Physics and spirituality: the next grand unification?

There are numerous claims made by people with diverse backgrounds, which are of "supernatural", spiritual or paranormal nature. Some of them are, it seems, indeed true, or supposedly true, and, therefore, demand an acceptable interpretation. In this article, an attempt has been made to put forward a new theory of the relationship between physical and metaphysical realities. It is titled as 'Physics in the Metaphysics Concept of Cosmos'. According to it, the physical world is a "dimension" of the metaphysical world. The metaphysical universe has many dimensions (degrees of freedom or levels of existence or manifestations). One of them is the physical universe. A metaphysical reality can manifests itself as a physical reality although in accordance with limitations it possesses.

This essay attempts to analyze the impact of continuing to tolerate the Warrior Values in an era of Advanced Technology that has been promoted by two of the oldest intellectual subjects for over 2500 years: mathematics and philosophy. The thesis of this essay is that science will only renew its progress after its cuts off these historic roots and adopts more positive goals oriented to Helping Humanity, instead of pursuing its religiously inspired search for truth and certainty. Physics is the oldest science and the one that set the pattern for most of the others, it has been mostly related to mathematics and has become the one with the largest number of specialties​. Therefore, physics has been separated off from the rest of the sciences in this essay and all the others have been given a parallel essay, called ORG-SCIENCE. This analysis is structured by exploring the history of the major advances in physics since 1600 in terms of innovators, concepts, underlying mathematics and the major problems exposed by these advances. This analysis is made from a Natural Philosophy perspective because the thesis here is that the problems arose from weak metaphysical assumptions that can be traced back to Aristotle, 2500 years ago. The problem seems to be related to the specialization of western intellectuals: few philosophers have been real, practicing scientists (doing it, not just reading about it), while most scientists have little knowledge of philosophy; so a dangerous chasm has developed in these two aspects of our mental world. Here we deliberately position most mathematicians with the philosophers as their work also rarely involves direct experience with reality. There are a few exceptions, like C.S. Pierce (professional chemist before turning to philosophy); Einstein was a theoretical physicist, who mainly worked as a mathematician but had an ongoing interest in philosophy. Even the great scientists like Newton and Maxwell, who sometimes performed hands-on physics research, really had personal obsessions with religion more than philosophy. Most philosophers simply desire to know and as talkers, they are prepared to write but few are ready to really do something useful with their hands; just as it was in Athens 2500 years ago. Rejecting the traditional form of discursive (or linear) thinking, the basis for ‘Rationality’ (or Reason), we attempt to ground this analysis in non-linear, complex networks – possibly reflecting how ideas are actually stored in our own minds. This viewpoint is used to create a new metaphysics based on recent knowledge gained from biological research to create new proposals to adequately explain the major pillars in the history of physics. The linear approximation is the underlying assumption behind the usage of calculus; in fact, mathematical Analysis is justified by the use of infinitesimal (the divisor going to zero) and its inverse technique of Integration. In fact, there has been a permanent alliance between Philosophers and Mathematicians ever since Plato insisted that the students at his Academy be familiar with Pythagoras’s ideas. Both groups desired the simplicity of examining timeless objects (definitions and rules); the spatial (static) emphasis rather than the dynamic features of living systems. Physics has adopted a similar viewpoint by accepting Lagrange’s mathematical trick of replacing dynamic interactions with the spatial derivative of a spatial, continuous function – the Potential. We illustrate this thesis by quickly summarizing all of the science of physics, in terms of its history in 4 phases (or Scientific Revolutions); pointing out their key personalities (mostly mathematicians) and achievements. We also point out their major conceptual problems to expose their common roots. We finally follow a modern path based on knowledge of biology and history. This exposes several of the deep flaws in physics that few physicists are aware of. We suggest new approaches based on novel ideas in psychology and neuroscience​. This essay may be viewed as a brief critique of the undeserved reputation of physics in the modern world by a weary Natural Philosopher.

2015

Some seemingly mysterious interpretations of mathematics by physicists are just unwarranted. When the ancient mathematicians attributed abstract notions like number and shape to physical objects, they didn’t distinguish these notions from real objects and didn’t accept fictitious numbers, numbers in excess of the pebbles of abacus. The progress of science stagnated until with Renaissance mathematicians ignored the restriction to countable elements of reality. By liberating mathematics they paved the way for calculus and complex calculus; these then boosted physics and technology. Later on, free evolution of mathematics was proclaimed. Such freedom contradicts discovered laws of nature rather than invented ones. By means of clever restricted constructs, modern set theory promised rigorously avoiding the gap between Euclid’s point that has no parts and Peirce’s continuum every part of which has parts. Belonging inconsistencies in physics gave rise to suggest a more natural foundation ...

