The problem I have with the "universe is a computer" claim is like this:
AI/AGI is tough. It is not clear how AGI could run on a Turing machine, thus some people think it will take a super-Turing machine, but this still falls under the definition of computer to some people, since it seems like some people define computer as just some mechanism that does something according to some rules. The human brain has also been declared a computer. Now if we then declare ALL of reality to be a computer, that is, the "universe is a computer," then suddenly we seem to have solved the AGI problem, since if the universe is a computer, the AGI is thus by that stroke computational. Then it becomes just a problem of figuring out what the computations are. The problem I have with that, if I have it "right" is that there seems to be some wild leaps and conflations going on. I guess I wish people would reign in what they mean by computer. On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 5:46 PM, Steve Richfield <[email protected]>wrote: > Piaget, et al, > > On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 5:21 PM, Piaget Modeler > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> I like to think of the movie "The Matrix". >> > > The book *The Eden Cycle* is along the same line, but **MUCH** better and > definitely worth the read. Everyone I know who has read it now looks at > life a bit differently. > > How can you disprove that we exist in an elegant simulation? >> > > Better yet, does it make any difference?!!! > > Steve > ============= > >> > From: [email protected] >> > Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 14:26:18 -0700 >> > Subject: [agi] "The universe is a computer" >> > To: [email protected] >> >> > >> > I guess I don't really understand the claim that the "universe is a >> > computer." The definition of computer keeps getting pushed out, it >> > seems, to encompass anything that operates according to any rules at >> > all. Originally Turing called the "Computer" a guy who worked in a >> > desultory fashion, just following his procedures. >> > >> > http://www.kurzweilai.net/reality-is-a-computer-projection-physicists >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------------------- >> > AGI >> > Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now >> > RSS Feed: >> https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/19999924-5cfde295 >> > Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; >> >> > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com >> *AGI* | Archives <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now> >> <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/10443978-6f4c28ac> | >> Modify <https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;> Your Subscription >> <http://www.listbox.com> >> > > > > -- > Full employment can be had with the stoke of a pen. Simply institute a six > hour workday. That will easily create enough new jobs to bring back full > employment. > > > *AGI* | Archives <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now> > <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/11943661-d9279dae> | > Modify<https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;>Your Subscription > <http://www.listbox.com> > ------------------------------------------- AGI Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/21088071-c97d2393 Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=21088071&id_secret=21088071-2484a968 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
