Minisuperspace In quantum gravity, the phase space is infinite dimensional as we are dealing with a field theory. An approximation which is sometimes taken is to only consider the largest wavelength modes of the order of the size of the universe when studying cosmological models. This is the minisuperspace approximation. The validity of this approximation holds as long as the adiabatic approximation holds. An example would be to only consider the scale factor and Hubble constant for a Friedman-Robertson-Walker model.
Esotericism Esotericism (or esoterism) signifies the holding of esoteric opinions or beliefs,[1] that is, ideas preserved or understood by a small group of those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest.[2] The term derives from the Greek, either from the comparative ἐσώτερος (esôteros), "inner", or from its derived adjective ἐσωτερικός (esôterikos), "pertaining to the innermost".[3] The term can also refer to the academic study of esoteric religious movements and philosophies, or to the study of those religious movements and philosophies whose proponents distinguish their beliefs, practices, and experiences from mainstream exoteric and more dogmatic institutionalized traditions.[4] Although esotericism refers to an exploration of the hidden meanings and symbolism in various philosophical, historical, and religious texts, the texts themselves are often central to mainstream religions. Etymology[edit] Definition[edit] History[edit] Methodology[edit] Wouter J. Pierre A. Leo Strauss[edit]
C++ Notes: Reading Text Files Reading a text file is very easy using an ifstream (input file stream). Include the necessary headers. #include <fstream> using namespace std; Declare an input file stream (ifstream) variable. For example, ifstream inFile; Open the file stream. Path names in MS Windows use backslashes (\).
Philosopher's stone Legendary alchemical substance History[edit] Antiquity[edit] The earliest known written mention of the philosophers' stone is in the Cheirokmeta by Zosimos of Panopolis (c. 300 AD).[2] Alchemical writers assign a longer history. Middle Ages[edit] Early medieval alchemists built upon the work of Zosimos in the Byzantine Empire and the Arab empires. In the 11th century, there was a debate among Muslim world chemists on whether the transmutation of substances was possible. According to legend, the 13th-century scientist and philosopher Albertus Magnus is said to have discovered the philosophers' stone. Renaissance to early modern period[edit] The Squared Circle: an alchemical symbol (17th century) illustrating the interplay of the four elements of matter symbolising the philosophers' stone The English philosopher Sir Thomas Browne in his spiritual testament Religio Medici (1643) identified the religious aspect of the quest for the philosopher's Stone when declaring: Properties[edit] Names[edit]
Some paradoxes - an anthology Quantum Cosmology The physical laws that govern the universe prescribe how an initial state evolves with time. In classical physics, if the initial state of a system is specified exactly then the subsequent motion will be completely predictable. In quantum physics, specifying the initial state of a system allows one to calculate the probability that it will be found in any other state at a later time. Cosmology attempts to describe the behaviour of the entire universe using these physical laws. Inflation (a period of accelerating expansion in the very early universe) is now accepted as the standard explanation of several cosmological problems. The second contender for a theory of initial conditions is quantum cosmology, the application of quantum theory to the entire universe. In non-gravitational physics the approach to quantum theory that has proved most successful involves mathematical objects known as path integrals. The path integral formulation of quantum gravity has many mathematical problems.
