On the Subject of Subjectivity

_{Barry Arrington

October 26, 2013

Intelligent Design}

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“The reality of subjectivity* is [a] primordial datum – the primordial datum par excellence, in fact – that cannot be denied without a swift descent into nonsense.”

David Bentley Hart

*By “subjectivity,” Hart means a person’s subjective experience of phenomena as distinct from the phenomena themselves. The discussion of subjectivity is often tied to the concept of “qualia.” See, e.g., here.

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In reconciling General Relativity with Quantum Mechanics, it is important to note a peculiar property of General Relativity that is absent in Quantum Mechanics: Entropy! Here are a few notes that put entropy firmly into the space-time camp of General Relativity:
Evolution is a Fact, Just Like Gravity is a Fact! UhOh! – January 2010 Excerpt: The results of this paper suggest gravity arises as an entropic force, once space and time themselves have emerged. https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/evolution-is-a-fact-just-like-gravity-is-a-fact-uhoh/ Entropy of the Universe – Hugh Ross – May 2010 Excerpt: Egan and Lineweaver found that supermassive black holes are the largest contributor to the observable universe’s entropy. They showed that these supermassive black holes contribute about 30 times more entropy than what the previous research teams estimated. http://www.reasons.org/entropy-universe Shining Light on Dark Energy – October 21, 2012 Excerpt: It (Entropy) explains time; it explains every possible action in the universe;,, Even gravity, Vedral argued, can be expressed as a consequence of the law of entropy.,,, http://crev.info/2012/10/shining-light-on-dark-energy/
Besides gravity, there is also a very strong case to be made that the cosmological constant in General Relativity, i.e. the extremely finely tuned 1 in 10^120 expansion of space-time, drives, or is deeply connected to, entropy as is measured by diffusion: Big Rip Excerpt: The Big Rip is a cosmological hypothesis first published in 2003, about the ultimate fate of the universe, in which the matter of universe, from stars and galaxies to atoms and subatomic particles, are progressively torn apart by the expansion of the universe at a certain time in the future. Theoretically, the scale factor of the universe becomes infinite at a finite time in the future. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Rip Where the 'irreducible subjective experience' of quantum mechanics demarcates quantum theory from the entropy inherent in the space-time of general relativity, is here:
Excerpt: The quantum Zeno effect is,,, an unstable particle, if observed continuously, will never decay. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Zeno_effect
Moreover, it can be forcefully argued that entropy is the primary reason why organic life grows old and dies in this universe. Here's a interesting talk by Dr. John Sanford. Starting at the 17 minute mark going to the 22 minute mark. He relates how slightly detrimental mutations, that accumulate each time a cell divides, are the primary reason why our temporal material bodies grow old and die.
John Sanford on (Genetic Entropy) - Down, Not Up - 2-4-2012 (at Loma Linda University) - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=PHsu94HQrL0#t=1040s
Notes from John Sanford's preceding video:
*3 new mutations every time a cell divides in your body * Average cell of 15 year old has up to 6000 mutations *Average cell of 60 year old has 40,000 mutations Reproductive cells are 'designed' so that, early on in development, they are 'set aside' and thus they do not accumulate mutations as the rest of the cells of our bodies do. Regardless of this protective barrier against the accumulation of slightly detrimental mutations still we find that,,, *60-175 mutations are passed on to each new generation.
This following video brings the point home to us about the effects of entropy on each of us personally:
Aging Process - 85 years in 40 seconds - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A91Fwf_sMhk
The preceding video, and the inextricable 'death grip' that entropy has us in, brings this verse to mind:
Romans 7:24 ,,, Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
bornagain77_{October 27, 2013
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OT: 5 Unanswered Questions That Will Keep Physicists Awake at Night, - October 25, 2013 http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/10/25/physics-biggest-unanswered-questions/ My favourite is #3: “Why is the universe so exquisitely balanced such that life can exist?”bornagain77_{October 27, 2013
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Go get 'em Philip.Axel_{October 27, 2013
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correction: 'Indeed although Einstein’s ‘greatest blunder’ is often thought to be HIS introducing a cosmological constant to his equation to reflect a static universe rather than entertaining the notion that the universe had a beginning as his EQUATION indicated,,bornagain77_{October 26, 2013
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Many people are aware of the enigmatic double slit experiment:
Quantum Mechanics - Double Slit Experiment. Is anything real? (Prof. Anton Zeilinger) - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvbKafw2g0
But most people are unaware that the implications of the double slit experiment, of conscious observation, the subjective 'now of the mind', being integral to the collapse of the wave function in the experiment, has now been extended, and verified, to an almost absurd level of certainty (80 orders of magnitude):
