New Hints to How our Reality is Created
March 10, 2017 10 Comments
There is something fascinating going on in the world, hidden deep beneath the noise of Trump, soccer matches, and Game of Thrones. It is an exploration into the nature of reality – what is making the world tick?
To cut to the chase, it appears that our reality is being dynamically generated based on an ultra-sophisticated algorithm that takes into account not just the usual cause/effect context (as materialists believe), and conscious observation and intent (as idealists believe), but also a complex array of reality configuration probabilities so as to be optimally efficient.
Wait, what?
This philosophical journey has its origins in the well-known double slit experiment, originally done by Thomas Young in 1801 to determine that light had wavelike properties. In 1961, the experiment was performed with electrons, which also showed wavelike properties. The experimental setup involved shooting electrons through a screen containing two thin vertical slits. The wave nature of the particles was manifested in the form of an interference pattern on a screen that was placed on the other side of the double slit screen. It was a curious result but confirmed quantum theory. In 1974, the experiment was performed one electron at a time, with the same resulting interference pattern, which showed that it was not the electrons that interfered with each other, but rather a probabilistic spatial distribution function that was followed by the pattern on the screen. Quantum theory predicted that if a detector was placed at each of the slits so as to determine which slit each electron would go through, the interference pattern would disappear and just leave two vertical lines, due to the quantum complementarity principle. This was difficult to create in the lab, but experiments in the 1980s confirmed expectations – that the “which way did the particle go” measurement killed the interference pattern. The mystery was that the mere act of observation seemed to change the results of the experiment.
So, at this point, people who were interested in how the universe works effectively split into two camps, representing two fundamental philosophies that set the foundation for thinking, analysis, hypothesis, and theorizing:
A zillion web pages can be found for each category.
The problem is that most scientists, and probably at least 99% of all outspoken science trolls believe in Materialism. And “believe” is the operative word. Because there is ZERO proof that Materialism is correct. Nor is there proof that Idealism is correct. So, “believe” is all that can be done. Although, as the massive amount of evidence leans in favor of Idealism, it is fair to say that those believers at least have the scientific method behind them, whereas materialists just have “well gosh, it sure seems like we live in a deterministic world.” What is interesting is that Materialism can be falsified, but I’m not sure that Idealism can be. The Materialist camp had plenty of theories to explain the paradox of the double slit experiments – alternative interpretations of quantum mechanics, local hidden variables, non-local hidden variables, a variety of loopholes, or simply the notion that the detector took energy from the particles and impacted the results of the experiment (as has been said, when you put a thermometer in a glass of water, you aren’t measuring the temperature of the water, you are measuring the temperature of the water with a thermometer in it.)
Over the years, the double-slit experiment has been progressively refined to the point where most of the materialistic arguments have been eliminated. For example, there is now the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment, which puts the “which way” detectors after the interference screen, making it impossible for the detector to physically interfere with the outcome of the experiment. And, one by one, all of the hidden variable possibilities and loopholes have been disproven. In 2015, several experiments were performed independently that closed all loopholes simultaneously with both photons and electrons. Since all of these various experimental tests over the years have shown that objective realism is false and non-local given the experimenters choices, the only other explanation could be what John Bell called Super-determinism, a universe completely devoid of free will, running like clockwork playing out a fully predetermined script of events. If true, this would bring about the extremely odd result that the universe is set up to ensure that the outcomes of these experiments imply the opposite to how the universe really works. But I digress…
The net result is that Materialism-based theories on reality are being chipped away experiment by experiment. Those that believe in Materialist dogma are finding themselves being painted into an ever-shrinking philosophical corner. But Idealism-based theories are huge with possibilities, very few of which have been falsified experimentally.
