Causality & Psychics: How Would Physics Change?

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In summary, the conversation discussed the idea of how physics would change if individuals with psychic abilities were real and could accurately predict the future. It was questioned whether this would violate causality and what area of physics would be most affected. However, it was ultimately determined that this topic did not fit within the guidelines of either Philosophy or Skepticism/Debunking.
  • #1
Legion81
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I don't know if this belongs in Philosophy or Skepticism/Debunking...

I seen the section of the paper with the daily horoscopes and got to wondering: How would physics change if one of these Miss Cleo or Edgar Cayce type people were real (capable of consistently and accurately stating what was about to happen)? If someone could see the future through dreams, crystal balls, or whatever, that would violate causality.

What do you think would be the most affected area of physics? Would knowing the future even be possible without major revisions to physics?
 
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  • #2
This thread doesn't fit the Philosophy guidelines and Ivan doesn't want it in S&D either.

Closed.
 
  • #3
Yep, we don't do whatifs in S&D. The only place this would be appropriate would be philosophy. If this is too speculative for philosophy, then there is no place for this one.
 

1. What is the current scientific understanding of causality?

Causality refers to the idea that events in the physical world are related and can be explained by a cause and effect relationship. In science, causality is an important concept that underlies many theories and experiments. The current understanding of causality is based on the principles of classical physics, which state that every effect has a cause and that causes always precede their effects in time.

2. How do psychics challenge the concept of causality?

Psychics claim to possess supernatural abilities that allow them to predict or control events in the physical world. This challenges the concept of causality because it suggests that these abilities allow them to manipulate the cause and effect relationship, potentially causing events to happen without a clear cause. This goes against the principles of classical physics and raises questions about the nature of causality.

3. What role does quantum physics play in understanding causality?

Quantum physics, which studies the behavior of particles at the subatomic level, has challenged our understanding of causality. At this level, particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously and can influence each other without a clear cause and effect relationship. However, at the macroscopic level, these quantum effects are not observed, and classical physics principles still apply. Therefore, while quantum physics may offer new insights into causality, it does not invalidate the current understanding of causality in the macroscopic world.

4. Can the existence of psychics be scientifically proven or disproven?

The existence of psychics and their claimed abilities has not been scientifically proven. While some studies have been conducted to investigate psychic phenomena, the results have not been conclusive and have not been able to provide solid evidence for the existence of psychics. Until there is scientific evidence to support their abilities, the existence of psychics remains a contentious topic in the scientific community.

5. How would the discovery of psychics impact our understanding of the physical world?

If psychics were proven to possess supernatural abilities that allow them to manipulate causality, it would challenge the principles of classical physics and potentially require a new understanding of causality. This could lead to significant changes in our understanding of the physical world and would likely spark further research and debate among scientists.

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