Brian Tomasik #fundie reducing-suffering.org

Is There Suffering in Fundamental Physics?

This essay explores the speculative possibility that fundamental physical operations -- atomic movements, electron orbits, photon collisions, etc. -- could collectively deserve significant moral weight

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As an example, even a metal ball -- like an animal -- could be said to take in inputs (various forces acting on it, conveyed via gauge bosons and gravitons), integrate those inputs (compute the net force magnitude), and act in response (move in the direction of the force). Information integration, feedback loops, and (at least implicit) optimization among choices are seemingly relevant attributes of agent-like minds but are also rampant throughout mundane physics. An electron often "chooses" the path of least resistance, based on integrating signals about the physical landscape where it lies.
A maglev train initially falls downward due to gravity, but then is pushed back up by magnets, leading to a "happy" equilibrium (dare we say "homeostasis"?) position.

The remainder of this essay takes a more abstract view and proposes general reasons why it's plausible that basic physics could be seen to contain suffering -- perhaps enormous amounts of suffering. It then elaborates on how much I care and whether there are practical ways we could ameliorate the situation.

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Confused?

So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!

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