metonymy4u

Consider the law of entropy. If one subtends a randomly chosen and energetically isolated set of points in space, it will be generally observed that the molecules will adopt a more heterogeneous arrangement over time (order decreases). But if one does not choose a random set of points, instead selecting all the points enclosed by the skin of a living creature for example, one will note that this process does not occur (order is maintained). Note that the result depends very much on the initial choice: choose randomness and randomness will be observed, choose order and order will be observed. The observation depends very much on the region of the universe observed.

We can now understand the 2nd law of thermodynamics as nothing more than the assumption that the entropy of the universe is increasing. Taken from a different perspective, the situation looks different. Likewise, Einstein famously observed that Newton’s universal law of gravitation did not hold for bodies free falling in a gravitational field. Again, the choice of perspective affects the outcome of the observations. To put it another way, the system observed influences the features taken into consideration when formulating our “laws,” which are indeed nothing more than assumptions about which portion of the universe is more or less “important” to us in the moment. In this way the brain appears to discover the synthetic a priori grounds of its conclusions. From a different perspective, however, it appears that what is discovered is merely a predilection to see in a certain way. This is what Nietzsche meant, I think, when he spoke of the prejudices of philosophers. That our choice of words is influenced by our habits of living. And just like choosing to run or swim, grab a hammer or a saw, our choice of words has nothing inherently to do with truth in an absolute sense. We would never say that running was true, merely that it is more or less useful. Why then would we ever believe that a word is true? Is the hammer truer that builds the house or starts the war?