| | Those of you who know me know that I am no scientist. Those of you who know me well are no doubt sick of me reminding the world that I am, in fact, no scientist. I came across something the other day that fascinated me, though, and inspired me to momentarily rethink my boycott of the empirical process. While this will not be news to any readers with any kind of capacity for science, I was amazed at what the empirical process was able to demonstrate. And I apologize in advance for how I will inevitably misrepresent what I am about to share...
Apparently, matter acts differently when it is being observed (scientists call it the "observer effect") and the very act of observing matter causes it to behave differently. Although the controversy surrounding this discussion is not surprising, it is causing some scientifically inclined folks to question what scientific facts are objectifiable and to what extent the outcome of an experiment depends upon the expectations of the observer. Related to, but distinct from the observer effect, is what is called the uncertainty principle (sometimes the principle of indeterminacy). This principle stems from the observation that the more precisely one magnitude of a particle is measured, the less precisely other magnitudes of the particle are able to be known in that moment. Many scientists think that this blurring of other magnitudes is a fundamental property of matter and that, consequently, the behavior of matter cannot be reliably predicted.
If you're still reading, I'm sure you're wondering why the hell I find this even a little interesting. You see, as a part of my education as a therapist, I am required to read a bunch of stuck-up, self-important old men try to convince their readers that all behavior, emotions, and even the experience of consciousness or free will can ultimately be reduced to material processes. To put it another way: you don't think, you only think you do; it's actually chemicals interacting inside of you like the gears in a grandfather clock. You are a prisoner of biology. If, however, the world is characterized by possibility and freedom instead of determinism and limitation, we are free to change, grow, to contradict ourselves, and be something other than what we are. So I guess what I'm saying is don't feel guilty about doing something different today and being free. Me, I'm going hiking.
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| | Posted 4/28/2007 2:29 PM - 51 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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