This is a hard concept to grasp. But if my understanding is correct, I think you have described a legitimate paradox, especially for physicalism. If everything is physical and nothing beyond, and physics can be explained by math (in terms of values of fundamental constants and various laws), then how come only one particular set of values are physical (“real”), while others are not. There seems to be a missing deciding factor not explained by math or physics.
An obvious way out is of course to say “all mathematical possible universes ARE real. Physics is only trying to determine which particular universe welive in.” Then the problem becomes how to define WE. Again, this to me appears an impossible task for physics. Imagine a complete physical description of dadadarren, it does not seem to cover the fact that he is me, or I am experiencing the world from that physical system’s perspective.
FWIW, I will take a swing at this paradox.
We seem to know that there is a reality that exists. This is undeniable. But how do I know or believe there is a reality out there? Only from the interactions between me and the environment. Those interactions ultimately lead to various subjective experiences directly felt which form my belief in a “real world”.
(Conversely, if I question whether my experiences truly reflect what’s out there, then I question reality. Like brain in a vat or similar skeptical arguments)
It seems to be the case that this reality is perfectly mathematically describable. Also undeniable. All interactions from the environment seem to be predictable/explainable using math (subject to inherent indeterminacies and computing power): If I let go of a ball, it would drop. If I look at the window I can see what’s behind the glass as they are transparent. If I measure a spin of the election there is a certain probability for the outcome etc.
However, if physics is the mathematics that explains those interactions, then it cannot describe everything in the universe. Most importantly its scope does not include me. But because I believe in reality and that you are real, I can imagine thinking from your perspective too. And it would be the same. Physics can explain the environment’s action upon you but not you. However, now I am in the scope of physics from your perspective. And it doesn’t have to be applied from a human being’s viewpoint, any physical system’s perspective is just as valid.
In this sense, the objectivity of physics does not mean it describes the entire universe with a “view from nowhere”. But rather, those mathematical equations remain useful from a wide range of perspectives. Remember, whoever/whatever at the perspective’s center is not described by physics. (IMO that is the domain of subjective experience and consciousness)
It seems that whether a mathematical universe exists/is real cannot be a mathematical property of that mathematical universe. I agree with this too.
My solution of the “extra ingredient” which determines what is real versus what’s merely mathematical is the first-person perspective. It is not something explainable by math or logic. It is based on subjective experience. There are other things in other mathematical universes that can “think” (using the term liberally). But only this body’s subjective experience and consciousness are felt. So who’s the first person is primitively clear. And by using expressions such as “the others” it is already clear which universe is “the real one”.
This is a hard concept to grasp. But if my understanding is correct, I think you have described a legitimate paradox, especially for physicalism. If everything is physical and nothing beyond, and physics can be explained by math (in terms of values of fundamental constants and various laws), then how come only one particular set of values are physical (“real”), while others are not. There seems to be a missing deciding factor not explained by math or physics.
An obvious way out is of course to say “all mathematical possible universes ARE real. Physics is only trying to determine which particular universe we live in.” Then the problem becomes how to define WE. Again, this to me appears an impossible task for physics. Imagine a complete physical description of dadadarren, it does not seem to cover the fact that he is me, or I am experiencing the world from that physical system’s perspective.
FWIW, I will take a swing at this paradox.
We seem to know that there is a reality that exists. This is undeniable. But how do I know or believe there is a reality out there? Only from the interactions between me and the environment. Those interactions ultimately lead to various subjective experiences directly felt which form my belief in a “real world”.
(Conversely, if I question whether my experiences truly reflect what’s out there, then I question reality. Like brain in a vat or similar skeptical arguments)
It seems to be the case that this reality is perfectly mathematically describable. Also undeniable. All interactions from the environment seem to be predictable/explainable using math (subject to inherent indeterminacies and computing power): If I let go of a ball, it would drop. If I look at the window I can see what’s behind the glass as they are transparent. If I measure a spin of the election there is a certain probability for the outcome etc.
However, if physics is the mathematics that explains those interactions, then it cannot describe everything in the universe. Most importantly its scope does not include me. But because I believe in reality and that you are real, I can imagine thinking from your perspective too. And it would be the same. Physics can explain the environment’s action upon you but not you. However, now I am in the scope of physics from your perspective. And it doesn’t have to be applied from a human being’s viewpoint, any physical system’s perspective is just as valid.
In this sense, the objectivity of physics does not mean it describes the entire universe with a “view from nowhere”. But rather, those mathematical equations remain useful from a wide range of perspectives. Remember, whoever/whatever at the perspective’s center is not described by physics. (IMO that is the domain of subjective experience and consciousness)
It seems that whether a mathematical universe exists/is real cannot be a mathematical property of that mathematical universe. I agree with this too.
My solution of the “extra ingredient” which determines what is real versus what’s merely mathematical is the first-person perspective. It is not something explainable by math or logic. It is based on subjective experience. There are other things in other mathematical universes that can “think” (using the term liberally). But only this body’s subjective experience and consciousness are felt. So who’s the first person is primitively clear. And by using expressions such as “the others” it is already clear which universe is “the real one”.