Demons in Science and Philosophy
Conjuring up demons can be a very useful tool in thought experiments
Summoning demons
Thought experiments allow scientists and philosophers to explore hypothetical scenarios and ask one of the most powerful questions in human history: what if?
Even though thought experiments have a long history, the actual term first appeared in the early 19th century in the work of Danish physicist and chemist Hans Christian Ørsted.
Thought experiments can be used to anticipate the outcome of a realistic experiment, but they can also be imagined into life to explore conditions that are not (yet) possible. Maybe the hypothetical worlds involve technology or methods not yet feasible, or maybe the thought experiment is specifically designed to stretch the laws of physics and see where that leads us.
In that latter circumstance, we often require an entity or an agent capable of doing what no one can really do.
Enter demons, powerful beings capable and willing to tickle the foundations of existence. Unlike those in popular culture, demons in thought experiments are not necessarily evil, though they might be skirting the edges of morality on occasion.
