94 found
Order:
Disambiguations
Paul Merriam [94]P. Merriam [13]
  1. Fragmental Presentism and Quantum Mechanics.Paul Merriam - 2021
    This paper develops a Fragmentalist theory of Presentism and shows how it can help to develop a interpretation of quantum mechanics. There are several fragmental interpretations of physics. In the interpretation of this paper, each quantum system forms a fragment, and fragment f1 makes a measurement on fragment f2 if and only if f2 makes a corresponding measurement on f1. The main idea is then that each fragment has its own present (or ‘now’) until a mutual quantum measurement—at which time (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark   3 citations  
  2. (3 other versions)Concatenated quantum gravity papers 1.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    The first purpose of this series of articles is to introduce case studies on how current AI models can be used in the development of a possible theory of quantum gravity, their limitations, and the role the researcher has in steering the development in the right direction, even highlighting the errors, weaknesses and strengths of the whole process. The second is to introduce the new Presentist Fragmentalist ontology as a framework and use it for developing theories of quantum gravity and (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  3. Big Bang, Actual State of Our Universe, Fine-Tuning, Anthropic Principle.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    We can ask, (1) given the state of the universe at the big bang, what is the probability that the universe would have ended up in its current actual state? What is the probability distribution for the possible states the universe could have evolved into? We can ask, (2) given the current actual state of the universe, what is the probability the big bang would have been in the state it was? What is the probability distribution over different possible states (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  4. A new theory of time 2 29 2020.Paul Merriam & Jeremy Horne - manuscript
    We motivate and develop a new theory of time and apply it to a few thought experiments in physics.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  5. Why There is Something Rather than Nothing.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This paper gives a radical answer to why there is something rather than nothing based on the Calculus of Qualia and its non-referential terms. The answer turns out to be: because what exists exists necessarily because of its nature. To sum up and oversimplify the extensive argument in two sentences, skipping many steps: 1. By the question “why is there something rather than nothing” we actually mean to be asking “why is there something rather than the weakest assumption?” 2. The (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  6. Consciousness thought experiments with Non-Referential Terms.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This note (it is not a full-fledged academic paper) introduces a novel approach to classic thought experiments in consciousness studies through the incorporation of non-referential terms—symbols that present experiences directly rather than referring to them. By analyzing the Hard Problem, Knowledge Argument, Philosophical Zombies, and Spectrum Inversion thought experiments using both referential terms (like "blackness") and non-referential terms (like █), the paper reveals that many apparent philosophical puzzles arise from conflating referential descriptions with direct presentational experiences. The analysis shows that (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  7. Concatenated Quantum Gravity papers 5 8292024.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    There are extensive discussions of the 5D AdS metric that arises naturally from a metric that accounts for the A-series, the B-series, and x^a; black holes, including their information, entropy, temperature, energy, and energy density; the Big Bang; the finitude of singularities here; inflation; AdS/CFT and dS; symmetry groups of this theory of gravity not including and including those of the standard model, with evaluations of how integrated and how plausible they are; how the theory of quantum gravity here gives (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  8. The Theory of Everything consistent with the PF interpretation of quantum mechanics.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This paper give the first foray into the development of a Theory of Everything that is consistent with the PF interpretation of quantum mechanics.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  9.  84
    Lunch-to-Dinner in Quantum Mechanics and Relativity.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    Dinner today is 6 hours later than lunch. Also they are in our future and then (consecutively) in our present and then (consecutively) in our past. How do both quantum mechanics and relativity account for this?
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  10.  81
    Lunch-to-Dinner in Quantum Mechanics and Relativity.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    Dinner today is 6 hours after lunch today. Also, these are in our future, then in our present (consecutively), and then in our past (consecutively). How do both quantum mechanics and relativity account for these?
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  11.  78
    The word "green" is written in black and non-referential terms.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    The word "green" refers to the color green, which could more precisely refer to the wavelength of green photons, green paint, green light, or green qualia. But in this 12-page paper, as in this abstract, it is written in black. Thus its referential meaning(s) is different than its non-referential or presentational meaning, which is the actual quale of blackness arising in the actual reader's mind. Philosophy has discussed--but never employed--non-referential terms before. That is like discussing swimming but never employing a (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  12.  77
    A-Theory, Gedankenexperiments, and Quantum Gravity.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This paper proposes a novel theoretical framework for reconciling quantum mechanics with relativity that leads to a theory of quantum gravity by examining the fundamental nature of time. In the first section we argue that it is possible to perform an experiment for oneself in which, with enough ‘internal technology’ it is possible to distinguish between one’s experience of time on the one hand, and one’s thoughts about one’s experience of time on the other hand. The former gives McTaggart's A-series (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  13.  76
    Lunch-to-Dinner in Quantum Mechanics and Relativity.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    Dinner tonight may be 6 hours later than lunch today. Also, lunch and dinner go from being in our future to being in our present (consecutively) and then our past (consecutively). How do quantum mechanics and relativity account for this?
