Well, the fact that at *any* moment the tape is of finite length explains why it can't handle *infinite* numbers... there is nothing funny about that.
Quentin 2012/9/4 William R. Buckley <bill.buck...@gmail.com> > While at any moment the tape may be finite, that it can at need grow is > the fundamental notion of infinite. One can hardly **** > > take a set of LARGE size (like half of the infinite set) and, say by > weighing or by volumetric scale, determine if it is different **** > > from any truly infinite set. The point you make is a subjective one. The > net result of Turing’s specification is that the tape is **** > > infinite, effective (functional) though the definition may be.**** > > ** ** > > wrb**** > > ** ** > > *From:* everything-list@googlegroups.com [mailto: > everything-list@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf Of *Quentin Anciaux > *Sent:* Tuesday, September 04, 2012 9:10 AM > > *To:* everything-list@googlegroups.com > *Subject:* Re: Two reasons why computers IMHO cannot exhibit intelligence* > *** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > 2012/9/4 William R. Buckley <bill.buck...@gmail.com>**** > > Seems funny that Turing “…assumed that machines could not operate with > infinite numbers…” given that the tape is assumed to be infinite.**** > > > Not really infinite but it has no boundaries, it can always extend if > needed. At any given time the used tape is of finite length. > > Quentin > **** > > **** > > wrb**** > > **** > > *From:* everything-list@googlegroups.com [mailto: > everything-list@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf Of *John Clark > *Sent:* Tuesday, September 04, 2012 8:59 AM > *To:* everything-list@googlegroups.com > *Subject:* Re: Two reasons why computers IMHO cannot exhibit intelligence* > *** > > **** > > On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 9:11 AM, benjayk <benjamin.jaku...@googlemail.com> > wrote:**** > > **** > > > Showing scientifically that nature is infinite isn't really possible.*** > * > > > Maybe not. In Turing's proof he assumed that machines could not operate > with infinite numbers, so if there is a theory of everything (and there > might not be) and if you know it and if you can use nothing but that to > show independently of Turing that no machine can solve the Halting Problem > then that would prove that irrational numbers with a infinite number of > digits play no part in the operation of the universe; on the other hand if > this new physical theory shows you how to make such a machine then we'd > know that nature understands and uses infinity. I admit that I used the > word " if " a lot in all that. > > John K Clark > **** > > -- > 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.**** > > -- > 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.**** > > > > > -- > All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.**** > > -- > 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.**** > > -- > 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. > -- All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. -- 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.
