But the way physics really works, as far as we can tell, is that there is only the most basic level—the elementary particle fields and fundamental forces.
To clarify (actually, to push this further): there is only one thing (the universe) - because surely breaking the thing down into parts (such as objects) which in turn lets you notice relations between parts (which in turn lets you see time, for example) -- surely all that is stuff done by modelers of reality and not by reality itself? I’m trying to say that the universe isn’t pre-parsed (if that makes any sense...)
As modelers of reality, we parse the world into fundamental particles and forces. You would claim that these distinctions are ultimately inherent features of the model and not necessarily defining reality.
I understand that a person might look at a car and see “mode of transportation” while another way of looking at the car is as a “particular configuration of quarks”, in which case the distinction between a car and a tree does seem arbitrarily modeler-dependent.
But I would not go so far as to say that reality itself is featureless. Where would you begin to argue that there are no inherent dichotomies? Even if there is only one type of thing ‘x’, our reality (which is, above all, dynamic) seems to require a relationship and interaction between ‘x’ and ′ ~x’. I’d say, logically, reality needs at least two kinds of things.
Even if there is only one type of thing ‘x’, our reality (which is, above all, dynamic) seems to require a relationship and interaction between ‘x’ and ′ ~x’. I’d say, logically, reality needs at least two kinds of things.
Logic can only compel models.
You seem to be saying “Let x denote the universe. ~x is then a valid term. So ~x must denote something that isn’t x, thus there are two things!” There are surface problems with this such as that x may not be of type boolean, and that you’re just assuming every term denotes something. But the important problem is simpler: we can use logic to deduce things about our models, but logic doesn’t touch reality itself (apart from the part of reality that is us).
What do you mean by “reality is dynamic”? Have you read Timeless Physics?
So I infer from the above that you have no logical arguments to support that reality is “one thing”. I would think only an agnostic position on the nature of reality would be consistent with the nihilist stance you are representing.
To clarify (actually, to push this further): there is only one thing (the universe) - because surely breaking the thing down into parts (such as objects) which in turn lets you notice relations between parts (which in turn lets you see time, for example) -- surely all that is stuff done by modelers of reality and not by reality itself? I’m trying to say that the universe isn’t pre-parsed (if that makes any sense...)
As modelers of reality, we parse the world into fundamental particles and forces. You would claim that these distinctions are ultimately inherent features of the model and not necessarily defining reality.
I understand that a person might look at a car and see “mode of transportation” while another way of looking at the car is as a “particular configuration of quarks”, in which case the distinction between a car and a tree does seem arbitrarily modeler-dependent.
But I would not go so far as to say that reality itself is featureless. Where would you begin to argue that there are no inherent dichotomies? Even if there is only one type of thing ‘x’, our reality (which is, above all, dynamic) seems to require a relationship and interaction between ‘x’ and ′ ~x’. I’d say, logically, reality needs at least two kinds of things.
Logic can only compel models.
You seem to be saying “Let x denote the universe. ~x is then a valid term. So ~x must denote something that isn’t x, thus there are two things!” There are surface problems with this such as that x may not be of type boolean, and that you’re just assuming every term denotes something. But the important problem is simpler: we can use logic to deduce things about our models, but logic doesn’t touch reality itself (apart from the part of reality that is us).
What do you mean by “reality is dynamic”? Have you read Timeless Physics?
So I infer from the above that you have no logical arguments to support that reality is “one thing”. I would think only an agnostic position on the nature of reality would be consistent with the nihilist stance you are representing.