Physics is the natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.
Questions tagged [physics]
230 questions
34
votes
12 answers
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 is that the reality is made up of immeasurable…
Dheeraj Verma
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Do fundamental concepts in physics have any logical basis?
After years of studying physics I am suddenly struck by the question - What is energy? Wikipedia defines it thus:
Energy is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do
work on other physical systems.
(1)
If that is the case,…
Green Noob
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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 the original philosophy paper by Nick Bostrom…
Josh Zmijewski
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17
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12 answers
Is time a physical factor or just a concept?
When thinking of cycles and myths, one cannot pass the idea of Kronos or Kali. That brought me to form some questions about the nature of time.
Three definitions for time:
Time is a measure of the change. Change is a result of the forces.
Time can…
MarkokraM
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Are mathematical suppositions of physical theories determined uniquely according to Aristotle and Plato?
Does mathematics apply to physics in one way or multiple ways? What do Aristotle and Plato think?
It would seem that Aristotle thinks mathematics can be applied to
physics in one way only because, for him, mathematics is abstracted
from physical…
Geremia
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What distinguishes cause from effect when they are simultaneous?
At a high level, distinguishing cause and effect is typically easy enough: the cause comes first. I drop a ball off a roof; therefore, it falls and hits the ground. But on a fundamental level, physics is local; thus, it seems that, as you get more…
Toph
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How much philosophy should a physicist know?
I began to read Hawking's recent book 'A Grand Design' some time ago and noticed that he savages philosophy. He says '...philosophy is dead. Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics'. This annoyed me so…
Mozibur Ullah
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13
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How could our universe suddenly appear out of nothingness?
How could our universe suddenly appear out of nothingness? I understand that the big bang created all things but how could it when nothingness is purely the absence of everything?
Dan
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12
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How can I develop my critical thinking skills?
I am a freshman engineering student going to college. I want to learn how to think critically and to become a critical thinker and a sharp arguer. I am interested in philosophy, because I am curious about the world, creationism, and everything, and…
Andy
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11
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Euler's 1746 philosophy paper
In 1746, Euler, a famous mathematician, published what I believe to be a little-known philosophy paper. It seems interesting, but it is difficult for me to follow as I lack adequate philosophy background. Euler reduces his argument to a simple…
glebovg
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Was Einstein a philosopher?
Albert Einstein described the fact that he believed in 'god'; yet, he did not define that god as a personal god who actually existed as a separate being. He used the concept to describe everything that exists.
Although Einstein is commonly hailed…
Jez
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What is the ontological status of information that is permanently inaccessible to any conceivable observer?
Rovelli & others, in Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) take the simple ontological picture of the Copenhagen Picture and relativise it. This is what I was suggesting in this question, though I was looking for a specific mathematical treatment.
In…
Mozibur Ullah
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10
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3 answers
Does free will require an event to occur without a predecessor (thereby violating causality)?
From my understanding, a Mixed Quantum State defines the set of all probable outcomes for a system, but isn't there still only one outcome determined through the succession of factors leading up to it (i.e., we may not be able to measure the…
John LaMontagne
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The problem of Motion
I recently heard that motion, the observation that things move, or rather change, was considered a real philosophical problem. What is the status of that question? Can someone e point me to an essay that describes why exactly that was (perhaps still…
Mike M
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10
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Can the observer be the observed?
As a supplement to this question as to whether particles can be observers, supposing that the answer is yes. One could suppose a setup where particle A is observing particle B, but what to stop us switching viewpoints around here and supposing…
Mozibur Ullah
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