Overview
This lecture presents Dual Kernel Theory (DKT), which claims that reality is defined by the persistence of structures that resist erasure through the interplay of coherence and collapse, contrasting this with traditional philosophical and modern physics views that lean toward anti-realism or illusionism.
Dual Kernel Theory (DKT) Foundations
- DKT posits two primitive operations: K (coherence) and K (erasure).
- K represents reversible, mutual-information-generating processes (e.g., wavefunctions, entanglement).
- K represents irreversible mutual-information deletion (e.g., entropy, measurement).
- Reality emerges at the interface where coherence resists erasure.
- Existence equals persistence against deletion.
Comparison with Major Philosophical Views
- Platonic realism claims eternal Forms; DKT argues nothing persists due to eternity, only through resistance to collapse.
- Kantian transcendentalism sees space/time as mind-imposed; DKT sees them as resilient patterns that have survived erasure.
- Simulationism says reality is a rendering; DKT asserts even simulations require real resistance to erasure—what persists, regardless of substrate, is real.
Responses to Anti-Realism in Modern Physics
- QBism (subjective quantum states): DKT says probabilities are forecasts of collapse, not beliefs.
- Wigner’s Friend paradox: DKT attributes differing accounts to distinct exposure domains; facts index to collapse boundaries.
- Block Universe (static spacetime): DKT sees spacetime as coherence structure; time’s arrow comes from erasure, making both coherence and collapse real.
What DKT Posits as Real
- Reality is the ongoing survival of mutually-informative structures under erasure pressure.
- Invariants (like crystal lattices or orbits) are structures that endure repeated collapse while maintaining patterns.
- Appearances are real as witnessed survival of coherence—qualia are results of mutual information deletion events.
The Born Rule and Probability
- DKT explains quantum probabilities as signatures of mutual information loss under collapse pressure.
- Outcome likelihood depends on mutual information density (MID) and buffering capacity (T).
- Probabilities are structural consequences of collapse, not subjective beliefs.
Empirical Predictions and Tests
- Altering a system’s buffering capacity should shift when collapse occurs.
- Different measurement contexts yield distinct outcome distributions due to specific K couplings.
- Collapse dynamics (coherence vs erasure) should be visible across physical, biological, and informational domains.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Coherence (K) — Reversible, mutual-information-generating process building and sustaining structure.
- Collapse/Erasure (K) — Irreversible deletion or compression of mutual information (entropy, measurement).
- Buffering Capacity (T) — A system’s ability to withstand erasure before collapse occurs.
- Mutual Information Density (MID) — Amount of shared information influencing collapse likelihood.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of persistence and collapse in quantum, biological, or informational systems.
- Reflect on how buffering capacity and context affect measurements or state changes.
- Prepare to discuss or model systems where altering buffering changes observable outcomes.