Does Scientism Undermine Other Forms of Knowledge?
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The Cosmos - Before the Big Bang
From issue 2601 of New Scientist magazine, 28 April 2007, page 28-33 The cosmos - before the big bang How did the universe begin? The question is as old as humanity. Sure, we know that something like the big bang happened, but the theory doesn't explain some of the most important bits: why it happened, what the conditions were at the time, and other imponderables. Many cosmologists think our standard picture of how the universe came to be is woefully incomplete or even plain wrong, and they have been dreaming up a host of strange alternatives to explain how we got here. For the first time, they are trying to pin down the initial conditions of the big bang. In particular, they want to solve the long-standing mystery of how the universe could have begun in such a well- ordered state, as fundamental physics implies, when it seems utter chaos should have reigned. Several models have emerged that propose intriguing answers to this question. One says the universe began as a dense sea of black holes. Another says the big bang was sparked by a collision between two membranes floating in higher-dimensional space. Yet another says our universe was originally ripped from a larger entity, and that in turn countless baby universes will be born from the wreckage of ours. Crucially, each scenario makes unique and testable predictions; observations coming online in the next few years should help us to decide which, if any, is correct. Not that modelling the origin of the universe is anything new. -
Quantum Cosmology of the Big Rip: Within GR and in a Modified Theory of Gravity
universe Conference Report Quantum Cosmology of the Big Rip: Within GR and in a Modified Theory of Gravity Mariam Bouhmadi-López 1,2,*, Imanol Albarran 3,4 and Che-Yu Chen 5,6 1 Department of Theoretical Physics, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain 2 IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain 3 Departamento de Física, Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês D’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; [email protected] 4 Centro de Matemática e Aplicações da Universidade da Beira Interior (CMA-UBI), Rua Marquês D’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal 5 Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan; [email protected] 6 LeCosPA, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan * Correspondence: [email protected] Academic Editors: Mariusz P. D ˛abrowski, Manuel Krämer and Vincenzo Salzano Received: 8 March 2017; Accepted: 12 April 2017; Published: 14 April 2017 Abstract: Quantum gravity is the theory that is expected to successfully describe systems that are under strong gravitational effects while at the same time being of an extreme quantum nature. When this principle is applied to the universe as a whole, we use what is commonly named “quantum cosmology”. So far we do not have a definite quantum theory of gravity or cosmology, but we have several promising approaches. Here we will review the application of the Wheeler–DeWitt formalism to the late-time universe, where it might face a Big Rip future singularity. The Big Rip singularity is the most virulent future dark energy singularity which can happen not only in general relativity but also in some modified theories of gravity. -
Big Rip Singularity in 5D Viscous Cosmology
Send Orders for Reprints to [email protected] The Open Astronomy Journal, 2014, 7, 7-11 7 Open Access Big Rip Singularity in 5D Viscous Cosmology 1,* 2 G.S. Khadekar and N.V. Gharad 1Department of Mathematics, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Educational Campus, Amravati Road, Nagpur-440033, India 2Department of Physics, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Wadi, Nagpur-440023, India Abstract: Dark energy of phantom or quintessence nature with an equation of state parameter almost equal to -1 often leads to a finite future singularity. The singularities in the dark energy universe, by assuming bulk viscosity in the frame- work of Kaluza-Klein theory of gravitation have been discussed. Particularly, it is proved, that the physically natural as- sumption of letting the bulk viscosity be proportional to the scalar expansion in a spatially 5D FRW universe, can derive the fluid into the phantom region ( < -1), even if it lies in the quintessence region ( >-1) in the non viscous case. It is also shown that influence of the viscosity term acts to shorten the singularity time but it does not change the nature of sin- gularity in the framework of higher dimensional space time. Keywords: Big Rip, dark energy, future singularity, viscous cosmology. 1. INTRODUCTION including a quintessence (Wang et al. [12]) and phantom (Caldwell [13]), and (ii) interacting dark energy models, by A revolutionary development seems to have taken place considering the interaction including Chaplygin gas (Ka- in cosmology during the last few years. The latest develop- menohehik et al [14]), generalized Chaplygin gas (Bento et ments of super-string theory and super-gravitational theory al. -
