The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time - Craig Callender
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The Kalam Cosmological Argument Meets the Mentaculus
The Kalam Cosmological Argument Meets The Mentaculus Dan Linford Abstract According to the orthodox interpretation of bounce cosmologies, the universe was born from an entropy reducing phase in a previous universe. To defend the thesis that the whole of physical reality was caused to exist a finite time ago, William Lane Craig and co-author James Sinclair have argued the low entropy interface between universes should instead be understood as the beginning of two universes. Here, I present Craig and Sinclair with a dilemma. On the one hand, if the direction of time is reducible, as friends of the Mentaculus – e.g., David Albert, Barry Loewer, and David Papineau – maintain, then there is reason to think that the direction of time and the entropic arrow of time align. But on that account, efficient causation is likely reducible to non-causal phenomena. In consequence, contrary to Craig and Sinclair’s theological aims, things can begin to exist without causes. On the other hand, if the direction of time is not reducible, Craig and Sinclair’s interpretation of bounce cosmologies is unjustified. Lastly, a reply to a potential objection motivates a discussion of how to interpret bounce cosmologies on the tensed theory of absolute time favored by Craig and Sinclair. I offer two interpretations of bounce cosmologies that, given a tensed theory of absolute time, are preferable to those Craig and Sinclair offer, yet inconsistent with their project in natural theology; on one interpretation, the universe does not require a supernatural cause and, on the other, bounce cosmologies represent the universe as never having begun to exist. -
Indefinable.Pdf (414 Pages, 12,959,446 Bytes, 30 December 2017, 20:00 GMT)
Download all in a zip file (19,519,483 bytes) and check out readme.html or readme.pdf (9 pages) inside, as well as pp. 123-130 and pp. 132-156 in gravity.pdf (30 December 2017, 19:42 GMT) and FRAUD.pdf (30 December 2017, 19:32 GMT). Please be aware that I am interested only and exclusively only in hyperimaginary numbers (p. 20 in Hyperimaginary Numbers), which may offer unique solutions to various problems in point-set topology, set theory, and number theory. Therefore, I cannot address any issue, which is not directly related to hyperimaginary numbers, and will have to ignore it due to the lack of time. D. Chakalov chakalov.net December 30, 2017, 19:50 GMT Gravity-Matter Duality D. Chakalov Abstract Gravity-matter duality is suggested as the first step toward quantum gravity, ensuing from the idea that the phenomenon dubbed ‘gravitational field’ is a new form of reality, known as Res potentia — “just in the middle between possibility and reality” (Heisenberg, Slide 7). The essential similarities and differences between gravity-matter duality and wave-particle duality are briefly examined, with emphasis on the proposed joint solution to exact localization of gravity and “quantum waves” at spacetime points. The latter are endowed with brand new structure and topology due to the fundamental flow of events suggested by Heraclitus — Panta rei conditio sine qua non est. gm_duality.pdf, 9 pages November 1, 2017, 17:40:13 GMT Also viXra:1707.0400vE, 2017-11-01 My objections to EU-funded Einstein Telescope and LISA can be downloaded from this http URL. -
The Influence of Quantum Physics on Philosophy
To appear in a special issue of Foundations of Science, 2020 or 2021. The Influence of Quantum Physics on Philosophy F.A. Muller Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil), Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), Burg. Oudlaan 50, Bayle Building, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Faculty of Science, Utrecht University (UU), Buys Ballot Building, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, The Netherlands [email protected] October 2020 About 4100 words Abstract. We ponder the question whether quantum physics has had any influence on philosophy, and if not, whether it ought to have had any. Answers to these questions are provided, and they turn out to depend on which branch of the tree of philosophy we sweep, sway and swing, and even which twig of the branch we touch when we sweep, sway and swing. Table of Contents 1. Preamble ...................... 1 2. Influence of Philosophy of Physics ............ 1 3. Influence on Philosophy ................. 4 4. Influence on Philosophy of Mind ............. 6 5. Influence on Logic ................... 7 6. Influence on Metaphysics ................ 8 7. Influence on Ethics .................. 9 8. Influence on Philosophy of Science . 10 9. Recapitulation .................... 11 References ....................... 12 1. Preamble Quantum mechanics matured in the 1920s, barging into adulthood with the books of Weyl (1931), Dirac (1931) and Von Neumann (1932); see Jammer, (1966). That quantum me- chanics was more than just another physical theory, became clear comparatively quickly. Bohr's ruminations about `the epistemological lessons that quantum theory has taught us' have become legendary. Most of the founding fathers of quantum mechanics were sensitive to philosophical consequences of quantum mechanics. They thought about it, talked about it, and wrote about it in letters and papers (see Jammer, 1974). -
Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale: Contemporary
This page intentionally left blank [18:13 2000/10/16 g:/tex/key-tex/callendr/3663-PRE.tex] Ref: 3663 CALLENDER: Physics Meets Philosophy Prelims Page: ii i–x Physics meets philosophy at the Planck scale The greatest challenge in fundamental physics is how quantum mechanics and general relativity can be reconciled in a theory of ‘quantum gravity’. The project suggests a profound revision of our notions of space, time, and matter, and so has become a key topic of debate and collaboration between physicists and philosophers. This timely volume collects classic and original contributions from leading experts in both fields for a provocative discussion of all the issues. This volume contains accessible introductions to the main and less well known approaches to quantum gravity. It includes exciting topics such as the fate of spacetime in various theories, the so-called ‘problem of time’ in canonical quantum gravity, black hole thermodynamics, and the relationship between the interpretation of quantum theory and quantum gravity. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the profound implications of trying to marry the two most important theories in physics. Craig Callender is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of California at San Diego. Formerly a Senior Lecturer in Logic, Philosophy and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics, he has worked as Deputy Editor of the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science and as Associate Editor of Mind. His research interests include the philosophical foundations of modern physics, the problem of the direction of time, and the metaphysics of science. -
UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Examining
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Examining Life’s Origins: History and Epistemic Principles in the Search for the Origins of Life A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (Science Studies) by Eric Collin Martin Committee in charge: Professor William Bechtel, Chair Professor Craig Callender Professor Nancy Cartwright Professor Naomi Oreskes Professor Robert Westman ` 2010 The Dissertation of Eric Collin Martin is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: Chair University of California, San Diego 2010 iii DEDICATION For my parents, Sandy Martin and Robert Martin iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature Page …………………………………………………………………………. iii Dedication ……………………………………………………………………………… iv Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………… v List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………… vi Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………. vii Vita……………………………………………………………………………………… ix Abstract of the Dissertation …………………………………………………………... xv Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. 1 Chapter 1: J.B.S. Haldane between holism and mechanism ………………………….. 21 Chapter 2: Haldane, expertise, and the popular press ………………………………… 58 Chapter 3: “Not just talk”: The Miller-Urey experiment in context …………………… 84 Chapter 4: Origins of life and evolutionary theory ……………………………………. 97 Chapter 5: The Principle of Continuity in origins of life research ………………….. 116 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………... 151 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 – Illustration