says:
Although many physicists subscribe to the ...
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Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
In modern physics, the quantum wave distribution function necessarily uses complex numbers to represent itself. If physics defines the physical reality, then what we are saying by the statement above ...
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Is our civilization based on a illusion?
I have not studied philosophy although find interesting reading about. According to new theories in modern physics the concept of matter is an illusion. Matter is just a wave. We understand materials ...
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What are some arguments against the brain-in-a-vat thought experiment?
I read this article about how this guy in Switzerland did an experiment that he thought proved the Simulation Hypothesis of reality (link: http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.1847).
I have also been reading ...
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Deny the existence of infinities by philosophical means only [closed]
Is it possible to deny the existence of infinities in the real world, by philosophical means only?
If it makes it easier, I'm mainly interested to deny that we can know an infinite amount of things (...
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