tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post8802133516915312380..comments2023-09-27T07:44:19.769-04:00Comments on Sabine Hossenfelder: Backreaction: Physics or Philosophy?Sabine Hossenfelderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-67151892700120683282010-08-06T16:57:46.756-04:002010-08-06T16:57:46.756-04:00To me, it seems theories of everything and unifica...To me, it seems theories of everything and unification crumble under their own mathematical weight. <br /><br />This challenge is nearly as daunting as actually finding a working model.<br /><br />Maybe there is no ToE, or forces can't be united because they are different in their very nature. <br /><br />There are some new approaches, like wolfram automatas. In that vein, neural network, roselanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18081972489524724285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-52711176912071904212010-08-06T10:07:05.934-04:002010-08-06T10:07:05.934-04:00Hi Phil,
No, I was trying to find a formal defini...Hi Phil,<br /><br />No, I was trying to find a formal definition that was general enough to apply for most scenarios in which the word is commonly used. That went quite well up to some point, but forgot the details. This was briefly before one or the other move, and whatever I tend to start in these time periods ends up in a box somewhere in a corner. Best,<br /><br />B.Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-61122896537032272412010-08-06T07:15:36.304-04:002010-08-06T07:15:36.304-04:00Hi Bee,
So you’ve thought to generalize the conce...Hi Bee,<br /><br />So you’ve thought to generalize the concept of emergent action as it relates to phenomena, now that I would consider both an interesting an worthwhile thing to pursue. As I indicated to Steven emergence is certainly not a new idea yet as you point out it has never been formerly defined as to have it clear where and when it has application. One thing for certain Descartes Phil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-78993536618567485472010-08-06T06:39:13.162-04:002010-08-06T06:39:13.162-04:00Steven,
The reason that many people seem to belie...Steven,<br /><br />The reason that many people seem to believe "emergence" is ill-defined is that it is used frequently in inappropriate, inaccurate or fuzzy context. In that, it suffers the same problem as "complexity." Anyway, there are cases where it can be nicely defined and of course if you want to make scientific statements, you better stick to those cases where you knowSabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-64347210829351621362010-08-06T06:26:39.283-04:002010-08-06T06:26:39.283-04:00Hi Steven,
Emergence is far from being a new conc...Hi Steven,<br /><br />Emergence is far from being a new concept in physics or science more generally as Rene Descartes was first to break with the Platoian concept of perfect form, which then paved the way for thinkers such as Darwin and the others that followed Yet even the idea of perfect form can still coexist within an emergent conceptualization if such is transferred to being then consideredPhil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-53370055438769782882010-08-06T05:23:58.433-04:002010-08-06T05:23:58.433-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-71260263444028552642010-08-06T05:23:29.919-04:002010-08-06T05:23:29.919-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-41451219503097094612010-08-06T05:22:56.298-04:002010-08-06T05:22:56.298-04:00However, chaos is an emergent feature.
I persona...<i>However, chaos is an emergent feature.</i> <br /><br />I personally find "emergence" to be the most ill-defined concept in the Sciences, at present. I have no problem with that, because the study of same is so new. It spans everything from "Emergent Consciousness" (oh, please) to Emergent Dimensions in CDT, and everything in-between. <br /><br /><i>I don't think it willSteven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-60764829522166697432010-08-05T13:24:47.245-04:002010-08-05T13:24:47.245-04:00I thought you hadn´t published the previous commen...I thought you hadn´t published the previous comment; I should have briefly stated what the link was about. I am glad you liked it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770210977082638726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-2038685482246315092010-07-30T11:31:07.712-04:002010-07-30T11:31:07.712-04:00Hi Steven,
Chaos theory is some decades old. I sh...Hi Steven,<br /><br />Chaos theory is some decades old. I share your believe that it will become more important in physics. It's a matter of techniques I believe. However, chaos is an emergent feature. I don't think it will be relevant on the most elementary level. The same holds for fractals. Neither a seashell, nor a fern, nor a tree are even remotely elementary. Besides that, the Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-88354906184250301152010-07-28T11:01:19.775-04:002010-07-28T11:01:19.775-04:00Hi Christine,
You wrote:
These simple rules (the ...Hi Christine,<br /><br />You wrote:<br /><i>These simple rules (the scientific method) seem to become less and less important in detriment of achieving personal status in the career.</i><br /><br />Oh I hear that, and I second the motion.<br /><br />Such an attitude slows down Science, IMO. I don't see it in Biology so much, because they look pretty busy over there. Physics is on the other Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-71681317056514069762010-07-28T09:57:33.840-04:002010-07-28T09:57:33.840-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-91824686481802779792010-07-26T12:46:01.930-04:002010-07-26T12:46:01.930-04:00"to adapt out agendas to what is really neces..."to adapt out agendas to what is really necessary to proceed from here on"<br /><br />please replace with<br /><br />"to adapt OUR agendas to what is really necessary to proceed from here on"<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />ChristineChristine Cordula Dantashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271747374185459530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-58696527321927515212010-07-26T12:40:08.496-04:002010-07-26T12:40:08.496-04:00Steven,
