Thread: The qualia of consciousness

Well, same reason I exclude anything else.

Think about it like this; when an atom moves, does the space move with it? No, the nucleons and electrons move through space.

But if you want to define an atom as being the space too, fine. It's as pointless as arguing over whether the definition of a cardboard box should include the air inside it. The air's still physical though.

And I should point out that saying that most of an atom is empty space is a misconception of the nature of an electron. In reality what gives an atom its large size is its 'electron cloud' which is a could of charge generated by the instantaneous displacements of the surrounding electrons resulting in a sort of overall smear of electron moments. The large sphere of space around the atom is not empty at all, but rather represents the zone in which there is a high probability of finding the electrons.

I see. But space itself isn't composed of atoms is it? What characteristics cause space to be physical?

Well, in my opinion everything is just mathematics in the end.

Space is physical mathematics because it does not fall into the class of mental mathematics. It's just a label I suppose.

But yes, physical is anything which has material embodiment.

Now you mention it though, it occurs to me that 'physical' is just as hard to describe in words as 'mental'... so good question. I think we both know what I mean but it is very hard to express.

My head tends to lock up when math enters the picture. I wish it wasn't the case. But I see what your saying. I still see space as more of a lack of a physical embodiment, rather than something having physical embodiment. Not that I feel the need to argue the point or anything.

On mushrooms, senses blend together. It is the mind that distincts sight from smell from sound from touch.