Hoʻoponopono Hoʻoponopono (ho-o-pono-pono) is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Similar forgiveness practices were performed on islands throughout the South Pacific, including Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand. Traditionally hoʻoponopono is practiced by healing priests or kahuna lapaʻau among family members of a person who is physically ill. Modern versions are performed within the family by a family elder, or by the individual alone. Polynesian antecedents[edit] In many Polynesian cultures, it is believed that a person's errors (called hara or hala) caused illness. Among the islands of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, people believe that illness usually is caused by sexual misconduct or anger. Like many other islanders, including Hawaiians, people of Tikopia in the Solomon Islands, and on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, believe that the sins of the father will fall upon the children. Traditional practice[edit] A lei made from the fruit of the hala or pandanus tree. Ritual[edit]
Rosary of the Philosophers Woodcut illustrating the illuminatio stage, captioned "Here Sol plainly dies again, And is drowned with the Mercury of the Philosophers." The Rosary of the Philosophers (Rosarium philosophorum sive pretiosissimum donum Dei) is a 16th-century alchemical treatise. It was published in 1550 as part II of De Alchimia Opuscula complura veterum philosophorum (Frankfurt). The term rosary in the title is unrelated to the Catholic prayer beads; it refers to a "rose garden", metaphoric of an anthology or collection of wise sayings. The 1550 print includes a series of 20 woodcuts with German-language captions, plus a title page showing a group of philosophers disputing about the production of the lapis philosophorum. The Artis auriferae, printed in 1572 in Basel, reproduced the 20 illustrations as re-cut woodcuts. Manuscripts[edit] The Latin text also survives in numerous manuscripts, none of them predating the 1550 print edition. late 16th century Glasgow University Library MS. Translations[edit]
Emerald Tablet Alchemical and Hermetic text An imaginative 17th-century depiction of the Emerald Tablet from the work of Heinrich Khunrath, 1606. The Emerald Tablet, also known as the Smaragdine Tablet or the Tabula Smaragdina (Latin, from the Arabic: لَوْح الزُّمُرُّذ, Lawḥ al-zumurrudh), is a compact and cryptic Hermetic text. Medieval and early modern alchemists associated the Emerald Tablet with the creation of the philosophers' stone and the artificial production of gold.[2] It has also been popular with nineteenth and twentieth century occultists and esotericists, among whom the expression "as above, so below" (a modern paraphrase of the second verse of the Tablet) has become an often cited motto. Textual history[edit] Arabic versions of the tablet text[edit] From pseudo-Apollonius of Tyana's Sirr al-khalīqa (c. 750–850)[edit] From the Kitāb Usṭuqus al-uss al-thānī (ca. 850–950) attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan[edit] From the pseudo-Aristotelian Sirr al-asrār (tenth century)[edit] Influence[edit]
10 Websites To Make You Think | The Online Learning Blog from Study2U Supposedly browsing the internet requires more brain power than watching television. Although judging from some of the websites we’ve come across that assumption is cast into doubt. Here’s some of the sites we like that might get your brain to sit up and listen. Ted A conference that started in 1984 bringing together experts in technology, entertainment and design quickly grew into so much more. New Scientist The New Scientist website carries new articles from the magazine as well as the NS archive of over 76,000 pieces. Big Think The Big Think website is a collection of ‘global thought leaders’ who offer their thoughts and analysis on world events and other important developments. Café Scientifque ‘for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology’ Breathing Earth This fantastic website by David Bleja demonstrates CO2 emissions and world population growth in real time on a global map. Arts & Letters Daily How Stuff Works
David Icke David Vaughan Icke (/aɪk/; IKE, born 29 April 1952) is an English writer, public speaker and former professional footballer. He promotes conspiracy theories about global politics and has written extensively about them. He nevertheless continued to develop his ideas, and in four books published over seven years – The Robots' Rebellion (1994), And the Truth Shall Set You Free (1995), The Biggest Secret (1999), and Children of the Matrix (2001) – set out a worldview that combined New-Age spiritualism with a denunciation of totalitarian trends in the modern world. Michael Barkun has described Icke's position as "New Age conspiracism," writing that he is the most fluent of the conspiracist genre. Biography[edit] Early life and education[edit] Icke was born in Leicester General Hospital to Beric Vaughan Icke and Barbara J. After the war, Beric became a clerk in the Gents' clock factory, and the family lived in a terraced house on Lead Street, near Wharf Street in the centre of Leicester.
Shi'ur Qomah Shi’ur Qomah (Hebrew: שיעור קומה, lit. Divine Dimensions or Elevation Gate) is a Midrashic text that is part of the Heichalot literature. It purports to record, in anthropomorphic terms, the secret names and precise measurements of God’s corporeal limbs and parts. The majority of the text is recorded in the form of sayings or teachings that the angel Metatron revealed to the Tannaic Sage, Rabbi Yishmael who transmitted it to his students and his contemporary Rabbi Akiva. It is also an exegetical analysis of Song of Songs 5:11-16 and proclaims that anyone who studies it is guaranteed a portion in Olam HaBa (the World to Come).[1] Provenance & Rabbinic Understanding[edit] Currently the text exists only in fragmentary form, and scholars have debated how to appropriately date it. Notes and references[edit] See also[edit] External links[edit]