The problem is how to formulate a meaningful, operational definition of a
causal relation.
A move in a chess game has a definite consequence (eg the capture of an
opposing piece). The two are not causally related, they are only connected
by the rules of the game. I want "cause" to mean more than just a
connection by rules (even nature's rules) - but what exactly is that "more"?
(Is this empty sophistry??)
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em) http://www.winbeam.com/~trebor/
trebor@winbeam.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Scerri" <scerri@CHEM.UCLA.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: metaphysics
| Why concentrate just on physics?
|
| Does a chemist not say something like "the solution turned red because
| we added acid"
|
| Does the biologist not say "the organism died because its heart stopped
| beating"
|
| Where does physics stop and all the other sciences begin?
|
| Either there are causes in nature or there are not.
|
|
| I repeat what I said earlier, our way of speaking or putting questions
| is the less interesting part of this question. It is whether objective
| causes actually exist in nature.
|
|
|
|
| eric scerri
|
|
| ---------------------------------------------------
|
|
| On Friday, December 10, 2004, at 08:54 AM, Bob Sciamanda wrote:
|
| > I think that in our physics, "causality" is a construct which we
| > invent as
| > an underlying context inherent in our models, in order to organize our
| > thoughts in our own human way.
| >
| > In asserting F = ma, we invent the concept of particle interaction
| > (quantified as a vector "force") as the cause of accelerations.
| >
| > But in an application such as GMm/r^2 =ma, do I assert that the left
| > hand
| > side is the "cause" of the right hand side? I think not. The cause
| > is the
| > interaction (force), a mental construct of my model.
| >
| > Bob Sciamanda
| > Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
| > http://www.winbeam.com/~trebor/
| > trebor@winbeam.com
| >
| >
| >
| > --
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| > Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.8 - Release Date: 12/8/2004
| >
| Dr. Eric Scerri,
| Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
| UCLA,
| Los Angeles,
| CA 90095- 1569
|
| E-mail scerri@chem.ucla.edu
|
| Tel: 310 206 7443
|
| Web Page: http://www.chem.ucla.edu/dept/Faculty/scerri/
|
| Editor of Foundations of Chemistry,
| http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/1386-4238
|
| Also see International Society for the Philosophy of Chemistry
| http://www.georgetown.edu/earleyj/ISPC.html
|
|
|
| --
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| Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
| Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.8 - Release Date: 12/8/2004
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|
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