Do you think we affect the universe? (Explanation inside)

[skOsH♥]

Meaning, we are part of the universe, inseparable from it, and we can perceive things occurring in our universe.

We have limited abilities to do things on Earth, but I was wondering if anyone thinks our actions have any effect on the behavior of electrons, photons, etc., elsewhere in the universe? (A butterfly effect, kind of?) We keep sending electrons through computational devices and then they diffuse back into the universe later, we see trillions of photons illuminate stuff, that light hits our eyes and makes specific neurons fire, and images of what is seen is in the back of our head...and flipped upside down--I dont understand this. We also don't actually see anything. But our brains, which again, are part of the universe, and our neurons are incredibly small in size. Surely due to perceiving the universe but also being part of the universe must mean something, right? It's weird to think about.

Idk how this thought came to me, but it did, and I was wondering what others thought about this. Our role in the universe. Are we just passive observers, and our existence might as well be meaningless, or is there a reason why the universe allowed us to exist. Does it want to become slightly self aware, if only just barely? Because technically, it has accomplished that.

[Out Of Bubblegum]

We have no affect.

[Your_White_Knight]

Escrito originalmente por d¢:

Do you think we affect the universe?

Meaning, we are part of the universe, inseparable from it, and we can perceive things occurring in our universe.

We have limited abilities to do things on Earth, but I was wondering if anyone thinks our actions have any effect on the behavior of electrons, photons, etc., elsewhere in the universe? (A butterfly effect, kind of?) We keep sending electrons through computational devices and then they diffuse back into the universe later, we see trillions of photons illuminate stuff, that light hits our eyes and makes specific neurons fire, and images of what is seen is in the back of our head...and flipped upside down--I dont understand this. We also don't actually see anything. But our brains, which again, are part of the universe, and our neurons are incredibly small in size. Surely due to perceiving the universe but also being part of the universe must mean something, right? It's weird to think about.

Idk how this thought came to me, but it did, and I was wondering what others thought about this. Our role in the universe. Are we just passive observers, and our existence might as well be meaningless, or is there a reason why the universe allowed us to exist. Does it want to become slightly self aware, if only just barely? Because technically, it has accomplished that.

We affect the universe like a bug affects a car windshield...

[Ghost Robertson]

Well you never know, We send satellites out looking for stuff and in the future we may have advanced technology that can effect matter or energy in a way we currently don't understand.

We could just be the immature part of an intergalactic race that has major implications to the universe in the future.

[L1qu1dator]

Probably even less effect than a single atom has on entire Milky Way.

[【Ｂｏｓｓ】]

Escrito originalmente por Your_White_Knight:

We affect the universe like a bug affects a car windshield...

What he said.

[Triple G]

I guess some other people may have thought about it, as it could likely be one of the oldest questions of humanity, which leads to something like philosophy or religion, or basically any kind of science.

But just because we want to have a reason for anything, to justify our actions, doesn´t mean that there is a reason to it. It´s most likely not the case. And if You want to know what the universe wants - probably talk to any stone You find - or any air You breath - or any water. Life here just exists, because it´s possible to have life. Nothing to worry about. Wouldn´t be much different if this was just another rock flying through empty space. Except You want to go that route with afterlife, spiritualism - or that humans or life in general are super important. I mean if You put it the other way around: without "intelligent life" there would be no one - or nothing, which can even think about it. So it wouldn´t matter if the universe is there - or not.

[Ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍]

Yep. We sure do. The very act of observation alters the behavior of things.

Ch conout the Zeno Effect. It is so weird to think about.

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

We don`t even know what life or consciousness actually are and pretty sure we are damn far from truly understanding the quantum mechanics. Impossible to tell at this point.

[Ghost Robertson]

Escrito originalmente por Rumpelcrutchskin:

We don`t even know what life or consciousness actually are and pretty sure we are damn far from truly understanding the quantum mechanics. Impossible to tell at this point.

By understanding our consciousness we may unlock the secrets of the universe.

