Modern Physicists Research Articles

Пифагорейский аргумент разумного замысла Вселенной и его критика. Статья 5: «Атеизм» современных физиков

One of the objections to the Pythagorean argument is the reference to the authority of modern physicists, most of whom call themselves atheists or agnostics. Even if there had not been any atheists among the founding fathers of physics, something is wrong with the argument of the intelligent design of the Universe, since so many physicists of the last half-century do not believe in God, the critique goes. To answer this sort of objections, we discuss here the views of Richard Feynman, Steven Weinberg, and Stephen Hawking, each of whom called himself an “atheist”. We attempt to show in what sense they indeed were atheists and in what sense they were not. Roger Penrose, the eminent physicist and thinker, called himself “rather agnostic”, but he was convinced of the universe’s purpose, and explained what this conviction was based on: not blind faith but the very special character of the physical laws and the initial conditions of the Big Bang. Penrose illustrated his metaphysical views by means of graphic images, one of which we discuss in a dedicated chapter. Our review of contemporary physicist-philosophers would be very incomplete without the “practicing but unbelieving Christian” Freeman Dyson, with his concept of “the most interesting of all possible worlds”, and so we talk about him too. We also consider Max Tegmark’s mathematical multiverse hypothesis and show that it does not stand up to criticism in light of the cognitive self-consistency of the universe. Is it rational to reject the hypothesis of intelligent design when all other hypotheses about the cause of the highly refi ned nature of physical laws fail? The chapter “Absurdity and Skepticism” is devoted to this question. At the end of this essay and the whole series, we familiarize the reader with the view of the mass man in science and the nature of his “atheism” that was expressed by Jose Ortega y Gasset, supported by Erwin Schrödinger, and commented on by Steven Weinberg.

CORRESPONDENCE OF HEISENBERG’S VIEWS WITH THE MULTIMODULAR CONCEPT OF A.V. AND L.A. BUROV

This article is devoted to a brief analysis of the views of the German physicist in their comparison with the concept of the metaphysical foundations of the universe of modern physicists Alexei Vladimirovich and Lev Alekseevich Burov. The object of the study is the main philosophical work of Heisenberg - the treatise “The Order of Reality” - and the work of the Drillers called “Metaphysical Status of physical Laws”. The metaphysical concepts of the multimodular reality of the mentioned authors are compared, and a brief historical basis for the emergence of these concepts is given. The substantiation of the importance of philosophical research in the field of physics and mathematics, and quantum physics is given - in particular. The necessity of further research of the issue is postulated considering the latest concepts in natural science within the framework of binary geometrophysics of Yu.S. Vladimirov. In conclusion, the importance of the modal (or multimodular) nature of reality is argued for the construction of a new, comprehensive picture of the world, within which it would be possible, finally, to understand the essence of quantum processes that determine reality, and to reach a fundamentally new level of philosophy of natural science.

Theology-Science: Monitoring the Dichotomy of Science and Religion in the Era 5.0 Mehdi Gholshani's Perspective

This paper aims to see the extent of the problems faced by humans, especially educators in overseeing the Religion-Science dichotomy. Here the researcher uses Mehdi Golshani's thinking. This is because Gholsani is one of the modern physicists who offers "ingredients" for theology-science in facing the 5.0 era. This is the reason for the researcher to reflect on his thoughts in observing the religion-science dichotomy for the present and future eras. The approach used in this paper is qualitative by describing articles related to the research title. However, the author also added the results of a questionnaire given to 203 students regarding science and religion. This is done to support more convincing data regarding religion-science. The results of the study provide an answer that Mehdi Golshani considers that modern science only relies on sensory reality, science has limitations in being able to talk about all aspects. The Golshani offer refers to the basis of the Quran, Sunnah and Muslim scholars. Golshani refers to the Quran so as not to mention that science is true, he also explains that the Koran does not regard it as the only source of knowledge about nature, because there are other sources such as reason. Meanwhile, for Golshani's reasoning and understanding, he uses 2 sciences, namely Aqaly and Sama'i Sciences. The meaning of aqaly knowledge is knowledge obtained through research, for example biology, chemistry and so on and sama'i knowledge is knowledge obtained through hearing such as linguistics and literature. Then the field of understanding the objects of science in Islam can be used in three ways, namely through the senses, mind and heart.

