-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Nicholas Thompson wrote: > One point that slipped by in the hail of ">>>>>'s" was a distinction > that somebody made between simulation and mathematics. While I am > asking REALLY dumb questions, I wanted somebody to explain to me how > ALGEBRA is not a kind of simulation?
Algebra is analogous to source code (and its language). Where the source code can describe what a simulation is supposed to do, it is not the simulation, itself. Both algebra and source code are [de|pre]scriptions for a machine. But, for the [de|pre]scription to be realized, a machine has to actually push real stuff around (e.g. electrons). If real stuff isn't being pushed around, you don't have a simulation. Now, a calculating machine that assists in (or does by itself) algebraic transforms can be considered a simulation. But, there's a remaining property of simulations in that they must _represent_ some other thing, a referent. Unless the symbols being manipulated by the calculating machine refer to the properties/variables of some referent, then it's not a simulation... it's just a computation. And your questions are not tedious at all. - -- glen e. p. ropella, 971-219-3846, http://tempusdictum.com A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trust either of them. -- P. J. O'Rourke -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGqK/hZeB+vOTnLkoRAgJLAKC5NouWX23cLbXdDcwCGyxzCavcAwCgqmiX bb47i84u3p238hNwdO/FwpI= =enoJ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
