Very nice, thought-provoking post. Those two experiments and quantum mechanics in general also compel us to consider the nature of light ... or to consider the nature of reality in terms of the nature of light.
Since light is a wave when unobserved, and a particle when observed, might it not be that all particles (which we observe) are actually, inherently, essentially light?
Such a concept involves a major leap across an incomprehensible chasm from our all-too-human existence, but it's worth considering. And that kinda hints at what many poets / mystics say when they state that "We are children of light," or "We are the light" or "Our home is in the light."
We can look at it from the limited perspective of our 5 senses, and assert that we are only material beings composed of dust and water (mud!). Or we can realize that this material world is something that we perceive only through our 5 senses – and that there's much more beyond what our senses can perceive.
Ultimately, to assume that the 5 senses of a race of humanoids on a tiny planet in the far off reaches of a corner of the universe can tell us what reality consists of is a bit presumptuous.
So, when the mystics and the quantum physicists hint that there's more to reality than what our senses can discern, I listen to them. And try to "understand" that there's so much more reality beyond our limited perception. Maybe, someday, we will grow and evolve to a point where we will "see" the true nature of reality. And the true nature of light.
Let there be light. :-)
This is very interesting. And I agree completely that we just cannot comprehend reality to it's fullest degree. We could very well be surrounded by other forms of life but we are unable perceive them at all due to our limited senses.
This reminds me of another thought I had... When trying to understand the limitations of our senses, I have been using insects as an example. Imagine you are a beatle, walking on a log. Your whole world is just searching for food and shelter. Now, asking humans to comprehend reality is like asking that beatle to understand how a combustion engine inside the airplane flying above works. The beatle has no possibility of ever understanding. It just cannot comprehend it.
Exactly. Most physicists now believe that there are 11 dimensions (not only our 4 dimensions, including space-time). Can you comprehend that??!
Also, Michio Kaku, in his great book Hyperspace, has a thought experiment similar to your beetle story. He realized that fish, swimming around in the water, would / could have no conception of the world outside of the water. Y'know, the world of our reality.
And he said that if one of the fish was caught by you and pulled out of the water, all the other fish would believe he had completely vanished. And they could prove that he did vanish, just by searching the entire lake.
Then, when you threw the fish back, all the other fish would be very shocked at his sudden reappearance.
And when the fish told them about this whole other world "outside of the water," they would not be able to believe him,
Makes you wonder if we are just fish swimming around, unable to get out of our "water."
I love that analogy! Quite thought-provoking!