Experiment and Theory vs. Reality

In summary, the conversation is about the role of experimental evidence in establishing theories in physics. One person argues that experimental agreement is not enough and there needs to be a reason or principle behind it. The other person disagrees, stating that experimental agreement is what determines what is reasonable and the principles are abstracted from the evidence. The discussion also touches on the postulates of Special Relativity and the importance of thinking outside the established norms in understanding complex theories.
  • #106
Originally posted by protonman
That is easy QM is wrong. Although its application may allow one to predict the results of an experiment this does not imply that it is ontologically valid.
If one does not use QM, then how do you account for the *macroscopic* results of these experiments?
 
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  • #107
"but it DOES carry a higher validity than a worldview which DOESN'T make accurate predictions." -- Zero

My thoughts exactly.

Protonman, by meditating, can you calculate (or should I say divine in the verb sense of the word?) the decay half life of a muon at least as accurately as standard methods of quantum physics can? And if you can't, how can you feel so sure of your superiority?
 
  • #108
Originally posted by protonboy
You only examine the physical world.

But we were talking about physical theories, remember spanky?

Mind.

I said to prove nonphysical objects exist, not to simply assert that they do.

They only investigate the physical world.

But you still have not proven that a "nonphysical world" exists, so this is moot.

Well you don't really know much about Indian philosophy. Buddhism and Hinduism both have extensive explanations of the physical world as indicated below in my statement about their idea of atoms originating with the Hindus.

Name a single comprehensive theory of the material world that comes from introspection and show how the scientific method of observation "has it backwards". To show that, all you have to do is show how a theory obtained by such navel gazing makes more accurate predictions than modern scientific theories.

You should also explain how such navel gazing is more reliable than sense perception. And your trite one-phrase answers aren't going to cut it. You have to post an argument.

In addition, modern science does not understand the relation between the mind and the external world
Again I call attention to your lack of understanding of the relation between the mind and external reality.

This is awfully presumptuous of you. What makes you think that you do understand the relation between mind and matter?

What you believe in is an objective existence of an external reality which is logically impossible.

Prove it.

No I am not changing my tune. What I am saying is that your methods of experiment can not be confirmed because you do not support them with pervasive logic. If you have a perfect reason backing your experience you can establish it as true.

Again, you are just making this junk up. You seem to believe in some nonexistent "superlogic" that has the certainty of deductive validity not only in the making of inferences, but also in determining the truth value of statements. Such a "perfect reason" or "pervasive logic" simply does not exist.

In addition, I didn't say they were confirmed in all cases. I simply said they were confirmed. That is, confirmed for the individual. But in combination with perfect reasoning they are established.

Since there is no such thing as "perfect reasoning", this is hardly relevant.

Scientific theories do not enjoy the same status. They are continually being replaced every 50-100 years by a so called better theory. You can't explain why the speed of light is measured the same in all inertial reference frames. You can't explain why light is both a particle and a wave. This is total BS.

No, what is "BS" is your backwards view of how scientific investigation is supposed to be undertaken. It comes from your equally backwards worldview that states that the workings of the physical world should be known a priori, when in fact they are not.

In addition, the mind, if trained enough, can understand anything. Therefore, it can know the number of atoms in a handful of sand. You see real wisdom does not rely on machines.

Prove it.

Well let me inform your of something. If you are using a machine to detect particles and looking at the traces in a bubble chamber you are not seeing the particles directly. Therefore, you are using reasoning to establish your theories.

Yes: Inductive reasoning.

My case is that you don't even understand what I am talking about.

Then why don't you prove all the outrageous assertions that I asked you to prove, instead of waffling at every opportunity?

You seem to have a lot of bulit up anger.

No, I am just being emphatic, as I often am when I am correcting a dumb troll who is abusive of the members and staff of these Forums.
 
  • #109
Originally posted by protonboy
Because inference is more valid than perception.

Prove it, protonboy. Hurkyl and I have already asked you how you know that introspection is more valid than perception. All you keep doing is asserting it.

I am giving you one more chance to go through this thread and answer the straightforward questions put to you. If you come back with more nonsensical assertions, then I am shutting this circus down.
 
  • #110
Originally posted by Tom
Prove it, protonboy. Hurkyl and I have already asked you how you know that introspection is more valid than perception. All you keep doing is asserting it.

I am giving you one more chance to go through this thread and answer the straightforward questions put to you. If you come back with more nonsensical assertions, then I am shutting this circus down.
No you won't because you are dying to get my answer. Inside you want to know why you are wrong you just won't admit it. So go ahead shut it down. I don't care if one less person doesn't know what I know. It most likely isn't going to change your view.
 
  • #111
Originally posted by protonman
No you won't because you are dying to get my answer.

No, I am dying for this thread to start making some progress. It has not, and therefore it is finished.

See protonboy, your introspection hasn't told you everything after all!
 

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