The Concept of “Modern Physics” and an Extended Needham Question

In discussions about the Scientific Revolution, a key expression is “modern science”. Its traditional understanding – mathematization and experimentation – is too weak: Euclid’s geometry and Archimedes’ physics were both perfectly mathematical and were based on objective experience. And it is too strong: in natural sciences beyond physics, math is quite limited. Joseph Needham in his Grand Question actually focused on modern physics originating with Galileo. To make this question really historical, it is narrowed down to physics and expanded in cultural time and space: Which feature of modern physics, absent in Greco-Roman and Medieval sciences, prevented the next major advance after Archimedes, and prevented non-Europeans to join modern science for centuries after Galileo and up to the 20th century? In modern physics, besides the tools of mathematics and experiment, no less important is the third tool, described by Einstein as "the boldest speculation [to] bridge the gaps between the empirical data." This tool implies belief in the hidden fundamental laws of the universe and the right to invent fundamental concepts that are not directly observable, but can be tested experimentally along with the theory based on them. Such a belief, or the postulate of modern science, is the key distinction of modern physics. Among the great modern physicists there were eight theorists who successfully invented new fundamental concepts. And each of these inventions led to breakthrough advances of modern physics.

Pemikiran Fritjof Capra Dalam Ekowisata Hutan Mangrove Desa Adat Kedonganan

Fritjof Capra is a modern physicist who proposed the ideas about the problem solving of the destruction of natural resources and the widespread occurrence of environmental pollution by humans. This Capra's ideas generated ecoliteracy which now exists in the mangrove forest ecotourism of the Kedonganan Traditional Village as a solution to protecting nature. The holistic systemic theory proposed by Fritjof Capra is in line with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy which represents the harmonious relationship between humans and God, humans and humans and humans natural.

Consciousness beyond artificial intelligence in the conditions of criminological uncertainty

One of the most difficult problems of our time is the problem of consciousness. There are many different theoretical concepts of consciousness, both in Russia and abroad. The fact, that sometimes the researchers use the so-called artificial intelligence as a research model of consciousness, aggravates the situation. Recently the criminologists use artificial intelligence, which has come to the aid of the human mind, in their practice. The authors summarize the best practices and conceptualize the use of artificial intelligence in some fields of criminology. The study offers some methodological and theoretical aspects of solving the problems based on trends in the use of artificial intelligence in practical criminology. The authors investigate the interaction of artificial intelligence with human consciousness. The basis of the comparative analysis is the quantum level of consciousness, that is, a quantum theoretical concept based on the concepts of mathematicians and modern physicists. This paradigm of the exact sciences is fundamentally different from the humanitarian paradigm based on philosophy and psychology. The proposed approach makes it possible to understand the physical meaning, the mechanisms of consciousness and artificial intelligence at the quantum level. The authors consider it important to emphasize that there are deep parallels between the functioning of consciousness and artificial intelligence. The well-known psychologist K. Jung and the Nobel laureate physicist W. Pauli discussed similar parallels between idea and matter. The article analyzes the positive and negative aspects of the joint interaction of consciousness and artificial intelligence. This reveals the role of the interdisciplinary science of synergetics. Since consciousness and artificial intelligence are quantum in nature, both general and distinctive laws of non-linear systems functioning apply to these phenomena. There is an uncertainty principle, the meaning of which is as follows: if one parameter is precisely defined in the system, then other parameters cannot be defined, they are uncertain. This facet is movable. The authors analyze some aspects of criminological uncertainty upon occurrence of socio-psychological distorting effects. The psychologists Ph. Zimbardo and S. Milgram investigated them in group experiments. The article substantiates the prospects for the artificial intelligence development and the limitations of its use in criminology. The authors are pessimistic about the development and application of artificial intelligence in criminology. Artificial intelligence does not have the “I” status of a personality, although it can be "subordinated" to legal laws of different levels. The use of artificial intelligence for judicial proceedings is problematic, although there are great opportunities for operational search activities in its functioning, for example, anti-crime programs: recognizing appearance from photos and videos, predicting individual criminal behavior. This frees the consciousness of the expert from routine work, and the employee can therefore choose a creative approach and pay more attention to ethical issues, which is not available for artificial intelligence.

