Zarbi - The Anthropic Cosmological Principle and castles in the air

Re: The Anthropic Cosmological Principle and castles in the air

Kardashovel — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:58:54 GMT

I have not read the book, but I am intrigued. But therefore I cannot comment on whether they created a straw man. But observation is not necessarily impossible to define, even if it is difficult to get a metaphysical grasp on it.

The Quantum Zeno Effect illustrates the notion that observation fundamentally affects reality, although you could claim that that was really just "measurement", which implies decoherence due to interaction with a classical system, rather than "observation", which implies a conscious observer. And the series of chemical reactions in some lab-rats brain that lead them to keep measuring are no reall indication of choice or direction, all apparent subjective experience to the contrary.

Sounds like an interesting read, Steve.

How do you find the time?

I'd guess you aren't in your 30's with children.

Re: The Anthropic Cosmological Principle and castles in the air

Steve — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:27:50 GMT

That is it exactly.

Re: The Anthropic Cosmological Principle and castles in the air

jeff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:19:24 GMT

this reminds me (for some reason) of something that Oscar Wilde talked about (only in a flippant kind of way). He said that the London fogs and sunsets painted by Whistler never existed at all until after Whistler painted them - now, you can stand overlooking the Thames and all one can see is Whistler! Nature imitates Art.

Perhaps everything is just a fleeting thought in the 'mind' of an observer - in the way that, it is said, a dream that seems to last all night, is merely an instantaneous idea vividly remembered. The whole package of data downloaded in a random and spontaneous instant is experienced as the memory of a long-lasting event over time. Perhaps Time ('itself!') doesnt exist at all - it is merely the name we give to help us cope with a sequence of events... sorry drifting of fcourse now.........i'm gonna go buy the book....