On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 7:08 AM, 1Z <peterdjo...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > On Jul 22, 6:24 am, Jason Resch <jasonre...@gmail.com> wrote: > > On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 11:30 PM, meekerdb <meeke...@verizon.net> wrote: > > > ** > > > On 7/21/2011 8:08 PM, Jason Resch wrote: > > > > > On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 9:29 PM, meekerdb <meeke...@verizon.net> > wrote: > > > > >> On 7/21/2011 1:16 PM, Jason Resch wrote: > > > > >> On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 1:30 PM, meekerdb <meeke...@verizon.net> > wrote: > > > > >>> On 7/21/2011 11:03 AM, Jason Resch wrote: > > > > >>> On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 10:54 AM, meekerdb <meeke...@verizon.net> > wrote: > > > > >>>> On 7/21/2011 2:27 AM, Bruno Marchal wrote: > > > > >>>>> Axiomatics are already in Platonia so of course that forces > computation > > >>>>>> to be there. > > > > >>>>> The computations are concrete relations. > > > > >>>> If the are concrete then we should be able to point to them. > > > > >>> If your mind is a computer, you don't even need to point to them, > > >>> everything you see and experience is direct evidence of the existence > of the > > >>> computation implementing your mind. > > > > >>> Also, I don't think the "point test" works for everything that has a > > >>> concrete existence. How would a many-worlder point to the other > branches of > > >>> the wave function, or an eternalist point to the past? How would an > AI or > > >>> human in a virtual environment point to the concrete computer that is > > >>> rendering its environment? > > > > >>>> They don't need axioms to exist. Then the numbers relation can be > > >>>>> described by some axiomatic. > > > > >>>> And one can regard the numbers as defined by their relations. So > the > > >>>> "fundamental ontology" of numbers is reduced to a description of > relations. > > > > >>> Is a chair the same thing as a description of a chair, or an idea of > a > > >>> chair? > > > > >>>> The is no need to suppose they exist in the sense of tables and > chairs. > > > > >>> Assume both matter and number relations exist. With comp, the > existence > > >>> of number relations explains the existence of matter, > > > > >>> That's the question. It seems that comp requires more than the > > >>> existence of number relations, it requires the existence of a UD or > > >>> equivalent. > > > > >> The Fibonacci sequence is, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, > 144... > > >> It is defined by the simple number relation Fib(n) = Fib(n-1) + > Fib(n-2). > > >> This is a simple recursive definition. You might even say the number > line > > >> has a simple recursive definition, where Number(n) = Number(n-1) + 1. > > >> Different recursive definitions result in different sequences of > numbers > > >> (different ways of progressing through the integers). In some of > these > > >> definitions, bits patterns (within the number) may move around in well > > >> defined ways, > > > > >> There's the rub. Nothing changes in Platonia. Nothing "moves > around" or > > >> "computes". Bit patterns are physical things, like 101101. Numbers > are > > >> not. > > > > > Nothing changes in physics either. Block time is the only consistent > view > > > given relativity. > > > > > Different t ==> different g_ab. > > > > Different N ==> different Fib(N) > > > > > That's change in physics. Anyway, GR must be incomplete since it's not > > > compatible with QM. > > > > All the relevant parts of relativity which imply block time have been > > confirmed. The above is like arguing against gravity because Newton's > > theory wasn't compatible with the observations of Mercury's orbit. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Things don't need to move to compute, there just need to be well > defined > > > relations between the bits. > > > > >> some of these bit patterns become self-reproducing, and may even > evolve > > >> into more complex bit patterns, which are better able to reproduce > > >> themselves. Some of these bit patterns may even evolve consciousness, > as > > >> they build brains which attempt to discern and predict future > observations > > >> of bit patterns within the number. Let's call this function Universe. > > >> There may be bit patterns (life forms) in Universe(n) which improve > their > > >> survival or reproductive success by correctly predicting parts of > > >> Universe(n+x). There are number relations which define such sequences > of > > >> numbers; you cannot deny their existence without denying the Fibonacci > > >> sequence or the number line (these are just simpler instances of > recursive > > >> relations). > > > > >> I can deny that the numbers exist the way tables and do and still > accept > > >> that certain relations are true of them; just like I can accept that > John > > >> Watson was a friend of Sherlock Holmes. > > > > > Numbers, unlike fictional characters, are co-eternal with the universe, > if > > > not the cause of the universe. > > > > > That assumes numbers exist. > > > > It is no worse than assuming the physical universe exists. Both theories > > are consistent with observation. > > > > > > > > > In that sense, they are just as concrete if not more concrete than > any > > > physical object. Your view is like that of a being who has spent its > whole > > > life in a simulated virtual environment: It believes the virtual > reality and > > > items in it are "more real" than the actual computer which implements > the > > > virtual environment. The beings only justification for this belief is > that > > > he can't access that computer using his senses, nor point is he able to > > > point to it. > > > > > That's logically possible and maybe nomologically possible - but > there's > > > also not an iota of evidence for it. > > > > There is not one iota for evidence that matter is primary. > > > > On the other hand, mathematical truth seems to exist independently of > > mathematicians, humans, and the universe itself. > > Mathematical truth seems to be true independently of humans. > It doens't seem to exist at all. We see things , not numbers. > Of course, if the mathematical world is basically non existent, > it would not covary with any else that existed. >
Much exists independently of humans that we cannot access with our senses. Beyond the cosmological horizon, the past and future, other branches of the wave function, and so on. Luckily, we are able to use our reasoning to access math, and it seems statements that are true, were true before we realized it or found a reason for it to be true. > > > > So my view is *also* like that of a being who has spent his whole > life in > > > this material universe. My justification for believing this (to the > limited > > > extent I do) is that it is a model consistent with everything known and > has > > > been successful all its predictions, from what I'll find in my > refrigerator > > > if I look, to the spectra of emissions of galaxies at z=20. The idea > that > > > I'm living in a computer simulation predicts everything and nothing. > > > > How is that any different from the idea of living in a physical universe > > predicting everything and nothing? > > > > Also, I am not suggesting that you are in a computer simulation, only you > > can't be sure our universe isn't a program or set of infinite program > > proceeding platonically as number relations. > > > > Jason > There's no Platonic proceding. > > Would you say the Fibonacci sequence does not have a progression? If there were a life form (pattern) embedded in successive states of a recursive function, would it not consider itself to be proceeding as it noticed itself change through successive states? Jason -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