Symmetry — Collision of Arts and Sciences for a New Dimension

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2021) 7(1):46–58 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2021/7/3 Symmetry — Collision of Arts and Sciences for a New Dimension 对称 — 艺术与科学碰撞的新维度 Abstract A dialogue concerning the arts and sciences was prompted among the panelists of an international webinar in November 2020, which featured Symmetry — a dance-opera film shot inside CERN, the largest experimental particle physics facility in the world. With the cathedral-like majesty of the Large Hadron Collider as his theater, a modern physicist searches for the smallest primordial particle and discovers a love without end. The panelists, which included the film’s writer and director, Ruben Van Leer, as well as other art directors, a dance choreographer, biomedical scientist, and art educator, shared their reflections from different perspectives on how the collision of arts and sciences can help us explore and expand a new dimension for a better understanding of human beings and nature, and the relationship between the two. The article ends with “A Systems View” of the living systems and art of Fritjof Capra, which reinforces the perspective of human-nature integration. Keywords: Symmetry, dance-opera, arts and sciences, human beings and nature, Systems View 摘要 2020年11月的一次国际在线研讨会引发了客座嘉宾针对艺术与科学之间的 对话。该研讨会的主题是"对称"一部在欧洲核子研究中心（CERN）—世界上最大的实验性粒子物理学设施内拍摄的舞蹈歌剧电影。以大型强子对撞机的大教堂般的威严为舞台，一位现代物理学家寻找最小的原始粒子，并发现了一段没有尽头的爱情。包括电影制作人及导演 Ruben Van Leer 在内的艺术总监、舞蹈编导、生物医学家、艺术教育者等嘉宾成员从不同的角度分享了他们的思考，探讨了艺术与科学的碰撞如何帮助我们探索和拓展一个新的维度，更好地理解人类与自然，以及他们之间的关系。文章最后以著 名物理学家Fritjof Capra 教授关于生命系统的“系统观”结束，强调了天人合一的观点。

Nauka ili pseudonauka – primer istraživanja telepatije

It is not always easy to draw a dividing line between true scientific theo- ries, erroneous but verifiable scientific theories and pseudo-scientific ones that are impos- sible to verify. As an example, this paper presents researches on various phenomena of extra-sensory perception, precognition, clairvoyance, distance communication, premonition for receiving SMS messages, phone calls or e-mails, which are classified in the domain of telepathy research. They were conducted within different paradigms, with diverse re- search methodologies and approaches, from anecdotal experiences, case studies and intui- tive reasoning, to careful recording of data and their statistical processing. In recent years, researches have been conducted using state-of-the-art “brain-to-brain” technology, which is used to register brain activities of the research participants. Telepathy has not remained uninteresting even to some modern physicists who find in Einstein’s theory of relativity and the laws of quantum physics the possibility of postulating a new quantum model of telepathy. This new, unconventional approach to the research of telepathy is conditioned by the paradigm shift in the research of this phenomenon and significant shifts from the pseudo-scientific to the scientific approach. This paper aims to point out the necessity of setting a clear demarcation line between scientific and pseudo-scientific research and building the ability of critical thinking, which is a condition for differentiating science from pseudoscience. Using a specific example of the phenomenon of telepathy, we underlined the importance of research in the development of scientific knowledge, but the kind of research that meets the reproducibility and verifiability criteria that clearly differentiate science from pseudoscience.

