On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 6:04 PM, Stathis Papaioannou <[email protected]> wrote:
> > You've challenged Bruno many times to perform a difficult computation > using his Platonic computer. > Forget difficult, I've challenged Bruno to perform ANY computation with ANY Platonic computer he can find, but he can't add 2 and 2 on ANY Platonic computer, nor can anybody else. > > > Well, that computation is occurring in front of you now in the thermal > motion of the atoms in your desk, which under an appropriate interpretation > are implementing a Turing machine. > The physical wooden desk in front of me is undoubtedly making calculations but it's too complicated and convoluted for me to understand; I don't know the language to ask it questions nor do I know how to read its answers. However there is an object on top of that desk that is just as physical as the desk, it's made by the Apple Corporation and unlike the desk I do know the language to ask it questions and the language to read its answers. > > But you and Bruno don't have that appropriate interpretation, > The difference is I have the appropriate interpretation for **some** physical computers, Bruno has the appropriate interpretation for **no** Platonic computer nor does anybody else. John K Clark > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
