What is reality?

REB — 9/23/2008 8:35:40 PM (archived)

Perhaps SDAI is right to look beyond the physical properties of our universe. Since that is the level we exist on, it is the one we understand the most. That is our reality.

But is our reality an illusion, or does reality exist on different levels?

You go subatomic, and we find matter is made of mostly space. Is our reality of solid matter an illusion? It feels solid to us because we are made of it and it is the substance that surrounds us. The truth is, this matter we are made of is mostly empty space. And what is it made of. Is the smallest particle of matter made from pure energy? Is matter just energy in a ridged â€˜solidâ€™ form?

And the subatomic realm exists in our universe. We can study it. What about anything that exist beyond our physical universe and the laws that govern it?

We canâ€™t abandon our science. Itâ€™s all we have, and it does a good job at explaining our physical universe, but I think it is good to think outside it from time to time.

The whole thread (81 posts)

Polar Crown Prominences Raise Questions About Overly Simplistic "Magnetic" Solar Theories... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 1:47:40 PM
- Knowing is half the battle! The other half is knowing the "right" things... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 6:11:57 PM
  - Hitting the 'reset' button. SCIENCE talk, please! - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 6:21:14 PM
    - ARRELL: E&M are not new. Agreed! But my statement was true, I assume? - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 9:07:21 PM
      - Sigh- ok, here we go.... - ARRELL - 9/22/2008 5:51:50 AM
        
        Thanks! A few interesting tidbits in there. :) - Michael Gmirkin - 9/23/2008 7:26:58 AM
        
        Until you look into the physics and educate yourself on this, discussion is pointless... - ARRELL - 9/23/2008 4:48:33 PM
        
        And yet... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/26/2008 2:06:24 AM
- Knowing is half the battle! The other half is knowing the "right" things... (SCIENCE talk) - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 6:06:07 PM
- Delete or move Gmirkin Garbage - ARRELL - 9/19/2008 2:05:25 PM
  - re: Delete or move Gmirkin Garbage - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 3:16:30 PM
    - You are taking a press release, and dishonestly implying that it lends creedence to your 'electric sun' nonsense... - ARRELL - 9/19/2008 4:29:31 PM
      - Until we change the rules or untill Robert release HZII, any number of nuts are welcome on offtopic. (n/t) - alcaray - 9/19/2008 9:34:26 PM
        
        No, As long as we ignore the rules, any number of nuts are welcome on offtopic. - ARRELL - 9/20/2008 1:48:02 PM
        
        Hence the name, "Off Topic", aka, "not science". - Mary Anne, sometime moderator - 9/22/2008 1:18:53 AM
        
        That quote was created before the offtopic board, I think. - alcaray - 9/20/2008 8:41:07 PM
        
        "That quote was created before the offtopic board,"- no, it wasn't - ARRELL - 9/24/2008 8:40:12 PM
        
        Then only my second sentence pertains. - alcaray - 9/24/2008 9:17:38 PM
        
        No matter how you look at it, - ARRELL - 9/24/2008 9:23:33 PM
        
        Unacceptable on Space, I agree. - alcaray - 9/24/2008 9:47:25 PM
        
        The Mods are quite aware of it, thank you - Space Moderator Nick - 9/25/2008 11:00:20 PM
        
        Normal folks, too, I assume... =oP - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 11:06:01 PM
      - re: You are taking a press release, and dishonestly implying that it lends creedence to your 'electric sun' nonsense... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 6:12:09 PM
  - moved (n/t) - modpod - 9/19/2008 2:45:44 PM
    - re: moved - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 4:07:40 PM
      - We have rules - alcaray - 9/19/2008 8:22:16 PM
        
        Rules are great! - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 9:41:32 PM
        
        Your assumptin would be wrong - Lindy - 9/19/2008 10:59:37 PM
        
        Get it? Got it! Good... ;) - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 11:43:52 PM
      - "Since the original post was intended to engender a rational scientific discussion of the issues " No, it wasnt.... - ARRELL - 9/19/2008 4:34:27 PM
        
        Angry much? Geez... Lighten up! - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 6:43:41 PM
        
        re: Angry much? Geez... Lighten up! - Johannes - 9/20/2008 12:53:45 AM
        
        RE: explanation / flame war. Probably neither is necessary. ;) - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 3:41:12 PM
        
        re:Significant nuances or trivia. - Johannes - 9/21/2008 10:21:55 PM
        
        Straight answers... I like it! Thanks. - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 3:28:44 PM
        
