I can't state an abstract principle as to why a Matrix couldn't be realized in real life. [see thread between Charles and Ravi below]
My chip in on this is that the granularity of connections and the probability of any next connection depolarising and passing a stimullation onto the next neurone in the human brain goes right down to the atomic and subatomic level, not excluding the possibility of probabilistic events at the quantum level.
Computers can model fuzzy logic, but even here it will be by a precise algorithm which will not be fuzzy, although the interactive effects could, yes, lead to emergent properties, and the possibility of sudden phase changes in the overall configuration of the interactions of the system, fully consistent with phase changes described in classical chaos theory.
The "Matrix" (which I have not seen) is a shrewdly judged science fiction fantasy. However in group analytic theory a matrix is used to mean a representation of the group interactions in which each individual plays a part that arises out of the network of communication. Thus a small group has a "group matrix". This is created by the individuals over a number of sessions, in which they draw also from their "foundation matrix" of associations of a psychosocial nature from their social background and experience.
Clearly there are no points of absolute separation in such a model of human matrixes, and as we almost all interact directly or indirectly on a world scale, except for a few remainining isolated tribes, and people sunk in a life of spiritual meditation or in psychosis, what is happening under the economic march of the globalisation of finance capitalism is the ever more powerful emergence of a world matrix (small "m") of human mental interconnectiveness.
Thus IMHO finance capitalism remains the eve of the world socialist revolution.
Thus a matrix (but not a Matrix) is indeed being realized in real life in front of our very eyes.
It is just that it is invisible to our eyeballs.
Regards to Charles and Ravi
Chris Burford
----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <PEN-L@SUS.CSUCHICO.EDU> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 5:04 PM Subject: [PEN-L] Lewontin reviews Steven Rose's latest book on the brain
[Charles had first written:- The part of this metaphor that has whole people doing things in the thinking part of the brain of an individual is actually very good. What distinguishes human thinking from computers or other species brain activity is that humans minds are a vast network of connections to other actual whole people , their brains and experiences through the medium of culture, tradition, custom, language. Culture is a great social network, people to people, including even past generations. Human mind is especially social mind.}
[Ravi asked:-]
is there a reason why a network of computers cannot exhibit similar characteristics? (and now we can link this thread to jimD's godel one! ;-)).
--ravi
[Charles replied:-]
CB: So far, except in a Matrix fantasy, it takes extensive human mediation to plug computers into culture. It's like chimps can learn some language, but no chimps have learned sign language on their own initiative. There is lots of human intervention when chimps learn language.
I can't state an abstract principle as to why a Matrix couldn't be realized in real life.
