Continuity and discontinuity in physics and biology
Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie/South African Journal of Science and Technology
Field | Value | |
Title | Continuity and discontinuity in physics and biology Kontinuïteit en diskontinuïteit in die fisika en biologie | |
Creator | Strauss, Danie F.M. | |
Description | Although classical physicists believed that nature does not make leaps – it is continuous and infinitely divisible – 20th century physicists soon realised that there are indivisible elementary particles (quanta) and that physical space is therefore not continuous and also not infinitely divisible. This state of affairs is also underscored by the duality of particle and wave. Even for Einstein the continuity of the microstructure of ‘space-time’ was still an open question. Therefore considering physical phenomena as literally continuous could be questioned. Moreover it is striking that reflection on the nature of matter gave birth both to an ‘atomistic’ and a ‘continuity’ conception. Faithful to modern nominalism (neo-)Darwinism accepts no universality outside the human mind. Plants and animals are simply positioned in a continuum with the aid of arbitrary names. This continuity postulate – known as ‘gradualism’ – is, nonetheless, confronted from the outset with the dominant stasis pattern of the paleontological record: a type appears abruptly, remains constant for millions of years and then disappears equally abruptly. As a consequence the assumed ‘imperfection’ of the fossil record could be questioned. Prominent biological thinkers still wrestle with the problem of continuity and discontinuity. One of them explains that these stories begin from the same foundational fallacy and then proceed in an identically erroneous way. They start with the most dangerous of mental traps: a hidden assumption, depicted as self-evident, if recognised at all, namely, a basic definition of evolution as continuous flux. Hoewel die mening van die klassieke fisici was dat die natuur geen spronge maak nie – dit is kontinu en oneindig verder verdeelbaar – sou die 20ste-eeuse fisici spoedig besef dat daar ondeelbare elementêre deeltjies (kwanta) bestaan en dat die fisiese ruimte nie kontinu en derhalwe ook nie oneindig verder verdeelbaar is nie. Hierdie toedrag van sake word verder belig deur die dualiteit van golf en deeltjies. Selfs vir Einstein was die kontinuïteit van die mikrostruktuur van ‘space-time’ nog ’n ope vraag. Daarom kan die siening dat fisiese verskynsels letterlik kontinu is, bevraagteken word. Dit is daarom treffend dat die geskiedenis van die nadenke oor die aard van materie sowel tot ’n ‘atomisitese’ as ’n ‘kontinuïteitsopvatting’ gelei het. Getrou aan die moderne nominalisme aanvaar die (neo-) Darwinisme geen universaliteit buite die menslike gees nie. Plante en diere word bloot met behulp van willekeurige name in ’n kontinuum geplaas. Hierdie kontinuïteitspostulaat – bekend as ‘gradualisme’ – is egter van meet af gekonfronteer deur die dominante stasispatroon van die paleontologiese rekord: ’n tipe verskyn abrup, bly vir miljoene jare konstant en verdwyn dan ewe abrup. Gevolglik kan die vermeende ‘imperfection’ van die paleontologiese rekord bevraagteken word. Prominente biologiese denkers worstel met die probleem van kontinuïteit en diskontinuïteit. Een van hierdie outeurs stel dat die verhale met dieselfde grondleggende valstrik begin en dan voortgaan op ’n soortgelyke foutiewe wyse. Daar word begin met die gevaarlikste mentale valstrik, die verborge aanname wat as vanselfsprekend aanvaar word, indien dit hoegenaamd erken word, naamlik ’n basiese definisie van evolusie as kontinue vloei. | |
Publisher | AOSIS | |
Date | 2017-07-24 | |
Identifier | 10.4102/satnt.v36i1.1438 | |
Source | Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie; Vol 36, No 1 (2017); 9 bladsye Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie; Vol 36, No 1 (2017); 9 bladsye 2222-4173 0254-3486 | |
Language | eng | |
Relation |
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https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/1438/3383
https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/1438/3382
https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/1438/3384
https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/1438/3381
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