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Single Idea 20976

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 10. Closure of Physics ]

Full Idea

There is no knock down argument for the completeness of physics.

Gist of Idea

The completeness of physics cannot be proved

Source

David Papineau (Thinking about Consciousness [2002], App 7)

Book Ref

Papineau,David: 'Thinking about Consciousness' [OUP 2004], p.256

A Reaction

This is commendably honest, given that he pins his view of the mind on it. He makes the case sound overwhelming, though. The thing which would breach the completeness is like the Loch Ness monster - you can't prove it isn't there, if it hides.

The 4 ideas with the same theme [laws of physics can give a complete account of everything]:

7859 Leibniz had an unusual commitment to the causal completeness of physics [Leibniz, by Papineau]
20974 Modern biological research, especially into the cell, has revealed no special new natural forces [Papineau]
20970 Determinism is possible without a complete physics, if mental forces play a role [Papineau]
20976 The completeness of physics cannot be proved [Papineau]