Why We Can't Remember the Future
Reference:
Why We Can't Remember the Future
excerpt:
"The researchers argue that this extra ingredient is something they call generality. They illustrate the argument with a rotating turnstile that records the passage of gas molecules from one chamber to another. The system starts with most of the molecules in the left-hand chamber, and at any instant the rotor reveals the net number that have passed from left to right since some earlier reference time. But since the system follows predictable and reversible Newtonian laws, the readout could also be interpreted as showing the number of molecules that will pass between the time of the reading and some future reference time. One can show that this would be a correct anticipation, since that number can, in principle, be calculated. “Why can’t we call that a memory of the future?” asks Brun.
The reason we cannot is that for the rotor to work as a memory of the past, the system’s state at an earlier reference time need not be precisely specified; any slight changes in the molecules’ positions at that time will not affect the readout at a later time. But equivalent small changes in the state at a future reference time—say, due to some unforeseen influence intervening—lead to inconsistencies.
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The world of Academic Physics always seems to be leaning more and more into the realm of Metaphysics. The current article addresses some of the issues with a totally Deterministic view of Physics versus the non-Deterministic view as expressed by the realm of reality exposed in the Strong Free Will Theorem, which has been discussed here before (Reference John Conway and Simon Kochen's work, posted here before). If the Future is 100% predictable, then it has already happened for all Physical Purposes. We are just watching a Movie Picture, whether for the first time, as opposed to a second or third time i.e. would we ever know which time (showing) we are viewing. The second viewing is deterministic and the first feels non-deterministic but is determined on the film already. So where does memory fit in such a scenario. This paper addresses that issue. The Strong Free Will Theorem gives a nearly slam-dunk to the non-deterministic (non-mechanistic) reality. The Physics community is divided on these issues, as expected... both camps exist and are having the argument, but non-deterministic usually wins in experiments. Just ONE non-deterministic event destroys the deterministic viewpoint - and those happen. The determinist's seem to be losing to many Scientists now days, and to some chagrin in their camp.<g>
Replies to This Discussion
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by John on -
For a theosophical thought, the following is from Dogen (1200-1253)
Being Time (1240)
An old buddha said:
For the time being, I stand astride the highest mountain peaks.
For the time being, I move on the deepest depths of the ocean floor.
For the time being, I'm three heads and eight arms.
For the time being, I'm eight or sixteen feet.
For the time being, I'm a staff or whisk.
For the time being, I'm a pillar or lantern.
For the time being, I'm Mr. Chang or Mr. Li.
For the time being, I'm the great earth and heavens above.
"The time being" means time, just as it is, is being, and being is all time.
The sixteen-foot golden buddha-body is time; because it is time,
it has time's glorious golden radiance. You must learn to see
this glorious radiance in the twelve hours of your day.
The three heads and eight arms is time; because it is time,
it can be in no way different from the twelve hours of your day.
or see:
"time being"
Moon in a Dewdrop p.76 (edited/trans: Kazuaki Tanahashi) -
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Stranks on
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Hi, I am a new member, Kathy Stranks - Nr Oxford England.
I would suggest we do 'remember' the future in small amounts through pre-cognition and premonition. I would suspect we do not remember all of it because it would get in the way of our functioning in the everyday here and now. We only have access to information that would serve as a signpost towards a given set of events that are likely to have (possibly) important future effects that require either careful management, or things that are part of a much larger set of circumstances. I would suspect there are a few definite deterministic states but our decision making at these points lead to many different pathways of infinite variety depending on the kind of future events we are interested in, may learn from, or have made previous before life decisions about encountering. Best wishes Kathy (Stranks)
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by John on -
I basically agree. The basic reason is that we have not decided what will happen. Some events are fixed -- but I expect those to be rare. Premonitions can fail when people want them to. The premonition is a warning to change behavior or otherwise accept that outcome.... rather like a deja vu where you go -- "I need to do *that* not this" as I recall this situation for the reason that I want to NOT do something dumb. "Be careful at this event" sort of warning.
By The Way - Welcome!
John
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