Biology and the new physics : a plea for a consistent philosophy of life / by C.J. Bond.

  • Bond, C. J. (Charles John), 1856-1939.
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Biology and the new physics : a plea for a consistent philosophy of life / by C.J. Bond. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Moreover, as Sir J. Jeans has pointed out, neither the particle picture nor the wave picture of the ultimate constituents of matter help us in solving the problem of the existence of Deter- minacy or Indeterminacy as factors in cosmic events. For while the apparent indeterminacy in the particle picture is meaning- less (in the sense that, although any single particle does not appear to obey a determinate law, the motion of a large number of such particles can be predicted statistically), the apparent determinacy of the wave picture on the other hand, has nothing to do with the course of objective nature. It only represents a subjective process, or the way in which we interpret events in our own minds. But there is a further point. The apparent uniformity of Nature arises from the observation that the motion of material particles, in the aggregate, appears to obey a statistical law. Does this mean that the unpredictable movements of those particles which do not conform to this law in the organic world, represent, or are the precursors of those more noticeable depar- tures from uniformity which appear to be the basis of choice and volition in the world of Life and Mind? To this point, however, we shall return later. I have given the opinions of certain distinguished physicists in regard to the existence of Determinism and Indeterminism. Other expressions of views might be added, thus : — Dr. Dunne (n) considers that the evidence as to the exis- tence of both principles is incomplete and unreliable, owing to the repeated transference from the object under observation, through a regressive series of instruments (of observation), up to the ego of the observer. Thus on page 19 of “The Serial Universe”, he states—“The uncertainty pertains to the last instrument in the picture, but never to the world or object studied”. This means that the subjection to observation (or experi- ment) of any object causes changes in the object observed and thus vitiates the observation. Professor Schrodinger (12) writing on this subject says— “There is scarcely any possibility of deciding this issue, by experiment” “for the methods of pure reasoning