Physicist and fellow digital philosopher, Tom Campbell, has boldly suggested a number of double slit experiments that can probe the nature of reality a little deeper. Tom, like me, believes that consciousness plays a key role in the nature of and creation of our reality. So much so that he believes that the outcome of the double slit experiments is due strictly to the conscious observation of the which-way detector data. In other words, if no human (or “sufficiently conscious” entity) observes the data, the interference pattern should remain. Theoretically, one could save the data to a file, store the file on a disk, hide the disk in a box and the interference pattern would remain on the screen. Open the box a day later and the interference pattern should automatically disappear, effectively rewriting history with the knowledge of the paths of the particles. His ideas have incurred the wrath of the physics trolls, who are quick to point out that regardless of the fact that humans ever read the data, the interference pattern is gone if the detectors record the data. The data can be destroyed, or not even written to a permanent medium, and the interference pattern would be gone. If these claims are true, it does not prove Materialism at all. But it does infer something very interesting.
From this and many many other categories of evidence it is strongly likely that our reality is dynamically being generated. Quantum entanglement, quantum zeno effect, and the observer effect all look very much like artifacts of an efficient system that dynamically creates reality as needed. It is the “as needed” part of this assertion that is most interesting. I shall refer to that which creates reality as “the system.”
Entanglement happens because when a two-particle-generating event occurs, it is efficient to create two particles using the same instance of a finite state machine and, therefore, when it is needed to determine the properties of one, the properties of the other are automatically known, as detailed in my blog post on entanglement. The quantum zeno effect happens because it is more efficient to reset the probability function each time an observation is made, as detailed in my blog post on quantum zeno. And so what about the double slit mystery? To illuminate, see the diagram below.
If the physicists are right, reality comes into existence at point 4 in the diagram. Why would that be? The paths of the particles are apparently not needed for the experience of the conscious observer, but rather to satisfy the consistency of the experiment. The fact that the detector registers the data is enough to create the reality. Perhaps the system “realizes” that it is less efficient to leave hanging experiments all over the place until a human “opens the envelope” than it is to instantiate real electron paths despite the unlikely possibility of data deletion. Makes logical sense to me. But it also indicates a sophisticated awareness of all of the probabilities of how the reality can play out out vis a vis potential human interactions.
The system is really smart.
Musings on the Nature of Reality 
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We are in a matrix like program to experience wat it is like to be mortal, because the real us behind the scenes are immortal
It seem’s that School is out for summer. it’s been real,Naturally. GOD Speed!
Every one of us are correct, just a different way of explaining. Whether we call it a matrix,or program or even the afterlife what it come’s down to is the fact that we learn from each other here for the betterment of the universe. Myself,well it came to me while in the middle of this exam how selfish I was for example leaving a very brief initial reply without really leaving more word’s of enlightenment to better help let’s say the rest of the class. Instead I took what I read and learned from the class or collective and went my merry way. It was a very shameful act and I felt compelled to fix it. Maybe some of you have heard that when you go to the afterlife that there is school, if not you were not given the gift that saved me just now. I guess there really is a reason for everything. I’m sure each and everyone of you do have a certain something designed by the one and only that will snap you too back into reality. I would like to add more but won’t. Love of Nature is all we need. Let’s see what happens next!
I really like your point of view, Gerry. Especially the comment about love of nature. Keep the good thoughts coming!
Dear Jim,
I like this stuff, because I am starting to believe that the entire 4-D Space-Time Continuum, the Arrow(s) of Time, Classic and Quantum physics and mechanics, locality, non-locality-everything!-is a Super Deterministic, Predestined, event with a beginning and an end. The Author/Designer/Creator exists outside the finite “4-D Continuum.”
I suppose I fit into categories of “physics trolls” or “science trolls” because I am neither a physicist nor a scientist. I am a Christian, a writer/author, former electrical contractor/apprenticeship instructor, with other bizarre other life experiences and vocations.
So, I’m not qualified to be here. But I am.
Don’t know what Dennis and Gerry are about. Whatever.
All I know is that I have studied philosophy, theology (late), and physics as a compelling avocation. I believe, now, that every second/moment/hour/millennia of Big Bang, evolution(?), and those Arrows of Time, and the fate of everyone–including Trumpers and anti-Trumpers–was predestined, preordained, and commissioned for a purpose.