Science Fiction Stories with Good Astronomy & Physics
Science Fiction Stories with Good Astronomy & Physics: A Topical Index Compiled by Andrew Fraknoi (U. of San Francisco, Fromm Institute) Version 7 (2019) © copyright 2019 by Andrew Fraknoi. All rights reserved. Permission to use for any non-profit educational purpose, such as distribution in a classroom, is hereby granted. For any other use, please contact the author. (e-mail: fraknoi {at} fhda {dot} edu) This is a selective list of some short stories and novels that use reasonably accurate science and can be used for teaching or reinforcing astronomy or physics concepts. The titles of short stories are given in quotation marks; only short stories that have been published in book form or are available free on the Web are included. While one book source is given for each short story, note that some of the stories can be found in other collections as well. (See the Internet Speculative Fiction Database, cited at the end, for an easy way to find all the places a particular story has been published.) The author welcomes suggestions for additions to this list, especially if your favorite story with good science is left out. Gregory Benford Octavia Butler Geoff Landis J. Craig Wheeler TOPICS COVERED: Anti-matter Light & Radiation Solar System Archaeoastronomy Mars Space Flight Asteroids Mercury Space Travel Astronomers Meteorites Star Clusters Black Holes Moon Stars Comets Neptune Sun Cosmology Neutrinos Supernovae Dark Matter Neutron Stars Telescopes Exoplanets Physics, Particle Thermodynamics Galaxies Pluto Time Galaxy, The Quantum Mechanics Uranus Gravitational Lenses Quasars Venus Impacts Relativity, Special Interstellar Matter Saturn (and its Moons) Story Collections Jupiter (and its Moons) Science (in general) Life Elsewhere SETI Useful Websites 1 Anti-matter Davies, Paul Fireball. -
What's So Bad About Scientism? Moti Mizrahi Florida Institute Of
What’s so bad about Scientism? Moti Mizrahi Florida Institute of Technology Abstract: In their attempt to defend philosophy from accusations of uselessness made by prominent scientists, such as Stephen Hawking, some philosophers respond with the charge of “scientism.” This charge makes endorsing a scientistic stance a mistake by definition. For this reason, it begs the question against these critics of philosophy, or anyone who is inclined to endorse a scientistic stance, and turns the scientism debate into a verbal dispute. In this paper, I propose a different definition of scientism, and thus a new way of looking at the scientism debate. Those philosophers who seek to defend philosophy against accusations of uselessness would do philosophy a much better service, I submit, if they were to engage with the definition of scientism put forth in this paper, rather than simply make it analytic that scientism is a mistake. Keywords: inference to the best explanation; epistemological scientism; scientistic stance; success of science 1. Introduction In their attempt to defend philosophy from accusations of uselessness made by prominent scientists, such as Hawking and Mlodinow (2010, p. 5), who write that “philosophy is dead,”1 some philosophers accuse these scientists of “scientism.” According to Pigliucci (2010, p. 235), the term ‘scientism’ “is in fact only used as an insult.” By “scientism,” Pigliucci (2010, p. 235) means, “the intellectual arrogance of some scientists who think that, given enough time and especially financial resources, science will be able to answer whatever meaningful questions we may wish to pose—from a cure for cancer to the elusive equation that will tell us how the laws of nature themselves came about” (emphasis added).2 And Sorell (2013, p. -
Reexamining the Problem of Demarcating Science and Pseudoscience by Evan Westre B.A., Vancouver Island University, 2010 a Thesis
Reexamining the Problem of Demarcating Science and Pseudoscience By Evan Westre B.A., Vancouver Island University, 2010 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS ©Evan Westre, 2014 All Rights Reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. Supervisory Committee Reexamining the Problem of Demarcating Science and Pseudoscience By Evan Westre B.A., Vancouver Island University, 2010 Dr. Audrey Yap: Supervisor (Department of Philosophy) Dr. Jeffrey Foss: Departmental Member (Department of Philosophy) ii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Audrey Yap: Supervisor (Department of Philosophy) Dr. Jeffrey Foss: Departmental Member (Department of Philosophy) The demarcation problem aims to articulate the boundary between science and pseudoscience. Solutions to the problem have been notably raised by the logical positivists (verificationism), Karl Popper (falsificationism), and Imre Lakatos (methodology of research programmes). Due, largely, to the conclusions drawn by Larry Laudan, in a pivotal 1981 paper which dismissed the problem of demarcation as a “pseudo-problem”, the issue was brushed aside for years. Recently, however, there has been a revival of attempts to reexamine the demarcation problem and synthesize new solutions. My aim is to survey two of the contemporary attempts and to assess these approaches over and against the broader historical trajectory of the demarcation problem. These are the efforts of Nicholas Maxwell (aim-oriented empiricism), and Paul Hoyningen-Huene (systematicity). I suggest that the main virtue of the new attempts is that they promote a self-reflexive character within the sciences. -
