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Sean Carroll
Protagonist
1
#115278
CONTEXT
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The Arrow of Time »
The Arrow of Time
The Arrow of Time ☜A map exploring some issues concerning the nature of time that lie at the boundary of physics and philosophy. The map follows up a talk to the Blackheath Philosophy Forum on 2 April 2011 by Huw Price, Professor of Philosophy and director of the Center for Time at Sydney University.☜F1CEB7
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Protagonists »
Protagonists
Protagonists☜A number of philosophers and scientists are cited in this map, and separate nodes for each are appended. When you click on one of these nodes cross-links are displayed connecting to other nodes anywhere in the map where the person is cited. Follow the links to explore further.☜D3B8AB
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Physicists »
Physicists
Physicists☜☜D3B8AB
■
Sean Carroll
Sean Carroll☜☜D3B8AB
►
The Arrow of Time »
The Arrow of Time
The Arrow of Time ☜A map exploring some issues concerning the nature of time that lie at the boundary of physics and philosophy. The map follows up a talk to the Blackheath Philosophy Forum on 2 April 2011 by Huw Price, Professor of Philosophy and director of the Center for Time at Sydney University.☜FFFACD
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Information theoretic explanation »
Information theoretic explanation
Information theoretic explanation☜A number of physicists and philosophers have claimed that remembering - by humans or computers - can only occur in a rising-entropy environment. Such claims generally draw on the requirements for persisting and utilizing information. Two approaches to formally demonstrating this link are addressed.☜FFFACD
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Entropy gradient explains agency »
Entropy gradient explains agency
Entropy gradient explains agency☜The existence of a low entropy past explains why the future is mutable and the past is not.☜FFFACD
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Bolztmann's H-theorem »
Bolztmann's H-theorem
Bolztmann's H-theorem☜In his H-theorem Boltzmann tried to formally prove that inter-molecular collisions drive gases toward equilibrium, confirming the Second Law (for gases at least). In this approach, he aimed show that it is not just overwhelmingly probable but an exceptionless law like conservation of energy.☜FFFACD
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Boltzmann's statistical imperative »
Boltzmann's statistical imperative
Boltzmann's statistical imperative☜Boltzmann provided a statistical argument to show that an isolated system not at maximal entropy will is overwhelmingly likely to evolve toward higher entropy - hence the second law and the thermodynamic arrow.☜FFFACD
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Why low entropy in the past? »
Why low entropy in the past?
Why low entropy in the past?☜How do we account for the low entropy of the early universe reflected in the extreme - but not perfect - homogeneity of the distribution of matter and energy shortly after the Big Bang? When gravity is prominent - as in the early universe - a smooth distribution is unstable and of low entropy.☜FFFACD
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A brute fact »
A brute fact
A brute fact☜In the paper cited below, philosopher Craig Callender argues that the low-entropy past is a brute fact that does not require any further explanation. He suggests that certain facts - including the low entropy past - may be just axiomatic in the same way as regularities classed as physical laws are.☜FFFACD
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Can do better »
Can do better
Can do better☜A low entropy early universe would be extremely improbable. Given this, it is natural to seek some explanatory basis for it. By analogy, Callender would have argued for treating the existence of complex life forms as a brute fact, precluding the discovery of evolutionary adaptation.☜FFFACD
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Cyclical universe »
Cyclical universe
Cyclical universe☜If we assume that the universe alternates between expanding and collapsing phases, with the entropy gradient reversing during the collapse phase, the need for a time-asymmetric boundary condition is avoided since the evolution of the universe is time-symmetric overall. ☜FFFACD
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No reason for entropy reversal »
No reason for entropy reversal
No reason for entropy reversal☜There is no good reason to suppose that the entropy gradient will reverse and entropy decrease during the collapsing phase of the cycle. It would be extremely improbable for this to happen for just the reasons Boltzmann outlined in his statistical explanation of the Second Law.☜FFFACD
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Inflationary universe »
Inflationary universe
Inflationary universe☜Some cosmologists claim that the inflationary cosmological theory explains the extremely smooth distribution of matter and energy - and hence low entropy - of the early universe. The extremely rapid expansion effectively smooths out any initial irregularities.☜FFFACD
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Conscious observer requirement »
Conscious observer requirement
Conscious observer requirement ☜Conscious observers can only exist in an environment capable of evolving complex life, which requires the dissipation of free energy. This cannot occur in a condition at or near thermodynamic equilibrium. Hence observers like us will only be found in regions of the multiverse far from equilibrium.☜FFFACD
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Boltzmann-Schuetz hypothesis »
Boltzmann-Schuetz hypothesis
Boltzmann-Schuetz hypothesis☜Boltzmann and Schuetz claimed that in a universe that is near thermal equilibrium, and given sufficient time, there will be regions where there is a temporary deviation into a low entropy state, from which it will trend back to equilibrium. Anthropic selection accounts for us being in such a region.☜FFFACD
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Boltzmann's Brain objection »
Boltzmann's Brain objection
Boltzmann's Brain objection☜Given that the probability of low entropy states diminishes exponentially, we would expect to find ourselves in the minimum entropy fluctuation consistent with conscious experience. This would not be the appearance of a whole universe - just a minimal Boltzmann brain.☜FFFACD
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Fluctuations in de Sitter space »
Fluctuations in de Sitter space
Fluctuations in de Sitter space☜Cosmologist Sean Carroll has proposed that low entropy may result from fluctuations in De Sitter space - a vacuum except for dark energy and the end point of expanding space time. Some fluctuations lead to cosmological inflation, giving rise to smooth low entropy baby universes - like ours.☜FFFACD
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Multiverse is a prediction »
Multiverse is a prediction
Multiverse is a prediction☜The multiverse is a prediction arising from inflationary cosmology, which can be tested.☜FFFACD
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Entered by:-
Peter Baldwin
NodeID:
#115278
Node type:
Protagonist
Entry date (GMT):
8/12/2011 6:34:00 AM
Last edit date (GMT):
8/12/2011 6:34:00 AM
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