Definitions of Reality

(ref . Wiki Discussions)

RealityTwo Ontologic Approaches

• What exists: REALISM, independent of the mind

• What appears: PHENOMENOLOGY, what (and how) it occurs in consciousness (idealism vs epiphenomenology)

Metaphysics vs Epistemology vs Science

• Metaphysics : study of what exists (idealism, materialism, dualism)

• Epistemology : Study of nature and scope of knowledge empiricism, rationalism, constructivism)

• Science : use of empiric data to construct models that can predict the future

Deduction vs Induction

• Deduction: Reasoning based on rules of logic and axioms. Validity not Truth

• Induction: Reasoning from general fact to a conclusion. Does not guarantee truth, but likelihood (Hume and Popper)

• .

Scientific Method Issues

• Popper’s Falsifiability (problem with induction)

• Godel’s Theorem (incompleteness of formal logical systems)

• Measurement Precision (sensitivity to initial conditions results in deterministic chaos, weather)

Causality

• Relationship between one event and another (necessary and sufficient)

• Determinism (orderly laws that specify transformation from one state to another that are in principle reversible, Newton’s laws)

• Indeterminism (laws can only predict likelihood of outcome, quantum theory)

• Problem of free will in either case

World ViewWELTANSCHAUUNG

• Framework of beliefs and ideas through which one interprets and experiences the world

• Belief vs Truth (depends on what “is” is)• What is my world view (try to write it down)• We will revisit at end of course• Rule: Each world view will be respected

Truths and Consequences of World View

• Idealist

• Materialist

• Dualist

• Other

Big Questions

• Time• Space• Matter, Energy• Complexity (reduction vs emergence)• Consciousness• Cosmology• Life• God