|
Physics without Meta
Mr. Ziauddin Ahmad starts with the title:
“Mutual
Influence of the Metaphysical and Physical”
and splits the nature in two.
“The two
Sides of Nature”
From these two above
statements one gets the impression that the nature has two distinct and
independent faces (or sides) which are Physical and Metaphysical. It is
like 24 hours Full Day is divided in a day (sun rise/set) and a
night (sun set/rise). They do not mix together but due to their proximity
do influence each other. These are two different entities!
Physics is a Greek word
“physis” which means “nature”. It is the Natural
Science in which we study the existence (mass =M), in space (dimension = L)
and time (T). The Energy and Force contain all these parameters. These are
Physical concepts. Every physical phenomenon (matter or wave) has its
Energy. The Energy is nature’s gift and it is conserved. A human can
neither create nor annihilate any form of energy. The human can only
convert one form of energy into another. The concept of energy is entirely
physical. Thus, to say that Energy is metaphysical will be equivalent to
admit that Metaphysics is Physics. Metaphysics can not be separated
from Physics.
Without the human
thoughts and ideas, Physics would have never started and would have never
progressed to the present stage. The logic and reasoning are the main
instruments to analyse any observation and experimentation. Even if the
thoughts and ideas have no mass or energy (physical!) they are integral
part of physics. The smallest particle of any matter “the Atom” was born
into the minds of Greek philosophers before “meta” was added to Physics.
The Greek word “meta” means beyond or after. The prefix meta-
("beyond") was attached to the chapters in Aristotle's work that
physically followed after the chapters on "physics", in
posthumously edited collections. Aristotle himself did not call these works
Metaphysics. Aristotle called some of the subjects treated there
"first philosophy". check
.
The falling of an apple
gave an idea of gravitational force to Newton. The majority of new developments
or discoveries in Physics are due to human mind. The experimental proof and
observation came later. The theory of relativity very dear to
non-scientific scholars and philosophers is not based on the famous energy
equation E= mc2. It is a very simple idea as explained by
Einstein himself. “If you sit on a hot stove for a short time it appears a
very long period but if you are with your beloved the whole day you feel it
was a short time.” The time does not shrink in love nor does it expand in
torture, but it is relative to different situations.
An object appears to be
smaller from a long distance as compared to its actual dimension. A mass
moving with a high speed may become less to a fixed observer, but the mass
of the object itself does not change. If the observer can be put in the
same space and time as the object he will notice that the mass of the
object is constant. The human has no power to create or annihilate any
physical parameter like M, L and T. It is only the Nature (God!) who has
the power to do it.
Even if the human
intelligence is not a physical entity like M, L and T, it is an integral
part of Physics. Without human thought, logic and reasoning, Physics as a
science will not exist. The intelligence is also a natural gift to human.
It is not man made. A man can not create or annihilate the natural
intelligence. He can make a better use of it by more knowledge, better
learning and necessary observation. In a way it is like a potential energy.
It stays inert if it is not used. Any human intelligence resides in his
mind (brain) which is a part of the human body. Without being physical it
is Physics.
The subject of Physics
is very vast and it has a number of branches like: Atomic Physics, Solid
State Physics, Nuclear Physics, Metal Physics, Chemical Physics,…and Meta-Physics. There are many other subjects which do not have Physics at the end, but depend on
Physics like Cosmology, Astronomy and Medicine. The latest instruments to
detect and cure cancer are the gift of Physics. So, Metaphysics is
Physics.
I do not understand why
Mr. Ziauddin Ahmad is so fascinated with the
Christian orthodoxy of “Trinity”. For his Indomitable
Triad, he gives many examples of three phases of the same. It is not
clear what does he mean by phase transition. In Physics the same object can
exist in many phases only if it changes its physical properties in each
phase like water which has three different densities in three phases,
solid, liquid and gas.
The first example “The triad of thought, word and deed can account for most
functions of human activity.” The three activities do not cover all
the activities for human. The sentiments (like love) are as essential as
the three given above. Also there are many human activities without one of
the three.
“The tirade
of human evolution is seen in the development of body, mind and Soul.” Here the writer is not talking
of the development of the same in three stages but the development of three
different entities. I will be happy to learn how does one measure the
development of the Soul?
“Matter is
seen to exist in the three states of solid, liquid and gas.” This statement is only true in
some gases which can be liquefied and then solidified and also some liquids
which can be evaporated or solidified. The triad is an exception and not a
rule. There are rare gases which have a fourth phase called Plasma. plasma
Coming back to three
phases, I must admit that I have never seen or smelt the
vapour of an Iron nor that of a diamond. On the other hand the
liquid crystals have four classified phases and each is further divided in
secondary phases. For matter “triad” is an exception and not a rule.
“A day is
divided into the three stages of morning, noon, and night.” A day here stands for a 24
hours DAY. Any phase transition occurs at a critical point. In a DAY there
are two critical events sun-rise and sun-set and a DAY can be only divided
as day and night as I have mentioned above. As a personal matter one can
divide it in three but somebody else has a right to add evening, afternoon
and mid-night to this long DAY!!.
I will stop here:
“The list can
go on and on, but let’s pause here to reflect on these first.”
Regards.
Ahsan
Strasbourg (France)
March 23, 2009.
ahsan@noos.fr
|