Jason, I think there may be some incorrect assumptions behind your argument.
Let me state the facts as I understand them and you can check them against
your assumptions or correct me if I'm wrong.
The only reason we need reversible computation to do an infinite number of
computations is that physics is reversible. If we had irreversible physics,
then we would be able to do an infinite number of computations with
irreversible computations. Also, "reversible" and "irreversible" computation
refers to the method of implementing the computation, not the content of the
computation. Reversible computation can be used to simulate an irreversible
universe, and vice versa.
A big problem with reversible computation is that the energy efficiency is
inversely related to speed. In order to do an infinite number of
computations, you have to do them infinitely slowly. Which means a
civilization in a reversible universe with finite energy can only do an
infinite amount of computation if it had absolute security from both
external and internal threats (and therefore nobody has to worry about "use
it or lose it"). Given what we know today about security and the physics of
our universe, it's hard to imagine how this could be achieved. And my
intuition says only a small subset of reversible universes that allow the
evolution of intelligence would also allow this kind absolute security.
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Received on Sun Jan 14 2007 - 07:10:58 PST