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ON NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
José
DEDICATION
This
book is dedicated to the memory of a committed thinker, physicist,
mathematician, a very conscientious human being, a scientist, a world-class rock
climber, a skilled outdoorsman, as well my tutor, collaborator, and best
friend, José. His understanding of nature led to my
ultimate understanding of it which will hopefully, eventually lead to many
other people’s understanding of it too.
We
can all thank José.
SEE BOOKS ON
NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
WHY THEORETICAL PHYSICS IS BITCHIN’
Modern
cultural attitudes commonly see an understanding of theoretical physics as
having nothing whatsoever to do with everyday life, being very far removed from
practical reality, an interesting subject of debate for scientific scholars at
a laboratory in some university somewhere, but useless to the common man.
Most mistakenly, modern cultural
attitudes regard any kind of meaningful understanding of the subject of modern
theoretical physics as being beyond ordinary intellectual capacity, certainly
beyond the reach of anyone lacking either rare intellectual gift, or an
extremely comprehensive background with years of science and math. Mistakenly,
attitudes may regard it being especially out of reach for a young, untrained
mind. Such cultural attitudes could not be more incorrect. Little, if
any, science and math background is really needed for understanding,
conceptually, the two theories that together comprise the core of the
theoretical model of physical reality (and ultimately all real science). And,
except for those minds soundly prepared and adequately motivated for
understanding such concepts, there is no mind more suited for understanding
theoretical physics than a young, untrained mind – one capable of ignoring
intuitive and cultural biases that might, and very likely will, find themselves
reinforced by a classical science or math background. In other words, if you
have little or no training in science or math, then you just may be more fit
for understanding theoretical physics, than someone that has been trained
(though perhaps stifled) by the classical methods by which science is taught,
traditionally. Understanding theoretical physics is that way. It’s easy for
naïve beginners. Theoretical physics can become much more difficult to
understand, in light of “conventional” training methods, that often stand to
handicap, rather than innovate, a genuine understanding of nature.
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BOOKS ON NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
At its heart, understanding
theoretical physics is fundamentally no more difficult than understanding what
an idea called “perpendicular” means. Though reducing understanding theoretical
physics to understanding nothing more than the simple notion of perpendicular
may certainly seem a gross oversimplification of what is the enormous body of
knowledge that this abstract subject is, at its heart, the physical models that
so accurately describe nature are no more difficult to learn than learning the
simple concept of perpendicular, because upon this single geometric idea all
other ideas can be based. Theoretical
physics truly begins with the single idea of perpendicular, and upon this
single idea it begins its description, a description that ultimately includes,
however coarse, an explanation of everything. From there, the description
proceeds, ultimately combining this single, very simple idea of perpendicular,
with another single, very simple idea: that of infinity. Though we might find
it very hard to understand or even believe that two such fundamental ideas as
perpendicular and infinity could ever lead anyone to any kind of genuinely
accurate understanding of nature, surprisingly they do – apparently as
accurately as can be done!
SEE
BOOKS ON NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
So, learning the most
fundamental and accurate descriptions of nature that there are (theoretical
physics) is actually no more complex than understanding these two basic ideas:
perpendicular and infinity (though clearly there is much that must ultimately
be built, upon these two ideas). Appropriately, in theoretical physics, there
is a theory corresponding to each of these ideas upon which it is based:
perpendicular and infinity. Corresponding to the former, perpendicular
(specifically, linear independence), is the Theory of Relativity. Corresponding
to the latter, infinity , when combined with the former, perpendicular, is the
Theory of Quantum Mechanics. Together, these two theories describe the two
different sides of nature, gravity and energy, better than ANY other models
that have ever existed. But, they seem to apparently be generalizations of an
even deeper theory, one called String Theory. And String Theory (again,
apparently) agrees with both completely by yielding them. So, it would
logically seem that both relativity and quantum mechanics would be the first
steps to understanding this new and promising body of ideas called String
Theory; especially in light of the fact that it was these very two theories
that led to the contemplation of String Theory in the first place.
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ON NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
For a young, untrained, and most
importantly, probably more open mind, one that has never been taught that his or
her intellect is not fit to understand such things, learning both relativity
and quantum mechanics, the two cornerstones of physical theory, is easiest. As
a matter of fact, understanding theoretical physics is within the grasp of anyone,
if they want to understand the nature of physical reality sincerely enough to
be willing to dismiss ideas that they might, quite unknowingly, “prefer”
embracing. This can provide opportunity to reach conclusions yielding ideas
that, if we are to believe what we observe in us and around us corresponds to
reality, is irrefutable and, most significantly, demonstrably truer than any
other ideas yet imagined by science. But, these new conclusions based upon
irrefutable and demonstrable truth has the capacity for rendering the ideas our
‘preferred’ ideas untrue, wholly contradicting these ideas, again irrefutably
and, again most significantly, demonstrably. Yet, anyone who prefers truth over
what they might prefer truth to be, as well as be willing (and able) to spend
the time reading (which, at chongonation.com, means reading in either
Spanish or English), and more importantly, spend the time to reread
repeatedly as necessary can learn the principles underlying the most proven
theoretical models. And, they can do so in terms of solid and comprehensible
concepts (that can, if it is one’s wish to do so, then be easily translated
into whatever appropriate mathematical notation that need be applied). One need
only choose to learn theoretical physics, which returns us to the initial question
– why?
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BOOKS ON NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
Why learn theoretical physics?
The answer is simple. If you can learn something that, with certainty, can make
you significantly “smarter” – which means having a more accurate understanding
of nature, or of anything in it – in any endeavor you may pursue, taking only a
month or two (or maybe four or five for really grasping the concepts) to
learn what people have traditionally spent years of labor and study to
understand, then you would be very “wise” to do so, if presented the rare
opportunity. In other words, the reason one should learn theoretical physics is
because, quite simply, for the first time in
human history, it is possible to do
so without spending years in the pursuit.
The website chongonation.com provides that opportunity – for ANYONE – both the
formally educated and those who are not, regardless (although it should be
emphasized that chongonation.com is most of all tying to provide opportunity to
those individuals whom would ordinarily be the most removed from that
opportunity: the poor).
SEE BOOKS ON NATURE (Conceptual Theoretical Physics)
All can learn more about
nature, and about the science that describes it (not to mention learn more about the
extreme sports that you can do outdoors in nature), at
chongonation.com.
Home
Page
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where
learning is truly bitchin’.
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