Attributed to Bub
Observation
On the consequences of being noticed.
Filed under: Natural Philosophy · Independent Observers
Observation is not passive.
It is participatory.
Nothing behaves strangely until it realizes it is being watched.
At that point, it begins performing.
The belief that observation merely reveals properties is optimistic.
Observation negotiates them.
Particles, systems, and people alike adjust their conduct
when attention is applied with sufficient seriousness.
The insistence that reality should remain unchanged by scrutiny
ignores centuries of evidence to the contrary.
“Of COURSE particles behave differently when observed;
they don’t like being watched.”
“Of COURSE nothing observed is unaffected by the observer;
that’s why no one can agree on anything.”
“Of COURSE the photon behaves like a particle when it’s being observed;
We ALL behave when we know we’re being watched!”
Filed under
Natural Philosophy · Independent Observers
Related Holdings
Observation does not create uncertainty.
It simply makes it visible.