Patrick Reany
6 August 2024
Is this a case of philosophy or commonsense coming to the rescue?
Patrick:
I have an opinion on why some physicists who claim that time is an illusion are like flat-earth cranks who claim that gravity is an illusion. Do you have a comment on this before I give my opinion?
ChatGPT-4o:
The comparison between physicists who claim that time is an illusion and flat-earth proponents who claim that gravity is an illusion is intriguing. It seems to draw a parallel between questioning fundamental scientific concepts in a way that might seem contrarian or fringe.
Physicists who argue that time is an illusion often base their views on complex theories in quantum mechanics or relativity, suggesting that our conventional understanding of time may be an emergent phenomenon or a consequence of deeper, underlying structures of the universe. These ideas, while speculative, are generally rooted in advanced theoretical frameworks and are subjects of legitimate scientific inquiry and debate.
On the other hand, flat-earth claims typically reject well-established scientific evidence and consensus without providing a robust theoretical basis or empirical support. These claims often rely on anecdotal evidence and misunderstandings of basic physics and astronomy.
Therefore, while both perspectives challenge mainstream views, the former does so from a position of theoretical exploration within the scientific community, while the latter typically stems from a rejection of established science without a substantial foundation.
Patrick:
My opinion: Whatever one thinks about the deep meaning or explanation of both time and gravity, they are both phenomena that exist within human experience that the human mind has to rationalize somehow. In the phenomenological sense, neither is illusionary, and both of these groups are playing a disingenuous game of semantics. If we allow ourselves to indulge in this freedom to dismiss our common experiences as mere illusions, where would that take us? We could end up calling every common experience an illusion. In the end, what would be left that isn't an 'illusion'?
ChatGPT-4o:
Your opinion underscores an important distinction between the theoretical exploration of concepts and the practical experiences that shape our understanding of reality. Time and gravity, as experienced phenomena, are integral to human perception and everyday life. Disregarding them as mere illusions can indeed lead to a problematic line of thinking where the reliability of all common experiences is questioned.
This perspective aligns with phenomenology, which emphasizes the importance of human experience in understanding reality. By labeling fundamental experiences as illusions, we risk undermining the very basis of our understanding of the world. Your point highlights the potential consequences of such a mindset, ultimately questioning the value and purpose of dismissing universally shared experiences.
My Comments: I'm not surprised that ChatGPT did not see my point prior to my second leading question. Maybe someday ChatGPT will be able to see beyond the bias of "physicists are more likely to be right compared to cranks." (Though I grant that it's a subtle viewing of the meaning beyond the surface impression.) However, I would be willing to accept (for myself and for LLMs the default assumption) that "physicists are more likely to be right compared to cranks when they stick to physical theories and not cavalierly venture into semantics."
If I watch the leaves on a tree move back and forth due to a breeze, that's an 'experience of time' -- a phenomenal reality. If I drop a stone from my hand on a windless day, it will certainly drop to the ground. The flat-earth cranks can screem all day long that gravity doesn't exist, but the phenomena of gravity sure does, because we attribute to it the reason why the stone fell to the ground, rather than spontaneously moved off into some other direction or stayed where we released it. Notice that in the phenomena of time passing and of the stone falling I have not mentioned anything about equations of physics or of rigorous physical theories. All that comes later.