On Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 03:12:31PM -0700, David Nyman wrote: > This paper presents some intriguing ideas on consciousness, computation and > the MWI, including an argument against the possibility of consciousness > supervening on any single deterministic computer program (Bruno might find > this interesting). Any comments on its cogency? > > http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0208038 > > David >
I've done a partial read of this paper, and already in section 5 I see a problem. In section 5, Eastmond attempts to derive a paradox from the assumption of an infinite number of observer moments in a lifetime (as might be the case with quantum immortality, for example). He starts with a mapping between the lifetime of OMs and the rational numbers between 0 & 1. Then he argues that in observing one's current observer moment, determining which half of the unit interval the OM is mapped to gives 1 bit of information. Further subdividing the interval gives, of course, more bits of information. He then concludes that an infinite number of bits of information is needed to specify the OM. The paradox is derived by using Cantor's argument to show that there are an uncountable number of infinite length bitstrings, many more than the OMs. The problem with this argument is that all rational numbers, when expressed in base2, ultimately end in a repeating tail. In decimal notation, we write dots above the digits that repeat. Once the recurring tail has been reached, no further bits of information is required to specify the rational number. Another way of looking at it is that all rational numbers can be specified as two integers - a finite amount of information. I notice this paper is an 02 arXiv paper, so rather old. It hasn't been through peer review AFAICT. There was a bit of a critique of it on Math Forum, but that degenerated pretty fast. Cheers -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Principal, High Performance Coders Visiting Professor of Mathematics hpco...@hpcoders.com.au University of New South Wales http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 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.
