X-Message-Number: 11588
From: Thomas Donaldson <>

Subject: To Mike Perry: whered'I denigrate? And combining QM and GR remains open
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 22:27:09 +1000 (EST)

To Mike Perry:

I don't recall denigrating anybody's expertise. There is a distinction 
between thinking that someone is simply wrong and denigrating them ---
we are all, at once time or another, simply wrong. And the longer we live
the more we will see that happen, again and again.

I just did not think that Deutsch had that much to say on the issue. He
may have thought so but I did not.

As for quantum mechanics being involved in how our mind works, I will say
that so far no good experimental evidence of which I am aware shows any
such involvement --- other than in the same way quantum mechanics is
involved in any other chemical reaction or electrical currents.

As for quantum mechanics and relativity, I will hold to what I've said:
no matter how elaborate our theories, they mean very little without
experimental evidence for them. It IS interesting that some people have
now come up with some possible tests, and perhaps even more interesting
that those tests look like DISproving some of the current theories.

And so the relation between quantum mechanics and general relativity
remains quite open. I look forward to whatever may come from further work
on that question. If we can get there by only small modifications of both
theories, or if we require a major change, regardless that will bring
not just a deeper understanding but possible technologies too (as witness
what is happening with quantum mechanics right now).

			Best and long long life to all

				Thomas Donaldson

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