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Has there ever been a viable alternative to the phsycialist model of the universe?
(sh.itjust.works)
this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
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It sounds like you're trying to use the wrong tool, though. Science is a great system for learning about the observable universe, but less so for other things. To put it another way, science is great for telling you how, philosophy is great for exploring why.
But aren't most philosophers Physicalists who just say "Listen to the science"
Science isn't actually "physicalist". In fact one major theory in science, Quantum Mechanics, would probably challenge physicalism since quantum suggests that there will always be unknowable physical quantities regarding any given particle of matter. It also suggests that particles of matter (and light) must interact with an observer in order to exist in a state where some physical quantities can be known; else these particles exist only in an exotic state of indefinite probalistic fluctuations.
I must say though, even though quantum challenges physicalism, quantum's model of the universe truly rejects the possibility of any omniscient entity. Omniscience requires the ability to know everything about the universe and quantum suggests that this is in fact impossible; therefore a truly omniscient god would be impossible. It was for this reason that god-fearing Albert Einstein rejected quantum mechanics up until his death bed.
That is not how the Dual Slit works
Science explains the strong nuclear force. We have a fair understanding of how it works. Why is there a strong nuclear force? Why is the Planck length the size it is? Science can't answer those kinds of questions, nor what is good or evil, or if they even exist outside of the hearts of man. The best Science can give for those questions is "because". And philosophers? Well, they can't give firm answers, either, certainly no more solid than "listen to the science," but that's mostly because a lot of those kind of questions don't really have answers. That we know of, anyway, and some people find that hard so they fall back on the answers they do have, and say "listen to the science."