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Fiction and Reality
Mar 21, 2020 23:50:00   #
manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA
 
What do we know about reality?
How much of our thinking is actually based on fictions?
What questions do we dodge by using a fictional basis for the answer?
What fictions do we currently accept and why?
Do we act as if something is fact when it isn't?
We can say accurately that novels and stories are true fictions, and do not rate them as fact or truth.
How far into fictional bases does modern science go?

For instance, the Standard Model of Particle Physics; is it based on direct knowledge of each particle? Which particles have we actually observed directly? None! The model is a useful fiction. We act "as if" the model is true, while we know it is a fictional prediction.*
In everyday life we assume that the sun will rise in the morning and our world will exist then, but we cannot be sure of it. We model the weather and try to predict its effects on us over time: a useful fiction!

The predictions are actually fictional. One might conclude that we use models for quite a few of our rationalizations when we cannot make an exact determination of truth.

A favorite conjecture of mine is that of the existence of life on other planets in the universe. It is most certainly a fiction for now.

We have the theory of the "Big Bang" or Singularity, where all matter was converged into a small volume before somehow expanding to the universe we observe. Or so it is believed, but it is apparent that we cannot validate the theory, nor can we figure out what came before the Big Bang. Thus the theory is a useful fiction.

Another scientific conjecture is that of Multiple Universes or Multiverses. It is a useful hypothesis to some extent, but it is not capable of being verified directly, thus it is a fiction.

Belief systems are unproven hypothesizes, and are simply useful fictions too, including postulating that man has a Soul.

One of the greatest fictions of modern times is Climate Change. Model after model has been proposed for the future of the world's climate. They are fictional predictions.
This suggests that unproven hypotheses are useful but fictional and inaccurate models of some aspects of reality.

Yet another fiction is the incessant polling that is done to predict the actions of voters in an election. They are also useful fictions.

Too many people assume that the fictional models ARE reality.

* See, Hans Vaihinger; The Philosophy of Als Ob (As If). Also The Philosophy of As If. A System of the Theoretical, Practical, and Religious Fictions of Mankind, Translated by C.K. Ogden. Barnes and Noble, New York. 1968.

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Mar 22, 2020 02:04:43   #
JW
 
manning5 wrote:
What do we know about reality?
How much of our thinking is actually based on fictions?
What questions do we dodge by using a fictional basis for the answer?
What fictions do we currently accept and why?
Do we act as if something is fact when it isn't?
We can say accurately that novels and stories are true fictions, and do not rate them as fact or truth.
How far into fictional bases does modern science go?

For instance, the Standard Model of Particle Physics; is it based on direct knowledge of each particle? Which particles have we actually observed directly? None! The model is a useful fiction. We act "as if" the model is true, while we know it is a fictional prediction.*
In everyday life we assume that the sun will rise in the morning and our world will exist then, but we cannot be sure of it. We model the weather and try to predict its effects on us over time: a useful fiction!

The predictions are actually fictional. One might conclude that we use models for quite a few of our rationalizations when we cannot make an exact determination of truth.

A favorite conjecture of mine is that of the existence of life on other planets in the universe. It is most certainly a fiction for now.

We have the theory of the "Big Bang" or Singularity, where all matter was converged into a small volume before somehow expanding to the universe we observe. Or so it is believed, but it is apparent that we cannot validate the theory, nor can we figure out what came before the Big Bang. Thus the theory is a useful fiction.

Another scientific conjecture is that of Multiple Universes or Multiverses. It is a useful hypothesis to some extent, but it is not capable of being verified directly, thus it is a fiction.

Belief systems are unproven hypothesizes, and are simply useful fictions too, including postulating that man has a Soul.

One of the greatest fictions of modern times is Climate Change. Model after model has been proposed for the future of the world's climate. They are fictional predictions.
This suggests that unproven hypotheses are useful but fictional and inaccurate models of some aspects of reality.

Yet another fiction is the incessant polling that is done to predict the actions of voters in an election. They are also useful fictions.

Too many people assume that the fictional models ARE reality.

* See, Hans Vaihinger; The Philosophy of Als Ob (As If). Also The Philosophy of As If. A System of the Theoretical, Practical, and Religious Fictions of Mankind, Translated by C.K. Ogden. Barnes and Noble, New York. 1968.
What do we know about reality? br How much of our... (show quote)


Belief is a measure to fill in the blanks in our awareness; a means to allow the brain to terminate consideration of a topic. Belief is faith and the best definition of faith I have ever seen is the following:

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of THINGS HOPED FOR, the evidence of things not seen.

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Mar 22, 2020 02:21:59   #
manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA
 
JW wrote:
Belief is a measure to fill in the blanks in our awareness; a means to allow the brain to terminate consideration of a topic. Belief is faith and the best definition of faith I have ever seen is the following:

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of THINGS HOPED FOR, the evidence of things not seen.


Good. Of course we believe in, and have faith, and thus act "as if" it is true.

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Mar 22, 2020 02:23:30   #
JW
 
manning5 wrote:
Good. Of course we believe in, and have faith, and thus act "as if" it is true.


Your posting is dead on target.

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Mar 22, 2020 02:27:16   #
manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA
 
JW wrote:
Your posting is dead on target.


TY JW

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Mar 23, 2020 03:03:16   #
Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX
 
manning5 wrote:
TY JW


I thought you were leading up to we live in a hologram or electrical universe. You both were right. I was reading about sounds on a regular bases being heard from deep space. I like to believe some planets, moons, and stars are still singing praises to God.

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Mar 23, 2020 23:39:05   #
manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA
 
Peewee wrote:
I thought you were leading up to we live in a hologram or electrical universe. You both were right. I was reading about sounds on a regular bases being heard from deep space. I like to believe some planets, moons, and stars are still singing praises to God.


Peewee, I have looked into the mathematical universe of Max Tegmark at MIT, but simply could not follow his math! Bryan Greene is an easier read.

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Mar 24, 2020 00:50:52   #
Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX
 
manning5 wrote:
Peewee, I have looked into the mathematical universe of Max Tegmark at MIT, but simply could not follow his math! Bryan Greene is an easier read.


I failed Algebra II. I'll pass. I've loved many things but math isn't one of them.

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Mar 24, 2020 13:07:05   #
manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA
 
Peewee wrote:
I failed Algebra II. I'll pass. I've loved many things but math isn't one of them.



A fairly normal position! I bombed out at higher math, and in a career in systems work did not demand much beyond Newtonian physics and Logic, plus a good memory at the time!

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