This page has info about 6 submissions to FQXi essay contests.
2023 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is: "How could science have emerged differently?".
Title: Three Flukes Made Modern Science Possible
Mar. 25, 2023
Abstract: Science was greatly advanced by three factors that did not have to happen: Greek Mathematics, ancient Astronomy, and medieval Christianity. Without these, we might never have discovered the abstract mathematical theories we have today and instead gotten similar empirical results from data-driven black-box computer models.
Submitted to the FQxI.org 2023 Essay Contest on: “How Could Science be Different?”
2020 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is: "Wandering Towards a Goal: How can mindless mathematical laws give rise to aims and intention?".
2016 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is: "Wandering Towards a Goal: How can mindless mathematical laws give rise to aims and intention?”".
My essay was summarily rejected, without comment. I assume that the reasons were political, as FQXi accepts a lot of essays with wacky scientific content.
2015 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is: "Trick or Truth: the Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics".
References
- Dark Buzz blog
- Nature has no faithful mathematical representation, at FQXi
- Logical positivism
- Paradigm shift
- Probability axioms
- Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, ZFC
- The universe would not be perfect without randomness: a quantum physicist's reading of Aquinas, Valerio Scarani.
- The Lucretian swerve: The biological basis of human behavior and the criminal justice system, Anthony R. Cashmore, PNAS, 2010.
- 'Bad luck' of random mutations plays predominant role in cancer, study shows, by Cristian Tomasetti and Bert Vogelstein, Jan. 2015.
Study
- A Turing test for free will, Seth Lloyd, 2013.
- Free Will, Sam Harris.
- Astro lecture, Brian P. Schmidt, 2014.
- Quantum Theory Needs No ‘Interpretation’, Christopher A. Fuchs and Asher Peres, 2000.
- Feynman Lectures on Physics, excerpt
- New Directions in the Philosophy of Science, edited by Maria Carla Galavotti et al, 2014.
2014 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is: "How Should Humanity Steer the Future?".
References
- The Effect of Language on Economic Behavior: Evidence from Savings Rates, Health Behaviors, and Retirement Assets, M. Keith Chen, April, 2013. pdf,
- SciAm article
- Does the average person believe in determinism, free will, and moral responsibility?, Jerry Coyne.
- Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol III, Chap 2.
- Free Will, Sam Harris.
- A Turing test for free will, Seth Lloyd, 2013.
- 7 Reasons Why It's Easier for Humans to Believe in God Than Evolution, Chris Mooney, Nov. 2013.
- QBism as CBism: Solving the Problem of "the Now", N. David Mermin, Nov. 2013.
- Big Bang Theory: More Bangs May Be Coming (But They Won't Hurt), NBC News, March 20, 2014.
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- Sensible Quantum Mechanics: Are Only Perceptions Probabilistic?, Don N. Page
- Science and Hypothesis, Henri Poincaré, Chap. X, 1902.
- Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays, IX. On the Notion of Cause, Betrand Russell.
- Nature has no faithful mathematical representation, Roger Schlafly, FQXi 2012 essay contest.
- The quantum does not reduce to discrete bits, Roger Schlafly, FQXi 2013 essay contest.
- Is Time an Illusion?, Scientific American, June 2010.
- Science hopes to change events that have already occurred, SF Chronicle (SFGate), Jan. 21, 2007.
Extra references
- "The flow of time is an illusion, and I don’t know very many scientists and philosophers who would disagree with that, to be perfectly honest.", FQXi interview, Paul Davies, Feb. 2013.
- Does Time-Symmetry Imply Retrocausality? How the Quantum World Says "Maybe", Huw Price.
- Present time, Gustavo E. Romero
- The flow of time in the theory of relativity, Mario Bacelar Valente
- Space, Time and Einstein, The Reality of Past, Present, and Future, Brian Greene. WorldScienceU.com
2013 Essay
We must ask the question, though, is information truly fundamental or not? Can we realize John Wheeler’s dream, or is it unattainable? We ask: ”It From Bit or Bit From It?”
References
2012 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is:
"Questioning the Foundations: Which of Our
Basic Physical assumptions are Wrong?
References
2011 Essay
The theme for this Essay Contest is: "Is Reality Digital or Analog?"
No submission.