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  14.  72
    Gedankenexperiments reconciling quantum mechanics, relativity, and our experience of time.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    In this short informal note we consider four Gedankenexperiments that show A-theories of time are compelling and can be leveraged to give a Presentist Fragmentalist realist interpretation of quantum mechanics. Each of these four involve roles for manifest time, relativistic time, and quantum mechanical time. The point is to give simple everyday situations where a new point of view leads to the consistency of all three. This is the MO of the early Einstein. Einstein's Train is one of the Gedankenexperiments (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  15.  79
    Introduction to non-referential terms and the Calculus of Qualia.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This paper introduces non-referential terms into language as used in the Calculus of Qualia (CQ). It is possible to write “blackness” to refer to the experience of the subjective, internal quale of blackness. It is possible to write █ as another word for “blackness,” another referential term. But that is not its meaning in CQ. In CQ the word “blackness” is used as usual, as a symbol that refers to something other than itself. But █ is the immediate subjective experience (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  16. Calculus of Qualia 6: Materialism, Dualism, Idealism, and 14 others.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    General Introduction: In [1] a Calculus of Qualia (CQ) was proposed. The key idea is that, for example, blackness is radically different than █. The former term, “blackness” refers to or is about a quale, whereas the latter term, “█” instantiates a quale in the reader’s mind and is non-referential; it does not even refer to itself. The meaning and behavior of these terms is radically different. All of philosophy, from Plato through Descartes through Chalmers, including hieroglyphics and emojis, used (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  17. Hilbert Space dimensions 3, 4, 5.Paul Merriam, Daniel Huber & Bob Hanlon - forthcoming - Foundations of Physics:6.
    This is a pdf of a Mathematica calculation that supplements the paper "Presentist Fragmentalism and Quantum Mechanics" forthcoming in Foundations of Physics. In that paper the Born rule (or at least a progenitor) is derived from experimental conditions on the mutual observations of two fragments. In this pdf the experimental conditions are applied to Hilbert space dimensions 3, 4, and 5. It turns out each of these have a 1-dimensional solution space which, it is hoped, can be interpretated as the (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark   1 citation  
  18. More on the PF theory of Quantum Gravity FCQG and its Theory of Everything FCQG-SM.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    "This self-consistent evolution of the fragments, their causal relationships, and their quantum properties is at the heart of the FCQG-SM framework, providing a unified description of quantum mechanics, general relativity, and the Standard Model.".
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  19.  55
    (1 other version)8 Gedankenexperiments for Presentist Fragmentalism.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    Einstein's relativity emerged from his resolution of three key thought experiments. We show that Presentist Fragmentalism can systematically resolve eight fundamental paradoxes, including Einstein's classic train scenario and Schrodinger’s Cat.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  20. Calculus of Qualia 4: Why Something Rather than Nothing; Rather than Weakest Assumptions; Contingent Possibility vs Necessary Actuality; Possibilities of Possibilities.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    General Introduction: In [1] a Calculus of Qualia (CQ) was proposed. The key idea is that, for example, blackness is radically different than █. The former term, “blackness” refers to or is about a quale, whereas the latter term, “█” instantiates a quale in the reader’s mind and is non-referential; it does not even refer to itself. The meaning and behavior of these terms is radically different. All of philosophy, from Plato through Descartes through Chalmers, including hieroglyphics and emojis, used (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  21.  54
    An A-theory Falsifiable Prediction and A-theory Clocks.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This paper presents a falsifiable prediction based on A-theories of time, which require both an A-series (future/present/past) and B-series (earlier/simultaneous/later) of time. We make an unusual argument based on the temporal search parameters of YouTube videos, which requires *two* parameters. We make the falsifiable prediction that no interface with just *one* parameter can be made that has the same functionality (as would be asserted in B-theories). This circumstance applies to many areas of human endeavor. We extend this analysis to clocks, (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  22. What's Wrong with Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    What's wrong with Copenhagen, GRW, Superdeterminism, QBism, Many-worlds, Bohmianism, and Retrocausality, and how theses differ from Presentist Fragmentalism.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  23. (1 other version)The Presentist Fragmentalist Theory of Quantum Gravity: FCQG.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    Two philosophical arguments gave the novel interpretation of quantum mechanics Presentist Fragmentalism. This paper gives the resulting theory of quantum gravity.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  24.  95
    Observations around Quantum Mechanics 812024.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    Big Bang and the actual state of the universe; not information; entropic time is wrong; not discrete computation; 1-d topologies; QBism reconsidered; not Boltzmann brains; A-theories; the Big Bang and A-theories; not Boltzmann brains again.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  25. Merriam-Habeeb-Claude Theory of Quantum Gravity.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This is the first in a series of papers developing a theory of quantum gravity that is consistent with the PF interpretation of quantum mechanics. "Key Features: Reconciles quantum theory, general relativity, and the PF interpretation in a common framework...".
