The conventional answer is that all electrons are the same because they are all local excited states of a single quantized field (the electron field). So we just have to shift perspective from "there's only one electron" to "there's only one electron field".
The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
11–20 of 93 posts
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#12Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons?
> Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons?
Practically speaking, what is the difference?
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#13Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons?
I propose a new flat electron theory. They do in fact orbit the nuclei in a simple orbit. It's just that Maxwell's equations don't apply at those length scales. Electron tunneling is a conspiracy designed to hide the truth.
This is of course a sarcastic aside, but I have to admit even toying with the idea of throwing out observations you don't like feels really good. I see why for some unbinding their beliefs from the constraints of reality is so appealing.
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#14Wikipedia has the same info but better
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#15Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons?
I propose a new flat electron theory. They do in fact orbit the nuclei in a simple orbit. It's just that Maxwell's equations don't apply at those length scales. Electron tunneling is a conspiracy designed to hide the truth. This is of course a sarcastic aside, but I have to admit even toying with the idea of throwing out observations you don't like feels really good. I see why for some unbinding their beliefs from th…
I don't think you understood the question. It was about the status of theories, not the status of reality.
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#16Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons?
> Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons? Practically speaking, what is the difference?
There isn't a difference, but you could say the same about this one electron idea.
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#17Are there really electrons? Or does observable phenomena simply fit with the theory of electrons?
If you can explain the difference, maybe you can help me make sense of postmodern philosophy.
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#18If there were really only one electron, somebody in the universe would have broken it by now. Or maybe there is a great filter prohibiting any intelligence capable of poking too hard.
Quantum immortality. In the universe branches we've screwed with that electron we exploded and disappeared.
That would also explain why there don’t seem to be many advanced species out there; maybe we can only be observing universes in which we’re among the first, because it is less likely that we’ll not-die in a universe where everybody is poking the electron and exploding everything.
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#19Mom said it's my turn on the electron
Re: The Theory That There Is Only One Electron in the Universe
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
I propose a new flat electron theory. They do in fact orbit the nuclei in a simple orbit. It's just that Maxwell's equations don't apply at those length scales. Electron tunneling is a conspiracy designed to hide the truth. This is of course a sarcastic aside, but I have to admit even toying with the idea of throwing out observations you don't like feels really good. I see why for some unbinding their beliefs from th…
I don't think you understood the question. It was about the status of theories, not the status of reality.
It was about the status of theories, not the status of reality.
What is the difference?