Quote by Brian Greene
““Even if we choose to use the nonstandard notion of distance and thereby describe the radius as being shorter than the Planck length, the physics we encounter—as discussed in previous sections—will be identical to that of a universe in which the radius, in the conventional sense of distance, is larger than the Planck length””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Fabric of the Cosmos, 2004
Even if we redefine distance to be shorter than the Planck length, the resulting physics is indistinguishable from a universe where the radius is larger in conventional terms.
In simple terms: Redefining distance doesn’t change underlying physics.
Key Takeaway
Changing definitions doesn’t alter physical reality.
Themes
physics
philosophy
science
measurement
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- science writing
- research discussions
- education
Key Concepts
quantum mechanics
scale invariance
theoretical physics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this imply about the limits of scientific language?
- How do we choose useful definitions?
A Different Perspective
Redefinition may obscure practical measurement challenges.
![“MAGNITUDE, n. Size [that is] purely relative. If everything in the universe were increased 1,000 diameters nothing would be any larger than it was before, but if one thing remain unchanged all the others would be larger than they had been.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f8e/ambrose-bierce-140_ifs_magnitude-n-size-that-is-purely-relative_3178885.jpg)
