Relative Quantum

I actually wanted to call this post ‘Quantum Relativity’. That wouldn’t really have been accepted well by some physicist friends. So we go with Relative Quantum, which is actually in the right order that I wish to describe things, but not really the best sounding phrase.

Anyway, without going into the details of the physics (and I will try to keep away from it!), if you believe in Relativity; and now we’re talking pure Physics, it restricts free will. How? In simple language, if relativity is a theory to be believed in (and the chances of that are really really high!), then you dwell in this continuum called Space-Time.

What is this Space-Time?

In our world that we live in, we see things in 3D or 3 Dimensions.

We generally denote them by X, Y and Z. And any point in space, we define by these three coordinates putting them as (X, Y, Z). For example, a point (3, 4, 1) would indicate that it is a point in space 3 units in positive X direction, 4 units in positive Y direction and 1 unit in positive Z direction, all from the origin or the point of reference. The image clearly states the obvious.

And we are so used to living in this world of 3 dimensions that its just natural to us to be in it not marvel about how significant this description of space is. What if we were to add another dimension to this? It is obviously very hard to imagine this fourth dimesion in a physical sense. Where do you put it? Because the ‘space’ as you see it can be clearly defined by these three coordinates. There is no ‘space’ for this fourth dimension!

But when we talk about Relativity, there is a fourth dimension, and this dimesion is Time.  The moment time becomes a dimension, it means that any ‘point’ in this Space-Time can now be defined by these four coordinates (X, Y, Z, T), where T stands for Time. The moment we do that, i.e. make time a dimension just like the other coordinates, the concept of free-will goes for a toss.

Here’s how. If time is just a dimension, then just like our 3D space, you can define every point with its dimensions. Effectively meaning that Time is already out there. You are at one location that can be defined by these four coordinates. Your next position will be defined by another set of numbers. What you are at some value of this combination of (X, Y, Z, T), you are something different at some other values. What is there at each coordinate combination is not visible to you, but is already out there. You just have to step on that position to be able to experience it. So whatever you choose to do, you just live an outcome that is not under your control. It just is! And there are zillions of these combinations of X, Y, Z and T. But the reality is that they just are, and you can do nothing about it. It really makes one feel helpless once you believe this and you will go miles to prove otherwise, but this is the reality (or the relativity ) where we stand today.

There are two theories of Physics that are so exclusive that Physicists have spent decades trying to combine the two without much satisfaction. Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. And Quantum Relativity is a term used by physicists to describe a potent combination of the two. Hence my mighty effort to refrain from using that term for this post.

Gravitation and Relativity act on large distances, macro level if we may call it. Quantum Mechanics on the other hand beats all the laws of Physics as we have studied them classically. And is predominant at a micro level. And a potent question arises. How do we define what is macro and what is micro? Just because we know the world as we see it we try to define it in macro and micro levels? Can’t the definition of this macro and micro change if something new were to come up? Then why two exclusive laws? There has to be ‘general law’ that governs us all. And the search continues!

But lets bring Quantum Mechanics into our existence. If we consider Quantum Mechanics, then there are no certainties. There are only probabilities. According to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, the position and momentum of a particle cannot be both known simultaneously. The more precisely one is determined, the less precisely the other can be known.

Coming back to us and the role of quantum mechanics in our lives and keeping Relativity in mind (so what if they can’t combine them theoretically, we will try to do it for our purpose of living and existence!) everything is a probability. Now when you think about Chance and Choice, whenever you need to decide something, i.e. take decision on anything inconsequential or of super-consequence, there are choices that you have. And these choices are many. Just many. Out of these choices, it is highly uncertain about what you choose. The more precisely you think of one choice, the lesser is your momentum to be able to see the other options. And the more you think about your options, lesser are your chances to pin down on one selection. And all of this depends on how wide can you see or how much can you visualize on these choices. Your actual chance of choosing one option is only a probability, not a certainty. This probability is governed by lots of factors (including your nature, bringing up, thought process, all of which are re-connected to the choices that you made at other times in life). That is the role of Quantum Mechanics in your thought process. So you have the freedom to visualize these options and choose one according to your will. The probability of you choosing one over others  may be higher, yet you control the actual choice.

But the instant you choose, our earlier process of relativity kicks in. Based on your choice, your coordinates change. And you land up on another set of coordinates that are already there. That means the consequence of your choice is not under your control. You are control only till you make that choice. The moment you switch-on that one option, your free will ends and you just live the consequence!

This is just a starting point to get you thinking. The more you think, the more choices you see, the more chances you could take, the lesser with clarity you may be able to see the consequences of those actions and more you may get perplexed!

Happy thinking!