fletcher Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Ok, this isn't really related to Wilco's music, which is why I posted in here But I was listening to "Laminated Cat," which mentions "a unified theory of everything." And it got me thinking. There is a branch of philosophy that maintains that everythign in the universe -- water, air, the trees, everything -- was meant only for human use and consumption. I think it may be called the Theory of Everything, but I cannot recall the name of it. OK, you philosophy majors, here's a chance to put that degree to use! Thanks for your help! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 "Fucked up," is what I'd call that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pnêyu Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Unified theory = string theory = physics, doesn't it? I don't know how much it has to do with the song, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 But I was listening to "Laminated Cat," which mentions "a unified theory of everything." And it got me thinking. There is a branch of philosophy that maintains that everythign in the universe -- water, air, the trees, everything -- was meant only for human use and consumption. I think it may be called the Theory of Everything, but I cannot recall the name of it.I think that, in ethics, something like that is called moral subjectivism? But it's not that stuff was "meant" for human use and only human use, it's that without humans, nothing else holds any value. So it might not be that at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic_principle Note: I believe that Uyen is correct. The Anthropic Priniciple is what you're talking about, but not what Tweedy is singing about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 he's definitely not singing about String Theory. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 "The Theory of Everything" is the as-yet-discovered master formula of the universe which would make quantum theory mesh with relativity, I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WilcoFan Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Pretty much. But, as they stand now, Quantum theory and Relativity are mutually exclusive. -- With their current definitions only one can be correct. A unified theory of everything might not include relativity or quantum mechanics. But you're right, the unified theory of everything would be a formula or a series of formulas that can accurately describe the physical nature of the universe. We still need to figure out what gravity is first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WilcoFan Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Here are some lyrics I wrote a couple of years ago that touches on the subject - waxing a little poetic and philosophical: Eloquence and EleganceAre over ratedIn America Understanding makes people fall in loveAnd stay in love. Am I yours? Something tells me we don't have a clueSomething tells me I don't belong to youWell I wonder If Einstein was rightThen we're stuck here tonight all aloneIf Einstein was right -- thats not rightI sure hope he was wrong Measuring the distance of the stars aboveI wonder, I am yours? Something tells me we don't have a clueSomething tells me I don't belong to youWell I wonder If Einstein was rightWe're stuck here tonight all aloneIf Einstein was right thats not rightI sure hope he was wrong Acts of compassion are the finest thingsI wonder, am I yours? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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