Художественный космос как предмет толкования

The degree of comprehensibility of any art creation depends on its perception as a coherent whole. It is one of the axioms of hermeneutics. Nonetheless, the internal links of a fictional text can be divided into two different types by similarity and by contrast. This fact allows for an analogy that is due to the fiction world being somewhat similar to the real world, i.e., arranged quite in line with the doctrine of the ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles. This philosopher thought the complex unity of the cosmos to be organized by two opposite powers - Love (φιλία) and Feud (νέικος). A modern physicist would call them the forces of attraction and repulsion. The analogs of “love” attraction and “hostile” repulsion are a symbolic representation and a tension of opposite values in a fiction world. When drawing the above analogy, one should take into account the fact that the art world, unlike the real one, has a purely intentional character, that is, all its objects and the connections between them are mediated by the consciousness and value-based intention of the author, the protagonist, and the reader. These opposing powers of “Love” and “Feud” may also be called the integral and differential axes of the value-semantic structure coordinates of the fiction cosmos. It is in these coordinates that the aesthetic event and the comprehensive participation of the reader take place. The paper provides a number of analyses of various works and fragments of fiction to substantiate the above-formulated thesis.

The Salvific Dimension of Time in the Christian Liturgy

This paper discusses the relationship between time and salvation that exists in the Christian liturgy, in which time possesses two characteristics. One is its sacredness, and the other is a special property that does not exist outside the liturgy but derives directly from its anamnetic dimension: it is a “medium” and an “existential context” of the real salvation delivered and still being delivered by Christ. The author begins with a reflection on time in cultural anthropology and the history of religion, demonstrating unambiguously that, since the earliest of days, disparate cultures and religions have shared the conviction that time is sacred. He then goes on to address the biblical concept of time which has fundamentally contributed to a fuller understanding of the essence and nature of liturgical time as the καιρός of salvation. It is in the liturgy of the Church—the final earthly stage in the history of salvation—that the salvific, effective and real encounter between God’s eternity and human life takes place. The Christian liturgy is an otherworldly act of salvation in worldly space and time, a manifestation of the “fullness of time.” The paper also attempts to offer a preliminary juxtaposition of the theological understanding of liturgical time with the findings of modern physics concerning the understanding and description of time. This may serve to stimulate further, more in-depth biblical and theological (and in particular theologico-liturgical) reflection on the phenomenon of time, and perhaps even a new look at the phenomenon of time on the part of modern physicists.

Time in the Physical Picture of the World

The article is devoted to the problem of time in modern science, where in recent years there have been major changes related to the latest discoveries in the field of the foundations of quantum theory. The author refers to works of K.-F. von Weizsacker (which works are not well-known in Russian-speaking field). Weizsacker deploys a large-scale program of building modern physics, while starting (not only as a physicist, but also a professional philosopher) with questions of philosophical interpretation of postulates of modern physics, especially quantum mechanics. His key thesis is that time in physics is fundamentally distinct, which represents the whole physics as an integral scientific discipline. Weizsacker comes from physical and philosophical reflections, that give a special value to his work. Analyzing the conclusions of theoretical physics, namely the issues of substantiation of statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and, above all, quantum mechanics, Weizsacker comes to the key idea of the structure of time in the substantiation of physical theory. The author in this conclusion disagrees with the opinion of most modern physicists that time has a subjective character, and the modus of the past, present and future reflects its essential character. The allocation of the time structure requires special logic. Such a logic is temporal and quantum. Starting from temporal logic, introducing the concept of possibility and probability, he comes to the substantiation of quantum mechanics. Being modal logic, it is based on the concept of possibility and probability. Key concept for Weizsacker is a binary alternative (Uralternative), closely related to the principle of superposition in quantum mechanics. By introducing the concept of certain alternatives, essentially actualized alternatives, Weizsacker shows how one can get the theory of relativity with its space-time structure. Further, he shows that based on its structure, you can get the theory of relativity. The space-time structure in this case is secondary, relational, as understood by Leibniz, Mach, and Einstein.

