> Individual carbon atoms are arguably fairly simple. The word *arguably* being key, I believe.
To wit: Carbon: *Carbon* is the chemical element<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element>with symbol <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_symbol> *C* and atomic number<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_number>6. As a member of group 14 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_14> on the periodic table<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table>, it is nonmetallic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonmetal> and tetravalent<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetravalence>—making four electrons available to form covalent<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covalent_bond> chemical bonds <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_bond>. There are three naturally occurring isotopes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes>, with 12C <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-12> and 13C<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-13>being stable, while 14C <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-14> is radioactive<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive>, decaying with a half-life <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life> of about 5730 years.[9] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon#cite_note-isotopes-8>Carbon is one of the few elements known since antiquity<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoveries_of_the_chemical_elements> .[10] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon#cite_note-9>[11]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon#cite_note-D2-10>The name "carbon" comes from Latin language <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_language> *carbo*, coal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal> . There are several allotropes of carbon<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotropes_of_carbon>of which the best known are graphite <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite>, diamond<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond>, and amorphous carbon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_carbon>.[12]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon#cite_note-therm_prop-11>The physical properties <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_properties> of carbon vary widely with the allotropic form. For example, diamond is highly transparent<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_%28optics%29>, while graphite is opaque <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opacity_%28optics%29>and black. Diamond is among the hardest materials known, while graphite is soft enough to form a streak on paper (hence its name, from the Greek word "to write"). Diamond has a very low electrical conductivity<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductivity>, while graphite is a very good conductor<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductor>. Under normal conditions, diamond has the highest thermal conductivity<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_conductivity>of all known materials<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_thermal_conductivities>. All the allotropic forms are solids under normal conditions but graphite is the most thermodynamically stable<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_equilibrium> . Neutrons: The *neutron* is a subatomic particle<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subatomic_particle>with no net electric charge <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_charge> and a mass<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass>slightly larger than that of a proton <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton>. They are usually found in atomic nuclei <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_nucleus>. The nuclei of most atoms <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom> consist of protons<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton>and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleon>. The number of protons in a nucleus is the atomic number <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_number>and defines the type of element <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element> the atom forms. The number of neutrons is the neutron number<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_number>and determines the isotope <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotope> of an element. For example, the abundant carbon-12 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-12> isotope has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, while the very rare radioactive carbon-14<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-14>isotope has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. While bound neutrons in stable nuclei are stable, free neutrons are unstable; they undergo beta decay <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay>with a mean lifetime <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_lifetime> of just under 15 minutes (885.7±0.8 s).[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron#cite_note-RPP-1>Free neutrons are produced in nuclear fission <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission> and fusion<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion>. Dedicated neutron sources <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_source> like research reactors <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_reactor> and spallation sources <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spallation> produce free neutrons for use in irradiation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irradiation> and in neutron scattering <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_scattering> experiments. Even though it is not a chemical element<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element>, the free neutron is sometimes included in tables of nuclides.[*citation needed <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>*] It is then considered to have an atomic number<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_number>of zero and a mass number <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_number> of one, and is sometimes referred to as neutronium <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutronium>.* * Quarks: *Neutron* [image: Quark structure neutron.svg]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quark_structure_neutron.svg> The quark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quark> structure of the neutron. * Classification:* Baryon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baryon> *Composition: * 1 up quark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_quark>, 2 down quarks<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_quark> *Statistical behavior <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_statistics>:* Fermion <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermion> *Group:* Hadron<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadron> *Interaction <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_interaction>:* Gravity <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity>, Weak<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_interaction>, Strong <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_interaction> *Symbol(s):* n, n⁰, N⁰ *Antiparticle <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiparticle>:* Antineutron<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antineutron> *Theorized:* Ernest Rutherford<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Rutherford> [1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron#cite_note-1935_Nobel_Prize_in_Physics-0>(1920) *Discovered:* James Chadwick <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Chadwick>[1 ]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron#cite_note-1935_Nobel_Prize_in_Physics-0>(1932) *Mass <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invariant_mass>:* 1.67492729(28)×10−27 kg <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram> 939.565560(81) MeV/*c*2<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronvolt#As_a_unit_of_mass> 1.0086649156(6) u <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_mass_unit>[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron#cite_note-RPP-1> *Mean lifetime <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_lifetime>:* 885.7(8) s ( free <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_neutron>) *Electric charge<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_charge> :* 0 e <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_charge> 0 C <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb> *Electric dipole moment<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_dipole_moment> :* <2.9×10−26 e·cm *Electric polarizability<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizability> :* 1.16(15)×10−3 fm3 *Magnetic moment<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_moment> :* −1.9130427(5) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_magnetic_moment> μN<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_magneton> *Magnetic polarizability<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magnetic_polarizability&action=edit&redlink=1> :* 3.7(20)×10−4 fm3 *Spin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_%28physics%29> :* 1⁄2 *Isospin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isospin>:* 1⁄2 *Parity<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parity_%28physics%29> :* +1 *Condensed:* *I <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isospin>*(*J<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_angular_momentum> **P <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrinsic_parity>*) = 1⁄2(1⁄2+) And so on. I imagine you are starting to get the point. That point being: we appear to have yet another quest to provide an overly simple "Theory Of Everything" approach to answering a question which is basically meaningless without a solid context. Unless, of course, the goal is to launch into another round of deeply philosophical discussion that will provide little actual product. Silly me. Of *course* that was the goal... --Doug ** On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 11:14 AM, Russ Abbott <[email protected]> wrote: > I agree that the key has to do with relations -- and that this is related > to emergence. > > Individual carbon atoms are arguably fairly simple. But carbon atoms in > relationship either with each other or with other things form extraordinary > structures. In some sense those structures were hidden from us (at least not > visible to us) when we looked just at individual carbon atoms (and they may > appear surprising when we first encounter them -- one of the less important > properties of emergence in my view). > > Similarly number theory depends on relationships -- such as the addition > relation, the multiplication relation, etc. -- that we impose on the > individual numbers. > > Having taken the step to acknowledge the importance of relationships, the > next question is: what sorts of relationships does a domain allow. That is, > what enduring structures can be imposed on a domain? For the naturals, a > structure is enduring if it can be defined. Once defined there is nothing to > break it apart. It doesn't deteriorate with time. For physical elements a > structure is enduring if it persists without the need to be held together by > external imposed forces. > > -- Russ > > On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 9:53 AM, Marcus G. Daniels > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Steve Smith wrote: >> >>> You ask "why", he asks "why ask why", I ask "why ask why ask why". >>> >> A recursive function definition requires a base case for escape. Doug >> provides that case. >> >> Marcus >> >> >> ============================================================ >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >> > > > > > -- Russ Abbott > ______________________________________ > > Professor, Computer Science > California State University, Los Angeles > > cell: 310-621-3805 > blog: http://russabbott.blogspot.com/ > vita: http://sites.google.com/site/russabbott/ > ______________________________________ > > > > On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 10:09 AM, Douglas Roberts <[email protected]>wrote: > >> string why() >> { >> while (!why()) >> { >> why(); >> } >> } >> >> >> (string theory search) >> >> >> On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 10:53 AM, Marcus G. Daniels <[email protected] >> > wrote: >> >>> Steve Smith wrote: >>> >>>> You ask "why", he asks "why ask why", I ask "why ask why ask why". >>>> >>> A recursive function definition requires a base case for escape. Doug >>> provides that case. >>> >>> Marcus >>> >>> >>> ============================================================ >>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> ============================================================ >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >> > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org > -- Doug Roberts [email protected] [email protected] 505-455-7333 - Office 505-670-8195 - Cell
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