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  26.  43
    Presentist Fragmentalism 1: Empirical Discovery, Falsifiable Prediction, Clocks.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This note effectively presents several arguments for the soundness of A-theories, and that their two series are required for a complete description of time in physics. -/- The paper makes several key contributions: First, it establishes an empirical basis for distinguishing A-series and B-series time through direct experience and observation. Second, it presents an important check on this result in giving five mini-arguments that A-theories should indeed be right. Third, it gives a novel kind of argument leading to falsifiable predictions. (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  27. Einstein's Train in Fragmentalist Presentism.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    It is often thought the relativity of simultaneity is inconsistent with presentism. This would be troubling as it conflicts with common sense and—arguably—the empirical data. This note gives a novel fragmentalist-presentist theory that allows for the (non-trivial) relativity of simultaneity. A detailed account of the canonical moving train argument is considered. Alice, standing at the train station, forms her own ontological fragment, in which Bob’s frame of reference, given by the moving train, is modified by the Lorentz transformations. On the (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark   1 citation  
  28. If the Sun Suddenly Went Out in the Presentist Fragmentalist Interpretation of QM.Paul Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    If the sun were to suddenly go out we wouldn't know it for 8 minutes. But if Alice is sitting in the middle of the sun and measures one of a pair of entangled particles and we measure the other one, what direction she measures her particle in has instantaneous effects on the one we measure. This is resolved in the Presentist Fragmentalist interpretation of QM.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  29. Yet More on the PF theory of QG and its TOE 3 29 2024.P. Merriam & M. A. Z. Habeeb - manuscript
    This paper continues and extensive exploration of the QG and TOE resulting from the PF interpretation of QM. Some highlights are an exploration of symmetries of the Standard Model, outlines of testable predictions of implications for QG, that this theory can simultaneously give an account of dark matter and dark energy, probabilities and statevector collapse vs. gravity, applications of the causal interaction tensor Cαβγδ(Fi, Fj). Note the first section mentions qualia but this is not a psychological theory this is an (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  30. Perspectival QM and Presentism: a New Paradigm.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    We motivate and develop a perspectival A-theory of time (future/present/past) and probe its implied interpretation of quantum mechanics. It will emerge that, as a first take, the time of relativity is a B-series (earlier-times to later-times) and the time of quantum mechanics is an A-series. There is philosophical motivation for the idea that mutual quantum measurement happens when and only when the systems’ A-series become one mutual A-series, as in the way qualia work in the Inverted Spectrum. This seems to (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark   1 citation  
  31. McTaggart saves Schrodinger's Cat?Paul Merriam - manuscript
    This paper proposes an interpretation of time that is an 'A-theory' in that it incorporates both McTaggart's A-series and his B-series. The A-series characteristics are supposed to be 'ontologically private' analogous to qualia in the Inverted Spectrum thought experiment and is given a definition. The main idea is that the experimenter and the cat do not share the same A-series characteristics. So there is no single time at which the cat gets ascribed different states. It is proposed one may define (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  32. (1 other version)Knowledge Arguments for Time 12 23 2022.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    Jackson (1982) introduced the Knowledge Argument to elucidate the phenomenal, interior aspects of experience. In 1908 McTaggart defined two series that characterize one dimension of time, the A-series and the B-series. The A-series is usually thought to be phenomenal Farr (2019), SEP (2018). Thus there is the possibility of giving a Knowledge Argument for time. One (informal) statement of the classical Knowledge Argument might be “Mary knows all the facts about color qualia but lives in a black-and-white room. Upon being (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  33. (1 other version)Six Applications of the Calculus of Qualia 1 30 2023.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    Application 1. The case against Materialism and Illusionism Application 2. Ineffability Application 3. Hard Problems Application 4. Knowledge Argument questions Application 5. Argument for A-theories of time Application 6. Possible qualia are necessary.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  34. Mechanism for Awareness after Death 12 23 2022.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    The only processes that could correlate to awareness thatgo on after brain-death are quantum processes. These processes contain information. But in quantum mechanics information is never lost. Therefore this information goes on after death and the awareness will still be correlated to it. Therefore awareness goes on after death.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  35. McTaggart’s Time, the Schrodinger equation, Minkowski space, and Qualia 3 30 2023.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    1. Schrodinger Equation, fragmentalism, total time T, Euclidean space 2. Does the A-series have the properties of qualia?
