Week 2

1. Lisa Randall on the universe – I was very impressed with Lisa Randall’s credentials. Her credentials tell me that she is a genius. Her interview gave me the impression that she is on the verge of something huge. She gives me that impression by her approach. She seems to always be asking “Why?” I don’t know a lot about physics but the fact that she’s asking “why” about gravity and other dimensions in space.

I didn’t know about the different dimensions and that there were 4 dimensions. And they mention that there is a possibility that there may be more than 10 dimensions. The 4^th dimension is said to be time, and Randall makes reference to a 5^th dimension of space time. Is time different in space? How does imagination play into this?

2. Reading about cosmic inflation was like reading a foreign language. I had to read it slowly and read it several times. It was very confusing and I still don’t know about a lot of what I read. I am guessing that it has something to do with Lisa Randall’s appearance on Charlie Rose and her discussion about other dimensions.

I think that cosmic inflation relates to what Lisa Randall was talking about because she mentioned something about other dimensions and that maybe one day we will be able to see something in other dimensions. I think that relates to cosmic inflation due to the belief of the big bang theory and how things appear “flat.” I can’t connect the dots though.

3. Randall talks about the growing interest and study and belief that there are more dimensions. She states that the study of dimensions has been growing since the late 19^th century, even before Einstein. She mentions that “String Theory” has been the key to studying dimensions.

Randall mentions that it is believed that the laws of physics are the same here on earth as it is in space. What I don’t understand is if that is what is believed, then what is the difference between “time” and “space time?”

4. Edward O. Wilson on the Creation – I found it ambitious of Wilson trying to “bridge” religion and science. I understand them to be polar opposite ideologies.

It didn’t take long for me to get confused. I started getting confused as early as he started talking about climate control. Is he saying that he wants people of religion to start looking at science to help save our environment?

5. I liked that in reading about Descartes, that there was mention of the allegory of the cave. It was something that I had heard about years ago, but was reconnected with again in this week’s reading. I had forgotten what the lesson was about the allegory.

The one true philosopher was the one that escaped the cave and was able to witness things for himself. He was the one that saw the sun, saw the plants, and the trees, and knew there was something other than shadows.