[sotaponi]

I'm afraid the book (Chemicals "R" Us) written by my favourite neo-intellectual tells me that we are but deconstructed bioclusters without agency and that consciousness is basically just automagically. Just like the universe, which, too, is just automagically, with itself. (This as per the newest neuroscientific auguries.)

Unfortunately it's a bit beyond my understanding, however. So I'm afraid that I cannot be of any more help here. Although I do believe that the universe is greater in size than us, and thus quite a bit more automagical. If we are a butterfly, the universe is an Aerodactyl.

That's all I can contribute.

[Defenestration]

I believe we're all living in patterns that constantly reinforce our beliefs. The terms "luck" and "random" is perhaps a pattern we haven't identified. How we act towards people can also cause a chain/domino effect.

[Adversary]

Eh, when you exercise your will upon reality you're essentially a drop in the proverbial bucket. Which is why when you do that sort of thing regardless of what paradigm you apply it through you still need to take action.

Don't be that blonde who asked YHVH to win the lottery but never bought the ticket. Apply your will combined with your intent and then exert your action upon reality. That's all there is to it.

[Amuro0079]

Yes, and the most direct way we affect the universe 🌌 is contributing to the increase of entropy. We introduce order to ourselves both individually and as an civilization, reducing entropy locally at the expense of increasing entropy elsewhere in the universe, resulting in a net increase. All life do this not just humans.

[Pocahawtness]

Consider how a computer works. It's a simpler version of the same thing. Somehow 1's and 0's and simple electrical switches are built up in layer and layer of complexity until you are on a distant planet fighting for the survival of the human race! I mean it's crazy to think about how it starts with a simple switch or two and ends up with a computer game. The funny thing is that it's remarkable how many similarities there are. Even down to time. You have an FPS just as the game does.

[Morkonan]

Escrito originalmente por d¢:

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Idk how this thought came to me, but it did, and I was wondering what others thought about this. Our role in the universe. Are we just passive observers, and our existence might as well be meaningless, or is there a reason why the universe allowed us to exist. Does it want to become slightly self aware, if only just barely? Because technically, it has accomplished that.

Your question is meaningful and is one that has been pretty hotly debated in physics for quite awhile.

In other words, what I'm saying is that your question is plausible...

Now, on how that would work, it's a bit difficult to say. For one, if it was something like you could suggest, we could never be free from the effect in order to measure it in an unbiased way. If you're in a room full of mirrors, how do you find a visible mirror that doesn't have a reflection of your eyes staring at it? (A separate mirror, I guess.)

I tend to believe that what we experience is not, in fact, "the Universe." It's simply the only way we can experience "the Universe." At some point, our ability to experience the Universe breaks down. We are time-limited consciousnesses. And, if there's one way along a timeline, there must be another... probably. But, we can't experience that and can't switch in mid-stream. Some things can, though... Or, at least appear to do so, though somewhere along the line "causality" demands fulfillment. Why? I dunno, Science doesn't care about "why."

I have some admittedly strange notions, but they're not outside the realm of what various bits and pieces of science-fueled arguments among Big Brain types have. I feel, however, "Science" feels compelled to address certain issues in a way that is not always constructive. Even when Science is busy inventing things that can't be observed or measured, only assumed, it stodgily refuses to budge further.

There's a current fun-time group in Science that is putting forth the notion that everything in the Universe is "conscious." That does not, however, mean that it is the sort of consciousness you and I would think they mean. Their "consciousness" is more of an attribute that defines a thing and fixes it in place and time. In the simplest form, it's a data-set of irreducible variables that are assumed to be intrinsic to the "thing," whatever it is. A rock doesn't know it is a rock, but it does "know" it's values in place and time... Why is this proposed? IMO, to get around certain notions that some may find inconvenient.

Anyway, keep on thinking on. There's nothing wrong with your question on its face and plenty of people with lots of alphabet letters after their name have proposed many similar things.

TLDR: IMO, our time-born consciousness, at least human consciousness, is the filter by which we experience the Universe. That experience is inseparable and unavoidable, yet we can peak a tiny bit behind the curtain. That also, however, does not mean consciousness can not also influence the Universe. After all, if you pick up a glass of water in order to drink it, you're influencing the Universe... :)