Chaotic Universe Model Ekrem Aydiner
www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Chaotic universe model Ekrem Aydiner In this study, we consider nonlinear interactions between components such as dark energy, dark matter, matter and radiation in the framework of the Friedman-Robertson-Walker space-time and propose a simple interaction model based on the time evolution of the densities of these components. Received: 28 July 2017 By using this model we show that these interactions can be given by Lotka-Volterra type equations. We numerically solve these coupling equations and show that interaction dynamics between dark Accepted: 15 December 2017 energy-dark matter-matter or dark energy-dark matter-matter-radiation has a strange attractor for Published: xx xx xxxx 0 > wde >−1, wdm ≥ 0, wm ≥ 0 and wr ≥ 0 values. These strange attractors with the positive Lyapunov exponent clearly show that chaotic dynamics appears in the time evolution of the densities. These results provide that the time evolution of the universe is chaotic. The present model may have potential to solve some of the cosmological problems such as the singularity, cosmic coincidence, big crunch, big rip, horizon, oscillation, the emergence of the galaxies, matter distribution and large-scale organization of the universe. The model also connects between dynamics of the competing species in biological systems and dynamics of the time evolution of the universe and ofers a new perspective and a new diferent scenario for the universe evolution. Te formation, structure, dynamics and evolution of the universe has always been of interest. It is commonly accepted that modern cosmology began with the publication of Einstein’s seminal article in 19171. -
PHYSICS, PHILOSOPHY and PSYCHOANALYSIS Essays in Honor of Adolf Grilnbaum
PHYSICS, PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS Essays in Honor of Adolf Grilnbaum Edited by R. s. COHEN Boston University and L. LAUDAN Virginia Polytechnic Institute D. REIDEL PUBLISHING COMPANY A MEMBER OF THE KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS GROUP DORDRECHT I BOSTON I LANCASTER Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Physics, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. (Boston studies in the philosophy of science; v. 76) Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Physics-Philo sophy-Addresses, essays, lectures. 2. Philos- ophy-Addresses, essays, lectures. 3. Psychoanalysis-Addresses, essays;lectures. 4. Griinbaum, Adolf. I. Griinbaum, Adolf. II. Cohen, Robert Sonne. III. Series. Q174.B67 vol. 76 [QC6.21 501s 1530'.011 83-4576 ISBN-I3: 978-94-009-7057-1 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-7055-7 DOl: 10.1007/978-94-009-7055-7 Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company, P.O. Box 17,3300 AA Dordrecht, Holland. Sold and distributed in the U.S.A. and Canada by Kluwer Boston Inc., 190 Old Derby Street, Hingham, MA 02043, U.S.A. In all other countries, sold and distributed by Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, Holland. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 1983 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland and copyright holders as specified on appropriate pages within. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 15t edition 1983 No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any informational storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner. -
Death from the Skies!
Death from the Skies! Kristi Schneck SLAC Association for Student Seminars 7/11/12 The universe is trying to kill us! Well, not actively... BUT • Near-Earth Asteroids • Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections • Supernovae • Gamma Ray Bursts • Black Holes 2 of 18 Asteroids and Near-Earth Objects 3 of 18 Hollywood|Armageddon 4 of 18 Reality • The earth is pummeled by 20-40 tons of material every day • Chicxulub impact{extinction of dinosaurs • 1908 Tunguska event (air burst of ∼100 m asteroid above Siberia) 5 of 18 Reality|99942 Apophis 6 of 18 The Torino Scale 7 of 18 What can we do about this? • Blow it up, redirect it, etc... http://www.b612foundation.org/ 8 of 18 Death by Sun 9 of 18 Hollywood|Knowing 10 of 18 Hollywood (again)|2012 The neutrinos have mutated! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXqUcuE8fNo 11 of 18 Reality • Charged particles from CMEs mess with satellites and power grid ◦ March 1989|major power outages in NJ and Canada ◦ Damage only increases as we use more power • Depletion of ozone and production of NO2 in atmosphere • \Little Ice Age" in Europe (17th Century) correlated with very low sunspot activity ◦ Many other factors contributed to this.... 12 of 18 Supernovae • ∼20 stars within 1000 ly could potentially become supernovae • For 20 M star 10 ly away, 40 million tons of material would hit us ◦ < One ounce per square foot over Earth's surface ◦ Inverse-square law saves the day! • Other stuff: neutrinos, X-rays, gammas ◦ Earth-bound people are pretty safe safe, but astronauts? 13 of 18 Gamma Ray Bursts • Discovered while -
