Subatomic World is Disobedient relative to Space & Energy
Space & Energy different Inside & Outside of Atom
In the prior article – Disobedient Subatomics, we saw that electrons and photons, 2 of the subatomic entities, misbehave because they don’t fit into traditional categories. The subatomic world as a whole is disobedient in the sense that space and energy inside of an atom is entirely different from space and energy outside the atom.
Space: Continuous on Atom’s Outside; Discontinuous Inside
Outside the atom, space is continuous. Inside the atom, space is discontinuous. Electrons can only exist at specific distances (radius) from the nucleus, not all distances. Further, the electron jumps from one of these discretized orbits to another without passing through the intermediate space. Finally, only a specific number of electrons can fill each shell. In other words, subatomic space seems to be quantized rather than smooth.
Energy: Continuous Outside; Quantized Inside
Outside the atom in our normal every day world, energy is continuous. In the subatomic world, energy comes in discrete chunks called quanta. A photon is an elemental quantum of light energy, which sometimes behaves like a particle and other times like a wave. The point is straightforward. The subatomic world upon which the atomic world is based is incredibly ambiguous in terms of the traditional constructs. In this way, the subatomic world behaves in a disobedient fashion with regards to our everyday world.
Subatomic World: Orthogonal Plane, not Building Blocks
Disobedient subatomic world informs our atom-based world.
Despite these significant disparities, the disobedient subatomic world of quantized space and energy reveals how our obedient atom-based world of continuous space and energy works. Traditional thinking has it that the subatomic entities are the building blocks of our atom-based world. The intent of this section is to dispel this notion. We instead suggest that the subatomic world and our atom-based world represent two orthogonal planes. These planes are based in two unique mathematical systems: one quantized, the other continuous. This difference is even reflected in the titles that are assigned to textbooks and classes, for instance, Physics and Quantum Physics.
Building block logic: Building block laws and substance same as structure
Most of us, including the Author, tend to think of the 4 subatomics, including electrons and photons, as the building blocks of atoms. This perspective has some logical flaws. In traditional building block logic, the general structure obeys the same laws as the building blocks. A brick house conforms to brick logic; a wood house conforms to wood logic; and a steel structure conforms to the logic of steel. This building block logic is also true in the non-material world. The logic of sound informs the logic of notes, songs, and music overall. The logic of words informs the logic of sentences, then paragraphs, chapters, and finally books. On a more fundamental level, atom-based molecules conform to the logic of atoms and molecule-based matter conforms to the logic of molecules.
Until the 20th century, Building block logic ruled.
In fact, until the 20th century, building block logic was assumed to be the only kind of logic. In the prior centuries, scientists had affirmed this viewpoint with each new discovery about our everyday atom-based world. There was only one type of space and time. All matter obeyed the traditional dynamics of Newtonian Physics. Everything had an absolute essence. And the either/or logic of traditional set theory ruled.
Subatomic world overturns building block logic.
This viewpoint was overturned with the discovery of the unusual nature of electrons and then the quantized subatomic world in the early 20th century. Of course, Feynman believes that electrons and photons are just a different type of particle than an atom. It is as if the scientific community has uncovered a new species. This perspective is fine, except that the disobedient subatomic 'particles' are the supposed building blocks of obedient atom particles. The divergence in properties violates building block logic.
Atoms are the building blocks of the material world.
To understand why, let us look at a simple example. Atoms are the building blocks of molecules. Because our atom-based world consists solely of molecules and atoms, this constitutes the entire material plane. No matter how complex the molecular arrangements are, each of the combinations shares the same essential characteristics of atoms. Space and energy are continuous. Location and trajectories are determinate, rather than probabilistic. Further all the molecular arrangements consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. In this regard, atoms are truly the building blocks of our material world.
