Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Resilient Community
John Robb: The Resilient Community: Read Here & Here. As Things Fall Apart. The fall back is DIY community. Unfortunately, a sense of community has largely ceased to exist as a reality for those "completely tied to or immersed in the legacy system," as Robb puts it. There's more to community than just houses.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Physics and Philosophy - Thoughts on the Implications of Quantum Mechanics, and Other Matters #10vii
10. On Quantum Mechanics:
vii. Classically, in a simple system, if we know the initial conditions of a system, such as its position and momentum, we can determine the entire particle’s future and history. In quantum mechanics, this knowledge is impossible to determine. We may only know probabilities, not absolutes. The world below the level of the Correspondence Principle ceases to be strictly causal, but rather becomes causal and probabilistic.
vii. Classically, in a simple system, if we know the initial conditions of a system, such as its position and momentum, we can determine the entire particle’s future and history. In quantum mechanics, this knowledge is impossible to determine. We may only know probabilities, not absolutes. The world below the level of the Correspondence Principle ceases to be strictly causal, but rather becomes causal and probabilistic.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Propaganda: Believing Your Own Lies
William S. Lind's latest installment of On War concerns the dangers of believing your own propaganda (i.e. lies) in war. As he concludes:
In the end, the Administration's (and the Pentagon's) insistence that the Iraqi state, government, army and police are real blinds only themselves. Iraqis know they are not. The American public knows they are not. The average Hottentot probably knows they are not. Do the members of the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations know less that the average Hottentot? So last week's hearings might suggest, and such is the power of empty words.And such is the power of self-delusion. Saying something does not make it so. So much for "We create our own reality."
Friday, April 18, 2008
Physics and Philosophy - Thoughts on the Implications of Quantum Mechanics, and Other Matters Section #10vi
10. On Quantum Mechanics:
vi. The Correspondence Principle states that the behavior of quantum mechanical systems reproduce classical physics in the limit of large quantum numbers. Quantum effects “wash” out, or become too minute to observe, for objects larger than most molecules (or so). Scientific theory must always account for observation.
vi. The Correspondence Principle states that the behavior of quantum mechanical systems reproduce classical physics in the limit of large quantum numbers. Quantum effects “wash” out, or become too minute to observe, for objects larger than most molecules (or so). Scientific theory must always account for observation.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Physics and Philosophy - Thoughts on the Implications of Quantum Mechanics, and Other Matters Section #10v
10. On Quantum Mechanics:
v. In quantum mechanics, each particle is described by its wave or state function. The wave function contains information of a statistical nature, which may be interpreted mathematically as a probability amplitude. We may then apply the principle of superposition, or add and subtract, depending upon conditions such a symmetry, the individual components to obtain a wave function as a whole for the system in question. Based on the amplitude of the wave function, the probability of finding a particle or system to be in a particular time or region of space may be determined. If we wish to observe a particular particle or system, we may do so, but upon making our measurement we will consequently collapse the wave function. Baring external influences, the system will always be found in that particular state. On the quantum mechanical scale, observation is never passive.
v. In quantum mechanics, each particle is described by its wave or state function. The wave function contains information of a statistical nature, which may be interpreted mathematically as a probability amplitude. We may then apply the principle of superposition, or add and subtract, depending upon conditions such a symmetry, the individual components to obtain a wave function as a whole for the system in question. Based on the amplitude of the wave function, the probability of finding a particle or system to be in a particular time or region of space may be determined. If we wish to observe a particular particle or system, we may do so, but upon making our measurement we will consequently collapse the wave function. Baring external influences, the system will always be found in that particular state. On the quantum mechanical scale, observation is never passive.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Physics and Philosophy - Thoughts on the Implications of Quantum Mechanics, and Other Matters #10iv
10. On Quantum Mechanics:
iv. Position and momentum are complimentary dynamical observables. If we wish to determine a particles position, then we will no longer have any idea as to its momentum. In other words, after observing its position, the act of observing sends it off in an unknown (and unknowable) direction. Likewise, if we know its momentum, then its position is unknown (and unknowable). Therefore, an exact time and place cannot be calculated (even in theory). Another pair of complimentary variables are time and energy. An important point to understand (without actually resorting to equations) is that if we wish to know one observable with some, but not a precise degree of accuracy, we may also know the complimentary observable with a proportionate degree of accuracy. The famous Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is the mathematical statement of this phenomenon. (Sometimes equations are simpler.) We may never know the precise trajectory of a subatomic particle.
iv. Position and momentum are complimentary dynamical observables. If we wish to determine a particles position, then we will no longer have any idea as to its momentum. In other words, after observing its position, the act of observing sends it off in an unknown (and unknowable) direction. Likewise, if we know its momentum, then its position is unknown (and unknowable). Therefore, an exact time and place cannot be calculated (even in theory). Another pair of complimentary variables are time and energy. An important point to understand (without actually resorting to equations) is that if we wish to know one observable with some, but not a precise degree of accuracy, we may also know the complimentary observable with a proportionate degree of accuracy. The famous Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is the mathematical statement of this phenomenon. (Sometimes equations are simpler.) We may never know the precise trajectory of a subatomic particle.
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