A sundial with hour lines portraying the Earth

The study of sundials is an age-old discipline of science. The greatest developments were achieved in the Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, but modern physicists also contributed their part. In 1956, a former student of Wolfgang Pauli, Heinz Schilt, constructed an underwater sundial in his garden pond, using refraction to reshape the sundial's hour lines. His approach is developed further in this paper and combined with Thales' geometric concept of gnomonic projection. Together, this leads to a beautiful result: Snell's law can be used to build a sundial whose hour lines portray the Earth and its meridians. A prototype has been built to demonstrate the idea.

Проблеми ґенези методології історичного пізнання

The problems of the methodology of historic cognition have always been related to the most difficult and simultaneously the most interesting themes for historians and philosophers. The current period of the historic cognition development has been recognized by scholars as the epoch of crisis, the reason of which is the fallibility in the epistemological foundations of the two doctrines, which until now have determined the theoretical understanding of the historical process - positivism and historical materialism. And in order to overcome the crisis the historians need to make the search of new methodologies and methods of historical cognition more actively. In this paper the etymology, ontology and genesis of the main methodological approaches in historical cognition are researched on the basis of the analysis of the work of the historians, philosophers, social anthropologists, and others. Relatively to some important methodological problems, the author describes out her own vision and makes the conclusion that the anthropological approach is the latest methodological approach to the cognition of history. It does not go beyond the outlet of the old scientific paradigm, so it can not provide the principle of historicism of exit out of the state of crisis. And she drews attention to the fact Here is caution required that philosophers and historians focus on the problems of time, including historical, whereas paying little attention to the problems of space. In this plane, basing on interdisciplinism, as the author supposes, there have to appear a new discovery of the world importance, which will change the old paradigm of science in general, and historical in particular. At the same time, the author warns against haste in the matter of changing the world-view principle of anthropocentrism to anthropomorphism, in the way as some modern physicists are appeal to.

About continual gravitational field aqueous medium in the context of formation of self-organized structures (living matter)

On the basis of A.Einstein's hypotheses, G. Cavendish's experiments, the Faraday – Maxwell approach, the works of modern physicists devoted to the problems of Cosmos, and my own early studies of the uses of the equations of continuous electrodynamics in this article was received a new equation of the continuous gravitational field. Calculations of the values of the gravitational field near the surface of the Earth coincide with the results of calculations based on the classical (Newtonian) law. The deviation in the calculated dependence is observed at distances of more than ten radii of the Earth and at the same time is the alternating. Perhaps it will be important in the exploration of deep space. Attention is drawn that it is of the continualy electromagnetic fields of ions of aqueous media that are the harmonizing system that is necessary for the formation of elements of living matter. In this paper, the idea is developed that the interaction of the continual electromagnetic fields and the continual gravitational field has a decisive influence on the formation of living matter.

The Polyfurcation Century: Does the Evolution on Earth Have a Cosmological Relevance?

