IPI lecture - Dr. Emily Adlam, Chapman University, USA

Our next IPI Lecture will be on Saturday, 24th of February at 16.00 London time. 

Title: Are Entropy Bounds Epistemic?

Abstract: Entropy bounds have played an important role in the development of holography as an approach to quantum gravity. In this talk I will introduce the strong and covariant entropy bounds, and then discuss how the covariant bound should be interpreted. I will argue that there is a possible way of thinking about the covariant entropy bound which would suggest that it encodes an epistemic limitation rather than an objective count of the true number of degrees of freedom on a light-sheet; thus I will distinguish between ontological and epistemic interpretations of the covariant bound. I will consider the consequences that these interpretations might have for physics and discuss what each approach has to say about gravitational phenomena. My aim is not to advocate for either the ontological or epistemic approach in particular, but rather to articulate both possibilities clearly and explore some arguments for and against them.

Speaker: Dr. Emily Adlam

BIO: Emily is a philosopher of physics focusing on the foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum clocks and the philosophy of time, particularly approaches to physics which go beyond the time evolution paradigm – encompassing a range of possibilities like temporal non-locality, retrocausality, and all-at-once laws. She is also interested in pursuing the consequences of these possibilities for philosophical topics like laws and determinism.

Emily did her PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Cambridge. Prior to that she completed the Perimeter Scholar’s International programme in theoretical physics, and she did her undergraduate degree in physics and philosophy at the University of Oxford. Emily was a postdoctoral associate at the University of Western Ontario before moving to Chapman University. She is also associated with Rotman Institute of Philosophy, Western University. 

IPI members will receive an email with the link to join the event. If you wish to attend this IPI Talk, please email: information.physics.institute@gmail.com 

Why ideologies are harmful and unachievable

Every ideology is potentially harmful to life and existence, because it would not ever have (allow) enough energy (information) to be used, thus would thrive only in uncertainty (entropy) thru force. Ideologies, necessarily, are never achievable because the laws of physics prohibit them. 1st law of thermodynamics; energy can’t be created nor destroyed, energy is conserved, entails that ulteriorly motivated goals consume the energy which would be needed to achieve and sustain goals that do not have sufficient information. This is the Information Deficit Paradox. Such actions can’t create energy which then has to be captured from other energy sources.  The energy dissipated by enforcing ideological goals has to be compensated by the dissipating energy from other sources such as harm caused expressed in collateral damage. Externalities are a form of wasted or dissipated energy and can be quantified in monetary or emotional value. Nature does not waste energy nor information. Negative interdependence  (I can win, because you can't) is therefore always a consequence, because the necessitated human action of enforcement to ‘produce’ energy is not condoned by nature without energy dissipation. It would break the 1st law. Those who insist on the implementation of an ideology, always, as history demonstrates, first attempt to censor information and subsequently turn to oppression and violence, believing that such action controls nonlinear complex adaptive systems (society). If this logical deliberation is correct; oppression and violent action consume energy by the needed human activity of suppressing the information about collateral damage. It accelerates social entropy according the 2nd law of thermodynamics. A false perception which is a misconception which led and still leads to the global risks listed by the World Economic Forum. A low level of consciousness (L.o.c.) (Hawkins, 2014) produces an outdated, mechanistic perception and world-view which through this research, can be understood as a threat to human and non human life, social cohesion and the environment. It is a form of negative interdependence, also described as modernity, imposed by a self-appointing elite, who don’t realise that energy is equivalent to information and can’t be destroyed nor escaped from.

Chat GPT by Ton De Graaf: Summary ; Certainly! Let's break down the key points for a 12-year-old:

1. *Ideologies and Energy*:

   - Ideologies are like big ideas or beliefs that people follow.

   - Imagine them as energy sources. Some ideologies need a lot of energy to exist.

   - But here's the catch: they don't always have enough energy (information) to work properly.

2. *Laws of Physics*:

   - The first law of thermodynamics says energy can't be created or destroyed—it just changes form.

   - Ideologies need energy to achieve their goals, but they can't magically create it.

   - They have to take energy from other sources, like causing harm (collateral damage).

3. *Nature Doesn't Waste Energy*:

   - Nature is efficient. It doesn't waste energy or information.

   - When people enforce ideologies, they use energy (like suppressing information).

   - But this energy has to come from somewhere else, and that can cause problems.

4. *Oppression and Violence*:

   - People who push ideologies often censor information and use force.

   - But this takes energy, and it can harm society (social entropy).

   - It's like trying to control a complex system with a flawed idea.

5. *Conclusion*:

   - Some old ways of thinking (low consciousness) can be harmful.

   - We need to be smarter about how we use energy and information.

   - Let's aim for better ideas that don't hurt people or the world.

Remember, it's okay to question things and seek better solutions! 🌟

[11:07, 14-02-2024] Ton De Graaf: Low consciousness => better wording; less awareness in consciousness field of potential energy.

[11:07, 14-02-2024] Ton De Graaf: Consciousness is. Awareness is in a level available per human.