Quote:
Originally Posted by MJA  ... It cannot be denied that Aristotle's equation A = B, and B = C, then truly or certainly A = C. ... Can we all see the truth so far? ... Any questions? |
In a computer program doing pattern matching, the logic above (A=B) is solid if the contents in memory at location "A" equals the contents at location "B". But if "A" and "B" are actual values (or image patterns) being compared, then the value/pattern "A" would/should never equal the value/pattern "B". Thus, the context of the statement becomes important. In other words, what is "A" and "B"? Further, given two points in space marked "A" and "B", is one point equal to the other? Perhaps conceptually they are equivalent, but they occupy different locations in space. Thus, they cannot be identical. Only if the two points occupy the same location in space and time are they truly identical. Of course, in that case, the dual nature of the points comes into question. Is it one point or two points? If two, then how can they both occupy the same space and time? And how can we recognize their duality? If they do not occupy the same space and time, then how can they be truly equal?
But lets change this to light photons. When looking at the North Star (Polaris), we typically think of a photon crashing into our eyes as one which left that distant star a while back. But is it the same photon? Is that photon an actual particle flying through space? Or is it more like the crest of a breaking wave traveling across the ocean of space? With water as an analogy, the molecules of water do not move in the direction of the wave - only up and down as the wave passes. Thus, is a photon an actual particle moving? Or is it just a glint from a wave crest as the wave moves forward? Perhaps a photon has more to do with the fabric of space going up and down like water molecules in a passing wave. The answer to this may be important to TOE in understanding the nature of space/time.
So, A=B may not be as simple and clear as it looks. We assume that the photon crashing against our retina is the same one that left a distant star, but I'm not so sure ...