Special cross-disciplinary research and respective calculations done independently by scientists from various countries have shown that the 21st century is expected to be crucial for the human history. Current generations’ activities will determine what exactly the turning point will look like and what direction the subsequent evolution will go. Modern physicists and specialists in heuristics are advancing strong reasons for the conclusion that there is no absolute ban on the range of purposeful mass-energy control and therefore, mind’s cosmic-scale influence is potentially unlimited. Yet, the range of available intellectual self-control to escape destructive effects is under issue so far. How long can the technological power growth be reliably balanced by the advancing behavior-regulation qualities? From time immemorial, the relative sustainability of human communities (from primitive tribes to nations, social classes or world confessions) has been provided by the image of a common enemy. Inter-group conflicts have been abridging in-group violence and with it, have been setting the vector for the construction of life’s meanings. Yet, the current level of technological development completed by blurring lines both between war and non-war technologies and between the conditions of peace and war has made this psychological inertia suicidal. So the problem of life’s meanings is becoming the nucleus of the 21st century global problems: Will the human mind prove ready to develop strategic meanings beyond religious or quasi-religious ideologies which are always built on the “them-us” mental matrix? Insights of great philosophers and prophets, as well as special socio-psychological experiments and some crucial episodes in political history have demonstrated that besides the image of a common enemy, both human solidarity and strategic meanings can be built on the image of a common cause (not aimed at an enemy agent), although the experience of assimilating this kind of construct by the mass consciousness is scanty. Instead, historical evidence is abundant showing that after long periods without real or potential wars, life’s meanings dilute and the masses feel nostalgia for new demons. Actually, we observe an intensification of this trend in many regions of our planet accompanied by a growing instability in global geopolitics. An international educational program designed to develop cosmopolitan worldviews free from group-versus-group attachments is suggested in the paper.

The Search for the Convergence of the Absolute Beginning and the Doctrine of Creatio ex Nihilo

Science and theology have very different methodology and use different tools. Despite the differences sometimes both disciplines try to answer same question. One of the questions addressed by science and theology is the origin of the universe. Present article is an attempt to describe how certain scientific achievements in cosmology can support biblical message about the beginning of the world. Bible teaches that the world was created by God out of nothing a finite time ago. Current cosmology holds to the view that is widely known as the Big Bang theory. According to this theory the universe appeared out of the state of infinite density around 15 billion years ago. This revolutionary statement implies that modern physicists do not adhere anymore to the view that the universe is eternal. Thus, both Bible and science claim that the universe had the beginning. Some theoretical physicists have proposed that the universe came out of nothing. Analysis shows that although the statement sounds similar to the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo it has different meaning. However, this difference does not annul the possibility of the convergence of two sides.

Pseudoscience versus science

Pseudoscience versus science

Absence of critical exponents in ferroelectrics: experiments of Hilczer and theory of Levanyuk and Sigov

The pioneering breakthrough of Bozena Hilczer and her coworkers showed that the so-called critical phenomena in many ferroelectric crystals are entirely produced by defects. She studied gadolinium aluminum sulphate hexahydrate (GASH), lithium ammonium sulphate, lithium hydrazinium sulphate, PZT, barium titanate, and especially TGS, via neutron irradiation, X-ray irradiation, and e-beam electron irradiation, which showed that the divergences in specific heat or dielectric constant near the Curie temperature Tc are not caused by ‘critical’ fluctuations but by static defects, which can be annealed out and subsequently reproduced by irradiation. This work is rarely cited (modern physicists often feel that literature searches are optional), leading to frequent rediscovery and generally spurious claims of true ‘critical’ phenomena near Tc.

The power of silence

Collaboration, engagement, outreach — the modern physicist is continually encouraged to keep talking and communicating. Felicity Mellor wonders if it would be better if we simply stayed silent.

A model for incorporating computation without changing the course: An example from middle-division classical mechanics

Much of the research done by modern physicists would be impossible without the use of computation. And yet, while computation is a crucial tool of practicing physicists, physics curricula do not generally reflect its importance and utility. To more tightly connect undergraduate preparation with professional practice, we integrated computational instruction into middle-division classical mechanics at the University of Colorado Boulder. Our model for integration works within the constraints of faculty who do not specialize in computation teaching standard physics courses by placing a strong emphasis on {an adaptable curriculum}. Our model includes the construction of computational learning goals, the design of computational activities consistent with those goals, and the assessment of students' computational fluency. We present critiques of our model as we work to develop an effective and sustainable model for computational instruction in the undergraduate curriculum