Why William Lane Craig is a dope.

[Jehanne]

Emphasis is from Dr. Griffiths:

Unlike Newton's mechanics, or Maxwell's electrodynamics, or Einsteins' relativity, quantum theory was not created -- or even definitively packaged -- by one individual, and it retains to this day some of the scars of its exhilarating but traumatic youth.  There is no general consensus as to what its fundamental principles are, how it should be taught, or what it really "means".  Every competent physicist can "do" quantum mechanics, but the stories we tell ourselves about what we are doing are as various as the tales of Scheherazade, and almost as implausible.  Richard Feynam (one of its greatest practitioners) remarked, "I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics."

The purpose of this book is to teach you how to do quantum mechanics.  Apart from some essential background in Chapter 1, the deeper quasi-philosophical questions are saved for the end.  I do not believe one can intelligently discuss what quantum mechanics means until one has a firm sense of what quantum mechanics does.  But if you absolutely cannot wait, by all means read the Afterword immediately following Chapter 1.

Not only is quantum theory conceptually rich, it is also technically difficult, and exact solutions to all but the most artificial textbook examples are few and far between... (Preface, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3rd edition, Professor David J. Griffiths, Reed College)

I posted this in the physics subforum to have a discussion as to the fact that quantum mechanics is fundamentally different than our classical notions of space and time, which means that such arguments as the Aristotelian Kalam Cosmological Argument are DOA as far as modern physics is concerned.

Of course, it is clear to me that Dr. Craig does not understand what quantum mechanics does.

[Alex K]

... and when you add quantum gravity where time probably ceases to be a simple linear continuous thing most intuitive notions about causality and time go out of the window.

[Jehanne]

And, to mention, also, Craig rejects Lorentzian invariance, and postulates that there is, somewhere in the physical Universe (not just "heaven"), an absolute frame of reference.  Of course, Craig has no evidence whatsoever of such a place.  Now, if Craig rejects Lorentzian invariance, then he needs to reject the BGV theorem, which assumes such.

[Succubus]

<Snip>
"The purpose of this book is to teach you how to do quantum mechanics."

What, exactly does he mean, to 'do' quantum mechanics?
My albeit limited understanding is, unless you have a firm grounding in physics and mathematics ie, a masters, you will never 'get' QM.

[Jehanne]

<Snip>
"The purpose of this book is to teach you how to do quantum mechanics."

What, exactly does he mean, to 'do' quantum mechanics?
My albeit limited understanding is, unless you have a firm grounding in physics and mathematics ie, a masters, you will never 'get' QM.

It means using the Schrodinger Equation to solve hypothetical problems, usually, in 1 or 2 dimensions, typically, with hydrogen or helium.  Anything beyond that in 3 dimensions gets really ugly really fast.  Usually, things are non-relativistic, and when they are, you need Quantum Field Theory, and the Dirac equation is at the heart of that.

[Succubus]

Ah, OK, thanks for clearing that up.

[Cyberman]

Why William Lane Craig is a dope...

He is William Lane Craig. That is enough.

[brewer]

Not only "is a dope" but "is dope". He's is the fundamental christian's equivalent to opiate nirvana.

[Minimalist]

... and when you add quantum gravity where time probably ceases to be a simple linear continuous thing most intuitive notions about causality and time go out of the window.

Hey, c'mon.  He's a guy who claims to believe that a dead jew came back to life and flew up to fucking heaven.  And you want him to handle quantum gravity?

[Jehanne]

Here's the Quantum Eternity Theorem or its equivalent as far as I can tell, from Griffiths:



As you can see, the Schrodinger equation clearly implies that the Universe is eternal, both beginningless and endless.