Re: On Determinism

<alex.j.k@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Peter Ashby wrote:
<alex.j.k@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Peter.H.M.Bro...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

The 'movement of some molecules in the brain' is not random, no more
than the movement of some molecules anywhere else.

This statement is at odds with the dominant interpretation of
current physical theory, so I don't see why I should take it seriously
-- certainly a claim to the effect that randomness is somehow excluded
by physics is sheer nonsense.

That is not what Peter is saying, which if you understood physics you
would realise. Molecules move in deterministic ways, even buffeted by
Brownian motion. It may look random, but the molecule will only move if
hit by another and will only move subsequently to conserve momentum.
This is entirely deterministic.

That Brownian motion could be interpreted as perfectly consistent
with deterministic Newtonian mechanics -and indeed it is usually
formulated that way-- does _not_ imply that the motion of molecules is
in fact deterministic - we know that Newtonian physics is just an
approximation of the real world. It is only so far that one can go with
the explanation of the movement of molecules as movements of billiard
balls.
It is certainly _not_ correct to claim that because of this
possible Newtonian interpretation, the motion of molecules is
deterministic.

Okay then, please explain the role of non Newtonian physics in the
motion of molecules. I know that relativity for eg is required to fully
explain the orbit of mercury but I am not aware of such a discrepancy in
the motion of molecules. Pray enlighten me.

Peter
--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Lame philosphy
    ... like Dawkins that genes are information, ... Then we see molecules as well as macroscopic ... In basic physics, in some ideal version of physics that gets it all right, we ... complexity that we find salient and theoretically interesting. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE -- Number 817 March 29, 2007 by Phillip F. Schewe, Ben Stein
    ... The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News ... cooling molecules in cold helium or by decelerating polar molecules, ... plutonium's eight outermost or "valence" electrons can ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: On Determinism
    ... Peter Ashby wrote: ... That is not what Peter is saying, which if you understood physics you ... Molecules move in deterministic ways, ... possible Newtonian interpretation, ...
    (uk.philosophy.humanism)
  • PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE -- Number 687 June 4, 2004 by Phillip F. Schewe, Ben Stein
    ... The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News ... OBSERVING SUPERFLUIDITY IN HYDROGEN MOLECULES is difficult since the ... To make H2 into a superfluid, H2 molecules would have to be ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Relativistic Physics - Science or Religion?
    ... What motivates you to try to do--but miserably fail--damage to physics ... which would quickly be equalized by any reasonable level of heat ... vibrating molecules, would, via thermal ibrations, and some radiation, ... If the trapdoor couldn't dump its excess energy (the energy absorbed ...
    (sci.physics.particle)