Quote:
Originally Posted by michellemfry  Hi James,
Interesting article. I have maybe a philosophical question to ask that may be an obvious one, maybe a stupid one, but I'm going to ask it anyway. If a thing is indeed the theory behind something, doesn't that immediately mean that it is beyond the experimental anyway? I hope I am explaining myself well. You are discovering the theoretical layer underneath the experimental layer, are you not.
Shouldn't there be a final layer to be uncovered that cannot be found by experimentation. This layer is found by extending all logical avenues available to synthesize the final layer of theoretical truth. Your thoughts would be welcome. |
Hi Michelle,
I think it is true of all theories that they make fundamental assumptions about the structure of experience in general that are implicitly believed to never change even though they prescribe the basis of all change. These are assumptions about the cosmic order. Our sciences still tend to be married to the Aristotelian paradigm of cause and effect in a strictly physical sense. This was Aristotle's efficient cause and his other causes are now generally ignored, yet this ancient paradigm persists. So mathematics develops accordingly and experiments are carried out to confirm the assumptions about the nature of the cosmic order. But other approaches to understanding the cosmic order are possible. See
www.cosmic-mindreach.com.
Regards,
Bob