Recently we all celebrated the birthday of the celebrated Austrian physical theorist (Well Google did, so that must mean everyone, as everyone uses Google, bar Apple fanatics and some obscure tribes of the Brazilian rainforest). Schrodinger became renowned for his theory regarding the possible demise of a hypothetical cat in a tense nuclear standoff reminiscent of the cold war. The moggie's very existence hung on a random (and therefore unguessable) fatal event that may or may not occur, resulting in the concluding logic that the cat could be both dead or alive at the same time.
It could be argued that any cat stuck in a box would make such noise and caffufflement, that it’s continued existence would be in no doubt. Or perhaps it would expire from suffocation anyway?
The same can be said of my previous hospital appointment. It has been cancelled and rescheduled twice, as if placed in the diary by some mad scientist.
The continued existence of my impending surgery could have been organised by Herr Schrodinger himself. It has been moved twice now, and a further appointment has been postponed until a later date.
It may or may not take place. In physical terms the appointment exists, both in paper and in the "system", but it is as likely to be cancelled as it is likely to proceed. The probability suggests that it will be cancelled, like the previous two. Or the procedure will proceed.
I shall await both the probable and improbable outcomes. The logical conclusion to this query is that I bring along my own cat to the appointment, and see if it gets cancelled. The certain survival of a real cat at the appointment will influence the probability somewhat. Or perhaps some other random unforeseeable event will occur and disrupt both the medical staff, the cat and myself.
It could be argued that any cat stuck in a box would make such noise and caffufflement, that it’s continued existence would be in no doubt. Or perhaps it would expire from suffocation anyway?
The same can be said of my previous hospital appointment. It has been cancelled and rescheduled twice, as if placed in the diary by some mad scientist.
The continued existence of my impending surgery could have been organised by Herr Schrodinger himself. It has been moved twice now, and a further appointment has been postponed until a later date.
It may or may not take place. In physical terms the appointment exists, both in paper and in the "system", but it is as likely to be cancelled as it is likely to proceed. The probability suggests that it will be cancelled, like the previous two. Or the procedure will proceed.
I shall await both the probable and improbable outcomes. The logical conclusion to this query is that I bring along my own cat to the appointment, and see if it gets cancelled. The certain survival of a real cat at the appointment will influence the probability somewhat. Or perhaps some other random unforeseeable event will occur and disrupt both the medical staff, the cat and myself.
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