I responded to Soren. In fact, I mention Smolin in the post to which Soren responded. I am well aware of Smolin's work - and I am surprised at it. Since when has eminence held muster in science? :-)
Steven On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 2:46 AM, Søren Brier <sb....@cbs.dk> wrote: > Jon > > Thanks. I just wanted to remind Steven that an eminent modern physicist > found it possible to uphold his position while having a view close to > Peirce's. > > Søren > > -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- > Fra: Jon Awbrey [mailto:jawb...@att.net] > Sendt: 19. marts 2015 15:32 > Til: Søren Brier; Steven Ericsson-Zenith; Edwina Taborsky > Cc: Jerry LR Chandler; Peirce List > Emne: Re: A System Of Analytic Mechanics > > Re: Søren Brier > At: http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.philosophy.peirce/15878 > > Søren, List, > > Smolin's 'Time Reborn' was the subject, or at least the instigation, of > much discussion here and there around the web a couple years ago. > From a cursory search, I think it was Michael Shapiro who broached the > topic on the Peirce List, inciting discussions that went on for the rest of > the summer: > > https://list.iupui.edu/sympa/arc/peirce-l/2013-05/msg00028.html > > I recall blogging on it and adding a quote from Peirce in connection with > a discussion on a blog devoted to computational complexity and the theory > of computation: > > http://inquiryintoinquiry.com/2013/06/01/wherefore-aught/ > > Regards, > > Jon > > On 3/19/2015 2:13 AM, Søren Brier wrote: > > Dear Steven > > > > Are you aware of the work of Unger and Smolin where they argue for the > evolution of laws? > > The Singular Universe….THE SINGULAR UNIVERSE AND THE REALITY OF TIME > > Cambridge University Press, November 30, 2014. > > Synopsis > > This is a book on the nature of time and the basic laws of nature. We > argue for the inclusive reality of time as well as for the mutability of > the laws of nature. We seek to breathe new life and meaning into natural > philosophy –- a form of reasoning that crosses the boundaries between > science and philosophy. > > The work should appeal to a broad educated readership as well as to > scientists and philosophers. It is not a popularization, but neither does > it use a technical vocabulary that would restrict it to specialized > readers. The subjects that it addresses are of paramount interest to people > in many disciplines outside cosmology and physics. > > In the twentieth century, physics and cosmology overturned the idea of > an unchanging background of time and space. In so doing, however, they > maintained the idea of an immutable framework of laws of nature. This > second idea must now also be attacked and replaced. What results is a new > picture of the agenda of physics and cosmology as well as of the methods of > fundamental science. > > The book develops four inter-related themes: > > 1) There is only one universe at a time. Our universe is not one of many > worlds. It has no copy or complete model, even in mathematics. The current > interest in multiverse cosmologies is based on fallacious reasoning. > > 2) Time is real, and indeed the only aspect of our description of nature > which is not emergent or approximate. The inclusive reality of time has > revolutionary implications for many of our conventional beliefs. > > 3) Everything evolves in this real time including laws of nature. There > is only a relative distinction between laws and the states of affairs that > they govern.. > > 4) Mathematics deals with the one real world. We need not imagine it to > be a shortcut to timeless truth about an immaterial reality (Platonism) in > order to make sense of its “unreasonable effectiveness” in science. > > We argue by systematic philosophical and scientific reasoning , as well > as by detailed examples, that these principles are the only way theoretical > cosmology can break out of its current crisis in a manner that is > scientific, i.e. results in falsifiable predictions for doable experiments. > > > > And Smolin’s Time Reborn > > “What is time? > > > > It’s the sort of question we rarely ask because it seems so obvious. And > yet, to a physicist, time is simply a human construct and an illusion. If > you could somehow get outside the universe and observe it from there, you > would see that every moment has always existed and always will. Lee Smolin > disagrees, and in Time Reborn he lays out the case why. > > > > Recent developments in physics and cosmology point toward the reality of > time and the openness of the future. Smolin’s groundbreaking theory > postulates that physical laws can evolve over time and the future is not > yet determined. Newton’s fundamental laws may not remain so fundamental.” > > Smolin quotes Peirce several times in this book for the view that > different laws emerging in the course of the development of the universe > over time. > > > > Søren > > > > -- > > academia: http://independent.academia.edu/JonAwbrey > my word press blog: http://inquiryintoinquiry.com/ inquiry list: > http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/ > isw: http://intersci.ss.uci.edu/wiki/index.php/JLA > oeiswiki: http://www.oeis.org/wiki/User:Jon_Awbrey > facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JonnyCache >
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