Schrödinger's cat

[jscheuer1]

There have been a number of questions lately in this lounge that are really open ended philosophical questions, like Schrödinger's cat. If we put Schrödinger's cat in the Chinese room, would it be a computer?

Upon first hearing about Schrödinger's cat, many people get concerned for the poor animal. If you are, and would like to do something about it, please click on one of the Donate buttons below:

[djr33]

I love this concept. Not sure what else to comment on, but.... glad you brought it up.

[Twey]

http://www.cats.org.uk/

[Trinithis]

What about a Schrödinger's dog experiment? Cats are too cool. Let's face it: Dogs can't purr.

[djr33]

But you can hear the dog barking. That takes away the mystery. If there is a radioactive isotope.... "Darn it, Jimmy-- the dog's barking again. Start over."

[Twey]

Heck yes. Cats all the way!

[boogyman]

i hate to state the obvious but wtfudgesicle?

[djr33]

If there is a cat in a box, with a decaying isotope, at the isotope's half life, is the cat dead or alive, if you don't look inside the box?

It's something you have to think about for a while to really understand.

It's the metaphor created by Shrödinger when researching electrons as waves and particles. He used that to explain that they aren't particles OR waves, and not neither-- they are both. And the cat is dead and alive.

If you don't get it, don't worry. But if you're interested, it's a cool discussion.

I did a report on this a few years ago in school. Fun times.

[boogyman]

yes I got the decay portion.
I am wondering the purpose? after looking at John's original post, its probably to counteract the 2/3 recent philisophical posts.

the other thing was how is a cat half dead half alive?
which brings up the question of how to define life, which goes back to one of the topics this was spawned upon.

[djr33]

It's not half dead half alive. It's alive and it's dead.
You'll have to research to understand it. Hard to put into words. Something you just comprehend after a while-- you feel its meaning, sorta.

It's a philosophical puzzle, so don't think too hard about the bounds of life for the moment.


Basically, it's a way of countering mutual exclusivity, to represent the electron's state.

[Twey]

It's not half-dead or half-alive, it's both fully dead and fully alive. This principle that things are in both possible states until observed is the basis for much of quantum mechanics. When the box is opened and the observer checks the cat's state, only then does the cat "decide" to be either alive or dead.

[djr33]

In every applicable sense, it is both, and must be assumed to be both. Must make sure the box doesn't get placed underwater, if it's alive; must also be sure the box doesn't get left there for weeks and the dead cat inside rots.

So, back to perception and such. ;)

[Trinithis]

For those still doubting the inherently superior nature of cats over dogs, look no further:
Cat (http://www.alljunk.dk/pics/cute%20cat.jpg) | Dog (http://newscoma.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/ugly-dog.jpg)

Solution to dog's barking issue: A shutgun. Wait, that would ruin the experiment. How about a muzzle then?

Naturally, the experiment won't work on Manxes because . . .
http://www.nickerstickers.com/largecats/manx_cat_decal.jpg
(Well, the above link only applies to Manxes with stub tails.)

[djr33]

That ugly dog could very well be a cat. Something is wrong with it, though.

[Twey]

More than one thing. It's got mange and cataracts, for a start.

[djr33]

Well, I see that as one big problem. Being deformed. "What part of the cat is ugly?" ...need I say more? :D

[Twey]

Well, being deformed (differing from the norm) isn't necessarily a problem, at least from the dog's point of view. Some deformities are quite useful, and it's how new species (or at least new variations of species, if you don't believe in macro-evolution) develop. Some are simply harmless. Ugliness, of course, is entirely subjective, although since the poor dog may have some trouble finding a mate, it would probably consider its own ugliness a problem. It might even have self-confidence issues.

[BLiZZaRD]

Dogs have people, cats have staff.

I can tell you that all animals display a distinct personality, I have 2 cats (ugh) a dog a rat and a snake (and yes the snake eats rats, but not the pet one)

They all have their own personalities and they are all different. The cats, like all the cats I have ever owned are funny at times but mostly would rather show me thier butt than look at me directly.

You can play with a dog. Every try to take a cat on a leash to the park with some tennis balls or a Frisbee, or to the local swimming pool for a dip? I think not.

[Trinithis]

Well, I'm not really an outdoor type of person :D. And yes, I've seen a cat "go on a walk" before. (Many, many years ago, my sister made a cat leash and tried walking one of our cats. "Dragging" would have been a more appropriate word.)

I used to have five cats. One died and my sister took the other away with her. My favorite cat is my Manx. Years ago I trained him to drink from a sink faucet, and ever since, he's become obsessed with getting water that way. Just the slightest hint of me heading towards my bathroom sends him dashing to it. The blessing (and cursing) of that cat is that he perpetually haunts my lap, stomach, back, shoulder, you name it. And as his name--Brick--would suggest, he's like a brick when I try shoving him off to get up.

Anyway, I love my cats (except one of them . . . never get a new cat unless it's a kitten). Should I ever get a new cat, I would be certain it would be a Manx. They are the coolest creatures ever. At least mine is :D

Also, cats don't smell like dogs. Gives cats another 100 point lead.

[Twey]

It's only male dogs that smell that way. It's a hormonal thing. Female dogs have poisonous urine instead that will kill your garden. :p

[djr33]

Trinithis, you must have that new odorless cat litter they keep playing infomercials for.

[Trinithis]

Haha. The "scoop" is, I have never seen those commercials. I do have 'specially' scented litter, but I don't like it. But seeing that I don't buy it, I won't complain.

What I meant about animals that smell is that when I walk into a home with dogs, I can immediately smell dog. But when people walk into my home, they don't smell cat, even allergic people. Alergies may begin to swell, but they don't "smell" it.

Disclaimer: I don't dislike dogs. I enjoy them . . . sometimes. Depends on the dog. For instance, I like wolf-esque looking dogs, but I don't like short shaggy ones. I just wouldn't like living with a dog, even a nice one.

In any case, I'm curious, what type and number of pets do you all own?

[Twey]

I'm sadly petless at the moment, but in the past I've shared my house with three cats and two dogs (one of which was after the other cats and dogs had left, died, &c.). I'm thinking of getting another cat.

[BLiZZaRD]

I know what Trinithis is speaking of. However, you must realize that pet odor follows every pet. When you can walk into a home and smell the animal it is the pet's owner to blame, NOT the pet. As stated I have 2 cats, a RAT, a snake and a dog, and a 150 gallon aquarium with some rather large fish (14 inch plecostomas is the small one) all of which are high on the stink factor scale.

But, as Trinithis, to walk into my house you wouldn't know I even had pets (save for the toys and ice cubes on the floor), let alone 5 + fish.

On the contrary I have been to homes that had one cat, and you would think they ran an indoor emu ranch.

[djr33]

Ha. The cat litter is literally behind the front door of my house. :p

Four cats at home and a varying number of fishtanks (currently 2; was up to 5 at one point). No pets at my apartment for school, though.

I like nice dogs. I don't know too many that I like, though. A few.

[boxxertrumps]

My physics teacher named his cat schrödinger.
He's a giant nerd^H^H^H^Hawsome.

[Twey]

"He's a giant nerd" + backspace * 4 + "awsome." = "He's a giant awsome." Er... 'kay :p I'm a giant awsome too!

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