Problems with Theoretical Physics, 2021

Introduction: Theoretical physics is a mechanical interpretation of the operation of a Universe that gave birth to intelligent life. Its mechanical interpretation is inherently unnatural. It cannot predict nor explain the nature of this Universe with its products of life, intelligence, and upward direction. Even within physics' mechanical interpretation, the usefulness of physics is not evidence of the correctness of professionally accepted theoretical causes of observed mechanical effects. Findings for existence: A1. The mechanics of the Universe is fundamentally unified. Fundamental unity requires that there be just one cause for all such effects. This follows from the recognition that only a fundamentally unified Universe can exist. A2. The mechanical operation of the Universe contains no natural uncertainty. Properties are learned from patterns observed in the acceleration of objects. The patterns are the activity of a controlled Universe. The activity of the Universe is always meaningful, exact, and controlled. A3. All mechanical effects that have ever occurred or will ever occur, have been provided for from the beginning of the Universe. This finding results from the recognition that no natural cause can be added to the Universe after its beginning.

British Journal for The Philosophy of Science, 1966

The invariance of the speed of light is taken as the fundamental of modern physics. But, in recent, the faster-than-light was observed. It requires that the fundamental of the whole physics be reassessed. In this paper, in the mathematics, the definitions in Euclidean Elements are stressed. It is pointed out that these definitions are only the concepts. They are not related to a certain real object or body. In physics, the Newtonian framework is stressed. It is pointed out that, in Newtonian theory, the abstract concepts are used as the definitions in Euclidean Elements. For example, the Sun is treated just as a point particle. And the initial law only is an abstracted concept which cannot be checked with experiment while it can be understood by our brain. According to the Euclidean Elements and Newtonian theory, some of the mathematical and physical concepts in modern physics are discussed. For example, it is pointed out that the extra dimension in modern physics is not a mathematical concept of Euclidean geometry as it is related to a real pillar. It is stressed that high and fractional coordinate systems are used to describe the object that can be described with the Cartesian one. And, the equations of physics in different coordinate systems and the transformation of the equations among different coordinate systems are discussed.

