Thread: Conundrums
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Re: Conundrums
Old 11-06-2004, 12:25 AM   #14
Neo
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Default Re: Conundrums

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vampyr
Are there any 100% true facts, or just 99.9% true theories?

Physics is about model construction. Using mathematics as a tool we construct theories which can explain and predict natural phenomena. "Truth" isn't a word physicists like to use. Einstein's theory of relativity agrees perfectly with every experiment ever devised but the question of whether or not the theory somehow exists as truth in some platonic realm is a matter of philosophy. Also to say a theory is incomplete is not really the same thing as saying it is incorrect. Newton's laws of motion are "correct" for speeds much less than the speed of light but they quickly break down when the velocity approaches that of light. Einstein's models are more complete but the simpler Newtonian laws can still be derived from them. It can be said that all laws are at best approximations for the occurrences in nature. Again whether or not the laws of physics have some reality beyond the conceptual is a matter of speculation. Are there 100% true facts? In an absolute sense no. For example, someone could have slipped LSD into your drink this morning. You would have to step outside your consciousness and observe yourself outside of yourself if that makes any sense.

You can say there are mathematical truths, such as 1+1=2. This results from having a quantity sitting over here, and another quantity sitting over there, and together we designate them as being "two" quantities. This way mathematical truths somehow feel more like conventions than actual truths. Convention isn't really the right word but you get the idea.
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Last edited by Neo : 11-06-2004 at 12:34 AM.
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