Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Use this forum to discuss the philosophy of science. Philosophy of science deals with the assumptions, foundations, and implications of science.
growthhormone
Posts: 46
Joined: December 19th, 2017, 1:25 am

Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by growthhormone »

Is marriage is ultimately governed by physics?

When a couple say: I do, it is their decision. Really? Behind their decision, is it governed by physics? It is a serious philosophical question.
growthhormone
Posts: 46
Joined: December 19th, 2017, 1:25 am

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by growthhormone »

growthhormone wrote: January 7th, 2018, 1:12 am Is marriage is ultimately governed by physics?

When a couple say: I do, it is their decision. Really? Behind their decision, is it governed by physics? It is a serious philosophical question.
My apology, it should be like this: is marriage ultimately governed by the laws of physics?
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7935
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by LuckyR »

growthhormone wrote: January 7th, 2018, 1:12 am Is marriage is ultimately governed by physics?

When a couple say: I do, it is their decision. Really? Behind their decision, is it governed by physics? It is a serious philosophical question.
No, they didn't decide to say those words, they were pre-determined 13.77 billion years ago.
"As usual... it depends."
User avatar
JamesOfSeattle
Premium Member
Posts: 509
Joined: October 16th, 2015, 11:20 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by JamesOfSeattle »

Or, if you are a compatibilist, you could say "yes, they decide to say 'I do', by instigating various decision processes." But those processes are still physical.

*
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Steve3007 »

growthhormone wrote:Is marriage ultimately governed by physics?
Are you asking whether all human activity is governed by the laws of physics, or are you just interested in marriage?

Do you believe that the laws of physics are discovered by human beings or created by human beings?

Do you think that there might be any contradiction in the idea that a brain operating according to the laws of phyaics discovers/creates those laws?
User avatar
Maldon007
Posts: 396
Joined: June 18th, 2012, 3:57 am

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Maldon007 »

Gotta be, since all actions are physical on some scale or level, and if there are physics, physics obey some kind of laws.
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Steve3007 »

Maldon007 wrote:Gotta be, since all actions are physical on some scale or level, and if there are physics, physics obey some kind of laws.
So if my brain is governed by the laws of physics and if I were a physicist who had discovered those laws, then the discovery of the laws of physics is itself merely the action of those laws of physics.

Yes?
User avatar
Maldon007
Posts: 396
Joined: June 18th, 2012, 3:57 am

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Maldon007 »

Sounds right.
Eduk
Posts: 2466
Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
Favorite Philosopher: Socrates

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Eduk »

How could I imagine I was real if I could not imagine I was real?
Unknown means unknown.
User avatar
Frost
Posts: 511
Joined: January 20th, 2018, 2:44 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Frost »

Maldon007 wrote: January 9th, 2018, 10:38 am Gotta be, since all actions are physical on some scale or level, and if there are physics, physics obey some kind of laws.
There is a difference between obeying a law of physics and not contradicting laws of physics. This also seems to implicitly assume Causal Closure of the Physical which is not exactly supported by orthodox quantum theory.

My two cents is that the speech acts associated with the creation of a marriage are not obeying the laws of physics. They are free speech acts which are only describable by Intentional causality.
User avatar
Frost
Posts: 511
Joined: January 20th, 2018, 2:44 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Frost »

LuckyR wrote: January 8th, 2018, 3:58 am No, they didn't decide to say those words, they were pre-determined 13.77 billion years ago.
May I ask which interpretation of quantum theory you prefer?
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Steve3007 »

Maybe there are many worlds. There could be one in which they say "I do", one in which someone at the back objects and there's an uproar, one in which the ceremony is interrupted by the outbreak of war, one in which they simply decide that they don't after all, ... etc.
User avatar
Frost
Posts: 511
Joined: January 20th, 2018, 2:44 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Frost »

Steve3007 wrote: January 21st, 2018, 5:51 am Maybe there are many worlds. There could be one in which they say "I do", one in which someone at the back objects and there's an uproar, one in which the ceremony is interrupted by the outbreak of war, one in which they simply decide that they don't after all, ... etc.
It seems difficult to take the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum theory seriously anymore, though. It has the basis vector/discreteness problem(1), it failed to be axiomatized, it cannot account for the virtual particles of quantum electrodynamics, it cannot account for the relativistic Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations, it cannot account for teleportation, nor the Afshar experiment(2). Additionally, it is probably the worst violation of Occam's Razor that has ever existed :)


(1) Stapp, Henry P. (2002) "The basis problem in many-worlds theories." The Canadian Journal of Physics, arXiv:quant-ph/0110148v2
(2) Afshar, S. S. (2005) “Violation of the principle of complimentarity, and its implications.” Proc. SPIE 5866, 229-244, arXiv: 070127
Eduk
Posts: 2466
Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
Favorite Philosopher: Socrates

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Eduk »

Lol I like the Occam's razor example. In a way it makes all possible assumptions. That is a lot of assumptions :-)
Unknown means unknown.
User avatar
Sy Borg
Site Admin
Posts: 14992
Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm

Re: Is marriage is ultimately governed by the laws of physics?

Post by Sy Borg »

This looks like a free will question in drag :)

Logically, if the universe is large enough (let's not say "infinite" for now) then "many worlds" is a probabilistic inevitability. The size to achieve this, though, would be beyond mind shredding!
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophy of Science”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021