Introduction
xiii
shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me
[3]. In the intervening three centuries, much progress has been made in the
journey towards truth, but the boundaries of Newton’s great ocean have not
yet been charted.
In Part III, we indulge ourselves by exploring a few of the more speculative
open questions of physics. We shall try to highlight some of the deficiencies
in existing theories. In some cases, the finite limits of human resources may
place the attainment of definitive answers beyond hope, in which case, if we
wish to proceed further, we risk leaving physics and entering the domain of
metaphysics.
Finally, before we begin our journey in earnest, let us remark that there is
an alternative approach to the fundamental questions that underlie our book.
This is, of course, religion. Religions (for there are many) are the antithesis
of science, for they rely on faith, and not on observation. In Christianity,
this difference is made explicit by the remark of Jesus to Thomas: Because
you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed [4]. Our approach, which is entirely and solely based on reason
and observations (or experiments), cannot be compared with religious beliefs,
nor used to support, or to rebuff any of them. Its validity and usefulness are,
however, underscored by the ever-growing number of tools, inventions and
discoveries, which, in the modern world, are exploited on a daily basis.
References
1. Hoffmann B, Dukas H, Bergmann PG (1973) Albert Einstein: creator and rebel
(Plume)
2. Barrett R, Delsanto PP, Tartaglia A (2016) Physics: the ultimate adventure, Chap
3. Springer
3. Brewster D (1855) Memoirs of the life, writings and discoveries of Sir Isaac
Newton, vol 2, Chap 27
4. New Testament: John 20:29
xiii
shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me
[3]. In the intervening three centuries, much progress has been made in the
journey towards truth, but the boundaries of Newton’s great ocean have not
yet been charted.
In Part III, we indulge ourselves by exploring a few of the more speculative
open questions of physics. We shall try to highlight some of the deficiencies
in existing theories. In some cases, the finite limits of human resources may
place the attainment of definitive answers beyond hope, in which case, if we
wish to proceed further, we risk leaving physics and entering the domain of
metaphysics.
Finally, before we begin our journey in earnest, let us remark that there is
an alternative approach to the fundamental questions that underlie our book.
This is, of course, religion. Religions (for there are many) are the antithesis
of science, for they rely on faith, and not on observation. In Christianity,
this difference is made explicit by the remark of Jesus to Thomas: Because
you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed [4]. Our approach, which is entirely and solely based on reason
and observations (or experiments), cannot be compared with religious beliefs,
nor used to support, or to rebuff any of them. Its validity and usefulness are,
however, underscored by the ever-growing number of tools, inventions and
discoveries, which, in the modern world, are exploited on a daily basis.
References
1. Hoffmann B, Dukas H, Bergmann PG (1973) Albert Einstein: creator and rebel
(Plume)
2. Barrett R, Delsanto PP, Tartaglia A (2016) Physics: the ultimate adventure, Chap
3. Springer
3. Brewster D (1855) Memoirs of the life, writings and discoveries of Sir Isaac
Newton, vol 2, Chap 27
4. New Testament: John 20:29