[MD] Intellectual Level

[MarshaV]

On Sep 7, 2010, at 2:03 PM, John Carl wrote:

> Hi Marsha,
> 
> 
>> Greetings John,
>> 
>> When physicists state that photons are 'real', what do you think
>> they mean?
> 
> 
> I believe they mean something social, Marsh - intersubjective agreement.
> 
> It leads one to an interesting thought experiment.  Suppose one researcher
> just couldn't "see" the evidence?  What if 10 had a problem?  What if more
> than half?  When does something become actually real?

Greetings John,

I wasn't speaking of those on this list who are analyzing the physicists 
metaphysical notion of 'real'.  Most, of these physicists/scientists are scientific 
materialist and they believe that the photon is an independent existing entity. 


> 
> 
>> Or when someone states gravity is 'real'. what do
>> suppose they mean?  I've even heard a physicist state that particle
>> spin is not just a mathematical equation, but is something 'real'.
>> I believe this - photon, gravity, particle spin - is supposed to
>> represent something having independent existence in an external
>> world.  But what has happened is a conceptual construct abstracted
>> from interdependent processes has been analyzed into being a
>> real object.
>> 
> 
> As an idealist, I have a problem with that label because after all, ideas
> are "real" too.

Most human beings have a world view that the world is made of themselves,
an independent entity and independent entities and objects in an external world.  
I do not dispute that those on this list are grappling with other metaphysical notions.  


Marsha 
 





 
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