Quantum Physics – (material reality does not exist until we look at it) – Dr. Quantum video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ezNvpFcJU Do we create the world just by looking at it? - 2008 Excerpt: In mid-2007 Fedrizzi found that the new realism model was violated by 80 orders of magnitude; the group was even more assured that quantum mechanics was correct. Leggett agrees with Zeilinger that realism is wrong in quantum mechanics, but when I asked him whether he now believes in the theory, he answered only “no” before demurring, “I’m in a small minority with that point of view and I wouldn’t stake my life on it.” For Leggett there are still enough loopholes to disbelieve. I asked him what could finally change his mind about quantum mechanics. Without hesitation, he said sending humans into space as detectors to test the theory.,,, (to which Anton Zeilinger responded) When I mentioned this to Prof. Zeilinger he said, “That will happen someday. There is no doubt in my mind. It is just a question of technology.” Alessandro Fedrizzi had already shown me a prototype of a realism experiment he is hoping to send up in a satellite. It’s a heavy, metallic slab the size of a dinner plate. http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_reality_tests/P3/
I like Scott Aaronson's take on the implications of all this:
Lecture 11: Decoherence and Hidden Variables - Scott Aaronson Excerpt: "Look, we all have fun ridiculing the creationists who think the world sprang into existence on October 23, 4004 BC at 9AM (presumably Babylonian time), with the fossils already in the ground, light from distant stars heading toward us, etc. But if we accept the usual picture of quantum mechanics, then in a certain sense the situation is far worse: the world (as you experience it) might as well not have existed 10^-43 seconds ago!" http://www.scottaaronson.com/democritus/lec11.html
Needless to say, having subjective experience 'the now of the mind' taking complete precedence over the atheist's contention that an objective reality exists apart from our conscious observation of it, is a direct falsification of their atheistic belief system. In fact, due to advances in quantum mechanics, the argument for God from consciousness can now be framed like this (and backed up with much empirical rigor!):
1. Consciousness either preceded all of material reality or is a 'epi-phenomena' of material reality. 2. If consciousness is a 'epi-phenomena' of material reality then consciousness will be found to have no special position within material reality. Whereas conversely, if consciousness precedes material reality then consciousness will be found to have a special position within material reality. 3. Consciousness is found to have a special, even central, position within material reality. 4. Therefore, consciousness is found to precede material reality. Four intersecting lines of experimental evidence from quantum mechanics that shows that consciousness precedes material reality (Wigner’s Quantum Symmetries, Wheeler’s Delayed Choice, Leggett’s Inequalities, Quantum Zeno effect): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G_Fi50ljF5w_XyJHfmSIZsOcPFhgoAZ3PRc_ktY8cFo/edit
Verse and Music
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Evanescence - My Heart Is Broken http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QGnq9jUU0
bornagain77_{October 26, 2013
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As to:
“The reality of subjectivity* is [a] primordial datum – the primordial datum par excellence, in fact – that cannot be denied without a swift descent into nonsense.” David Bentley Hart *By “subjectivity,” Hart means a person’s subjective experience of phenomena as distinct from the phenomena themselves. The discussion of subjectivity is often tied to the concept of “qualia.”
This conflict between subjective experience and objective reality (i.e. observed phenomena) extends all the way down into the #1 problem in physics today. It extends all the way down to the conflict between quantum mechanics and general relativity (as this failed attempt at a reconciliation between the two points out):
On The Comparison Of Quantum and Relativity Theories - Sachs - 1986 Excerpt: quantum theory entails and irreducible subjective element in its conceptual basis. In contrast, the theory of relativity when fully exploited, is based on a totally objective view. http://books.google.com/books?id=8qaYGFuXvMkC&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q&f=false
Indeed although Einstein's 'greatest blunder' is often thought to be introducing a cosmological constant to his equation to reflect a static universe rather than entertaining the notion that the universe had a beginning as his universe indicated,,
"Much later, when I was discussing cosmological problems with Einstein, he remarked that the introduction of the cosmological term was the biggest blunder of his life." — George Gamow, My World Line, 1970
A lesser known blunder of Einstein is when he challenged the findings of quantum mechanics and has subsequently, and repeatedly, shown to be wrong in his challenge:
The Failure Of Local Realism or Reductive Materialism - Bohr-Einstein debate - Alain Aspect - video http://www.metacafe.com/w/4744145 “We are all agreed that your (Einstein’s) theory is crazy. The question which divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct. My own feeling is that it is not crazy enough.” -Niels Bohr --- God does not play dice with the cosmos. Albert Einstein In response Niels Bohr said, Do not presume to tell God what to do.
This lesser known blunder of Einstein with quantum mechanics, that has now been repeatedly shown to be wrong, can be traced to his total disregard of the 'subjective experience' within physics. That total disregard for subjective experience (i.e. conscious observation) within physics can be picked up in this exchange Einstein had with a philosopher. Einstein was asked (by a philosopher):
"Can physics demonstrate the existence of 'the now' in order to make the notion of 'now' into a scientifically valid term?"
Einstein's answer was categorical, he said:
"The experience of 'the now' cannot be turned into an object of physical measurement, it can never be a part of physics."
Quote was taken from the last few minutes of this following video:
Stanley L. Jaki: "The Mind and Its Now" https://vimeo.com/10588094
The preceding statement was an interesting statement for Einstein to make since 'the now of the mind' has, from many recent experiments in quantum mechanics, undermined Einstein's General Relativity as to being the absolute frame of reference for reality. i.e. 'the now of the mind', contrary to what Einstein thought possible for experimental physics, according to advances in quantum mechanics, takes precedence over past events in space-time. Moreover, due to advances in quantum mechanics, it would now be much more appropriate to phrase Einstein's answer to the philosopher in this way:
"It is impossible for the experience of 'the now' to ever be divorced from physical measurement, it will always be a part of physics."
Now that is a pretty strong claim that the subjective experience of 'the now of the mind' would take precedence over past events in time, but quantum mechanics has met that challenge and delivered. Perhaps the first experiment that dramatically demonstrated that the subjective experience of the observer (i.e. 'the now of the mind') takes precedence over past events in space-time was Wheeler's delayed choice experiment:
Wheeler's Classic Delayed Choice Experiment: Excerpt: Now, for many billions of years the photon is in transit in region 3. Yet we can choose (many billions of years later) which experimental set up to employ – the single wide-focus, or the two narrowly focused instruments. We have chosen whether to know which side of the galaxy the photon passed by (by choosing whether to use the two-telescope set up or not, which are the instruments that would give us the information about which side of the galaxy the photon passed). We have delayed this choice until a time long after the particles "have passed by one side of the galaxy, or the other side of the galaxy, or both sides of the galaxy," so to speak. Yet, it seems paradoxically that our later choice of whether to obtain this information determines which side of the galaxy the light passed, so to speak, billions of years ago. So it seems that time has nothing to do with effects of quantum mechanics. And, indeed, the original thought experiment was not based on any analysis of how particles evolve and behave over time – it was based on the mathematics. This is what the mathematics predicted for a result, and this is exactly the result obtained in the laboratory. http://www.bottomlayer.com/bottom/basic_delayed_choice.htm Wheeler's Delayed Choice Experiment - 2010 Excerpt: The Delayed Choice experiment changes the boundary conditions of the Schrodinger equation after the particle enters the first beamsplitter. http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~bob/TermPapers/WheelerDelayed.pdf "Thus one decides the photon shall have come by one route or by both routes after it has already done its travel" John A. Wheeler Alain Aspect speaks on John Wheeler's Delayed Choice Experiment - video http://vimeo.com/38508798 Genesis, Quantum Physics and Reality Excerpt: Simply put, an experiment on Earth can be made in such a way that it determines if one photon comes along either on the right or the left side or if it comes (as a wave) along both sides of the gravitational lens (of the galaxy) at the same time. However, how could the photons have known billions of years ago that someday there would be an earth with inhabitants on it, making just this experiment? ,,, http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2000/PSCF3-00Zoeller-Greer.html.ori
In fact here’s a recent variation of Wheeler’s Delayed Choice experiment, which highlights the ability of the conscious observer to effect 'spooky action into the past', thus further solidifying consciousness/free will's centrality in reality. Furthermore in the following experiment, the claim that past material states determine future conscious choices (determinism) is directly falsified by the fact that present conscious choices are effecting past material states:
Quantum physics mimics spooky action into the past - April 23, 2012 Excerpt: The authors experimentally realized a "Gedankenexperiment" called "delayed-choice entanglement swapping", formulated by Asher Peres in the year 2000. Two pairs of entangled photons are produced, and one photon from each pair is sent to a party called Victor. Of the two remaining photons, one photon is sent to the party Alice and one is sent to the party Bob. Victor can now choose between two kinds of measurements. If he decides to measure his two photons in a way such that they are forced to be in an entangled state, then also Alice's and Bob's photon pair becomes entangled. If Victor chooses to measure his particles individually, Alice's and Bob's photon pair ends up in a separable state. Modern quantum optics technology allowed the team to delay Victor's choice and measurement with respect to the measurements which Alice and Bob perform on their photons. "We found that whether Alice's and Bob's photons are entangled and show quantum correlations or are separable and show classical correlations can be decided after they have been measured", explains Xiao-song Ma, lead author of the study. According to the famous words of Albert Einstein, the effects of quantum entanglement appear as "spooky action at a distance". The recent experiment has gone one remarkable step further. "Within a naïve classical world view, quantum mechanics can even mimic an influence of future actions on past events", says Anton Zeilinger. http://phys.org/news/2012-04-quantum-physics-mimics-spooky-action.html
The preceding experiment is simply impossible within the materialistic/atheistic framework. But advances in quantum mechanics have gone even further in establishing the subjective 'now of the mind's' primacy in physical measurement.bornagain77_{October 26, 2013
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One must wonder how the transition from subjectivity to objectivity occurs.Mung_{October 26, 2013
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