        "Hopefully we can actually talk like human beings?" - Lindy. - 9/19/2008 11:03:21 PM
        
        Nobody wants to debate ARRELL? - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 11:23:58 PM
        
        The Sun. - SDAI-Tech1 - 9/19/2008 7:36:11 PM
        
        Bzzzzzzzz. - ER - 9/20/2008 11:42:01 AM
        
        What is reality? - REB - 9/23/2008 8:35:40 PM
        
        re: What is reality? - Johannes - 9/25/2008 12:41:28 AM
        
        It's not all it's cracked up to be. - ER - 9/24/2008 1:29:28 AM
        
        To Bee or not to Bee. - SDAI-Tech1 - 9/21/2008 12:36:35 AM
        
        I'm sorry I brought it up. (n/t) - ER - 9/21/2008 3:43:36 AM
        
        Most are. ;-) (n/t) - SDAI-Tech1 - 9/21/2008 5:08:33 AM
        
        That should have been longer. (n/t) - alcaray - 9/21/2008 12:45:42 AM
        
        I can be brief when need be. ;-) (n/t) - SDAI-Tech1 - 9/21/2008 1:03:41 AM
        
        Long ago I came to the conclusion that even he doesn't believe what he is saying.... - ARRELL - 9/20/2008 12:44:47 PM
        
        LOL- there you go! The 'peer' review it deserves... - ARRELL - 9/19/2008 7:56:13 PM
        
        re: LOL- there you go! The 'peer' review it deserves... - Micihael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 9:47:32 PM
        
        re: LOL- there you go! The 'peer' review it deserves... - Betterman - 9/19/2008 9:26:38 PM
        
        If we're placing bets... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 11:00:37 PM
        
        You won't be happy till it's move to flame? (n/t) - alcaray - 9/19/2008 8:24:48 PM
        
        My point precisely... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 9:55:48 PM
        
        A number of us on this board can guarantee that ARRELL is not Joshua Schroeder. - alcaray - 9/19/2008 10:01:09 PM
        
        Okay. :) - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 11:19:07 PM
        
        However Michael... - Jody - 9/20/2008 12:08:11 AM
        
        re: However Michael... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 3:46:11 PM
        
        Jody, its not 'pseudoskepticism'.... Its about knowing what one is talking about... - ARRELL - 9/20/2008 1:26:29 AM
        
        Indeed... - Jody - 9/20/2008 2:36:25 AM
        
        Oh, he's that guy? - alcaray - 9/20/2008 2:03:03 AM
        
        re:pseudoskeptic, RL to T :-) (n/t) - Johannes - 9/20/2008 1:03:38 AM
        
        1) That's not accurate at all. - alcaray - 9/20/2008 1:21:56 AM
        
        Pseudoskeptical tendencies... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 5:04:46 PM
        
        re: Pseudoskeptical tendencies... - alcaray - 9/21/2008 7:22:54 PM
        
        Opinion noted. - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 8:25:28 PM
        
        Re: Pseudoskeptical tendencies... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/21/2008 8:17:12 PM
        
        Not at all. - alcaray - 9/21/2008 9:28:03 PM
        
        Disagreed. - Michael Gmirkin - 10/1/2008 7:09:43 PM
        
        Try the ***** carburetor! - Betterman - 9/23/2008 7:29:07 AM
        
        1) Thanks - ARRELL - 9/20/2008 4:10:42 AM
        
        re: 1) Thanks - TB - 9/21/2008 1:48:47 AM
        
        "Now you know how I feel about political and economic issues around here!" - Given that you have been demonstrably wrong over and over... - ARRELL - 9/21/2008 3:43:06 AM
        
        Whoa...smacked a ganglion there, didn't I? (n/t) - TB - 9/21/2008 5:16:53 AM
        
        "Whoa...smacked a ganglion there, didn't I?"- You have one to smack? - ARRELL - 9/21/2008 1:31:37 PM
        
        Oh fer crissakes ARRELL - Jody - 9/21/2008 2:37:01 PM
        
        "Crashing halt" - TB - 9/21/2008 8:41:12 PM
        
        OMG TB!! - Jody - 9/21/2008 2:42:35 AM
        
        re: OMG!! - TB - 9/21/2008 5:13:18 AM
        
        re: Angry much? Geez... Lighten up! - ARRELL - 9/19/2008 7:20:27 PM
      - Minor typo... - Michael Gmirkin - 9/19/2008 4:16:48 PM

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The whole thread (81 posts)