From Fleck's Denkstil to Kuhn's Paradigm: Conceptual Schemes and Incommensurability Babette E
Fordham University Masthead Logo DigitalResearch@Fordham Articles and Chapters in Academic Book Philosophy Collections 2003 From Fleck’s Denkstil to Kuhn’s Paradigm: Conceptual Schemes and Incommensurability Babette Babich Fordham University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fordham.bepress.com/phil_babich Part of the Continental Philosophy Commons, History of Philosophy Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Philosophy of Science Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons Recommended Citation Babich, Babette, "From Fleck’s Denkstil to Kuhn’s Paradigm: Conceptual Schemes and Incommensurability" (2003). Articles and Chapters in Academic Book Collections. 7. https://fordham.bepress.com/phil_babich/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Philosophy at DigitalResearch@Fordham. It has been accepted for inclusion in Articles and Chapters in Academic Book Collections by an authorized administrator of DigitalResearch@Fordham. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This article was downloaded by:[Ingenta Content Distribution] On: 23 December 2007 Access Details: [subscription number 768420433] Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK International Studies in the Philosophy of Science Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713427740 From Fleck's Denkstil -
Introduction to Black Hole Astrophysics, 2010 Gustavo E
Lecture Notes Introduction to Black Hole Astrophysics, 2010 Gustavo E. Romero Introduction to black hole astrophysics Gustavo E. Romero Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía, C.C. 5, Villa Elisa (1894), and Facultad de Cs. Astronómicas y Geofísicas, UNLP, Paseo del Bosque S/N, (1900) La Plata, Argentina, [email protected] Es cosa averiguada que no se sabe nada, y que todos son ignorantes; y aun esto no se sabe de cierto, que, a saberse, ya se supiera algo: sospéchase. Quevedo Abstract. Black holes are perhaps the most strange and fascinating objects in the universe. Our understanding of space and time is pushed to its limits by the extreme conditions found in these objects. They can be used as natural laboratories to test the behavior of matter in very strong gravitational fields. Black holes seem to play a key role in the universe, powering a wide variety of phenomena, from X-ray binaries to active galactic nuclei. In these lecture notes the basics of black hole physics and astrophysics are reviewed. 1. Introduction Strictly speaking, black holes do not exist. Moreover, holes, of any kind, do not exist. You can talk about holes of course. For instance you can say: “there is a hole in the wall”. You can give many details of the hole: it is big, it is round shaped, light comes in through it. Even, perhaps, the hole could be such that you can go through to the outside. But I am sure that you do not think that there is a thing made out of nothingness in the wall. -
QUALIFIER EXAM SOLUTIONS 1. Cosmology (Early Universe, CMB, Large-Scale Structure)
Draft version June 20, 2012 Preprint typeset using LATEX style emulateapj v. 5/2/11 QUALIFIER EXAM SOLUTIONS Chenchong Zhu (Dated: June 20, 2012) Contents 1. Cosmology (Early Universe, CMB, Large-Scale Structure) 7 1.1. A Very Brief Primer on Cosmology 7 1.1.1. The FLRW Universe 7 1.1.2. The Fluid and Acceleration Equations 7 1.1.3. Equations of State 8 1.1.4. History of Expansion 8 1.1.5. Distance and Size Measurements 8 1.2. Question 1 9 1.2.1. Couldn't photons have decoupled from baryons before recombination? 10 1.2.2. What is the last scattering surface? 11 1.3. Question 2 11 1.4. Question 3 12 1.4.1. How do baryon and photon density perturbations grow? 13 1.4.2. How does an individual density perturbation grow? 14 1.4.3. What is violent relaxation? 14 1.4.4. What are top-down and bottom-up growth? 15 1.4.5. How can the power spectrum be observed? 15 1.4.6. How can the power spectrum constrain cosmological parameters? 15 1.4.7. How can we determine the dark matter mass function from perturbation analysis? 15 1.5. Question 4 16 1.5.1. What is Olbers's Paradox? 16 1.5.2. Are there Big Bang-less cosmologies? 16 1.6. Question 5 16 1.7. Question 6 17 1.7.1. How can we possibly see galaxies that are moving away from us at superluminal speeds? 18 1.7.2. Why can't we explain the Hubble flow through the physical motion of galaxies through space? 19 1.7.3.