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From: gwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn )
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Re: Non-linear systems.
Message-ID: <7213@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 11-Jan-85 04:16:22 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.7213
Posted: Fri Jan 11 04:16:22 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Jan-85 07:54:53 EST
References: <209@talcott.UUCP>, <328@rlgvax.UUCP> <384@hou2g.UUCP> <1027@sunybcs.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
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I think Jay has raised a valid and important point,
which is (paraphrasing) that one's accepted philosophy
has a significant influence on one's actions and
motivations.  It really should matter even to a
pragmatist (which I am not) whether the underlying
structure of the universe is inherently random,
whether it follows laws laid down arbitrarily by
a supreme being, whether it is possible for humans
to gain a real understanding of their world or not,
and so forth.  I think one of the reasons that modern
physics has gotten simultaneously silly and boring
(in my opinion, obviously; I used to be a physicist)
is that most physicists have intellectually defaulted
on this matter, leaving the crucial issue of their
fundamental beliefs to be determined by the mystics
that dominate the field of philosophy (including
religion of course) in today's culture.  `Tis a pity.