On 3 June 2015 at 05:47, John Clark <johnkcl...@gmail.com> wrote: > > On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 5:46 PM, LizR <lizj...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > A Turing Machine is actually an *algorithm* >>>> >>> >>> Yes, a algorithm that is a set of instructions that explains how to >>> organize matter that obeys the laws of physics in such a way that it can >>> make any finite calculation. >>> >> >> > It doesn't explain how to organise matter - which is obvious from the >> fact that all sorts of systems can be Turing-universal, >> > > There are many ways to make a computer and Turing's 1936 paper said > nothing about the practicalities and engineering details, but he did prove > that the logical schematic of any computer can be reduced to something that > we now call a Turing Machine; but you can't make a calculation with just a > schematic, you need matter that obeys the laws of physics too. >
But not any specific arrangement. Hence it is contingent. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.