| By John Adam.
Bsc(Hons) GradInstPhy PGCE |
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| A recent television
programme highlighted an almost global misunderstandings perpetuated
by what I call 'media science' and also the huge difference
between scientists and physicists. |
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| Being a physicist
let me first define some constants for this argument. I will
define a scientist as someone who has training in empirical
scientific techniques (note that this can include a physicist).
A physicist I will define as someone who possesses some of
the deeper insights into truth and reality gained from the
study of the disciplines of theoretical physics such as statistical
mechanics, general
relativity and string
theory but mostly quantum
mechanics. |
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First the programme's
glaring omission, I hope anyone with the ability to think
clearly would have noticed. They failed to observe that in
a carefully controlled experiment it was clearly shown that
the participants’ awareness of what they were doing
fundamentally influenced the result.
Now to the vagaries perpetuated by media science. |
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| In the terms of
a physicist: WE DO NOT LIVE IN A NEWTONIAN
UNIVERSE. This is true, provable and leads inexorably
to the next big statement: WE LIVE IN A QUANTUM UNIVERSE.
What the second statement means is that if you to want accurate
model the processes which govern the way our universe works
you have to use quantum mechanics. Newtonian physics adequately
describes the behaviour of large things that we can see, but
as soon as you want to talk about small things or ask more
subtle questions about those large things, Newtonian physics
falls apart - it doesn't accurately describe what we can clearly
measure (see to be true). Quantum Mechanics on the other hand
passed every test that has been devised. |
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| So what does it
mean to live in a 'Quantum Universe?' With regard to understanding
the mechanism behind homeopathy there are two fundamental
factors. |
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| 1. Nothing is
absolute. Nothing. You can't say someone or something is exactly
'here'. You can't say someone or something is exactly 'now'.
There is a range of probability for the position in time and
space for any event, with the most probable position being
the one that corresponds to its position in the Newtonian
view. It's a bit like having furry edges with the fur getting
thinner and thinner but extending right to the end of the
universe. I'll leave you to imagine what that means in terms
of the ability for humans to feel and interact with each other. |
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2. An infinite set of non-zero probabilities collapses
into a single reality when you make a measurement. Seeing,
touching, experiencing something constitutes making a measurement.
This is very subtle and very important - it means that you
have to abandon a deterministic view of the universe. Louise
Hay has a far more accurate view when she says that you create
your universe as you go along. |
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| The last piece
in this jigsaw is conjecture. Some of the greatest minds alive
(possible some of the greatest that have lived) are fairly
confident that consciousness is a Quantum phenomenon. I maintain
that our consciousness has a degree of control as to the reality
into which the universe collapses when we make those measurements.
Bear in mind that no energy is needed to make any change,
no beam or connection is needed, the result is merely one
of the infinite set of possible results. (This by the way,
is how
an alpha particle escapes from the nucleus of an atom
in radioactivity). I further propose that the mechanism for
this ‘degree of control’ is - like in most processes
- resonance. |
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| I would firmly
draw two conclusions. |
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1. Contrary to
'media science' mechanisms to accommodate homoeopathy exist
and are clearly understood.
2. Being a scientist doesn't necessarily imply the ability
to think clearly or have any grasp of the subtleties of life,
the universe and everything.
3. Theoretical physicists are privy to the most exciting insights
into reality but generally can't count. |
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Regards,
John Adam |
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