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But that doesn't stop physicists from opining away as to the nature of reality that's being mapped. It's it from bit, math all the way down, consciousness colla

But that doesn't stop physicists from opining away as to the nature of reality that's being mapped. It's it from bit, math all the way down, consciousness collapsing the wave-function or a multiplicity of branching universes, the universe is a hologram, the universe is a computer computing itself, and so on. My question is what's the purpose of physics outside of aiding technology if not an attempt at explaining reality, or at least our observation of whatever reality is?

sidlls 8y ago
My question is what's the purpose of physics outside of aiding technology if not an attempt at explaining reality, or at least our observation of whatever reality is? It's "explaining reality". The assumption is that we do so by observing, and the explanation is by models (usually mathematical). That's the extent of any relationship to philosophy. Questions regarding whether "observed 'reality'" is really real reality or the like simply aren't pertinent.
- cmplxconjugate 8y ago
  I think that people outside the field have the wrong understanding of what physicists do. I think you make a good point about models and assertions. However, I would like to add an important point: we are data driven. Hard evidence is the most important part of validating and guiding our models. In my anecdotal experience, most of us get frustrated with superfluous time consuming discussions. Often these frustrations are a result of the non-scientifically trained trying to project what they perceive to be a scientific discussion. Source: I’m a theoretical physicist by profession. I work in the field of condensed matter physics, specialising in geometry optimisation & DFT.
whatshisface 8y ago
>It's it from bit, math all the way down, consciousness collapsing the wave-function or a multiplicity of branching universes, the universe is a hologram, the universe is a computer computing itself, and so on. The problem is, all of these statements are completely unjustified, beyond being fun to talk about. They might not even be philosophy, on the grounds that philosophers do actually still expect statements to be supported.
adrianN 8y ago
The purpose is coming up with models that predict observations. Whether what we observe has anything to do with "reality" or whether we're just brains in vats doesn't make much of a difference.

sidlls 8y ago

My question is what's the purpose of physics outside of aiding technology if not an attempt at explaining reality, or at least our observation of whatever reality is? It's "explaining reality". The assumption is that we do so by observing, and the explanation is by models (usually mathematical). That's the extent of any relationship to philosophy. Questions regarding whether "observed 'reality'" is really real reality or the like simply aren't pertinent.

cmplxconjugate 8y ago
I think that people outside the field have the wrong understanding of what physicists do. I think you make a good point about models and assertions. However, I would like to add an important point: we are data driven. Hard evidence is the most important part of validating and guiding our models. In my anecdotal experience, most of us get frustrated with superfluous time consuming discussions. Often these frustrations are a result of the non-scientifically trained trying to project what they perceive to be a scientific discussion. Source: I’m a theoretical physicist by profession. I work in the field of condensed matter physics, specialising in geometry optimisation & DFT.

whatshisface 8y ago

>It's it from bit, math all the way down, consciousness collapsing the wave-function or a multiplicity of branching universes, the universe is a hologram, the universe is a computer computing itself, and so on. The problem is, all of these statements are completely unjustified, beyond being fun to talk about. They might not even be philosophy, on the grounds that philosophers do actually still expect statements to be supported.

adrianN 8y ago

The purpose is coming up with models that predict observations. Whether what we observe has anything to do with "reality" or whether we're just brains in vats doesn't make much of a difference.