What exactly is Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory?

In summary, Weizsacker's ur-alternatives theory is a more developed take on the role of information in physics and QM. It builds up infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces from 2-dimensional ones (qubits), but fails to derive or explain the Lie algebra representations needed to equip the latter with the right physical structure.
  • #1
Suekdccia
233
23
What is exactly Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory? How is it related to digital physics theories? Is it related to pancomputationalism? Does it defend that a universe can be described as being fundamentally made of qubits? Would this mean that that universe would be fundamentally made by information? Would this mean that, in this theory, a universe could be itself like a quantum computer?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Friedrich_von_Weizsäcker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_physics
 
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  • #2
Suekdccia said:
Would this mean that that universe would be fundamentally made by information?
Yes, this was his basic philosophical idea. But it is not a viable theory.

You can indirectly infer this from the fact that it appeared only in three philosophically oriented books [25-27] in the Wikipedia article, and nobody else worked on it.

He builds up infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces from 2-dimensional ones (qubits), but fails to derive or explain the Lie algebra representations needed to equip the latter with the right physical structure.
 
  • #3
A. Neumaier said:
but fails to derive or explain the Lie algebra representations needed to equip the latter with the right physical structure.

What does that mean? Is it inconsistent then?

What about Wheeler's "it from bit" theory?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_physics
 
  • #4
Suekdccia said:
Is it inconsistent then?

(Mathematically inconsistent)
 
  • #5
A. Neumaier said:
Yes, this was his basic philosophical idea. But it is not a viable theory.

And if universe would be made of information, would that mean that the universe would be some kind of computer quantum itself like pancomputationalism says?
 
  • #6
Suekdccia said:
What is exactly Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory? How is it related to digital physics theories? Is it related to pancomputationalism? Does it defend that a universe can be described as being fundamentally made of qubits? Would this mean that that universe would be fundamentally made by information? Would this mean that, in this theory, a universe could be itself like a quantum computer?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Friedrich_von_Weizsäcker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_physics

Its the first and more developed take on the role of information in physics and QM. Instead of making a sloppy use of words to sound novel (like many do sadly, for example with "information"), Von Weizsacker really analyzed the meaning of the involved concepts. He arrived at results like the approximate numbers of Urs (qubits) in the Universe and in a simple particle, these numbers are appearing independently now in the research of modern theorists, 60 years later, people working on entropy, cosmology, the holographic principle, etc (Seth Lloyd as an example).

I won't judge a theory based on the popularity, trends govern all human affairs, physics included. He was talking about qubits decades before all the supposedly avant-garde researchers of today.

Instead of postulating that space has 23 or whatever dimensions he searched for an explanation of the 3 dimensionality of our empirical experience. Many naively accuse people like him of philosophizing but what he was really doing was making clear the nonsensical use of words and what is and what is not physics, the common trends of today (multiverse, strings, etc) are a clear example of the "mathematical metaphysics" that he was against.

Yes, his program isn't complete and work must be done, but that's the meaning of a "program". The same can be said of a lot of modern research groups. I reccomennd the latest papers of Thomas Görnitz who is working on Ur theory.
 
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  • #7
JMJV said:
I reccomennd the latest papers of Thomas Görnitz who is working on Ur theory.
If you recommend something you'd give a reference for it.
 
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1. What is Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory?

Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory, also known as the "Theory of Elementary Ur-Alternatives", is a scientific theory proposed by German physicist Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker. It suggests that the universe is made up of a finite number of elementary particles, which he called ur-alternatives, that are constantly interacting and transforming into one another.

2. How does Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory explain the formation of matter?

In this theory, the elementary particles, or ur-alternatives, are constantly interacting and forming new combinations, which eventually lead to the formation of matter. This process is known as "elementary synthesis" and is the basis for the formation of all matter in the universe.

3. Is Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory widely accepted in the scientific community?

No, Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory is not widely accepted in the scientific community. While it has sparked some interest and discussion, it has not been extensively studied or supported by experimental evidence. Many scientists find it too speculative and prefer more established theories, such as the standard model of particle physics.

4. Can Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory be tested or proven?

Currently, there is no way to directly test or prove Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory. It is a theoretical framework that has not been backed up by experimental evidence. However, there have been attempts to create mathematical models and simulations based on this theory to explore its implications and predictions.

5. How does Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory relate to other theories in physics?

Weizsäcker's ur-alternatives theory is often compared to other theories in physics, such as quantum mechanics and relativity. While it shares some similarities with these theories, it also proposes some unique ideas, such as the concept of elementary synthesis. However, it has not yet been integrated into the broader scope of physics and is still considered a fringe theory by many scientists.

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