On a second thought, or maybe a complemen...Steven,<br /><br />On a second thought, or maybe a complementary thought, what I mean to say is that science is a very complex activity with otherwise very simple rules. These simple rules (the scientific method) seem to become less and less important in detriment of achieving personal status in the career. This problem lies in the "complex side" of the activity.<br /><br />This is notChristine Cordula Dantashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271747374185459530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-32467388767672591782010-07-26T11:48:14.198-04:002010-07-26T11:48:14.198-04:00Hi Christine,
Well put. I'm not sure we need ...Hi Christine,<br /><br />Well put. I'm not sure we need the next Einstein as much as the new Gauss. New Einsteins seem to come along once a century, New Gauss's once every half a millennium. If people wish to call Lee Smolin "the new Einstein" and Ed Witten "the new Gauss", I'm good with that.Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-7369493410978596602010-07-26T11:48:00.695-04:002010-07-26T11:48:00.695-04:00Hi Bee,
However, I have no clue why the "non...Hi Bee,<br /><br /><i>However, I have no clue why the "non-linearity of the universe" (not sure what you mean with that) means that 1d objects (and all the higher-d objects that string theory brings along) are implausible.</i><br /><br />I should have said "fractal" rather than "non-linear." Actually that too but "fractal" would have made more sense. Every Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-89063532324131606282010-07-26T11:47:36.522-04:002010-07-26T11:47:36.522-04:00Hi Bee,
However, I have no clue why the "non...Hi Bee,<br /><br /><i>However, I have no clue why the "non-linearity of the universe" (not sure what you mean with that) means that 1d objects (and all the higher-d objects that string theory brings along) are implausible.</i><br /><br />I should have said "fractal" rather than "non-linear." Actually that too but "fractal" would have made more sense. Every Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-64858084889346549582010-07-26T10:46:16.820-04:002010-07-26T10:46:16.820-04:00Every knowledge must embrace lack of knowledge -- ...Every knowledge must embrace lack of knowledge -- any one-sided view is just human illusion. We should not rely on just one side of what we "think it is true", but look for wisdom in the opposites. Theories just attempt to describe what is observed or needed for logical completeness of our particular understanding of nature, up to limits. I do not understand current obsession of Christine Cordula Dantashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271747374185459530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-89159893062893913242010-07-26T09:48:16.467-04:002010-07-26T09:48:16.467-04:00Hi Steven,
Of course the problems with 0d objects...Hi Steven,<br /><br />Of course the problems with 0d objects don't necessarily mean that string theory is the correct description of Nature. However, I have no clue why the "non-linearity of the universe" (not sure what you mean with that) means that 1d objects (and all the higher-d objects that string theory brings along) are implausible. I actually don't even know what you Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-76242589642506514772010-07-25T09:12:11.750-04:002010-07-25T09:12:11.750-04:00Hi Bee,
I don't understand why you have a par...Hi Bee,<br /><br /><i>I don't understand why you have a particular problem with the assumptions of 1d objects. 0d objects are far more problematic.</i><br /><br />Agreed on 0d, I just openly question whether or not 1d is correct. We live in a non-linear universe, period. Also a quantum mechanical one that includes general relativity on large scales. Both QM and GR are likely low energy Steven Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435759210177642257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-59271639005361938052010-07-25T08:59:15.480-04:002010-07-25T08:59:15.480-04:00Hi Bee,
It’s at least nice to hear there are some...Hi Bee,<br /><br />It’s at least nice to hear there are some physicists out there who consider that much of the current difficulty rests with what we think we know rather then what we don’t. I’m also somewhat surprised to learn that you feel it may rest with the foundations of QM as I’ve never heard you express this so clearly before. However I find it unfortunate that you consider such Phil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-60607122176803489042010-07-25T08:41:10.923-04:002010-07-25T08:41:10.923-04:00I suppose I might as well make one of my periodic ...I suppose I might as well make one of my periodic reminders, that math/logic per se do not and <i>cannot in principle</i> specify logically select "realness" of reification among various model descriptions. Hence we have no idea why our universe is the way it is, other than either taking it for granted, saying we're just in one of the possible worlds, or there's an exterior/Neil Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04564859009749481136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-18046241795038259762010-07-25T08:39:50.190-04:002010-07-25T08:39:50.190-04:00Hi Bee,
I think it is good to have some balance o...Hi Bee,<br /><br />I think it is good to have some balance of phenomenology and pure theory. To reach it, one need not to follow after any hype that's up to date. And this means, one should get jobs for different issues, which wasn't the case in the past and which would be hopefully the case in the future.<br /><br />Best, KayKay zum Feldehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04233793196547147876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-67980818900051651112010-07-25T05:09:34.598-04:002010-07-25T05:09:34.598-04:00Hi Steven,
I'm afraid your impression of what...Hi Steven,<br /><br />I'm afraid your impression of what string theory is good for or isn't is somewhat outdated. I'm not a string theorist, so I'm usually somewhat limping behind with what's going on, but here's my rough impression of things. The formalism of string theory has, through the AdS/CFT correspondence proven to be very useful to address a number of problems in Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-62974988344049806752010-07-25T04:49:59.344-04:002010-07-25T04:49:59.344-04:00Hi Phil,
I am not certain either whether we will ...Hi Phil,<br /><br />I am not certain either whether we will be seeing a convergence on some of the most pressing questions in physics soon, but I'm more hopeful now than I was some years ago. I see more people changing communities and trying to reach across fields now then than and I think it's a good development, one that is strengthening interactions that previously were missing, and Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.com