Abstract
This essay focuses on the nature of reality, whether it’s discrete or continuous. Although space and time seem continuous, they could be discrete at a very tiny scale. Based on quantum mechanics, scientists have calculated the values for lower limits for energy, mass, temperature, length and time, among others. The author gives his reason to favor Loop Quantum Gravity over String Theory and armed with the former he proposes that reality is discrete, saying that a minimum quantity of energy requires a minimum time to be emitted or absorbed during an interaction; such an interaction can make a particle move at least a minimum distance. A model of the universe as a finite state machine is presented and then used to demonstrate how reality could function with discrete time and space. As complex structures appear in the universe, their interactions among themselves and their parts require longer times and distances, so they become unaware of the discreteness of space-time. Finally, the author argues that his finite state machine model for the universe can also function with a continuous space-time, and emphasizes the importance of choosing the theories that make the best predictions in accordance to observation.
Alfonso Treviño