Our species is not going to last forever. One way or another, humanity will vanish from the Universe, but before it does, it might summon together sufficient computing power to emulate human experience, in all of its rich detail. Some philosophers and physicists have begun to wonder if we’re already there. Maybe we are in … Continue reading Is this life real or a simulation? – Matthew R Francis – Aeon
Tag: Science
Falsifiability is useful, but a matter of judgment
Our discussions last week on Jim Baggott's book, 'Farewell to Reality', and Sean Carroll's Edge response, left me pondering falsifiability, the idea that theories should be falsifiable in order to be considered science. Falsifiability is a criteria identified by the philosopher Karl Popper. Popper was arguing against a conception held at the time by logical … Continue reading Falsifiability is useful, but a matter of judgment
Mars exploration is always 20 years in the future
There is a lot of news about the assessment of experts on the feasibility of a manned mission to Mars. Sending humans to Mars by the 2030s is affordable, a group of experts finds, but some key changes are needed if it is going to happen. I remember as a boy in the 1970s reading that we'd … Continue reading Mars exploration is always 20 years in the future
Do we all do science?
Massimo Pigluici has a cartoon response up on Rationally Speaking in reply to Sam Harris' Edge response. Harris thinks that science is defined too narrowly, is suspicious of talk of the limits of science, and sees the distinction between science, philosophy, and history as illusory. Massimo sees this as too broad. I may be missing … Continue reading Do we all do science?
The End of the World: Science or Religion? | Seth Shostak
Harold Camping died last month. In case you don't remember, Camping, the president of evangelical Family Radio, predicted that the world would end in 2011. Twice. He made these prognostications on the basis of numerology, which sounds like it might be a sophomore-level math subject, but isn't. The data for the calculations Camping used to … Continue reading The End of the World: Science or Religion? | Seth Shostak
The path to moral behavior | Machines Like Us
The brakes of your car fail suddenly and on your path are five people who will certainly be hit and killed. You can steer, but if you do another pedestrian will find himself on your course. Just one. What do you do: do you take action and kill one person or do you do nothing … Continue reading The path to moral behavior | Machines Like Us
Time to ditch falsifiability?
Related to my last two posts, and our discussion, Sean Carroll turned in an answer to the "What Scientific Ideas Are Ready for Retirement?" His answer? Falsifiability. Modern physics stretches into realms far removed from everyday experience, and sometimes the connection to experiment becomes tenuous at best. String theory and other approaches to quantum gravity … Continue reading Time to ditch falsifiability?
What scientific idea is ready for retirement? | Science | The Observer
Each year a forum for the world's most brilliant minds asks one question. This year's drew responses from such names as Richard Dawkins, Ian McEwan and Alan Alda. Here, edge.org founder John Brockman explains how the question came into being and we pick some of the best responses via What scientific idea is ready for … Continue reading What scientific idea is ready for retirement? | Science | The Observer
Farewell to Reality
Jim Baggott has written an important book, 'Farewell to Reality: How Modern Physics Has Betrayed the Search for Scientific Truth', which takes a hard look at many modern ideas in theoretical physics, and finds that many of them are not science. Philosophy of science Baggott begins with a chapter on basic philosophy of science, identifying … Continue reading Farewell to Reality
Why You Should Upload Yourself to a Supercomputer
We're still decades — if not centuries — away from being able to transfer a mind to a supercomputer. It's a fantastic future prospect that makes some people incredibly squeamish. But there are considerable benefits to living a digital life. Here's why you should seriously consider uploading. via Why You Should Upload Yourself to a … Continue reading Why You Should Upload Yourself to a Supercomputer
