A Basic Theory of Everything

Front matter

DE GRUYTER

Atle Ottesen Søvik

A BASIC THEORY OF EVERYTHING

Part One: The Theoretical Framework 3.10 3.11 3.12

3.13

Introduction — 3 Intended readers and goal of the book — 6 Outline of the book — 8

Methodological Topics — 28 Understanding — 29 Mind and world — 30 Truth — 34 Coherence as a criterion of truth — 37 Excursus: Basic semantic entities — 40 Excursus: More on mind, world and language — 51

Fundamental Ontological Entities — 61 Background: Fields in physics — 63 Fields (with points) — 66 Values — 69 “Actualized” (actualization) — 71 “Can” (modality) — 71 Rules and their actualizers — 76 Could fields, points, values, rules and actualization not exist? — 81 Should the basic ontological entities be simple or complex? — 84 What fundamental ontological entities give as few loose ends as possible? —— 86 Existence — 91 Excursus: Nothing — 97 Excursus: On analytic/synthetic and a priori/a posteriori statements — 99 Excursus: Comparing the ontology of this book with important alternatives —— 101

Vill

— Contents

Part Two: The Mind 4 4.1 4.2

What kind of entities are causes and effects? — 114 How many relata are there in the causal relation? — 114 How are causes and effects connected? — 115

Mind — 128

Biological background —— 129

Does the brain cause conscious experiences? — 131 Non-conscious mind —— 135

Emotion — 139

Memory —— 142

A causal theory of thinking —— 162 Objections to a causal understanding of thinking — 169

The concept of consciousness — 181

Theories and problems of consciousness — 183 On the causal role of qualia — 194

Introduction to the problem of free will - main positions and problems — 224

Determinism and indeterminism —— 232

Causation and choices — 235

Developing an independent autobiographical self — 236 Responsibility — 242

The problem of luck — 247

Contents ——

Part Three: The World 9.3 What is “time”, “simultaneity”, “now”, “past” and “future”? — 286

9.5 What makes statements about the past true? — 296

9.6 How long does “now” last? — 297

9.7 Why does time move forwards? — 298

9.8 What kinds of time travel are possible? — 300

9.9 How does time relate to mind? — 301

9.10 Can there be time without motion? — 304

9.11 Is there a beginning and an end to time? — 305

10 Mathematical Truths — 308 10.1 A proposal for a theory of mathematics — 308 10.2 Linnebo on the philosophy of mathematics —— 319

11.1 Theories of probability — 327 11.2 Ontological future probability — 334 11.3 Objective epistemic probability about the past — 341

12.1 Meter (m), second (s), speed (m/s), and acceleration (m/s) — 354 12.2 Mass (m), and momentum (p = mv) — 355 12.3 Work (W = Fd), Force (F = ma), and Energy (E = */mv) in Newtonian physics — 356 12.4 Energy and mass (E = mc) in the physics of relativity — 358 12.5 Comparison between Newton and Einstein — 362 12.6 Momenergy, and creation and annihilation of particles — 364 12.7 What are the fundamental physical values? — 369

13 Understanding Quantum Mechanics —— 373 13.1 Problems for a theory of quantum mechanics to solve — 373

X — Contents

13.2 How to solve the problems of quantum mechanics: Bohmian mechanics —— 378

13.3 Problems with Bohmian mechanics — and how to fix them — 382

13.5 Excursus: Why are the scientifically formulated laws of nature as they are? — 390

Part Four: The Future 14.1 Introduction to metaethics — 397

14.3 Objections and test cases —— 418

15 Implications for the Future: Excursuses on the Meaning of Life, Al, and Politics for the Future — 450

15.1 Excursus on the meaning of life — 450

15.2 Excursus on Al: Artificial intelligence and the possibility of

superintelligence — 454 15.3 Excursus on politics for the future of the world: The best way to the best world — 461 16 Epilog: Why Is There Anything at All? — 481 List of References — 485 Index of Names —— 502

Index of Subjects — 504

List of Abbreviations

Al Artificial intelligence

BWBW Best way to the best world

cV Curriculum vitae

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid

EEA European Economic Area

EPR paradox Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox GPS Global Positioning System

GR General theory of relativity

IIT Integrated information theory

PSC Physical substrates of consciousness RNA Ribonucleic acid

SFA Self-forming action

SI Système international d’unités

SR Special theory of relativity

UN United Nations

UNSDSN United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network WMAP Wilkinson Microwave Anistropy Probe WWII World War II

ZFC Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with the Axiom of Choice

3 OpenAccess. © 2022 Atle Ottesen Søvik, published by De Gruyter. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110770957-002