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[ Question ]

What are examples of simpler universes that have been described in order to explain a concept from our more complex universe?

by Mati_Roy
17th Sep 2020
1 min read
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World Modeling
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What are examples of simpler universes that have been described in order to explain a concept from our more complex universe?
3RHollerith
3Mati_Roy
2Viliam
1Mati_Roy
1Mati_Roy
1Mati_Roy
2Pattern
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RHollerith

Sep 20, 2020

30

Euclidean geometry (which is 2500 years old), Newtonian physics and the special theory of relativity immediately come to mind.

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Mati_Roy

Sep 17, 2020

30

Finally We May Have a Path to the Fundamental Theory of Physics…and It’s Beautiful explains some concepts from our universe in simpler universes

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[-]Viliam5y20

Relevant comment here:

I think Wolfram's "theory" is complete gibberish. Reading through "some relativistic and gravitational properties of the Wolfram model" I haven't encountered a single claim that was simultaneously novel, correct and non-trivial...
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1Mati_Roy5y
My question is definitely not limited to novel models. By all means, do let me know if you're aware of other toy models that have (and so can explain) relativistic-like properties, or share other interesting properties with out universe

Mati_Roy

Sep 17, 2020

10

Where Physics Meets Experience, and it's sequel Where Experience Confuses Physicists tackles questions about consciousness and quantum physics, but instead the minds split in a spatial dimension which makes it easier to grapple with.

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[-]Mati_Roy5y10

I remember an explanation of entropy / time / whether we could figure out all previous and future states of a universe from its current position, but that was using a simple square grid world. I can't find it back; anyone knows?

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[-]Pattern5y20

Was the grid world Conway's Game of Life?

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A
32

Sometimes there's a concept that can be difficult to understand when entangle with everything else that needs to be understood about our physics.

If you isolate that concept in a simpler universe, it makes it easier to explain how the concept works.

What are such examples?

(I feel like I asked a similar question somewhere at some point, but can't find it)