The common mistake is thinking that laws of physics are innate properties of the universe, waiting to be discovered. In fact, these laws are created, based on experimental data and observation, to best describe our current knowledge of the universe. There’s nothing to stop today’s physics and it’s laws becoming outdated and irrelevant, should a ground-breaking, new discovery change humanity’s perception of our surroundings.
Einsteinian physics understands the observable physical properties of that part of the world, which we are able to perceive (estimated around 5%, last time I looked), from a radical different standpoint, compared to Newtonian physics. If we could only make sense of that pesky quantum gravity or however they call it these days … Oh, and all this ‘dark’ things, of course.
The laws of physics are innate properties of the universe . . . our understanding of them is sometimes flawed, and our models will, if discovered to be flawed, be replaced with updated versions.
Innate properties of the universe are just that, innate properties of the universe. Meanwhile, physics is a man-made science and it’s “laws” are rules written in physics textbooks by physicists. The same physicists who still can’t reconcile the two separate sets of “laws” they use for the macro scale and the quantum world.
Now you’re just being contrary, Nega. The laws of physics describe our best current understanding of the innate properties of the universe. like all laws, they can be changed as our understanding changes.
Well, the magical do seem to have problems understanding technology. Case in point: the car that Arthur Weasley investigated to figure out how it worked. And he worked in the “Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office” to keep wizards from enchanting Muggle items. And then, Hogwards may have a ban on too much technology; the students are there to study magic, after all, not to get distracted by muggle things.
Is the physical laws we understand, the only laws out there???
“Never think the stars you see are all the stars there are”
– Hinata Miyake
Any technology, when sufficently advanced, will look like magic tot hose that do not understand it.
I forget who it was that said that.
That was Arthur C. Clarke.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
And there’s it’s corollary: “Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.”
And, of course: Sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology. -Tannim
I like Florence Ambrose’s extra version
http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff300/fv00255.htm
“Any sufficiently examined magic is indistinguishable from science.”
– Agatha Heterodyne
Heh, I was sure I had posted that Freefall link before, but there was another page with the same discussion earlier, so its here twice now!
Then there’s “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a really big gun.”
The common mistake is thinking that laws of physics are innate properties of the universe, waiting to be discovered. In fact, these laws are created, based on experimental data and observation, to best describe our current knowledge of the universe. There’s nothing to stop today’s physics and it’s laws becoming outdated and irrelevant, should a ground-breaking, new discovery change humanity’s perception of our surroundings.
Except that even major scientific revolutions (such as Einsteinian physics replacing Newtonian) are more akin to refinements than replacements.
Einsteinian physics understands the observable physical properties of that part of the world, which we are able to perceive (estimated around 5%, last time I looked), from a radical different standpoint, compared to Newtonian physics. If we could only make sense of that pesky quantum gravity or however they call it these days … Oh, and all this ‘dark’ things, of course.
The laws of physics are innate properties of the universe . . . our understanding of them is sometimes flawed, and our models will, if discovered to be flawed, be replaced with updated versions.
But the true laws don’t change.
Innate properties of the universe are just that, innate properties of the universe. Meanwhile, physics is a man-made science and it’s “laws” are rules written in physics textbooks by physicists. The same physicists who still can’t reconcile the two separate sets of “laws” they use for the macro scale and the quantum world.
Now you’re just being contrary, Nega. The laws of physics describe our best current understanding of the innate properties of the universe. like all laws, they can be changed as our understanding changes.
I love Monica’s pose here; the great philosopher declaims a truth!
I’m reminded of Adam’s pose in ‘creation’ on the Systine Chapel cieling – allmost touching fingers with God
Anyone ever notice that there are no laptops and desktop computers at Hogwarts?
Well, the magical do seem to have problems understanding technology. Case in point: the car that Arthur Weasley investigated to figure out how it worked. And he worked in the “Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office” to keep wizards from enchanting Muggle items. And then, Hogwards may have a ban on too much technology; the students are there to study magic, after all, not to get distracted by muggle things.