(Re)interpreting $$E=mc^2$$

Benitez, Federico; Romero-Maltrana, Diego; Razeto‐Barry, Pablo

doi:10.1007/s10701-021-00530-0

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…However, as the universe evolves, D apparently decreases, meaning that the structures that form in the universe will tend to fill less space, or in other words, be more compact to satisfy lower values of D. This means that gravity could be interpreted as the mechanism that aggregates mass to prevent it from spreading out over space, while both biological organisms and emergent behaviors could be ways of compacting matter and preventing it from spreading out over the universe. As mass is intimately related to energy [298], this compaction of matter could also imply that energy is stored in a more compact way, which could explain Chaisson's description that matter stores (compacts) more and more energy as the universe progresses (D decreases). Hence, physical phenomena such as complexity, gravity, or the absence of quantum effects at large scales could be a direct consequence of multiscale thermodynamics.…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Multiscale Principle in Nature (Principium luxuriæ): Linking Multiscale Thermodynamics to Living and Non-Living Complex Systems

Venegas-Aravena,

Cordaro

2024

Fractal Fract

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Why do fractals appear in so many domains of science? What is the physical principle that generates them? While it is true that fractals naturally appear in many physical systems, it has so far been impossible to derive them from first physical principles. However, a proposed interpretation could shed light on the inherent principle behind the creation of fractals. This is the multiscale thermodynamic perspective, which states that an increase in external energy could initiate energy transport mechanisms that facilitate the dissipation or release of excess energy at different scales. Within this framework, it is revealed that power law patterns, and to a lesser extent, fractals, can emerge as a geometric manifestation to dissipate energy in response to external forces. In this context, the exponent of these power law patterns (thermodynamic fractal dimension D) serves as an indicator of the balance between entropy production at small and large scales. Thus, when a system is more efficient at releasing excess energy at the microscopic (macroscopic) level, D tends to increase (decrease). While this principle, known as Principium luxuriæ, may sound promising for describing both multiscale and complex systems, there is still uncertainty about its true applicability. Thus, this work explores different physical, astrophysical, sociological, and biological systems to attempt to describe and interpret them through the lens of the Principium luxuriæ. The analyzed physical systems correspond to emergent behaviors, chaos theory, and turbulence. To a lesser extent, the cosmic evolution of the universe and geomorphology are examined. Biological systems such as the geometry of human organs, aging, human brain development and cognition, moral evolution, Natural Selection, and biological death are also analyzed. It is found that these systems can be reinterpreted and described through the thermodynamic fractal dimension. Therefore, it is proposed that the physical principle that could be behind the creation of fractals is the Principium luxuriæ, which can be defined as “Systems that interact with each other can trigger responses at multiple scales as a manner to dissipate the excess energy that comes from this interaction”. That is why this framework has the potential to uncover new discoveries in various fields. For example, it is suggested that the reduction in D in the universe could generate emergent behavior and the proliferation of complexity in numerous fields or the reinterpretation of Natural Selection.

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Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Multiscale Principle in Nature (Principium luxuriæ): Linking Multiscale Thermodynamics to Living and Non-Living Complex Systems

Venegas-Aravena,

Cordaro

2024

Fractal Fract

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“…The first eigenvalue is associated with mass-squared and the second with helicity or spin. Notice that this is completely independent of the separate issue of quantisation (Benitez et al 2022).…”

Section: Space-time Symmetriesmentioning

confidence: 90%

Barren Worlds

Benitez

2022

Disputatio

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This work explores issues with the eliminativist formulation of ontic structural realism. An ontology that totally eliminates objects is found lacking by arguing, first, that the theoretical frameworks used to support the best arguments against an object-oriented ontology (quantum mechanics, relativity theory, quantum field theory) can be seen in every case as physical models of empty worlds, and therefore do not represent all the information that comes from science, and in particular from fundamental physics, which also includes information about local interactions between objects. Secondly, by giving a critical assessment of the role of symmetries in these fundamental physical theories; and, lastly, by warning about unfounded metaphysical assumptions. An argument is made for a moderate form of structural realism instead, one in which objects play the fundamental role of representing symmetries and bearing their conserved charges, and of participating in the network of interactions observed in the world.

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“…It is again interesting to give a first analysis of these notions in the very well-known case of Newtonian physics (see also Benitez and Maltrana, 2022, for a recent analysis of classical mechanics along similar lines). In fact, Newton himself was clearly aware of the distinction between something very aligned with what Flores calls framework and interaction theories, as is evident from his neat division of the Principia in sections dealing with general unspecified forces, and sections dealing with specific force laws such as gravitation.…”

Section: Framework Theories and Structural Ontologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But mechanistic explanation also works at the level of fundamental physics, pace what some of the new mechanism proponents say (see Glennan, 2017). Examples would be the explanation of asymptotic safety in quantum chromo dynamics, explained by what can undoubtedly be called the mechanism of coupling strength renormalisation, or the explanation for the masses of most fundamental particles via interaction with the Higgs field (Benitez et al, 2022).…”

Section: The Framework/interaction Distinctionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural realism and theory classification

Benitez

2023

Theoria

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Ontic structural realism constitutes a promising take on scientific realism, one that avoids the well‐known issues that realist stances have with underdetermination and theory change. In its most radical versions, ontic structural realism proposes a type of eliminativism about theoretical entities, ascribing ontological commitment only to the structures, and not to the objects appearing in our theories. More moderate versions of ontic structural realism have also been proposed, allowing for ‘thin’ objects in the ontology. This work connects these takes on structural realism with the independent notion that there are two categorically different kinds of scientific theories, namely those that deal with interactions and those that deal with structural constraints – what are known as interaction and framework theories, respectively. By taking this classification seriously, one can arrive at a selective version of ontic structural realism which is better adapted to our scientific knowledge, in which eliminativist ontic structural realism constitutes a natural fit to framework theories, whereas the moderate version is connected to interaction theories.

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(Re)interpreting $$E=mc^2$$

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

The Multiscale Principle in Nature (Principium luxuriæ): Linking Multiscale Thermodynamics to Living and Non-Living Complex Systems

The Multiscale Principle in Nature (Principium luxuriæ): Linking Multiscale Thermodynamics to Living and Non-Living Complex Systems

Barren Worlds

Structural realism and theory classification

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