There was a time when physicists told us things like “That chair isn’t really there, it’s mostly empty space.” But people got a little more sophisticated about what we mean by words like “chair”, and eventually understood that the chair is there, notwithstanding good explanations of its constituent parts and how they hold together. A similar charade now is played out by attention-seekers with the words “time”, “space” and “illusion”. This too shall pass.
#Space #Time #Philosophy
@tronic
It's a bit like people who try to use "common sense" as an argument about things radically outside of any human frame of reference: as if your evolved instincts had anything to tell you about, say, quantum mechanics or relativity.
"I don't believe in the big bang! How can you get something from nothing?"
Well, let's start by breaking down your assumption that your notions of "something" and "nothing" are in any way useful here...
@pieist The issue is a misuse of language, not resistance to (or lack of understanding of) physical theory.
I say that chairs exist, and are not an illusion.
I also say that we have good accounts of molecular structures and the 4 forces.
You start talking about “common sense”, “something” and “nothing”. First say whether chairs are an illusion. Then maybe we can get to time. “Something and nothing” would take all year.
[Hint: illusions require a contrast with veridical perceptions. ]