We spend a lot of time talking about the material world or the physical world and the possibility of a world that isn't one or the other of those. But what do these concepts really mean?
For example, material is defined to be 'relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter'.
Physical, on the other hand, is defined as 'of, or relating to, natural science' but also 'of, or relating to, material things'
Are these definitions sufficient? Are the two concepts the same? How do we determine if something is 'material'? How it is 'physical'?
For example, everyone pretty much agrees that a piece of rock is physical. But so is air. So are atoms. And all of these are material also.
But is light material? Is it physical? How about electrons? individual photons? Quarks? Dark matter? Dark energy?
For example, material is defined to be 'relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter'.
Physical, on the other hand, is defined as 'of, or relating to, natural science' but also 'of, or relating to, material things'
Are these definitions sufficient? Are the two concepts the same? How do we determine if something is 'material'? How it is 'physical'?
For example, everyone pretty much agrees that a piece of rock is physical. But so is air. So are atoms. And all of these are material also.
But is light material? Is it physical? How about electrons? individual photons? Quarks? Dark matter? Dark energy?