Electrons and Photons are not the building blocks of the Atom-based World
If electrons and photons are truly different types of particles than atoms, which they seem to be, then they are not the building blocks of atoms. The reason is straightforward. According to building block logic, the essential characteristics of the building blocks must be shared by the structure. If energy and space are discontinuous in the building blocks, they must be discontinuous in the rest of the structure. As we've seen, our atom-based world diverges in specific significant ways from the subatomic world.
Intersection of Orthogonal planes (atoms and subatomics) determines Matter's behavior.
If the peculiar entities of the subatomic world are not the building blocks of our atom-based world, what are they?
We suggest that the subatomic plane and our atom-based plane are orthogonal planes. The intersection of these planes determines the nature of our material universe. Each orthogonal plane has space, time, and energy. However, these constructs, while sharing commonalties, have significant differences, as well.
Intersection of orthogonal planes (information and matter) determines living behavior.
Similarly, the Living Algorithm's information plane also employs the constructs of space, time and energy. These constructs share similarities and also have significant differences from their material counterparts. Could it be that the information plane and the material plane are also orthogonal planes, whose intersection plays a part in determining the behavior of living matter?
Subatomics set a Precedent: If 2 orthogonal planes, why not 3?
As pointed out, the subatomic world and the subatomic entities are disobedient relative to the atomic world. In similar fashion, the Living Algorithm and Life are also disobedient relative to the logic and laws of our atom-based world. Just as the subatomic world is not false, just because it differs from our atom-based world, neither is the world of living information digestion false because it does not conform to traditional logic. Before the 20th century, scientists could perceive the entire universe as a unitary entity. It was composed of indestructible atoms, whose laws determined the behavior of all matter. With the uncovering of the subatomic world, a new precedent was established. Instead of just one, there were now two interlocking orthogonal realities. In this sense the subatomic world has set the stage for the world of information digestion. If there are two interlocking universes, why not three?
Subatomics, Living Algorithm & Life: all Disobedient
Two Orthogonal Material Planes instead of One: A disobedient notion
We tend to think of the material world as being one. Instead, it seems that our material world consists of at least 2 orthogonal planes: the quantized plane of subatomic entities and the continuous atom-based plane. The notion of 2 material planes, rather than 1, is itself a disobedient concept.
Atomic World is Obedient
Our ordinary everyday atom-based world is obedient. Space and energy are continuous in this plane of existence. Further, all material phenomena is this plane can be placed in neat consistent little packages, for instance waves, particles and energy. This plane is obedient because it conforms to our ordinary conceptions of reality.
The Subatomic World is Disobedient
The second material plane consists of subatomic entities. As we saw, space and energy are not continuous in this plane. Further the subatomic entities don’t fit into the neat consistent little packages of the atomic world. Accordingly, we say that the subatomic world is disobedient to our ordinary conceptions of reality.
The Subatomic World & Life share significant features in common: another disobedient notion.
It also seems as if there are commonalities between the disobedient subatomic plane and Life. Our atom-based world does not share these features. Since we tend to think of life and matter as having nothing in common, this is also a disobedient notion.
Deconstructing the monolith to make room for the Disobedient Living Algorithm
In this examination of the distinct differences between the atomic and subatomic worlds, we see that each material plane conforms to a different type of logic. This difference is embodied in the names that are applied to the disciplines within the field. Physics and electrodynamics apply to our atom-based world. Quantum Physics and Quantum Electrodynamics apply to the subatomic world. By exhibiting that the material world itself is composed of two orthogonal planes, we hope to open the Reader up to the notion that the Living Algorithm’s information plane represents yet a 3rd orthogonal plane. The intersection of the 2 material planes determines the behavior of inert matter, while the information plane determines rules behind the behavior of living matter. As such, the inclusion of the information plane expands the territory to cover an even greater swatch of existence.
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To lend credence to this perspective, our next article delves into more similarities between the Living Algorithm’s information plane and the subatomic world. Specifically we will examine the notion that subatomic particles could actually be information packets. In similar fashion, the Living Algorithm System is also based in information packets. For details, check out our next article – Particles as Information Packets.