Category Archives: Philosophical

Q: Why are the laws of quantum mechanics so strange? Does it mean that we’re missing something?

Physicist: We’re definitely missing something, but we’re always missing something.  One of the most famous quotes about quantum physics, often used in lieu of a shrug, is due to St. Feynman: “If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Evolution, Paranoia, Philosophical, Physics, Quantum Theory | 22 Comments

Q: Do we actually live in a computer simulation?

Physicist: This has become a whole thing.  Although it has shown up in a lot of incarnations throughout history, the most recent is something like this: Computers are getting better all the time and some day artificial reality will be … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Computer Science, Paranoia, Philosophical, Skepticism | 15 Comments

Q: Can free will exist in our deterministic universe?

Physicist: It depends on what you mean by “free will” and where you draw the line on “determinism”.  Both of these are a matter of opinion, so philosophers (and the rest of us) will have plenty to argue about for … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Philosophical, Quantum Theory | 49 Comments

Q: Is it possible to eat all of the ice cream in a bowl?

Physicist: If you’ve ever sat next to someone as they rang an almost-empty ice cream bowl like church bells on Sunday, then you’ve probably asked yourself some variation of this question. Clearly, the issue is that a spoon and a … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Geometry, Philosophical | 11 Comments

Q: Why does gravity pull things toward the center of mass? What’s so special about the center of mass?

The original question was: How do you measure d in the equation for universal gravitation ()?  It can’t be the distance between the surfaces of the objects, or when they touched f would be “infinite.”  It can’t be the distance … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Equations, Philosophical, Physics | 30 Comments

Q: What is quantum immortality?

Physicist: A common refrain in quantum theory is “anything that can happen does”.  Shockingly, and with total disregard for our own human experience, this seems to be true.  When you consider what this means in the context of living and … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Paranoia, Philosophical, Quantum Theory | 28 Comments