“The New Physics” is an extract from The Turning Point where Capra surveys the field of modern physics and writes about new ways of understanding the physical universe. In the essay The New Physics, Fritjof Capra argues for a holistic approach to understanding the universe, and states his beliefs that nothing exists in complete isolation and everything exists in relationships.
Summary of the essay The New Physics
Current
research in physics aims at unifying quantum theory and relativity theory into
a complete theory of subatomic matter. Quantum Theory advanced steadily through
the early 20th century and so did Einstein's discontent with it. The theory
predicts how discrete packets of energy, called quanta, will behave based on
statistical probabilities instead of direct observations. Einstein liked some
aspects of Quantum Theory, but he never accepted its statistical basis as a
means to completely describe the physical world. He thought this new branch of
physics did not embrace the harmonious way in which God created the universe.
“Quantum mechanics is very worthy of regard.
Physics is
the branch of natural science that deals with the studies of matter, behavior,
space, time, and energy. It enables the advancement of new scientific
technologies. Before the discovery of modern physics, only classical mechanics
is used to solve problems related to physical phenomena. As it has lots of
inadequacies, people are in search of quantum theory.
To
understand general relativity, first, let's start with gravity, the force of
attraction that two objects exert on one another. Isaac Newton quantified
gravity in the same text in which he formulated his three laws of motion in the
field of the equation of motion. After one decade Einstein proposed the general
theory of relativity including gravity which modified the concept of space and
time.
Frequently asked questions [The New Physics]
1. Capra asserts that "Einstein strongly believed in nature's
inherent harmony, and throughout his scientific life his deepest concern was to
find a unified foundation of physics" (2). What does it mean to have an
"inherent harmony"? Is Capra using language to slant an argument
towards a specific philosophical viewpoint?
Ans:
Einstein strongly believed in nature's inherent harmony throughout his scientific
life. His deepest concern was to find a unified foundation of physics. He began
to move toward this goal by constructing a common framework for electrodynamics
and mechanics, the two separate theories of classical physics. I think that
Capra is using language to slant an argument towards a specific philosophical
viewpoint.
2. According to Capra, what are the two major developments of
physics in the twentieth century? How did they influence the philosophical
foundations of physics?
Ans: The two
basic theories of twentieth-century physics were: a) quantum theory and b)
relativity theory. Both theories transcended the principal aspects of the
Cartesian worldview and Newtonian physics. Quantum theory showed that subatomic
particles are not isolated grains of matter but are probability patterns,
interconnections in an inseparable cosmic web that includes the human observer
and his or her consciousness. Relativity theory revealed the intrinsically
dynamic character of this cosmic web by showing that its activity is the very
essence of its being.
3. Capra notes that "physicists faced, for the first time, a
serious challenge to their ability to understand the universe"(4). How is
this challenge different from those of earlier scientists? What might this
challenge suggest about future kinds of research?
Ans: In the
twentieth century, physicists faced, for the first time, a serious challenge to
their ability to understand the universe. Every time they asked nature a
question in an atomic experiment, nature answered with a paradox, and the more
they tried to clarify the situation, the sharper the paradoxes became. In their
struggle to grasp this new reality, scientists became painfully aware that
their basic concepts, their language, and their whole way of thinking were
inadequate to describe atomic phenomena. Their problem was not only
intellectual but involved an intense emotional and existential experience.
4. How does Capra in paragraph eight move the reader from the
historical discussion to the philosophical discussion?
Ans: In
paragraph eight, Capra moves the reader from the historical discussion to the
philosophical discussion as he talks about the nature of reality. Scientists
are deeply interested in the philosophical implications of modern physics and
are trying in an open-minded way to improve their understanding of the nature
of reality.
5. In paragraph nine, Capra notes that the new vision of the
universe can be described as "organic, holistic, and ecological."
What are the current connotations of these words?
Ans: Capra
notes that the new vision of the universe can be described as "organic,
holistic, and ecological that suggest to us that every matter of universe has
chain-like relation and they are interrelated.
6. What is the rhetorical purpose of the final paragraph? How would
you describe Capra's stance in the paragraph? Is he confident that scientists
would not hesitate to bring physics and mysticism together?
Ans: Rhetoric purpose of the final paragraph
is to expose the value of eastern thought, philosophy, and meditation. He shows
the importance of meditation which should be taken seriously by the scientific
community. I think that he wants scientists not to hesitate to bring physics
and mysticism together.
7. Discuss how you would react to the view of bringing together
science and mysticism.
Ans: Both
science and mysticism aim to reveal the nature of reality or truth, however,
this is where their similarity ends. Science tries to do this by observing the
external world, say, the empirical method. On the other hand, mysticism looks
inside to tell us the reality of the world inside. Science does not believe in
anything that cannot be proved by observable physical evidence, tested
empirically, and have explanations related to laws of nature. Mysticism talks
of extrasensory perception which is beyond the physical world.
In recent
times advances in sciences have changed our paradigm of understanding the world
especially advances in quantum physics. Mysticism says the same thing as my
intuition and spiritual experience. Both are in pursuit of truth and exploring
the true nature of the universe. The differentiation created by human thought
of the universe seems to merge at a certain point where our civilization is
heading. Science and mysticism are all compatible as they evolved
differentially from the experience of humans and merge with the same faculty.
Ultimately knowledge is just an agency for enriching human life which
encompasses both science and mysticism.
8. An eminent physicist Sir James Jeans has written that "the
universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great
machine." Would Capra subscribe to this view? Would you agree with this
notion of the universe? Tyro generates a list of comparisons between the universe,
a machine, and thought, and then discusses the universe as a machine or the
universe as a thought.
Ans: Yes, I
agree with Sir James Jean's ideas. The apparent similarities between the
structure of matter and the structure of mind should not surprise us too much,
since human consciousness plays a crucial role in the process of observation,
and atomic physics determines to a large extent the properties of the observed
phenomena. This is another important insight of quantum theory that is likely
to have far-reaching consequences. In atomic physics, the observed phenomena
can be understood only as correlations measurement, and between various
processes of observation, the end of this chain of processes lies always in the
consciousness of the human observer.