On 9/20/2012 11:02 AM, Craig Weinberg wrote:
Here's another reductio ad absurdum illustration of comp.
If the version of comp we are discussing here is independent of
physics, then shouldn't it be possible for us to program universal
machines using only empty space? Length can be quantified, so why
can't we just use millimeters or Planck lengths as the basis for our
enumeration, addition, and multiplication and directly program from
our mind to space?
Of course, it would be hard to know where it was because we would be
constantly flying away from a space that was anchored to an absolute
position independent of Earth, the solar system, Milky Way, etc, but
that shouldn't matter anyhow since whatever method we use to directly
program in empty space with our minds should also give us access to
the results of the computations.
What do you think? Just as wafers of silicon glass could in theory be
functionally identical to a living brain, wouldn't it be equally
prejudiced to say that empty space isn't good enough to host the
computations of silicon?
Craig
Hey Craig,
What do you think physical computers actually are? "universal
machines using only empty space". But Nature hates a vacuum...
--
Onward!
Stephen
http://webpages.charter.net/stephenk1/Outlaw/Outlaw.html
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