[DHiMac]

Quantum physics seems to imply that there is no reality without someone or thing observing it. If we create reality through observation, that is quite godlike in my mind.

[Omni]

But we don't create reality through observation. Reality without someone or something observing it is just what it says: reality that isn't observed.

[mlangleyRN]

Reminds me of the old question......If a tree falls in the middle of the forest and no one is there, does it still make a noise/sound?.

[Omni]

Exactly. Let me tell you a secret...it does.

[cristian]

I agree with Omni. Rephrase the question like this and it will become more obvious: "If a tree falls in the middle of the forrest and no one knows about it, will anybody ever find it ?". And since you can find fallen trees in a forrest I can only assume that reality works with or without us.

[Marketa]

Who says, that we are the only observers in the whole universe?
I think, that some particles really ACT like observers - they somehow KNOW where they are, what's their velocity, they can "feel" forces, they know "what to do" when they meet another particle. So that's why we can find fallen trees...

[cristian]

Good point, I thought you were going to say I just created the fallen tree by looking at the forrest. This whole thing is a theological trap: you can explain anything by saying you (or someone else) just created it. Just like you can explain anything by saying God just created it.

But the thing to note is that you can never "create" (or "observe" if you like) things that contradict what we know as "laws" of the universe. If a tree floats in the middle of the forrest, can we see it? Apparently not.

So, let's assume we can create things by observation, but only by respecting certain constraints. Can anybody think of an experiment to prove this? Shouldn't be too difficult, we just need our own minds to do it.

"Wish for something that doesn't conflict with existing stuff," said God.

[yogi]

Originally Posted by DHiMac Quantum physics seems to imply that there is no reality without someone or thing observing it. If we create reality through observation, that is quite godlike in my mind.

There is a saying in India ''your world and reality dies with you" meaning a dead person does not have this worldly things to interact. Reality is a personal, conscious experience. So to understand it we must first understand consciousness. What is a relation between observation, counsciouness, neural circuit, reality and living phenomena-a good research paper on mirror neurons just came out. I haven't read it. I shall read it and make further comments.
Sincerely,
yogi

[yogi]

Originally Posted by Omni Exactly. Let me tell you a secret...it does.

If it happens in a vacuum(absolutely nothing) there is no sound wave produced and no sound to be detected by an observer.
sincerely,
yogi

[Marketa]

We can see a floating tree, there are no laws forbiding it, but it's not very probable, and that's it. You can go through a wall if you have either luck or a very, very long time. I dare say that this "probability" is dependent on us - on how we are "made" (I believe in evolution, but OK, you can claim it's a God).