More a priori

The expression “a priori” that seemed to be a favorite of Albert Einstein means essentially, derived through the process of reasoning. It is akin to the process employed by the author of the book of Ecclesiastes of the Old Testament wherein the author determined a priori that without the concept of creation, everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind. It is akin to the process used to establish that all things in the universe are made of atoms that are in turn the assembly of electrons, protons, neutrons, and the energy that bind those components to give atoms their physical and behavioral characteristics as well as their ability to behave, and subsequently the physical and behavioral characteristics of all things. Without that a priori derived basis, everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind.
So it is in the pursuit of understanding when considering the principles of physics. Meaning is forthcoming when a priori is allowed to work. For example; the mysterious process by which heat and light are produced when electrons are forced to move from atom to atom in the filament of a light bulb are made meaningful when a priori is applied without biased restrictions. Consider that the physical composition of light bulbs remain unchanged with nothing additional admitted to cause the production of heat and light except electrons where the same number of electrons exit as enters the bulb so it is not the electrons that are consumed in the production of the heat and light. Further, since the energy applied to produce movement of electrons through the electrical power system is consumed by that action, it is not available to be consumed in the bulb to produce heat and light. However, since the links of force that bind electrons in the formation of the atoms of which the lamp filament is made are fragmented when electrons are moved from atom to atom, it must be concluded a priori that it is the energy of those binding links that is released in the form of heat and light.
While the example conclusion provides some understanding of the phenomena involved in the production of light and heat, it does not explain why, if heat and light have a common source, they have different behavioral characteristics. Continuation of the a priori process to establish an explanation begins by considering that the electron binding links involve the principles of gravitational attraction developed by Sir Isaac Newton. Newton’s theory states essentially that; inherent in every body (assembly of atoms) is an “affinity” for another body (assembly of atoms) with the strength of that “affinity” in proportion to the mass of the constituent components of the body in each instance. Newton established that the “affinity” force originated from the core center of the mass of which the assembly is made. Then a priori, it stands that each proton or neutron would have an originating center for its inherent “affinity” force and that each assembly of protons and neutrons and electrons (atoms) would then each have an “affinity” center. The concept of multiple centers from which gravitational force is exerted was defined by August Mobius (1790–1868) as a barycenter. NASA explains the term barycenter at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/baryctr.shtml and Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/barycenter.
Including the barycenter concept into the light bulb analogy establishes a priori that there are two binding links fragmented as each electron is moved from atom to atom along the lamp filament. There is a weaker constant strength link (producing heat) that binds the electron to a proton barycenter/core-center and a varying strength atom specific link (producing light) that binds the electron to the atom barycenter/core-enter. It is the later varying strength atom specific binding link that produces a variation in light color peculiar to each type atom.
Meaninglessness associated with the heat/light phenomenon is considerably diminished with the preceding explanation. Any remaining meaninglessness is removed by continuing the a priori process to track the source of the “affinity” producing force by recognizing a procession of barycenters/core-centers passing through the assembly of the Universe, first through the center of the Earth, then the Sun, then the Milky Way and eventually the center of the Universe itself from whence a priori, the energy fundamental to physics originates. Beyond that point, a priori deals with matters in the realm of religion.