American Journal of Physics, 1986

Preface and acknowledgements page xv 2 From Ptolemy to Kepler-the Copernican revolution 2.1 Ancient history 2.2 The Copernican revolution 2.3 Tycho Brahe-the lord of Uraniborg 2.4 Johannes Kepler and heavenly harmonies 2.5 References 3 Galileo and the nature of the physical sciences 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Galileo as an experimental physicist 3.3 Galileo's telescopic discoveries 3.4 The trial of Galileo-the heart of the matter 3.5 The trial of Galileo 3.6 Galilean relativity 3.7 Reflections 3.8 References vii viii Contents 4 Newton and the law of gravity 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Lincolnshire 1642-61 4.3 Cambridge 1661-5 4.4 Lincolnshire 1665-7 4.5 Cambridge 1667-96 4.6 Newton the alchemist 4.7 The interpretation of ancient texts and the scriptures 4.8 London 1696-1727 4.9 References Appendix to Chapter 4: Notes on conic sections and central orbits A4.1 Equations for conic sections A4.2 Kepler's laws and planetary motion A4.3 Rutherford scattering Case Study II Maxwell's equations 5 The origin of Maxwell's equations 5.1 How it all began 5.2 Michael Faraday-mathematics without mathematics 5.3 How Maxwell derived the equations for the electromagnetic field 5.4 Heinrich Hertz and the discovery of electromagnetic waves 5.5 Reflections 5.6 References Appendix to Chapter 5: Useful notes on vector fields A5.1 The divergence theorem and Stokes' theorem A5.2 Results related to the divergence theorem A5.3 Results related to Stokes' theorem A5.4 Vector fields with special properties A5.5 Vector operators in various coordinate systems A5.6 Vector operators and dispersion relations A5.7 How to relate the different expressions for the magnetic fields produced by currents 6 How to rewrite the history of electromagnetism 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Maxwell's equations as a set of vector equations 6.3 Gauss's theorem in electromagnetism 6.4 Time-independent fields as conservative fields of force 6.5 Boundary conditions in electromagnetism 6.6 Ampère's law 6.7 Faraday's law 6.8 The story so far Contents ix 6.9 Derivation of Coulomb's law 6.10 Derivation of the Biôt-Savart law 6.11 The interpretation of Maxwell's equations in material media 6.12 The energy densities of electromagnetic fields 6.13 Concluding remarks 6.14 References Case Study III Mechanics and dynamics-linear and non-linear III.1 References 7 Approaches to mechanics and dynamics 7.1 Newton's laws of motion 7.2 Principles of 'least action' 7.3 The Euler-Lagrange equation 7.4 Small oscillations and normal modes 7.5 Conservation laws and symmetry 7.6 Hamilton's equations and Poisson brackets 7.7 A warning 7.8 References Appendix to Chapter 7: The motion of fluids A7.1 The equation of continuity A7.2 The equation of motion for an incompressible fluid in the absence of viscosity A7.3 The equation of motion for an incompressible fluid including viscous forces 8 Dimensional analysis, chaos and self-organised criticality 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Dimensional analysis 8.3 Introduction to chaos 8.4 Scaling laws and self-organised criticality 8.5 Beyond computation 8.6 References Case Study IV Thermodynamics and statistical physics IV.1 References 9 Basic thermodynamics 9.1 Heat and temperature 9.2 Heat as motion versus the caloric theory of heat 9.3 The first law of thermodynamics 9.4 The origin of the second law of thermodynamics 9.5 The second law of thermodynamics 9.6 Entropy x Contents 9.7 The law of increase of entropy 9.8 The differential form of the combined first and second laws of thermodynamics 9.9 References Appendix to Chapter-Maxwell's relations and Jacobians A9.1 Perfect differentials in thermodynamics A9.2 Maxwell's relations A9.3 Jacobians in thermodynamics 10 Kinetic theory and the origin of statistical mechanics 10.1 The kinetic theory of gases 10.2 Kinetic theory of gases-first version 10.3 Kinetic theory of gases-second version 10.4 Maxwell's velocity distribution 10.5 The viscosity of gases 10.6 The statistical nature of the second law of thermodynamics 10.7 Entropy and probability 10.8 Entropy and the density of states 10.9 Gibbs entropy and information 10.10 Concluding remarks 10.11 References Case Study V The origins of the concept of quanta V.1 References 11 Black-body radiation up to 1895 11.1 The state of physics in 1890 11.2 Kirchhoff's law of emission and absorption of radiation 11.3 The Stefan-Boltzmann law 11.4 Wien's displacement law and the spectrum of black-body radiation 11.5 References 12 1895-1900: Planck and the spectrum of black-body radiation 12.1 Planck's early career 12.2 Oscillators and their radiation in thermal equilibrium 12.3 The equilibrium radiation spectrum of a harmonic oscillator 12.4 Towards the spectrum of black-body radiation 12.5 The primitive form of Planck's radiation law 12.6 Rayleigh and the spectrum of black-body radiation 12.7 Comparison of the laws for black-body radiation with experiment 12.8 References Appendix to Chapter 12: Rayleigh's paper of 1900 'Remarks upon the law of complete radiation' Case Study VI Special relativity VI.1 Reference 16 Special relativity-a study in invariance 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Geometry and the Lorentz transformation 16.3 Three-vectors and four-vectors 16.4 Relativistic dynamics-the momentum and force four-vectors 16.5 The relativistic equations describing motion 16.6 The frequency four-vector xii Contents 16.7 Lorentz contraction and the origin of magnetic fields 16.8 Reflections 16.9 References Case Study VII General relativity and cosmology An introduction to general relativity 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Essential features of the relativistic theory of gravity 17.3 Isotropic curved spaces 17.4 The route to general relativity 17.5 The Schwarzschild metric 17.6 Particle orbits about a point mass 17.7 Advance of perihelia of planetary orbits 17.8 Light rays in Schwarzschild space-time 17.9 Particles and light rays near black holes 17.10 Circular orbits about Schwarzschild black holes 17.11 References Appendix to Chapter 17: Isotropic curved spaces A17.1 A brief history of non-Euclidean geometries A17.2 Parallel transport and isotropic curved spaces 19.9 The best-buy cosmological model 19.10 References Appendix to Chapter 19: The Robertson-Walker metric for an empty universe Epilogue Index * Editorial commas.