Ask a physicist anything. (2)

[Wiccan_Child]

Who? Never met him.

Pat Robertson, even. I always get it the wrong way round.

Then divine revelation is true.

How did you come to that conclusion from what I said? That you can accrue evidence isn't proof positive that it's true, just that the evidence thus far supports it.

 

[dewaddict84]

I argue that the statement '1 + 1 = 2' is known to be true with 100% certainty, and that this constitutes a fact.

I thought the whole point that 1+1=2 relying on axioms is that it's not necessarily 100% certain.

"I Know it to be true, I'm 100% certain" sounds like faith to me. But, of course, I'm the agnostic.

 

[Maxwell511]

What is a fact, if not a true statement?

I was thinking of a fact as a true statment about reality.

 

[mpok1519]

Question; what are bosons and what are mesons?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

I thought the whole point that 1+1=2 relying on axioms is that it's not necessarily 100% certain.

Axioms are statements whose truth is assumed a priori, or whose truth is known but unproven. I consider the axiomatic foundations of logic to be self-evident: they're true by definition. Or, if you like they can't not be true.

"I Know it to be true, I'm 100% certain" sounds like faith to me. But, of course, I'm the agnostic.

Only if I wasn't, in fact, 100% certain. Even if my claim is false, I still consider it to be based on hard logic (rather than subjective wiff). Someone who thinks they've proven that God exists doesn't have faith in God (even if their proof is flawed, they think it's valid).

I was thinking of a fact as a true statment about reality.

That seems unnecessarily restrictive to me . But then, surely 1 + 1 = 2 is a true statement in reality as well? If I have one apple and Billy gives me another, I have two apples, do I not?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Question; what are bosons and what are mesons?

Bosons are particles that obey Bose-Einstein statistics - that is, several can occupy the same quantum state (as opposed to fermions, where only one can occupy a quantum state). There are four fundamental particles that are bosons (photons, W and Z guage bosons, and gluons; the Higgs boson is a hypothetical fifth boson).

Mesons are composite particles made of one quark and one antiquark.

 

[Assyrian]

Isn't 1+1=2 true simply by definition, in that 2 is what we call it if we add 1 and 1?

 

[Chesterton]

Isn't 1+1=2 true simply by definition, in that 2 is what we call it if we add 1 and 1?

And a (I think) related question: Is reality real?

(Seems real to me, but maybe I'm not sufficiently educated in the relevant sciences. )

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Isn't 1+1=2 true simply by definition, in that 2 is what we call it if we add 1 and 1?

Yep.

And a (I think) related question: Is reality real?

(Seems real to me, but maybe I'm not sufficiently educated in the relevant sciences. )

Everyone knows your perception of reality is proportional to the square of the number of PhDs you've got .

 

[Chesterton]

Everyone knows your perception of reality is proportional to the square of the number of PhDs you've got .

But you mean negatively proportional, right?

 

[pgp_protector]

Yep.


Everyone knows your perception of reality is proportional to the square of the number of PhDs you've got .

would that calculation include the Ivory Tower Offset ?

 

[Chesterton]

would that calculation include the Ivory Tower Offset ?

Being up in an Ivory Tower means that one is further from having one's feet on the ground, and closer to having one's head in the clouds.

 

[mpok1519]

Bosons are particles that obey Bose-Einstein statistics - that is, several can occupy the same quantum state (as opposed to fermions, where only one can occupy a quantum state). There are four fundamental particles that are bosons (photons, W and Z guage bosons, and gluons; the Higgs boson is a hypothetical fifth boson).

Mesons are composite particles made of one quark and one antiquark.

Now, how do I apply this when making my proton pack in order to capture ghosts? If you help I'll cut you in on the cash flow.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Now, how do I apply this when making my proton pack in order to capture ghosts? If you help I'll cut you in on the cash flow.

Ghosts are made of bosons, so you can fit as many as you like into an arbitrarily small containment chamber.

 

[AV1611VET]

Ghosts are made of bosons...

I thought it was ectoplasm?

 

[Cabal]

I thought it was ectoplasm?

Nothing stopping that being bosonic.

 

[Maxwell511]

That seems unnecessarily restrictive to me .

Reality has its restrictions.

But then, surely 1 + 1 = 2 is a true statement in reality as well? If I have one apple and Billy gives me another, I have two apples, do I not?

The statement "1 apple +1 apple=2 apples" is a fact. The statement "1+1=2" isn't necessarily, personally I am not sure what "1+1=2" even means. This is even before we get to i*i=-1, what the hell is that?

e^pi*i+1=0!!!!!? That is insane.

My favourite quote about mathematics and logic is this:

Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. Mathematicians go mad, and cashiers; but creative artists very seldom. I am not, as will be seen, in any sense attacking logic: I only say that this danger does lie in logic, not in imagination.- G.K. Chesterton

That statement is more of a fact for me than "1+1=2". Look at Cantor!

 

[Maxwell511]

Isn't 1+1=2 true simply by definition, in that 2 is what we call it if we add 1 and 1?

My mate Boole and I think that 1+1=1 by definition. It's simply logic.

 

[pgp_protector]

My mate Boole and I think that 1+1=1 by definition. It's simply logic.

I just tried it in my calculator and got 1 + 1 = 10

 

[Maxwell511]

I just tried it in my calculator and got 1 + 1 = 10

Your calculator can change base clearly. To get it to say 1+1=1 you need it to change algebra. To this one.