Hi Hal, thank you for your answer, but I've little more to ask : Le Lundi 01 Août 2005 05:32, Hal Finney a écrit : > Quentin Anciaux writes: > > In all of these discussion, it is really this point that annoy me... What > > is the calculation ? Is it a physical process ? Obviously a calculation > > need time... what is the difference between an abstract calculation (ie: > > one which is done on a sheet of paper or just in your head) with an > > "effective" calculation ? What is the meaning of "instantiating" in a > > block universe view ? > > I am generally of the school that considers that calculations can be > treated as abstract or formal objects, that they can exist without a > physical computer existing to run them.
I completely agree with that... but I have problem with the word "instantiating" in front of an abstract calculation, because if the calculation is abtract that means the calculation just is, no need of instantiation. On the other hand I have still problem with abstract calculation... take for example a mathematic demonstration written on a sheet of paper, it doesn't mean anything if there is no observer to read it and understand it (thereby "instantiating" the calculus in his own mind), what do you think of that ? Quentin
