On 6/10/2016 1:23 PM, John Clark wrote:
On Fri, Jun 10, 2016 Brent Meeker <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>wrote:
As I understand it, each branch of the multiverse is analogous to
a branch in simulation. "Bruno" is just a character, a bundle of
attributes, in each simulation. The simulation includes
(simulated) physics as shared consistent thoughts and perceptions
by the simulated characters.
It makes no difference if the physics is simulated or not; a
simulated calculation produces real arithmetic not simulated
arithmetic and a simulated brain will produce real consciousness not
simulated consciousness. Bruno's brain works according to the laws of
simulated physics and
simulated cyanide with stop that simulated brain from working and
thus the consciousness it produces.
Exactly - provided you identify "Bruno" as the person we know in this
branch of the multiverse, rather than as some bundle of attributes that
exist in the infinitely many threads of all possible computations.
For me, the question is whether mathematical "existence" can instantiate
physical existence and conscious existence. You seem to agree above
that a simulated brain produces "real" consciousness. If there are many
simulated brains and the simulation is such that they each have
experiences consistent with the same physics, then will that not be
"real" physics. And the physics and the consciousness will interact
such that poison will stop consciousness.
Bruno just notes that it is commonly assumed that consciousness is
realized by certain computations (i.e. information processing). So if
all possible computations exist (and they do in the mathematical sense)
all possible consciousness streams will exist and among those will be
ones that experience existence in physical consistent worlds. In those
worlds a physical reality will exist just as consciousness exists. One
problem with this idea, which Bruno acknowledges but just regards as a
problem to be solved, is that it is like Boltzmann's brain. The most
common experiences, with probability 1, will not be of consistent
physics. They will be shot through with miracles or even so
inconsistent as to be incomprehensible.
Brent
Brent
>
But there are in other branches.
And the brains in those other branches all operate according to the
laws of physics regardless of if they are simulated or not. If you're
interested in consciousness this simulation business is irrelevant and
so is the question of if mathematics or physics is more fundamental.
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]
<mailto:[email protected]>.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/everything-list.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
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 https://groups.google.com/group/everything-list.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
