Hi Bert:
Bert Massie wrote:
> *****************
>
> Please tell us about "Nature" and how it fine tunes things. I would be
> curious to hear about this.
>
> What is "Nature"? Sounds like it is some "person" or "force" or
> "intellegence" but I think you said this but did not mean it.
>
> So, what is this agent?
>
> ******************8
I don't now how you read "person" or "intelligence" from what I said, but
force is ok. Force is a physical concept relating to causation. The entire
enterprise of physical theory is precisely about the "how" in your first
question. Hence, all of physical theory is your answer; e.g. quantum
chromodynamics explains the existence of the fine structure constant,
general and special relativity for the gravitational constant and the
speed of light, respective, quantum mechanics for Plank's constant , etc.
For specific macroscopic examples, look at pulsed lasers, planetary
orbits, soliton formation, big bang universes :-), etc. I would even
include complexity driven systems such as tornados (i.e.. vortex formation
in fluids and gasses.), pattern formation in chemicals and crystals, etc..
I guess everything with some degree of stability, i.e. not rapidly
transient, exemplifies how "nature" selects its parameters: dynamics!
Moreover, the complexity paradigm of random fluctuations interfacing with
physical "natural" law is very persuasive in its ability to explain why we
see what we see - i.e. the Anthopic Principle. Great stuff isn't it!
To the fundamental question regarding what is nature, my quick response is
that nature constitutes that which is not "supernatural" :-). The laws of
probability, chemistry, physics, etc. compose the realm of natural
phenomena. I am sure others can give you a better definition; but I think
you already know the answer and you know how definitions go.
Please, forgive my presumption, but I get the sense from your questions
that you are bothered buy natural causation. If so, why so? I see no
problems?
Sincerely
George A.
-- George A. Andrews Jr. Physics/Applied Science College of William & Mary P.O. Box 8795 Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
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