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As others have pointed out, ocean waves are an emergent property of a body of a sufficiently large number of water molecules in a place with gravity and a dynam

As others have pointed out, ocean waves are an emergent property of a body of a sufficiently large number of water molecules in a place with gravity and a dynamic atmosphere. I'd like to add—what is an ocean wave? It does exert measurable forces, it has a measurable weight and speed and height, but when it moves it will be made up of a 100% distinct set of material particles than just a moment ago. It can arise and subside without discernible trace although of course both matter and energy will be preserved. When you think about it a wave is not so different from anything else that exists. Yesterday's rock is tomorrows top-soil, before it becomes part of a plant, after which some of its former constituents will seep back into the ground while others take to the skies. In the future, all of these components might meet again to form a new rock. All of these things are emergent and evanescent. Their properties can hardly be predicted from the sum of their parts. When you think of it, there are many words for concepts—'liberty', 'inflation', 'boredom', 'exaggeration'—that are essential to the human experience and can even be partly made measurable, but that do not have any manner of physical reality.

what-the-grump 4y ago
Their properties can hardly be predicted from the sum of their parts. That’s not true. We know when water boils, we know tension laws, we know a ton to predict and define the interactions. We know how to add carbon to iron, we know how make glass withstand huge loads. We know material limits because we rely on those material limits to build our world. We choose to ignore those limits, the outcomes, the effects, climate change, earth is round, smoking is bad for you, etc. If we wanted to know that chemical reaction takes place in your body that makes you feel boredom, I am sure we could, we figured out cocaine and pain killers, there is just no profit in making a boredom pill. The world is not as romantic as poets make it out to be. Sun goes up sun goes down never a miscommunication. Complex, sure.

what-the-grump 4y ago

Their properties can hardly be predicted from the sum of their parts. That’s not true. We know when water boils, we know tension laws, we know a ton to predict and define the interactions. We know how to add carbon to iron, we know how make glass withstand huge loads. We know material limits because we rely on those material limits to build our world. We choose to ignore those limits, the outcomes, the effects, climate change, earth is round, smoking is bad for you, etc. If we wanted to know that chemical reaction takes place in your body that makes you feel boredom, I am sure we could, we figured out cocaine and pain killers, there is just no profit in making a boredom pill. The world is not as romantic as poets make it out to be. Sun goes up sun goes down never a miscommunication. Complex, sure.