Relativity theory: What is reality?

Frederick E. Alzofon

Alfred Arthur Robb

Stuart Boehmer

In this paper we start with a description of the standard picture of reality assumed by most practicing physicists, especially popularizers of science. We then discuss ways in which quantum theory and relativity present difficulties for this picture. The trend in modern physics instantiated by the quantum and relativity theories is away from an objective, bird’s eye view of the world towards a description in terms of the subjective perceptions of observers immersed in the world. I tentatively complete this trend by describing a provisional theory in which the fundamental entity is the visual image seen by an observer at a given locality; I call this theory the theory of the Light Matter Complex. From here, it is but a short leap to Berkeleyan idealism, which, as we discuss in the conclusion, solves some problems in the theory of knowledge, justifying taking such a mad system of thought seriously.

Salvish Goomanee

The present understanding of the relation betweenreality and information theory is for the time being rather vague. There are many speculations about the fact that the understanding of reality may be beyond ourcapabilities. However the perception of our observed reality in relation to quantum physics and consciousness as per Wheeler’s theories may lead to the exploration of some new branches of quantum physics and consciousness theory. For many physicists, this may be something rather troubling but what if non – computability was actually part of reality? What if there were some processes or some kind of information that cannot be understood through algorithms and needed new understanding. In this essay the relation between information, reality and consciousness will be briefly discussed.

John Lighton Synge

Jagdish Mehra