1.6 Accuracy of Theories
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Einstein’s theory of general relativity solved outstanding problems with Newton’s theory of gravity, such as action at a distance, but it also came with its own issue in the form of infinitely dense singularities. Do you think we can ever create a holistically accurate description of reality, or will we always be trying to patch holes in existing theories? Does the fact that all physics is built upon imperfect knowledge mean that we can never create a perfectly refined theory of reality? Explain your answer.
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March 29, 2021 at 8:10 am
Everything needs some amendments to improve toward perfection. New models would provide us a clearer view but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will scarp out the prev ones. There is always some room for improvement even if we might never have the final picture.
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August 25, 2021 at 4:26 pm
If one stands at the frontier of understanding and looks out into the unknown, it is perfectly obvious that one has an imperfect knowledge of the totality. As for deriving a perfect understanding – who and why would anyone want to let go of the wonder?
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September 26, 2021 at 11:18 am
I think we will be able to – after all, Nature does work and does stuff in these situations, and what Nature does should be expressable mathematically. But I think this will only work if we start from quantum mechanics, not from classical theories such as relativity – we need to gravitize quantum mechanics not quantize gravity.
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January 3, 2022 at 10:18 am
Models including models of reality always have limited scope and applicability.
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September 15, 2022 at 3:54 am
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a good question, amid work in progress of new tech in Astronomy.
Having lived in Nunavut`s circumpolar science that has outter-space biome features, it is often direct experience that allows for accurate science.
We may only have accurate science from pioneers and explorers of the regions explored.
This includes robot explorers.
Because we are more than a physical body, we have greater tools than physical limits.
http://www.monroeinstitute.org is a place to develop greater tools.
When we see limits on theories, we need to go direct to the source, and we are told this is impossible with black holes.
Electron and neutron degeneracies end the white dwarfs and neutron stars. So what ends a black hole?
Tesla had light measured 3x faster than Einsteinian light – immediately out of the source. Gamma ray polar outflow occurs even in black holes, so they are not hermetically sealed.
Polar regions are unique regions, especially on the sun, and allow for an outflow, and the stellar and interstellar inflows.
Is Tesla`s speed of light also Hawking radiation?
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March 29, 2023 at 9:52 am
hmm zero mass black hole? I think we are coming up on a drop of knowledge in the vast ocean of the universe, so the prospects of learning more become exponential.
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May 20, 2024 at 7:40 am
we can make a one theory but we just need some things that are missing now!we’ll have to look deeper !
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May 10, 2026 at 3:38 pm
In my view, achieving a perfect theory pf reality is matter of time, persistence, and exploration. The key lies in our ability to connect the dots between different fields and link existing answers to solve new puzzles. As we continue to integrate our knowledge and bridge theoretical gaps, we don’t just patch holes- we evolve toward a complete understanding of of the universe.
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May 25, 2026 at 8:14 am
Yes, I believe that while we may never reach a ‘perfectly absolute’ theory, physics is an asymptotic journey toward the ultimate truth.
Here is why:
The Nature of Physics: Physics is inherently an empirical science. As our technology and observational tools advance, we probe deeper into realms we couldn’t access before (like the Planck scale or the edge of the observable universe). Newton wasn’t entirely “wrong”; his equations were just a limit of a broader reality that Einstein’s General Relativity later explained.
The Clash of the Giants: Right now, our description of reality is fractured because our two best theories—General Relativity (for the very large) and Quantum Mechanics (for the very small)—mathematically disagree at places like black hole singularities. This proves our current knowledge is incomplete, but it doesn’t mean a unified theory (like Quantum Gravity or String Theory) is impossible.
Asymptotic Approximation: Even if our knowledge is initially built on imperfect data, each successive model becomes more comprehensive and less wrong. We might never know if we have reached the absolute final answer because we can never perform infinite experiments, but we can definitely reach a stage where our theories can explain and predict every measurable aspect of physical reality with holistic accuracy.
Therefore, we are not just “patching holes”—we are fundamentally expanding the framework of human understanding.
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