I know that “Science” (all inclusive) has no observable or theoretical proof that God exists. There is nothing which survives the death of a body. There is no verifiable evidence of miracles, paranormal experiences, out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, etc. I’ve studied enough to accept that. However, maybe Nonlocality wasn’t meant for sending data/messages. Maybe it is a mechanism of the “Message”.
10-7
You are very much qualified to be here! And you certainly don’t fit the model of a science troll. Those guys actually avoid forums where people use true scientific method and try to look for best fit hypotheses to complex observations. They prefer to be in a materialistic echo chamber. Very little of anything is verifiable in a strict sense – we are our collective memories of experiences and artifacts, normal and paranormal. Cheers!
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There seems to be alot of viruses that have effected the programming cause alot of entity’s in this world suffer at the hands of some thing that wanted something of itself. Trying to understand life,creator if there is one
Hello Jim
What is the real self amongst all this conditioning caused by genetic,cultural and society programming since before birth(especially genes).
I was wondering why the world is so indifference, we are all made of same stuff materials ,spirit,stardust,electromagnetic frequency, blood and genetics every living thing is made of the same stuff we all one some say.
But why would the consciousness spirit want to treat itself like this through its many parts of itself.
Animal behaviours and suffering astounds me, The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. During the minute that it takes me to compose this sentence, thousands of animals are being eaten alive, many others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, others are slowly being devoured from within by rasping parasites, thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst, and disease, infanticide. It must be so. If there ever is a time of plenty, this very fact will automatically lead to an increase in the population until the natural state of starvation and misery is restored. In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.”
It’s like this source intelligence everyone goes on about is some type of potential primordial energy where ANYTHING THAT CAN BE WILL BE.
This source god destroys its own children or its parts, mass extinction etc its
like it does not care what happens to its own parts, kills them off that is infanticide when one kills there own children. We all indifferent yet this is what the world does to itself through its many parts.
This world is very cruel and harsh the way we animals fight, consume and mating rights etc its like the world only cares about genetic replication, because soon as you have breed the world gets rid of you, the body starts to wither and decay once breeding age has past, just like flowers.
domination is rampant in the natural world. What I am trying to say is like this world is a computer program where every living thing is under the spell dictatorship of genetics,society and cultural programming created by a mind condition by time. It’s all undifferentiated yet universe self replicates and self consumes itself one big meat grinding self recycling universe. Maybe why this world is so cold(space is very cold)and calculating cause it some type of counterfeit artificial world a computer program. Maybe that’s why this source intelligence created humans cause it cannot build technology’s etc without humans as other animals cannot perform the stuff humans do, animals are more under the dictatorship spell of basic instincts genetic programming which some humans are able to over come and not become slaves to the way of the world.
Like Shakespeare’s quote
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Thanks for your time, just seems to be more questions after questions, which is good cause many have said it is good to question what we think is life and the so called self.
Here’s a free book (just a PDF file download) titled ‘Reality is a Computer and Faster Than Light Travel is Reality’ – found it on google a week ago:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gFIDmHk7E_hsxJGGXkplTX81_Lh2o4ko/view
or I made it shorter to https://tinyurl.com/w4zezuq because who wants giant links….
Quantum physics tells us that reality is a computer of sorts. This is a different take though. Reality is computed on a more fundamental level, and relativistic effects are just the varying of speed of this computation because the resources are not infinite. This is basically the gist of it. Easy read, kudos for that.
In this approach, reality may be a simulation, but it doesn’t have to be. The result is the same.
The nice thing is, the computation is always local, so it avoids completely the issue of signals and frames of reference for what it does. In fact, it gets to relativistic math from a general idea of computation and literally nothing else. I found that ingenious. I’ve read about the simulation hypothesis and way back about ‘it from bit’, but no one has actually produced math that matches known physics, without actually using any physics.
I found it very interesting. The author is unknown, at least not anyone I heard of. But written really well.