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  36. Observations 1 30 2023.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    Reference in light of Qualia Calculus (QC); Hard Problems in light of QC; The number of qualia in a room in light of QC; verification of 1st-person phenomena; more advanced neurology; 3rd-person and 1st-person aspects of a system; their symmetries; Well-tempered Clavier; the past is not determined; argument for A-theories in light of QC; frames of reference; Standard Model; String Theory; Bach; time; causality; Schrodinger equation; technology; earth; thick present; Zen; the river; free will; materialists in light of QC.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  37. How to Include Qualia in Science.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    How can we expand science to include what-it’s-like information like qualia? This paper gives the beginning of one possible way forward. It is possible to include qualia in communications as their own terms.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  38. On the Big Bang, Qualia, Einstein’s Train, Temporal Flow Rates, Existence, Free Will, Hard Problems, etc.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    On Einstein's Train and the Big Bang in Fragmental Presentism, Temporal Flow Rates, Existence, Free Will, Qualia, Hard Problems, etc.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  39. An Argument for Temporal A-theories Based on the Calculus of Qualia 12 23 2022.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    We give an argument for temporal A-theories based on the calculus of qualia.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  40. A Calculus of Qualia 9 30 2022.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    The idea of this paper is to put actual qualia into equations (broadly understood) to get what might be called qualations. Qualations arguably have different meanings and truth behaviors than the analogous equations. For example, the term ‘ black ’ arguably has a different meaning and behavior than the term ‘ █ ’. This is a step in the direction of a ‘calculus of qualia’ and of expanding science to include 1st-person phenomena.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  41. Equations vs. Qualations.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    A *qualation* does not contain merely references to qualia, but contains actual qualia. There are many differences to equations. Qualations are irreducibly 1st-person and are required for the statement of a hard problem.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  42. 9 Temporal Knowledge Arguments and a Note on Presentism 2 17 2022.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    This note gives 9 Temporal Knowledge Arguments and, also, makes a few observations about presentism.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  43. 26 More Observations.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    Observations on why is there something rather than nothing, fine tuning, beauty, time, intelligent design, qualia, Zen, Bach, Jesus, poetry, consciousness.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  44. Do Qualia Exist Necessarily? v. 2.0.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    Why is there something rather than nothing? I don’t know. But ‘nothing’ may not be the correct default state. It may be that the existence of possibilities requires fewer (weaker) assumptions. In this case, arguably, we should start with the existence of possibilities and not ‘nothing’. In this case, there exists the possibility of (for example) red qualia. But the possible existence of a red quale does not delineate what it is the possibility of if the possibility contains only a (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  45. (4 other versions)Calculus of Qualia: Introduction to Qualations 7 2 2022.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    The basic idea is to put qualia into equations (broadly understood) to get what might as well be called qualations. Qualations arguably have different truth behaviors than the analogous equations. Thus ‘black’ has a different behavior than ‘ █ ’. This is a step in the direction of a ‘calculus of qualia’. It might help clarify some issues.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  46. Correction to “A Theory of the Big Bang in McTaggart’s Time”.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    The line that reads “But this leaves open the question of why the Big Bang did not happen a billion years before now, such that we are also a billion years before now.5” should instead read “But this leaves open the question of why the Big Bang did not happen a billion years before it did, such that we are also a billion years before now.5” -/- Merriam, P. A Theory of the Big Bang in McTaggart’s Time. Axiomathes 32 (Suppl (...)
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  47. Three Arguments from Science *for* Free Will.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    I give three brief scientifically informed arguments that free will is causally efficacious over-and-above the efficaciousness of its physical substrate. (This is a second attempt at putting it up on PhilPapers--there seems to have been some problem with downloading the previous version.).
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  48. On the Solutions to the Hard Problems.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    There is a profound difference between asking a 'hard problem' and asking a 'hard problem' that has qualia in the question. There are plausible answers to the former that are nevertheless clearly not answers to the latter. I give a method by which hard problems will be able to be solved, if possible. I speculate on the (possible) causal efficaciousness of consciousness in evolution and in quantum mechanics.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  49. A Curiosity about Newtonian Gravity v. 2.0.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    We give a very curious curiosity about Newtonian Gravity.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
  50. A Mechanism for Life after Death.Paul Merriam - manuscript
    A mechanism for life after death is given.
    Download  
     
    Export citation  
     
    Bookmark  
1 — 50 / 94