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Old 18-09-2011, 02:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sjastro View Post

By phenomenological it means that classical physics is built on explaining observation and experimental data without necessarily providing a mechanism.

For example the apple falling from a tree is explained by gravity, yet Newton's theory of gravitation provides no clues as to what causes gravity.
Yes.. phenomenological... or, maybe the better term might be behavioural..

However, QM - while cutting much, much deeper into mechanisms of nature - still doesn't provide explanation as to what causes gravity, or electrical charge, what indeed is elementary particle... and why they are elementary (IF they are).
So, we can say that even QM is an approximation of "higher level" physics (strings? or something entirely different..), without conflicts again of course.
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