Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

The essays in this book look at way in which the fundaments of physics might need to be changed in order to make progress towards a unified theory. They are based on the prize-winning essays submitted to the FQXi essay competition “Which of Our Basic Physical Assumptions Are Wrong?”, which drew over 270 entries. As Nobel Laureate physicist Philip W. Anderson realized, the key to understanding nature’s reality is not anything “magical”, but the right attitude, “the focus on asking the right questions, the willingness to try (and to discard) unconventional answers, the sensitive ear for phoniness, self-deception, bombast, and conventional but unproven assumptions.” The authors of the eighteen prize-winning essays have, where necessary, adapted their essays for the present volume so as to (a) incorporate the community feedback generated in the online discussion of the essays, (b) add new material that has come to light since their completion and (c) to ensure accessibility to a broad audience of readers with a basic grounding in physics. The Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.

Physics. --- Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics. --- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. --- History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics. --- Statistical Physics, Dynamical Systems and Complexity. --- Astronomy. --- Physique --- Astronomie --- Engineering & Applied Sciences --- Applied Physics --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Astrophysics. --- Cosmology. --- Statistical physics. --- Dynamical systems. --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics --- Complex Systems. --- Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems. --- Physics --- Mathematical statistics --- Statistical methods --- Mathematical physics. --- Dynamical systems --- Kinetics --- Mathematics --- Mechanics, Analytic --- Force and energy --- Mechanics --- Statics --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physical mathematics

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

The fourteen award-winning essays in this volume discuss a range of novel ideas and controversial topics that could decisively influence the course of human life on Earth. Their authors address, in accessible language, issues as diverse as: enabling our social systems to learn; research in biological engineering and artificial intelligence; mending and enhancing minds; improving the way we do, and teach, science; living in the here and now; and the value of play.   The essays are enhanced versions of the prize-winning entries submitted to the Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) essay competition in 2014. FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.

Sciences - General --- Physical Sciences & Mathematics --- Future life. --- Humanity. --- Afterlife --- Eternal life --- Life, Future --- Life after death --- Ethics --- Eschatology --- Eternity --- Immortality --- Near-death experiences --- Religious aspects --- Philosophy. --- Societal Aspects of Physics, Outreach and Education. --- Philosophy of Technology. --- Popular Science in Education. --- Mental philosophy --- Humanities --- Science—Social aspects. --- Education. --- Children --- Education, Primitive --- Education of children --- Human resource development --- Instruction --- Pedagogy --- Schooling --- Students --- Youth --- Civilization --- Learning and scholarship --- Mental discipline --- Schools --- Teaching --- Training --- Education

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Are there truly fundamental entities in nature? Or are the things that we regard as fundamental in our theories – for example space, time or the masses of elementary particles – merely awaiting a derivation from a new, yet to be discovered theory based on elements that are more fundamental? This was the central question posed in the 2018 FQXi essay competition, which drew more than 200 entries from professional physicists, philosophers, and other scholars. This volume presents enhanced versions of the fifteen award-winning essays, giving a spectrum of views and insights on this fascinating topic. From a prescription for “when to stop digging” to the case for strong emergence, the reader will find here a plethora of stimulating and challenging ideas - presented in a largely non-technical manner - on which to sharpen their understanding of the language of physics and even the nature of reality.

Physics --- Philosophy. --- Science --- Logic, Symbolic and mathematical. --- Quantum theory. --- History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics. --- Philosophy of Science. --- Mathematical Logic and Foundations. --- Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory. --- Algebra of logic --- Logic, Universal --- Mathematical logic --- Symbolic and mathematical logic --- Symbolic logic --- Mathematics --- Algebra, Abstract --- Metamathematics --- Set theory --- Syllogism --- Normal science --- Philosophy of science --- Quantum dynamics --- Quantum mechanics --- Quantum physics --- Mechanics --- Thermodynamics --- Physics. --- Philosophy and science. --- Mathematical logic. --- Elementary particles (Physics). --- Quantum field theory. --- Relativistic quantum field theory --- Field theory (Physics) --- Quantum theory --- Relativity (Physics) --- Elementary particles (Physics) --- High energy physics --- Nuclear particles --- Nucleons --- Nuclear physics --- Science and philosophy --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

The fourteen award-winning essays in this volume discuss a range of novel ideas and controversial topics that could decisively influence the course of human life on Earth. Their authors address, in accessible language, issues as diverse as: enabling our social systems to learn; research in biological engineering and artificial intelligence; mending and enhancing minds; improving the way we do, and teach, science; living in the here and now; and the value of play.   The essays are enhanced versions of the prize-winning entries submitted to the Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) essay competition in 2014. FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.

Science --- Philosophy --- Sociology --- Teaching --- Educational sciences --- Physics --- Engineering sciences. Technology --- sociologie --- wetenschap --- filosofie --- onderwijs --- opvoeding --- KI (kunstmatige intelligentie) --- ingenieurswetenschappen --- fysica --- AI (artificiële intelligentie)

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Are there truly fundamental entities in nature? Or are the things that we regard as fundamental in our theories – for example space, time or the masses of elementary particles – merely awaiting a derivation from a new, yet to be discovered theory based on elements that are more fundamental? This was the central question posed in the 2018 FQXi essay competition, which drew more than 200 entries from professional physicists, philosophers, and other scholars. This volume presents enhanced versions of the fifteen award-winning essays, giving a spectrum of views and insights on this fascinating topic. From a prescription for “when to stop digging” to the case for strong emergence, the reader will find here a plethora of stimulating and challenging ideas - presented in a largely non-technical manner - on which to sharpen their understanding of the language of physics and even the nature of reality.

Mathematical logic --- Philosophy of science --- History of physics --- Quantum mechanics. Quantumfield theory --- Elementary particles --- elementaire deeltjes --- quantumtheorie --- kwantumleer --- wetenschapsfilosofie --- wiskunde --- fysica --- logica